The
Catholic Studies minor provides students with an academic
understanding of Catholicism. ‘Catholicism’ here refers not just
to a religious institution or a set of beliefs, but also to a
culture. It includes all the ways in which the Roman Catholic Church
and its members have interacted with the wider world: with the arts,
history, politics, science, and philosophy. Because of the diversity
of these interactions, no one field can understand Catholicism
adequately. Catholic Studies is therefore an interdisciplinary
pursuit. It is not a branch of religious studies or theology. It does
not presuppose any commitment to Catholicism as a creed. Rather, it
seeks to understand a complex culture that has had tremendous impact
on the world over the past two thousand years. In doing that, the
minor offers the students a focus around which to integrate their
elective choices into a coherent path of study.
The Catholic
Studies minor will appeal to students with a wide range of personal
backgrounds and academic interests. Those with a background in
history, philosophy, or religious studies will find a great deal that
is of interest to them in the program. The minor will appeal to
students for whom an understanding of Catholicism might be
professionally valuable: for example, education students who would
like to teach religion, or business and pre-professional students who
would like to develop their expertise within a broader context of
social, ethical and religious values.
For
more information, please contact program director Dr. Benjamin Fiore,
SJ, by E-mail
or by phone at (306) 586-4242.
Requirements for the Catholic Studies Minor
Catholic Studies 200 Course Description
Scholarships in Catholic Studies