Catholic Studies, Minor
Saint Louis University’s Catholic Studies minor is an interdisciplinary program grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the Jesuit commitment to finding God in all things.
SLU's minor engages enduring questions of truth, meaning, beauty, suffering, justice, and human dignity through theology, philosophy, and the wider humanities and sciences. Students explore how Catholic thought has shaped culture and continues to contribute to contemporary conversations about human flourishing and the common good.
Designed to complement a student’s primary field of study, the minor invites students to draw on the resources of the Catholic intellectual tradition across diverse professional and vocational contexts, including business, education, health care and engineering. Coursework and a culminating integrative capstone encourage students to synthesize their primary academic discipline with Catholic thought and culture.
Co-curricular opportunities further support students in cultivating intellectual friendship, Ignatian spiritual practices, vocational discernment, and engagement with the broader community.
Students must complete a minimum total of 18 credits for the minor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Theology | ||
| One course with the Catholic Studies—Theology attribute. | 3 | |
| Philosophy | ||
| One course with the Catholic Studies—Philosophy attribute. | 3 | |
| English | ||
| One course with the Catholic Studies—English attribute. | 3 | |
| History | ||
| One course with the Catholic Studies—History attribute. | 3 | |
| Catholic Studies Elective | ||
| One course with the Catholic Studies--Elective attribute. | 3 | |
| Catholic Studies Capstone | ||
| CATH 4960 | Catholic Studies Capstone | 3 |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Theology
One course with the Catholic Studies—Theology attribute, such as:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| THEO 2110 | Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 |
| THEO 2210 | Introduction to the New Testament | 3 |
| THEO 2310 | History of Christianity: The First 2000 Years | 3 |
| THEO 2515 | Social Justice | 3 |
| THEO 2410 | Making Christianity Credible | 3 |
| THEO 2415 | The Church: Yesterday & Today | 3 |
| THEO 2430 | Jesus and Salvation | 3 |
| THEO 2510 | Christian Ethics | 3 |
| THEO 2610 | The Christian Sacraments | 3 |
| THEO 2715 | Jerusalem: Three Faiths, One City | 3 |
| THEO 2820 | Religion and Science | 3 |
| THEO 2840 | Christianity and Literature | 3 |
| THEO 2900 | Love and the Human Condition | 3 |
| THEO 3210 | One Jesus, Four Portraits: The Gospels | 3 |
| THEO 3345 | The Life and Theology of Augustine of Hippo | 3 |
| THEO 3415 | Christ and Color: Liberation Theology | 3 |
| THEO 3510 | Faith and Politics | 3 |
| THEO 3525 | Green Discipleship: Theology & Ecology | 3 |
| THEO 3535 | Sex, Gender and Christian Ethics | 3 |
| THEO 3560 | A Post Human Future? The Ethics of Technology | 3 |
| THEO 3710 | Arts of Hinduism and Buddhism | 3 |
| THEO 4510 | War and Peace in the Christian Tradition | 3 |
Philosophy
One course with the Catholic Studies—Philosophy attribute, such as:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 2050 | Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 3250 | Philosophy of Religion | 3 |
| PHIL 3300 | Philosophy of the Human Person | 3 |
| PHIL 3360 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 3380 | Business Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 3400 | Ethics & Engineering | 3 |
| PHIL 3420 | Environmental and Ecological Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 3450 | Disaster Narratives | 3 |
| PHIL 3600 | Science and Religion | 3 |
| PHIL 4500 | Medieval Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 4810 | Philosophy of Feminism | 3 |
| PHIL 4820 | Philosophy and Race | 3 |
| PHIL 4840 | Catholic Social Thought | 3 |
| PHIL 4850 | Topics in Philosophical Anthropology | 3 |
English
One course with the Catholic Studies—English attribute, such as:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 2250 | Conflict, Social Justice and Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 2350 | Faith, Doubt and Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 2450 | Nature, Ecology & Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 2550 | Gender, Identity & Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 2600 | Introduction to Short Fiction | 3 |
| ENGL 2650 | Technology, Media & Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 2750 | Film, Culture and Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 3380 | The Classics and Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 3470 | Introduction to Shakespeare | 3 |
| ENGL 3620 | Topics in Spirituality and Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 3700 | The Bible & Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 3730 | Introduction to Medical Humanities, Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 3740 | Medicine and Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 4240 | Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales | 3 |
| ENGL 4290 | Topics in Medieval Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 4300 | Age of Elizabeth | 3 |
| ENGL 4350 | 17th Century Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 4360 | Milton | 3 |
History
One course with the Catholic Studies—History attribute, such as:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 1110 | Origins of the Modern World to 1500 | 3 |
| HIST 1120 | Origins of the Modern World (1500 to Present) | 3 |
| HIST 3030 | The Byzantine World: Faith and Power in a Thousand-Year Empire | 3 |
| HIST 3040 | From Barbarians to Crusaders: Europe in the Early Middle Ages | 3 |
| HIST 3050 | From Cathedrals to Printing Presses: Europe in the Late Middle Ages | 3 |
| HIST 3080 | Catholicism Since 1540 | 3 |
| HIST 3100 | The Reformation Era | 3 |
| HIST 3220 | Jesuits and Their Worlds | 3 |
Catholic Studies Elective
One course with the Catholic Studies--Elective attribute, such as:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AAM 3350 | African American Religious Traditions | 3 |
| ARTH 1500 | Life & Times of Michelangelo | 3 |
| ARTH 2100 | Art of Jerusalem and Three Faiths: Past and Present | 3 |
| ARTH 2200 | Art in Rome | 3 |
| ARTH 2150 | Saints in Art | 3 |
| ARTH 2450 | Art of Pilgrimage and Crusades | 3 |
| ARTH 3410 | Art of Cathedrals and Kings: Advanced | 3 |
| ARTH 3500 | Early Renaissance Art in Italy: Advanced | 3 |
| ARTH 3510 | High Renaissance Art Italy: Advanced | 3 |
| ARTH 3520 | Art North Renaissance: Adv Art of Nobles & Merchants in the Northern Renaissance: Advanced | 3 |
| ARTH 3020 | Christian Art: Advanced | 3 |
| ARTH 4900 | Research Methods | 3 |
| BIOL 1200 | Ecological Issues and Society | 3 |
| BIOL 1340 | Diversity of Life | 3 |
| CMM 3440 | Media Ethics | 3 |
| GR 3200 | German Cultural History | 3 |
| GK 1010 | Reading Greek I | 3 |
| GK 1020 | Reading Greek II | 3 |
| GK 2010 | Intermediate Greek Lang & Lit | 3 |
| GK 4700 | Readings in Byzantine Greek | 3 |
| LATN 1010 | Reading Latin I | 3 |
| LATN 1020 | Reading Latin II | 3 |
| LATN 2010 | Intermediate Latin: Language & Literature | 3 |
| LATN 4010 | Latin Fathers | 3 |
| LATN 4100 | Intro to Post-Classical Latin | 3 |
| LATN 4280 | Readings in Saint Augustine | 3 |
| MDVL 2100 | The Medieval World | 3 |
| RUSS 4510 | The Russian Orthodox | 3 |
| WGST 1900 | Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies | 3 |
Continuation Standards
A student must maintain a GPA in coursework for the minor in Catholic studies of at least 2.00.
The Catholic studies minor at Saint Louis University-Madrid is a great educational opportunity to complete a comprehensive education that will help students as holistic individuals and qualified professionals. Being multidisciplinary, no matter what major or profession you pursue, the program can develop your critical thinking skills, as well as help you develop excellent written and oral communication skills. The Catholic studies minor can be an important credential in applying for graduate school or for employment after graduation.
The program is designed to explore major questions that have occupied Christian philosophers and theologians, artists and literary writers, political theorists and historians, and natural and social scientists for two millennia. In addition to a variety of courses in the Christian intellectual tradition, the Catholic studies minor offers interested students opportunities to explore the history and mission of the Society of Jesus and the traditions underlying SLU as a Catholic, Jesuit institution.
Curriculum Overview
The Catholic studies minor requires a minimum GPA of 2.00 and 18 credit hours of coursework. Below are the attributed courses as seen in requirements that are offered at SLU-Madrid.
Catholic Studies--Theology attributed courses (3 credit hours, one course required)
- THEO 2110 Introduction to the Old Testament (3 cr)
- THEO 2210 Introduction to the New Testament (3 cr)
- THEO 2430 Jesus and Salvation (3 cr)
- THEO 2515 Social Justice (3 cr)
- THEO 2715 Jerusalem: Three Faiths, One City (3 cr)
Catholic Studies--Philosophy attributed courses (3 credit hours, one course required)
- PHIL 2050 Ethics (3 cr)
- PHIL 3360 Medical Ethics (3 cr)
- PHIL 3380 Business Ethics (3 cr)
- PHIL 3420 Environmental and Ecological Ethics (3 cr)
- PHIL 4810 Philosophy of Feminism (3 cr)
Catholic Studies--English attributed courses (3 credit hours, one course required)
- ENGL 2250 Conflict, Social Justice and Literature (3 cr)
- ENGL 2350 Faith, Doubt and Literature (3 cr)
- ENGL 2450 Nature, Ecology & Literature (3 cr)
- ENGL 2550 Gender, Identity & Literature (3 cr)
- ENGL 2650 Technology, Media & Literature (3 cr)
- ENGL 2750 Film, Culture and Literature (3 cr)
- ENGL 3470 Introduction to Shakespeare (3 cr)
- ENGL 4300 Age of Elizabeth (3 cr)
- ENGL 4360 Milton (3 cr)
Catholic Studies--History attributed courses (3 credit hours, one course required)
- HIST 1110 Origins of the Modern World to 1500 (3 cr)
- HIST 1120 Origins of the Modern World (1500 to Present) (0,3 cr)
Catholic Studies--Elective attributed courses (3 credit hours, one course required)
- ARTH 4900 Research Methods (3 cr)
- BIOL 1200 Ecological Issues and Society (3 cr)
- BIOL 1340 Diversity of Life (3 cr)
- GK 1010 Reading Greek I (3 cr)
- GK 1020 Reading Greek II (3 cr)
- LATN 1010 Reading Latin I (3 cr)
- LATN 1020 Reading Latin II (3 cr)
- LATN 2010 Intermediate Latin: Language & Literature (3 cr)
- WGST 1900 Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies (3 cr)
Catholic Studies Capstone – 3 credit hours (one course)
- CATH 4960 Catholic Studies Capstone (3 cr)
For additional information about this program, please contact catholicstudies@slu.edu or call 314-977-7199.