Educational Philosophy

Marylhurst University affords a liberal arts education guided by a comprehensive philosophy of the dynamic learning partnership between our faculty and our students.

The heart of Marylhurst University's educational philosophy is the university's heritage of the liberal arts – the foundation of all learning and professional life. Through a shared inquiry into the range of human experience, a Marylhurst education prepares students for fulfilling lives and careers in a constantly changing world. Our students are equipped to pursue their personal and professional goals with confidence. They employ informed creativity to address problems, to choose between complex options and to make effective decisions.

The Marylhurst classroom emphasizes collaboration between faculty and students in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Students bring life experience and curiosity; faculty nurture critical thinking and reflection. A rigorous curriculum delivered both on campus and online challenges students to reason deeply and learn broadly. Instructors integrate theory with practice, providing opportunities for intellectual engagement and professional development. They encourage students to seek out knowledge and ideas, to evaluate what they see, hear and read, and to reflect with wisdom and insight on their society and themselves.

The university's emphasis on ethics and leadership inspires students to apply their education with purpose and concern. They learn to speak and write clearly and listen with a compassionate and discerning ear. Most importantly, Marylhurst students share a commitment that personal success must be joined with service to one's community and world.