Catholic Studies
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Program TypeMajor, Minor
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Degrees OfferedB.A., B.S.
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SchoolSchool of Arts & Sciences
Deepen your knowledge of the Catholic faith and of yourself through the study of multiple disciplines.
What You'll Learn
Our students explore the interaction of faith and reason within multiple disciplines — exploring the interplay between Catholicism and culture, and experience how Catholic faith can enliven every facet of your life. We designed our program to be a double major and to build a close-knit community of faculty and students across multiple academic and pre-professional programs.
- Learn Outside the Classroom
Catholic studies at Mary is much more than a rigorous academic program. You’ll interact with faculty and students in and out of the classroom and experience a full range of co-curricular and extracurricular activities. The year begins with a Catholic studies immersion experience for our new students, providing an introduction to the program within the natural beauty and culture of western North Dakota.
- Build Community
Over four semesters in the Catholic Studies Tutorial, you’ll meet weekly in small groups of no more than ten students to integrate Catholic studies into your broader academic and personal life. Central to Catholic studies life outside the classroom is our regular Convivium Mass and Dinner, as well as events by the fire at the Catholic Studies House near campus.
- Flexible Learning Options
You can earn your Catholic studies bachelor’s in 2.6 years or complete your bachelor’s and a Master of Arts in Catholic Studies in four years through Mary’s innovative Year-Round Campus program.
- Study in Rome
At the University of Mary Rome campus, you can live and study abroad while learning about Christian, Catholic, and Benedictine heritage firsthand. We particularly encourage sophomores and students in the Catholic studies program to participate in this opportunity. Qualified students can spend either a semester or five weeks of coursework and educational travel in Italy and other countries as well.
- Study at Mary College at ASU
In this innovative partnership between the University of Mary and Arizona State University (ASU), you can study for a semester at ASU, while enrolling in Catholic studies courses taught by University of Mary faculty on the ASU campus.
Mary College at ASU is an opportunity for Mary students with a missionary heart to take the Catholic life out into the world.
Program Information
Please visit our catalog for admission requirements and a full list of our courses.
Featured Faculty
W. Scott Cleveland, PhD
Associate Professor of Philosophy, Associate Professor of Catholic Studies
I am a philosopher, teacher, and part of the interdisciplinary community of faculty and students that is Catholic Studies. My scholarly work focuses on virtue, emotion, happiness, philosophy of religion, and philosophical theology. Prior to my time at University of Mary, I conducted postdoctoral research at Saint Louis University on the virtue of intellectual humility. I enjoy running, mountain biking, reading literature, and spending time with my wife, who is also a philosopher, working in metaphysics, and my daughter and two sons, who we hope will come to see the inseparability of ethics and metaphysics.