Philosophy for Ministry, Certificate

Saint Louis University's certificate in philosophy for ministry, offered at the College of Philosophy and Letters, is designed for students on the path to Catholic priesthood who have already earned a bachelor’s degree. The 38 credits of coursework in this SLU program satisfy the philosophical requirements for ordination, as determined by the Conference of Catholic Bishops and Society of Jesus.

Curriculum Overview

Certificate course requirements are typically satisfied by undergraduate courses, though students may, with the approval of the dean, also meet some requirements with graduate courses.

Transfer coursework may be accepted for most requirements, but at least 16 credits must be taken after admission to the College of Philosophy and Letters, including the special ethics/social analysis courses and capstone courses.

Specific course offerings that satisfy an area requirement are determined by the dean. The three special ethics/social analysis courses are selected with a view to the student’s capstone project and may include courses from disciplines other than philosophy.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must already have a bachelor’s degree. Students in training toward ordination in the Catholic priesthood must also be approved by a religious superior or bishop to pursue training toward ordination in the Catholic priesthood.

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For priority consideration for graduate assistantship, apply by Feb. 1.

For more information, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

1. Graduates will be able to identify connections among major thinkers and ideas that have shaped the history of Western philosophy.
2. Graduates will be able to state and explain key philosophical ideas and methods suitable for understanding and analyzing contexts of Catholic ministry.
3. Graduates will be able to analyze specific challenges in the contexts of Catholic ministry using philosophy and other relevant knowledge.

†

Satisfied by historical survey courses or courses on period figures/topics; Ancient is also satisfied by PHIL 1050 Introduction to Philosophy: Self and Reality (3 cr).

‡

The Special Ethics/Social Analysis requirements may be satisfied by appropriate courses in other disciplines.

Pre-Divinity Courses in Theology (Jesuits)

Jesuit post-baccalaureate students are expected to complete, in addition to their philosophy requirements, 6-8 graduate-level theology courses, in areas approved by the Jesuit Conference and United States Provincials. The theology requirements are normally satisfied by graduate courses offered by the Department of Theological Studies or by the Aquinas Institute of Theology. Six of these courses should be selected with a view toward their counting toward a future Master of Divinity degree offered by a Jesuit Theology Center. Students consult with the dean to identify appropriate courses.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a minimum 2.00 grade point average (GPA).

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.

Program Notes

General Program Note

The certificate is normally pursued concurrently with graduate coursework in another area. Jesuit students are also expected to complete six to eight credits in graduate theology.

Introduction to Philosophy

CORE 1700 Ultimate Questions: Philosophy (3 cr) or its equivalent is a prerequisite for the program. Students who enter the certificate program with previous exposure to philosophy normally move directly to a 3000-level course, such as PHIL 3250 Philosophy of Religion (3 cr).

Approval for Course Substitutions

The determination of appropriate content for course substitutions is made by the dean of the College of Philosophy and Letters.

Integrative Seminars

These courses are required of Jesuit students only.

Social Analysis/Special Ethics Course Requirements

Courses taken to satisfy requirements for other degrees the student is pursuing at SLU may simultaneously satisfy the social analysis/special ethics requirement with the dean’s approval. To the extent possible, students should select courses that focus on areas of contextual analysis that are relevant to their envisioned capstone project. Social analysis courses include courses in social-political philosophy or courses in other disciplines, so long as course content is largely dedicated to understanding aspects of contemporary life, society or culture relevant to the context of ministry for the student’s capstone. Special ethics courses are satisfied by:

Contemporary Philosophy Requirement

Satisfied by philosophy offerings that treat thinkers from the late 19th to the 21st centuries or contemporary treatments of philosophical topics (metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of science, contemporary ethics, etc.). Special ethics courses do not satisfy this requirement.