Philosophy for Ministry, B.A.
Saint Louis University's Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy for Ministry allows you to combine a major in philosophy with a general-education concentration that either focuses more intensely on the humanities or allows for the study of a second language.
Saint Louis University also offers an Archdiocesan philosophy for ministry, B.A. (specifically for students on track to ordination to diocesan priesthood) and a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy for Ministry through the College for Philosophy and Letters, as well as a traditional Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy through the College of Arts and Sciences.
Curriculum Overview
The concentration options in SLU's Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy for Ministry program leave considerable room for electives. Core, major and concentration requirements may simultaneously satisfy requirements for a second major, minor or certificate in other schools and colleges, provided the content is appropriate.
Careers
Saint Louis University's Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy for Ministry provides both the philosophical and intellectual background needed for further studies in theology and ministry. Options for students who envision a future in areas of ministry and service to the Church include:
- For future priests, the philosophical requirements for ordination
- For servants of the Church, tools for reflecting on contexts of ministry
- For dedicated Catholics, opportunities to integrate your wider studies and interests with your faith
Admission
Admission requirements for each candidate’s religious order or diocese in the area of academic achievement, personal character and spiritual ideals must be met. Lay students must articulate a serious desire for Catholic ministry.
Admission Requirements
Saint Louis University also accepts the Common Application.
Freshman
All applications are thoroughly reviewed with the highest degree of individual care and consideration to all credentials that are submitted. Solid academic performance in college preparatory coursework is a primary concern in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file.
To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, applicants must be graduating from an accredited high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score or take the General Education Development (GED) test.
Transfer
Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED.
Students who have attempted fewer than 24 semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must follow the above freshmen admission requirements. Students who have completed 24 or more semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must submit transcripts from all previously attended college(s).
In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the Office of Admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of Saint Louis University. Where applicable, transfer students will be evaluated on any courses outlined in the continuation standards of their preferred major.
International Applicants
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
- Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
- Proof of financial support must include:
- A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
- A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
- Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken post-secondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
Tuition
| Tuition/Fee | Per Semester | Per Credit |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Tuition | $20,460 | $1,410 |
| Newman Center | $225 |
Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:
Information on Tuition and Fees
Scholarships and Financial Aid
There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:
- Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
- Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided through grants and loans, some of which require repayment.
Saint Louis University makes every effort to keep our education affordable. In fiscal year 2023, 99% of first-time freshmen and 92% of all students received financial aid and students received more than $459 million in aid University-wide.
For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by December 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.
For more information on scholarships and financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.
- Graduates will be able to identify connections among major thinkers and ideas that have shaped the history of Western philosophy.
- Graduates will be able to state and explain key philosophical ideas and methods suitable for understanding and analyzing contexts of Catholic ministry.
- Graduates will be able to analyze specific challenges in the contexts of Catholic ministry using philosophy and other relevant knowledge.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate knowledge of relevant humanistic, social-scientific, and STEM resources for understanding today’s world, as a context of Catholic ministry.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate University Core | 32-35 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| Latin, Greek, or Modern Language | 9 | |
Complete through the intermediate level; may be satisfied by a passing grade on an approved language proficiency examination. | ||
| Theology | 6 | |
| Epistemology | 3 | |
| Philosophy of Religion | 3 | |
| Philosophy of Human Nature | 3 | |
| Ethics | 3 | |
| Ancient Greek Philosophy † | 3 | |
| Medieval Philosophy † | 3 | |
| Modern Philosophy † | 3 | |
| Contemporary Philosophy † | 3 | |
| Social Analysis/Special Ethics ‡ | 9 | |
| Capstone Preparation | 2 | |
| Capstone Project | 3 | |
PLJ 4960 | Capstone Project | |
| Concentrations | ||
| Select one of the following concentrations: | 30 | |
| General Electives | 5 | |
| Total Credits | 120-123 | |
- †
The historical period courses are normally satisfied by history of philosophy courses, but courses on appropriate historical figures and topics may also count, with approval of the Dean. Contemporary Philosophy includes late 19th century to present.
- ‡
The Social Analysis/Special Ethics requirements may be satisfied by courses in other disciplines, provided their content is appropriate; these courses may also simultaneously satisfy other core requirements or concentration requirements.
Humanities and Social Sciences Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English, American, or World Literature | 9 | |
| Fine Arts or Art History | 6 | |
| History | 9 | |
| Natural Science | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Language Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English, American, or World Literature | 6 | |
| Fine Arts or Art History | 3 | |
| History | 6 | |
| Natural Science | 6 | |
| A second foreign language through the intermediate level | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Continuation Standards
Students must maintain a minimum 2.00 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.
Humanities Concentration
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| CORE 1600 | Ultimate Questions: Theology | 3 |
| CORE 1700 | Ultimate Questions: Philosophy | 3 |
| ENGL 1900 | Advanced Strategies of Rhetoric and Research | 3 |
| Language | 3 | |
| Art/Art History | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 2050 | Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 3250 | Philosophy of Religion | 3 |
| Ancient Philosophy (if needed) Normally satisfied by PHIL 4400, but other courses with appropriate content may also qualify | 3 | |
| PLJ 4900 | Integration Seminar | 1 |
| Theology | 3 | |
| Language | 3 | |
| Math/Logic (if Ancient is not taken) | 3 | |
| Credits | 19 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| Medieval Philosophy (normally satisfied by PHIL 4500, but other courses in medieval thinkers/topics may also qualify) | 3 | |
| Natural Science | 3 | |
| Theology | 3 | |
| Language | 3 | |
| Social Sciences (May count as a Social Analysis course) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Modern Philosophy (Normally satisfied by PHIL 4600, but other courses on modern thinkers/topics may also qualify) | 3 | |
| Philosophy of Human Nature (if needed) Normally satisfied by PHIL 3300, but other courses with appropriate content may also qualify | 3 | |
| Art/Art History | 3 | |
| History | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Elective | 1-2 | |
| Credits | 16-17 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| Epistemology (Satisfied by multiple offerings, including PHIL 3600 and philosophy of science courses) | 3 | |
| Contemporary Philosophy | 3 | |
| Social Analysis: Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Natural Science | 3 | |
| History | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Social Analysis/Special Ethics | 3 | |
| Social Sciences (May count as Social Analysis course) | 3 | |
| History | 3 | |
| Math/Logic (if not taken in semester 2) | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| Social Analysis (if needed) | 3 | |
| Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Capstone Preparation | 2 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| PLJ 4960 | Capstone Project | 3 |
| Social Analysis/Special Ethics (if needed) | 3 | |
| Art/Art History | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 127-128 | |
Language Concentration
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| CORE 1600 | Ultimate Questions: Theology | 3 |
| CORE 1700 | Ultimate Questions: Philosophy | 3 |
| ENGL 1900 | Advanced Strategies of Rhetoric and Research | 3 |
| Language I | 3 | |
| Art/Art History | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 2050 | Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 3250 | Philosophy of Religion | 3 |
| Ancient Philosophy (if needed) Normally satisfied by PHIL 4400, but other courses with appropriate content may also qualify | 3 | |
| PLJ 4900 | Integration Seminar (See Program Notes) | 1 |
| Theology | 3 | |
| Language I | 3 | |
| Math/Logic (if Ancient is not taken) | 3 | |
| Credits | 19 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| Medieval Philosophy (normally satisfied by PHIL 4500, but other courses in medieval thinkers/topics may also qualify) | 3 | |
| Natural Science | 3 | |
| Theology | 3 | |
| Language I | 3 | |
| Social Sciences (May count as a Social Analysis course) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Modern Philosophy (Normally satisfied by PHIL 4600, but other courses on modern thinkers/topics may also qualify) | 3 | |
| Philosophy of Human Nature (if needed) Normally satisfied by PHIL 3300, but other courses with appropriate content may also qualify | 3 | |
| Language II | 3 | |
| History | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| Epistemology (Satisfied by multiple offerings, including PHIL 3600 and philosophy of science courses) | 3 | |
| Contemporary Philosophy | 3 | |
| Social Analysis: Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Natural Science | 3 | |
| Language II | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Social Analysis/Special Ethics | 3 | |
| Social Sciences (May count as Social Analysis course) | 3 | |
| Math/Logic (if not taken in semester 2) | 3 | |
| Language II | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| Social Analysis/Special Ethics (if needed) | 3 | |
| Social Sciences (May count as a Social Analysis course) | 3 | |
| History | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Capstone Preparation | 2 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| PLJ 4960 | Capstone Project | 3 |
| Social Analysis/Special Ethics (if needed) | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Electives | 3-6 | |
| Credits | 12-15 | |
| Total Credits | 126-129 | |
Program Notes
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 other requirements (such as the social sciences requirement) 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:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 3360 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 3380 | Business Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 3400 | Ethics & Engineering | 3 |
| PHIL 3420 | Environmental and Ecological Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 3430 | Philosophy of Law | 3 |
Contemporary Philosophy Requirement
Satisfied by philosophy offerings that treat thinkers from the late-nineteenth to the twenty-first century or contemporary treatments of philosophical topics (metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of science, contemporary ethics, etc.). Special ethics courses do not satisfy this requirement.