Philosophy for Ministry, Certificate
Saint Louis University’s Certificate in Philosophy for Ministry, offered through the College of Philosophy and Letters, is designed for students preparing for Catholic priesthood who have already completed a bachelor’s degree. The program’s 38 credit hours satisfy the philosophical requirements for ordination as articulated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Society of Jesus.
Curriculum Overview
Certificate course requirements are typically satisfied by undergraduate courses, though students may, with the approval of the dean, also meet some requirements with graduate courses.
Transfer coursework may be accepted for most requirements, but at least 16 credits must be taken after admission to the College of Philosophy and Letters, including the special ethics/social analysis courses and capstone courses.
Specific course offerings that satisfy an area requirement are determined by the dean. The three special ethics/social analysis courses are selected with a view to the student’s capstone project and may include courses from disciplines other than philosophy.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must already have a bachelor’s degree. Students in training toward ordination in the Catholic priesthood must also be approved by a religious superior or bishop to pursue training toward ordination in the Catholic priesthood.
Tuition
| Tuition | Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Tuition | $1,530 |
Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:
Information on Tuition and Fees
Scholarships and Financial Aid
For priority consideration for graduate assistantship, apply by Feb. 1.
For more information, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.
- Graduates will be able to identify connections among major thinkers and ideas that have shaped the history of Western philosophy.
- Graduates will be able to state and explain key philosophical ideas and methods suitable for understanding and analyzing contexts of Catholic ministry.
- Graduates will be able to analyze specific challenges in the contexts of Catholic ministry using philosophy and other relevant knowledge.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Epistemology | 3 | |
| Philosophy of Religion | 3 | |
| Philosophy of Human Nature | 3 | |
| Ethics | 3 | |
| Ancient Greek Philosophy † | 3 | |
| Medieval Philosophy † | 3 | |
| Modern Philosophy | 3 | |
| Contemporary Philosophy | 3 | |
| Special Ethics/Social Analysis ‡ | 9 | |
| Capstone Preparation | 2 | |
| Capstone Project | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 38 | |
- †
Satisfied by historical survey courses or courses on period figures/topics; Ancient is also satisfied by PHIL 1050 Introduction to Philosophy: Self and Reality (3 cr).
- ‡
The Special Ethics/Social Analysis requirements may be satisfied by appropriate courses in other disciplines.
Pre-Divinity Courses in Theology (Jesuits)
Jesuit post-baccalaureate students are expected to complete, in addition to their philosophy requirements, 6-8 graduate-level theology courses, in areas approved by the Jesuit Conference and United States Provincials. The theology requirements are normally satisfied by graduate courses offered by the Department of Theological Studies or by the Aquinas Institute of Theology. Six of these courses should be selected with a view toward their counting toward a future Master of Divinity degree offered by a Jesuit Theology Center. Students consult with the dean to identify appropriate courses.
Continuation Standards
Students must maintain a minimum 2.00 grade point average (GPA).
This roadmap is just one example of a semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. There are other plans students can and do take. The plan of study for each particular student is established in consultation with each student’s academic advisor; this roadmap does not replace academic advising appointments.
Roadmap notes:
- This Roadmap assumes full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
- Courses/Milestones marked with an “!” are critical and must be completed in the semester listed in the Roadmap to ensure a timely graduation.
- Course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| CORE 1700 | Ultimate Questions: Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 2050 | Ethics (Students may substitute courses with appropriate content) | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 3250 | Philosophy of Religion (Students may substitute courses with appropriate content) | 3 |
| Ancient Philosophy (if needed) Normally satisfied by PHIL 4400, but other courses with appropriate content may also qualify | 3 | |
| PHLT 4900 | Integration Seminar | 2 |
| Social Analysis/Special Ethics | 3 | |
| Credits | 11 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| Medieval Philosophy (Normally satisfied by PHIL 4500, but other courses in medieval thinkers/topics may also qualify) | 3 | |
| Philosophy of Human Nature (if needed). (Normally satisfied by PHIL 3300, but other courses with appropriate content may also qualify) | 3 | |
| Epistemology (Satisfied by multiple offerings, including PHIL 3600 and philosophy of science courses) | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| Modern Philosophy (Normally satisfied by PHIL 4600, but other courses in modern thinkers/topics may also qualify) | 3 | |
| Social Analysis/Special Ethics | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| Contemporary Philosophy | 3 | |
| Social Analysis/Special Ethics | 3 | |
| Capstone Preparation | 2 | |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHLT 4960 | Capstone Project | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 43 | |
Program Notes
General Program Note
The certificate is normally pursued concurrently with graduate coursework in another area. Jesuit students are also expected to complete six to eight credits in graduate theology.
Introduction to Philosophy
CORE 1700 Ultimate Questions: Philosophy (3 cr) or its equivalent is a prerequisite for the program. Students who enter the certificate program with previous exposure to philosophy normally move directly to a 3000-level course, such as PHIL 3250 Philosophy of Religion (3 cr).
Approval for Course Substitutions
The determination of appropriate content for course substitutions is made by the dean of the College of Philosophy and Letters.
Integrative Seminars
These courses are required of Jesuit students only.
Social Analysis/Special Ethics Course Requirements
Courses taken to satisfy requirements for other degrees the student is pursuing at SLU may simultaneously satisfy the social analysis/special ethics requirement with the dean’s approval. To the extent possible, students should select courses that focus on areas of contextual analysis that are relevant to their envisioned capstone project. Social analysis courses include courses in social-political philosophy or courses in other disciplines, so long as course content is largely dedicated to understanding aspects of contemporary life, society or culture relevant to the context of ministry for the student’s capstone. Special ethics courses are satisfied by:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 3360 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 3380 | Business Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 3400 | Ethics & Engineering | 3 |
| PHIL 3050X | Computer Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 3420 | Environmental and Ecological Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 3430 | Philosophy of Law | 3 |
Contemporary Philosophy Requirement
Satisfied by philosophy offerings that treat thinkers from the late 19th to the 21st centuries or contemporary treatments of philosophical topics (metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of science, contemporary ethics, etc.). Special ethics courses do not satisfy this requirement.
For more information about this and other Philosophy and Letters' programs, please email catholicstudies@slu.edu.