Catholic Studies

Catholic Thought and Culture explores how the Catholic faith has affected the cultural and academic thought of believing Catholics. The course introduces Catholic intellectual culture to students, and particularly those students considering or intending to major or minor in Catholic Studies. The course meets once weekly for seven weeks in mid-Fall semester; each course will focus on a doctrine, person, etc., relevant to an overarching theme. Themes will rotate from semester to semester.

Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.

This course examines the role of philosophy and reasoning to the Catholic Church's fulfillment of its own mission to express the truth about God, and follows the historical emergence of the synthesis of faith and reason. The course also considers how the Catholic intellectual life manifests itself in deference towards faith.

This course explores the Catholic vision of the human person. Investigates questions such as what does it mean to be created? To be made in God's image? What is grace? What is sin? What is the role of Christ in the human journey? What is the end for which we hope?

An exploration of how grace (the divine life) is communicated to and received by human persons, including study of the sacramental life of the church, the Christian moral life (particularly natural law), and Catholic social teachings. The course focuses on creative responses to grace, both individual and communal, such as the Rule of St, Benedict, the rise of the mendicant orders, Ignatian spirituality, the great spiritual classics of the late renaissance, and the contemporary lay movements.

Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.

An exploration of the encounter between Church and culture. This course considers convergences and divergences between a Catholic understanding of truth and goodness and other culturally mediated understandings. The course studies the mystery of the Church, the concept of culture itself, and the role of Church and culture in mediating what is true and good within and through the vast array of cultures.

The lives of the Saints present extraordinary examples of Christian life lived out in goodness and beauty, often in the face of personal and social challenges of their culture and time. The course will consider the saint's (or saints') achievements both in terms of their intellectual and cultural significance, and of their significance to Catholic history and the development of the Catholic understanding of the possibilities of grace and freedom. This course can be repeated for credit if the course topic of additional courses differs from the first course taken; by approval of the program director.

A concentrated study of Catholic contributions to intellectual and/or artistic life. This course will study one or more distinct areas of intellectual endeavor (such as art or music of a specific period, the history of philosophy, theological developments, literature), considered both in terms of its own goals and methodology, and as expressions of the grace of the Christian vocation. This course can be repeated for credit if the course topic of additional courses differs from the first course taken; by approval of the program director.

Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.

Sed Vitae. Internship Experiences recognize that learning can take place outside the classroom. Carroll College allows its students to participate in opportunities that relate to their area of study. This opportunity must relate directly a student's program of study in order to qualify for an internship. Close cooperation among Carroll and the participating organizations ensures an experience that contributes significantly to the student's overall growth and professional development. Juniors and seniors in any major area may participate with the approval of faculty internship advisor and/or department chair, Career Services, and a site supervisor. Students will receive academic credit and may or may not receive monetary compensation for an internship. A student may apply a maximum of 12 semester hours to degree requirements; academic departments will determine the number of credits that may count toward the major (most majors accept 6 hours total). Enrollment in the course must be during the same semester in which the experience takes place. Interested students should contact their academic advisor and Career Services prior to the start of an experience.

The Independent Study form is available in the Registrar's Office or MyCaroll Document Center. Independent study is open to junior and senior students only. At the time of application, a student must have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. A student may register for no more than three (3) semester hours of independent study in any one term. In all cases, registration for independent study must be approved by the appropriate department chairperson and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

This capstone course applies the broader dialogue begun in previous Catholic Studies courses into a specific, 21st Century context. The first half of the course will look at a specific example of integration, drawing the students to formulate and configure their faith for their majors, future careers, or vocations, and to integrate the broad spectrum of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness within their own lives. Then the course will develop research and writing skills, in preparation for the senior paper required in CATH 497.

The senior paper is an original work a student prepares under the guidance of a professor in the Catholic Studies Department. Drawing upon their understanding of the Catholic faith tradition, and the insights learned ion the previous courses, students complete a 5000-7000 word essay that integrates their faith with their academic major, career,or chosen profession. The thesis must be approved by the director of the Catholic Studies Program.

The senior thesis is designed to encourage creative thinking and to stimulate individual research. A student may undertake a thesis in an area in which s/he has the necessary background. Ordinarily a thesis topic is chosen in the student's major or minor. It is also possible to choose an interdisciplinary topic. Interested students should decide upon a thesis topic as early as possible in the junior year so that adequate attention may be given to the project. In order to be eligible to apply to write a thesis, a student must have achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 based upon all courses attempted at Carroll College. The thesis committee consists of a director and two readers. The thesis director is a full-time Carroll College faculty member from the student's major discipline or approved by the department chair of the student's major. At least one reader must be from outside the student's major. The thesis director and the appropriate department chair must approve all readers. The thesis committee should assist and mentor the student during the entire project. For any projects involving human participants, each student and his or her director must follow the guidelines published by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Students must submit a copy of their IRB approval letter with their thesis application. As part of the IRB approval process, each student and his or her director must also complete training by the National Cancer Institute Protection of Human Participants. The thesis is typically to be completed for three (3) credits in the discipline that best matches the content of the thesis. Departments with a designated thesis research/writing course may award credits differently with approval of the Curriculum Committee. If the thesis credits exceed the full-time tuition credit limit for students, the charge for additional credits will be waived. Applications and further information are available in the Registrar's Office.