Program Overview

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Philosophy for Ministry, B.A.

The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy for Ministry at Saint Louis University combines a major in philosophy with a general-education concentration that either focuses more intensely on the humanities or allows for the study of a second language.

Overview

This program is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in ministry or related fields. It provides a strong foundation in philosophy, theology, and the humanities, as well as the opportunity to develop skills in critical thinking, writing, and communication.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will be able to:

• Identify connections among major thinkers and ideas that have shaped the history of Western philosophy.
• State and explain key philosophical ideas and methods suitable for understanding and analyzing contexts of Catholic ministry.
• Analyze specific challenges in the contexts of Catholic ministry using philosophy and other relevant knowledge.
• Demonstrate knowledge of relevant humanistic, social-scientific, and STEM resources for understanding todays world, as a context of Catholic ministry.

Requirements

The program requires a total of 120 credits, including:

• Undergraduate University Core: 32-35 credits
• Major Requirements:
  • Latin, Greek, or Modern Language: 9 credits
  • Theology: 6 credits
  • Epistemology: 3 credits
  • Philosophy of Religion: 3 credits
  • Philosophy of Human Nature: 3 credits
  • Ethics: 3 credits
  • Ancient Greek Philosophy: 3 credits
  • Medieval Philosophy: 3 credits
  • Modern Philosophy: 3 credits
  • Contemporary Philosophy: 3 credits
  • Social Analysis/Special Ethics: 9 credits
  • Capstone Preparation: 2 credits
  • Capstone Project: 3 credits
• Concentrations:
  • Humanities and Social Sciences Concentration: 30 credits
  • Language Concentration: 30 credits
• General Electives: 5 credits

Concentrations

The program offers two concentrations:

• Humanities and Social Sciences Concentration: This concentration requires 30 credits, including courses in English, American, or World Literature, Fine Arts or Art History, History, Natural Science, and Social Sciences.
• Language Concentration: This concentration requires 30 credits, including courses in English, American, or World Literature, Fine Arts or Art History, History, Natural Science, and a second foreign language through the intermediate level.

Admission

Admission requirements include:

• Meeting the admission requirements for each candidates religious order or diocese in the area of academic achievement, personal character, and spiritual ideals.
• Lay students must articulate a serious desire for Catholic ministry.
• Freshman applicants must have a solid academic performance in college preparatory coursework.
• Transfer applicants must have a minimum 2.00 GPA and follow the same admission requirements as freshmen if they have attempted fewer than 24 semester credits of college credit.

Tuition

The tuition for the program is $21,280 per semester, with additional charges for fees, room, and board.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The university offers scholarships and financial aid to help finance a Saint Louis University education. Students can apply for merit-based scholarships, and the university also provides financial aid through grants and loans.

Careers

The program provides a strong foundation for students who wish to pursue a career in ministry or related fields, such as:

• Future priests
• Servants of the church
• Dedicated Catholics who wish to integrate their wider studies and interests with their faith

Roadmap

The program offers a roadmap for students to follow, with a recommended plan of study for each semester. The roadmap includes courses in philosophy, theology, and the humanities, as well as electives and general education requirements.