Duquesne University is one of a handful of colleges clustered in Pittsburgh, but it sets itself apart with its Catholic tradition and downtown campus. “
Duquesne is unique because it’s in the city, but you would never know it walking around campus,” writes a recent alum. “
It’s very secluded from the bustle of city life and is filled with green spaces and beautiful fountains…on the other hand, you are only blocks away from anything you would want to go to in a city: shopping, plays, concerts, etc.”
Duquesne’s local reputation is excellent, and students and alumni are finding an increasingly international recognition for its specialty programs. “
Duq is known for its good pharmacy school in particular, and law, nursing, and music schools, as well,” says a senior. It has “
strong academic programs” across the board, however, and “
class sizes are generally small…compared to other schools.” The academic intensity, especially in the top departments, can be overwhelming for some—“
The music school is great in that you learn SO much, but there were weeks at a time where my entire body ached of stress,” writes a student who wound up transferring to another university. A core liberal arts curriculum means “
everyone is required to take a certain amount of classes outside of their major,” a requirement that some students find enlightening and others irritating. Speaking of students, while some departments might have a laid-back vibe (about the music department, one student writes, “
when you walk in there are often people hanging out talking and playing guitar and other instruments,”), others spark more internal competition: “
The students are all very competitive and intelligent. Many will fight till the end to earn that one extra point. I think that makes the students Duquesne look very determined,” says a junior.
Duq’s Catholic atmosphere is pervasive, according to some students, although it often has less to do with religious doctrine and more with a conservative, almost parental administration watching over its student body. One student writes: “
Being at Duquesne feels like a parent is watching your every move and that if you ‘step out of line’ you won't be supported by the student body.” Anyone seeking a liberal, anything-goes environment may be thrown by the anti-alcohol and dorm-visitor rules. Some find the conservative policies oppressive in certain respects: "
The campus can be a little close minded when it comes to GLTB issues. We do have a Gay-Straight Alliance but it really isn't recognized. I understand this is a catholic university, but times have changed," writes a junior. But another like-minded student feels there’s plenty of room on campus for all points of view: “
There are a fair share of more liberal people, like myself, who make sure that we are heard on campus as well. I have never encountered problems relating to that even through election times.”
Most of Duquesne’s student body comes from within the tri-state region. “
Duquesne is very well respected in Pittsburgh, so a lot of students are from the Pittsburgh area,” writes a senior. “
But there are students from around the country and international students, although sometimes it feels like everyone is from Pittsburgh.” “
Duquesne is not wildly diverse,” according to another student. “
There are many Catholics, and not many different races or religions.” One pervasive stereotype about Duq students is that they’re preppy and wealthy, which, at least in one senior’s eyes, shows itself in the way her classmates show up for class. “
Most students dress up for class,” she writes. “
I never really did, but a lot of the girls will bring their expensive bags, sunglasses, and shoes to class, thinking they are in a modeling show.” Another argues that the stereotype only holds true for a small part of the Duq population: “
There are a fair share of wealthy students that drive Mercedes and only wear Coach or Gucci merchandise, but that is certainly not the majority.” Many Duquesne students elect to live off-campus, and a sizable portion live even farther out or with nearby family—an option Duq makes fairly attractive and easy. “
I am a commuter, and Duquesne really takes care of their commuters,” writes a senior from the Pittsburgh area. “
There is a lounge specifically made for commuters. It has a big-screen TV and a lot of couches, so you can hang out down there in between classes, since you don’t have a dorm to go to.”
Because the city (and other colleges) are so close, much of Duquesne’s social life takes place off-campus. “
There are no sorority/fraternity houses on campus, and you can’t drink on campus,” writes a recent alum. “
Not to worry, there are plenty of parties elsewhere, in South Side, Oakland, etc., and the happy bus takes all the Duquesne students there and back.” Despite their off-campus bases, fraternities and sororities—both social and academic—have a big impact on how Duq students socialize. “
Fraternities and sororities are pretty prevalent, but I would never feel out of place not being in one,” writes a senior. Still, she says, “
I would never feel out of place not being in one. You notice their presence and they have parties and you see people wearing letters, but it's not really a big deal.” Other popular student-oriented events include school theater productions and music recitals, and, according to another recent graduate, “
Volunteering is HUGE at Duquesne.” Sporting events don’t muster much student enthusiasm, with the exception of the recently successful Dukes men’s basketball squad. “
Our basketball team is up and coming however outside of that there is not much interest in any other sports,” says a junior.
While Duquesne may struggle to impose traditional Catholic values on an increasingly diverse student body, most students find their time at Duq to be worth the academic pressure and administrative hassles. Says a senior: “
The rules seem very strict at Duquesne on paper, but once arriving you find things are not written in stone. Duquesne likes to uphold a reputation to parents and others as a very classy and value-based university, which it is, but it is not stifling.”
