Catholic Studies, B.A.
Saint Louis University's B.A. in Catholic Studies offers a unifying vision of the array of academic disciplines central to a whole and flourishing human life as understood for more than 2,000 years through the lens of the Catholic intellectual heritage.
Program Highlights
From philosophy and theology to art and music to economics and medicine, this undergraduate major offers an integrated Catholic worldview that empowers students to see the world clearly and to understand otherwise disparate sectors of reality in relation to one another and to the implications of Christ’s Incarnation. Here, material culture, creedal beliefs, philosophical commitments and spiritual practices coalesce in the truly Catholic understanding of the structuring of governments, civic engagement, economic choices, medical practices, the arrangement of family life, educational systems and the role of beauty in the public square.
Admission Requirements
Saint Louis University also accepts the Common Application.
Freshman
All applications are thoroughly reviewed with the highest degree of individual care and consideration to all credentials that are submitted. Solid academic performance in college preparatory coursework is a primary concern in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file.
To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, applicants must be graduating from an accredited high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score or take the General Education Development (GED) test.
Transfer
Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED.
Students who have attempted fewer than 24 semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must follow the above freshmen admission requirements. Students who have completed 24 or more semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must submit transcripts from all previously attended college(s).
In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the Office of Admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of Saint Louis University. Where applicable, transfer students will be evaluated on any courses outlined in the continuation standards of their preferred major.
International Applicants
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
- Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
- Proof of financial support must include:
- A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
- A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
- Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken post-secondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
Tuition
| Tuition | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Tuition | $54,760 |
Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:
Information on Tuition and Fees
Scholarships and Financial Aid
There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:
- Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
- Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided through grants and loans, some of which require repayment.
Saint Louis University makes every effort to keep our education affordable. In fiscal year 2023, 99% of first-time freshmen and 92% of all students received financial aid and students received more than $459 million in aid University-wide.
For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by December 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.
For more information on scholarships and financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.
- Graduates will be able to articulate the central concerns of the Catholic intellectual tradition and describe key contributions made to it in both the first and second millennium of its development.
- Graduates will be able to draw upon the Catholic intellectual tradition to describe, analyze, and evaluate developments in two or more disciplines or fields of activity, including philosophy, theology, literature, music, art, architecture, history, politics, and the natural and social sciences.
- Graduates will be able to articulate how characteristic elements of Jesuit spirituality, such as “finding God in all things” and “discernment of spirits,” contribute to reflection on the good life and help orient Catholic engagement of culture.
- Graduates will be able to employ methods and materials from the Catholic intellectual tradition to analyze in depth a question of contemporary cultural significance.
Catholic studies students must complete a minimum total of 30 credits for the major. Overall requirements are as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Undergraduate Core | 32-35 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| CATH 2000 | Catholic Imagination: Introduction to Catholic Studies | 3 |
| CATH 3001 | Catholic Intellectual Heritage I | 3 |
| CATH 3002 | Catholic Intellectual Heritage II | 3 |
| CATH 4000 | Catholic Intellectual Heritage and the Good Life | 3 |
| Major Electives | ||
| Select fifteen credits of courses with the "Catholic Studies" attribute | 15 | |
| Capstone | ||
| CATH 4960 | Catholic Studies Capstone | 3 |
| General Electives | 55-58 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Continuation Standards
A student must maintain a 2.00 grade point average (GPA) in Catholic Studies major coursework.
Graduation Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 120 credits (excluding pre-college level courses numbered below 1000).
- Complete the University Undergraduate Core curriculum requirements.
- Complete major requirements: minimum of 30 credits required.
- Complete remaining credits with a second major, minor, certificate or electives to reach the minimum of 120 credits required for graduation.
- Achieve at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average, a 2.00 grade point average in the major(s), and a 2.00 grade point average in the minor/certificate or related elective credits.
- Complete department- and program-specific academic and performance requirements.
- Complete at least 50% of the coursework for the major and 75% for the minor/certificate through Saint Louis University or an approved study-abroad program.
- Complete 30 of the final 36 credits through Saint Louis University or an approved study-abroad program.
- Complete an online degree application by the required University deadline.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| CORE 1000 | Ignite First Year Seminar (Must be taken in first 36 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes) | 2-3 |
| CORE 1500 | Cura Personalis 1: Self in Community (Must be taken in first 36 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes) | 1 |
| CORE 1900 | Eloquentia Perfecta 1: Written and Visual Communication | 3 |
| General Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CORE 3200 | Ways of Thinking: Quantitative Reasoning (Should be taken in first 45 credit hours at SLU) | 3 |
| CORE 1600 | Ultimate Questions: Theology | 3 |
| CATH 2000 | Catholic Imagination: Introduction to Catholic Studies | 3 |
| General Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| CORE 1200 | Eloquentia Perfecta 2: Oral and Visual Communication | 3 |
| CORE 1700 | Ultimate Questions: Philosophy | 3 |
| CATH 3001 | Catholic Intellectual Heritage I | 3 |
| General Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CORE 3800 | Ways of Thinking: Natural and Applied Sciences | 3 |
| CORE 2500 | Cura Personalis 2: Self in Contemplation | 0 |
| CATH 3002 | Catholic Intellectual Heritage II | 3 |
| Catholic Studies Attributed Course | 3 | |
| General Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| CORE 2800 | Eloquentia Perfecta 3: Creative Expression | 2-3 |
| CORE 3400 | Ways of Thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture | 3 |
| CATH 4000 | Catholic Intellectual Heritage and the Good Life | 3 |
| Catholic Studies Attributed Course | 3 | |
| General Electives | 4 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CORE 3600 | Ways of Thinking: Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| CORE 4000 | Collaborative Inquiry | 2-3 |
| Catholic Studies Attributed Course | 3 | |
| General Electives | 7 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| CORE 3500 | Cura Personalis 3: Self in the World | 1 |
| Catholic Studies Attributed Course | 3 | |
| General Electives | 11 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CATH 4960 | Catholic Studies Capstone | 3 |
| Catholic Studies Attributed Course | 3 | |
| General Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120-123 | |