The Catholic Church is among the oldest and most prominent institutions in the world.

In accordance with the mission of Emmanuel and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, this interdisciplinary minor seeks to develop your understanding of the rich academic traditions, cultural heritage and commitment to social justice that are the hallmarks of the Catholic Church. Through the study of theology, art, literature, ethics and other disciplines, you will learn the ways in which the Church's trajectory has been shaped by the thinking and actions of ordinary and extraordinary Catholics.

The Curriculum

View the 2024-2025 Academic Catalog to find course titles, numbers and descriptions.

Requirements for Minor in Catholic Studies

Two introductory courses:

  • THRS1103 Introduction to Catholic Theology (RCT) (RICT) OR 
  • THRS1111 Exploring the Bible (RCT) (RICT)  OR
  • THRS1115 Jesus and Christian Ethics (RCT) (RICT)

Two courses from the following:

  • ART2223 From Patronage to Practice: The Catholic Art Tradition (AI-A)
  • ENGL2325 Spirituality and the Literary Imagination (AI-L)
  • HIST2127 Religion, Society and Europe
  • HIST2128 Immigrants in the American Experience (H) (HI) (DM)
  • PHIL3115 Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
  • THRS2108 Religion and the Environment: Ethical Explorations (R)
  • THRS2111 Love and Justice (RCT) (RICT) (SJ) 
  • THRS2130/ SOC2131 Catholic Social Teaching (RCT) (RICT) (SJ) 
  • THRS2205 The Gospels: Portraits of Jesus (RCT) (RICT)
  • THRS2207  Controversy in the Church : Reading the Signs of the Times (RCT) 
  • THRS2209 History of Christianity: Between Prophecy and Compromise (RCT) (RICT)
  • THRS2213 Liberation Theology (RCT) (RICT) (SJ)
  • THRS2217 Women in the World Religions (R) (RI)
  • THRS2219 Women in Christian Traditions (RCT) (RICT) (DM)

One of the following: (With the approval of the instructor, the student seeking to apply one of these courses to a Catholic Studies minor will be required to write the main paper for the course on a Catholic topic.)

  • THRS3133 Social Justice and Religious Traditions (R) (RI) (SJ)
  • THRS3203 World Religions in Conflict and Dialogue (RCT) (RICT) (DM)

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