Master of Arts (Catholic Philosophical Studies)
According to the Program of Priestly Formation, Fifth
Edition (PPF), philosophical studies are fundamental and
indispensable to theological studies and the formation of
priesthood candidates.
For seminarians whose undergraduate education has not included
the advanced study of philosophy required for entrance into the
Master of Divinity program, Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of
Theology offers a "balanced, comprehensive, integrated, and
coherent" (PPF, 155) two-year, graduate-level pre-theology program,
resulting in a Master of Arts (Catholic Philosophical Studies).
The degree consists of 48 credit hours and fulfills the PPF's
pre-theology requirement of 30 hours in philosophy and 12 hours in
theology.
Seminarians who successfully complete the degree will:
- understand
the role and contribution of the Western philosophical tradition in
the development and explication of Christian doctrine;
- read and
interpret philosophical texts and materials critically;
- express
arguments logically and concisely in written and oral form;
- analyze
contemporary issues in light of the Catholic philosophical
tradition;
- understand
philosophical terms and theories that are found in the basic
framework of Catholic theology.
The degree program consists of four semesters in approved course
work. During the last semester, the seminarian participates in a
concluding exercise in which he integrates his course of studies
into a body of knowledge that will serve his continued work in
theology.
I Philosophy
Fall Semester (12 credit hours)
05:513 Logical Analysis (3 hours)
05:515 Ancient Philosophy (3 hours)
10:510 The Creed in History and Theology (3
hours)
62:500 Ecclesiastical Latin I (3 hours)
Spring Semester (12 credit hours)
05:520 Medieval Philosophy (3 hours)
05:530 Philosophy of Nature and Man (3
hours)
49:501 Human Development and Christian Maturity (3
hours)
05:535 Word and Interpretation (3
hours)
II Philosophy
Fall Semester (12 credit hours)
05:510 Ethics and Natural Law (3 hours)
05:514 Philosophy of Knowledge (3 hours)
05:523 Modern Philosophy (3 hours)
20:510 Introduction to Biblical Studies (3 hours)
Spring Semester (12 credit hours)
05:540 Political Philosophy (3 hours)
05:545 Contemporary Philosophy (3 hours)
05:550 Natural Theology (3 hours)
70:300 MA Concluding Exercise Seminar (3
hours)
