General Description
“The archdiocesan concentration in SLU’s Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy for Ministry is centered around a 37-credit major in philosophy, complemented by 28 credits in theology, Catholic Studies, and ecclesiastical Latin. The degree requires 51 credits in general education. The minimum number of credits required for graduation is 120” (https://www.slu.edu/philosophy-and-letters/degrees/philosophy-for-ministry-ba-archdiocesan.php).
Curriculum by Stages
During the Propaedeutic Stage at Cardinal Glennon College, seminarians will take limited and targeted courses in the liberal arts at Saint Louis University. What is more, during these years, the seminarians will engage the curriculum proper to the Catholic Studies Centre, whose courses serve the general purpose and requirements of the Propaedeutic Stage. During at least the second and third semesters of the Propaedeutic Stage (i.e., spring semester of Propaedeutic I and fall semester of Propaedeutic II), seminarians will take no more than 12 credits hours total, be they liberal arts courses or theology/formational courses. If this reduction in credit hours will hinder the seminarian’s ability to complete the intellectual formation requirements in four years, the college seminary can recommend general education courses to be completed during the summer following Propaedeutic II. If such is not possible, the seminary may permit the seminarian to enroll in additional courses during the second and third semesters of the Propaedeutic Stage, but only with the approval of the seminarian’s Bishop or Vocation Director.
In the Discipleship Stage, seminarians remain on the campus of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary where they engage the philosophy curriculum. These courses, though taught at the seminary, are accredited and offered through Saint Louis University, who leases the seminary’s philosophy professors as part of the SLU-Glennon Agreement.
Curriculum by Credit Hour
- Philosophy (37 credit hours)
- Logic and Epistemology, Philosophy of Nature, Philosophical Anthropology, Political Philosophy, Metaphysics, Natural Theology, Ethics, History of Philosophy (Ancient, Medieval, Modern, Contemporary) (all 3 credit hours each), a Philosophy elective (2 credit hours), and Philosophy Capstone (2 credit hours)
- Theology and Formation (21 credit hours)
- Catechism of the Catholic Church (9 credit hours), Catholic Studies Core (9 credit hours) Introduction to Scripture (2 credit hours), and Catechetical Methods (1 credit hour)
- Languages (12 credit hours)
- Latin (6 credit hours) and Spanish (6 credit hours) (*NB – A course in Literature, Natural Science, or Fine Art may be substituted for further studies in Spanish.)
- Composition, Literature, and Communications (15 credit hours)
- Composition (6 credit hours), Literature* (6 credit hours), Communications (3 credit hours)
- Mathematics and Sciences (15 credit hours)
- Mathematics (3 credit hours) Science (12 credit hours, including a minimum of 3 credit hours in each of the following: Natural Science*, Psychology, and Social Science)
- History (9 credit hours)
- Western Civilization (6 credit hours) and History Elective (3 credit hours)
- Fine Arts* (6 credit hours)
- Electives (5 credit hours)
- TOTAL: 120 credit hours
