Program Intent and Goals
Pittsburgh Semester promotes the understanding and practice of Christian vocation through urban immersion and service, academic study, and professional internships. The program is rooted and centered in the Christian faith, in the belief that God is revealed in Jesus Christ. From that foundational commitment, we affirm Christian vocation in all areas of life, the need for Christian community and service in the pursuit of justice and peace, and the power of Christian worship in sustaining and directing our lives. We welcome students from colleges and universities representing a variety of traditions within the Christian family.
The goals of Pittsburgh Semester include the following:
- Develop an understanding and practice of Christian VOCATION that connects faith to all dimensions of life.
- Explore the DIVERSITY of the city, including its ethnic, racial, economic, social, cultural, artistic, and religious dimensions
- Affirm the value of life as SERVICE by offering students regular opportunities to both serve their neighbors and recognize how others serve them.
- Further JUSTICE and PEACE in the city, with particular attention to the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed.
- Discern and develop the professional SKILLS and talents of students, preparing them for careers in their fields of expertise
- Nurture students in their journeys of FAITH