Catholic Studies Semester
Catholic Studies Semester
The Department of Catholic Studies offers a semester or year-long program in Rome for Catholic Studies majors and minors. Program information and applications are available at the Center for Catholic Studies, Sitzmann Hall, 2055 Summit Ave., (651) 962-5700.
Eligibility
How to Apply
Courses
Calendar
Costs and Financial Aid
Housing, Program Site and Facilities
Faculty Directors and Program Staff
Excursions and Weekend Retreats
Insurance
Italian Visa Information
Passport
Grades and Transcripts
Transportation to Rome
Volunteer Opportunities
Dates and Deadlines
- Catholic Studies major or minor
- Sophomore, junior or senior standing at time of participation
- Minimum 2.5 GPA (on 4.0 scale)
- Good disciplinary standing
Application and Selection Process
Student applications will be reviewed and students notified of acceptance or denial within two weeks following the deadline. Students must confirm their acceptance and make a $450 confirming deposit within three weeks of notification of acceptance.
Submit complete application with a non-refundable $25 application fee to the International Education Center, University of St. Thomas, 2115 Summit Ave., Mail#44C-1, St. Paul, Minnesota 55105. The International Education Center is located at 44 No. Cleveland Ave.
Request an application from the Center for Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas, tel. (651) 962-5700 or email Don Briel.
FALL COURSES - 2007
SP 1103 Church and Culture in Italy I. (Professors Teodora Rossi and Margherita Maria Rossi) This course aims at helping the students “taste” how Catholicism has--and still does--shape the lives, ways and culture of the Italian population, as well as giving them an insight into the peculiar "geography of grace" in the monuments and topography of the City of Rome. The encounter between Etruscan, Latin-Roman and Christian cultures in Rome has created a particular blend of features that have become characteristic of this city. Through a series of outside itineraries and lessons, which are meant to provide a relaxing approach to a distant and different country, the students will become aware of the riches of Rome, a City that does not possess, but offers; a city that it is not only of the Romans, but which belongs to everybody; a city that does not shine only for the ancient stones that adorn it, but also through the glances of its visitors.
SP 1104 Topics in the Politics and Economics of Europe I: Political Catholicism in the Nations of Europe. (Sr. Helen Alford, OP) This course is the first of two. In this course, we look at the political activities of Catholics in the nations of Europe, mostly in the first half of the 20th century, that is, primarily until the end of the Second World War. The most active period of Catholic politics in this time period is between the two World Wars, but to understand how this activity arose, we will need to go further back into history. This course is mainly historical, but theory is not absent: for instance, we will look at some of the political philosophy of Maritain and the idea of “corporatism,” which Catholics in the 1930’s genuinely believed to be a real alternative both to capitalism and to socialism.
Fall 2007 -- "Rome in Early Christian Literature and Imagination" (John Martens faculty member going with group)
From the beginnings of Jesus’ earthly ministry and the formation of the Church, Rome has been present in Christianity. This course will examine the way in which Rome was present in Judea during Jesus’ ministry, and its impact on the development of early Christianity, especially in Paul’s missionary travels, his trials, and in the churches he started. To this end, Paul’s Letter to the Romans will be of special significance in our study. We will also study Rome in Acts of the Apostles, as it relates to Paul and to the broader formation of Christianity itself. The Apocalypse of John and its powerful condemnation of the Roman Empire and the Emperor Cult will explore the uneasy relationship between the ancient Empire and the early Church. Finally, we will make use of later writings, such as 1 Clement, Ignatius’ Letter to the Romans and The Shepherd of Hermas to understand the role and significance of Rome in the continuing development of early Christianity.
Italian Course – Non Credit – Conversational Italian, must be completed during the semester
Electives – Choose 1 or 2
TE 2375 Spiritual Theology. (Fr. P. Murray)
The invitation to spiritual communion with God as presented in the First Letter of St. John. Study of selected tests from the Christian spiritual tradition (eg. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Romans, St. Augustine, Confessions) with special emphasis on the following themes: God’s saving mercy, prayer, the ascetical life, growth in holiness and contemporary spirituality. Bibliography: Ample bibliography will be suggested during the lectures.
FE 1022 History of Modern Philosophy B. Furgalska, S.F.B.)
1. General introduction 2. Descartes and the rationalism of Spinoza, Malebranche and Leibniz. 3. Empiricism in Locke, Berkeley and Hume. 4. Kant Bibliography. F. Copleston, A History of Philosophy, vv. 4-6 New York, 1994; E. Gilson and t. Langdon, Modern Philosophy, New York 1963; R. Scruton, A Short History of Modern Philosophy, London, 1985; G. Reale e D. Antiseri, Il pensiero occidentale dalle origini ad oggi, v. 2 Brescia 1983.
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16 credits plus the Italian language sessions are required; you have the option of taking an additional elective for a total of 20 credits. If you wish to do so, please consult with Dr. Briel
SPRING COURSES - 2008
SP 2105 Church and Culture in Italy II: Introduction to the Interrelation between the Catholic Faith and the Building of Churches and Liturgical Spaces. (Andrea Baciarlini) The course proposes to help students enter into the richness of the relationship existing between the Catholic faith and the construction of churches and liturgical spaces, so as to understand the meaning and symbolism of the buildings and the historical and social reasons behind them. The focus of the course is Rome, but a wider, general overview of the situation elsewhere will also be given.
SP 2115 Topics in the Politics and Economics of Europe II: Europe After the Second World War—Christian Democracy and Post-War European Political Institutions. (Sr. Helen Alford, OP) In this course, the focus is on postwar Catholic political activity, especially at the level of Europe. We will look at the flowering of the Christian democratic tradition after World War II and at European integration and the Catholic influence on this. Catholics become les identifiable as a particular block in national politics after the war, but they are crucial to the Christian democratic parties. Key Catholics are also crucial in the development of the European Union. This course is more theoretical and less historical than SP 1104, but again both are important in understanding the impact of Catholics on politics in Europe.
Spring 2008 – The thought of John Paul II and Cardinal Ratzinger (Dr. Gregory Coulter, UST faculty member going with the group)
The course will examine various writings of John Paul II and Cardinal Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) with a view to uncovering their philosophical content. One purpose of this work is to discover how philosophic ideas are employed in arguments on social, moral and metaphysical topics. Possible topics include the relation of faith to reason, religious pluralism and religious freedom, culture, truth, conscience, law, solidarity, sexuality and human life. Basic logical analysis will be an essential element in achieving these aims.
Italian Course – Non Credit – Conversational Italian, must be completed during the semester
Electives – Choose 1 or 2
SP 2693, God and the Poets (Murray) In Scripture it is abundantly clear that God chooses to speak at times through poetry. And it is in poetry also that Christian men and women have, over the centuries, often expressed their deep love for God and their faith in Him. In this course, apart from a brief examination of the general relationship between poetry and Christian faith, our attention will be given to selected texts from the following poets: Dante, St. John of the Cross, George Herbert, Shakespeare, Gerard Manley Hopkins and T. S. Eliot. Bibliography: H. Bremond, Prayer and Poetry, Burns Oats, London 1927; H. L. Weatherby, The Keen Delight: The Christian Poet in the Modern World, Georgia Press, Athens 1975; P. Murray, T.S. Eliot and Mysticism, Macmillan, London 1991; H. Urs Von Balthasar, The Glory of God, vol. 3, Studies in Theological Style: Lay Styles, T & T Clark, Edinburgh 1989.
FI 2016, History of Medieval Philosophy (Fr. A. Wilder) 1. The patristic period. 2. The scholastic period: a) the pre-scholastics, b) the first scholastics, c) the Islamic and Jewish Philosophers, d) the high scholastics, e) the late scholastics. Bibliography includes: F van Steenberghen, Historie de la philosophie: période chrétienne, Louvain, 1964; E. Gilson, Christian Philosophy in the Middle Ages, New York 1954; . M. DeRijk, La philosophie au moyen âge, Leyden, 1985; N. Kretzmann, etc., The Cambridge History of Later Medieval Philosophy, Cambridge, 1982; F Copleston, A History of Philosophy, v. 2, Garden City, NY 1962.
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16 credits plus the Italian language sessons are required; you have the option of taking an additional elective for a total of 20 credits. If you wish to do so, please consult with Dr. Briel
Calendar 2008-2009
Fall Semester
Depart U.S. September 26
Arrival Rome September 27
Orientation begins September 29
Classes begin October 6
Break begins December 20
Classes resume January 6
Program ends January 30
Note: UST spring semester begins on February 2, 2009
Spring Semester
Depart U.S. February 6
Arrival Rome February 7
Orientation begins February 9
Classes begin February 16
Break begins April 4
Classes resume April 19
Program ends June 5
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Costs
2008-2009 Program Fee Information
2008-2009 Program Budget Information
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Financing Your Semester in Rome
Studying abroad typically costs a bit more than studying in St. Paul. The exchange rate of the dollar to the Euro is very low, and you will have to cover additional expenses such as airfare, passport, and weekend travel. Be certain to check with your financial aid counselor about your individual situation before you commit to the program by making your $450 deposit. You will have information on the program costs prior the deadline by which you must make your deposit to hold your place in the program.
Financial Aid
If you have any financial aid or will seek financial aid to study abroad, you must make an appointment with your personal financial aid counselor in Student Financial Services within 10 days of receiving your 2008-09 Notification of Financial Aid Award. Susan Brady is available for students who do not have a regular counselor in Financial Aid. Schedule all appointments via the Visit Line at 651.962.6634.
Scholarships
Some scholarships are targeted for students studying abroad. International Education lists scholarships available for study abroad, and the department of Catholic Studies has scholarships available for students with financial need who are participating in the Catholic Studies/Angelicum program in Rome. Information about these scholarships is available on the Catholic Studies web site.
Housing, Program Site and Facilities
Housing is provided at the St. Thomas Bernardi Rome Center at Lungotevere delle Armi 16, on the Tiber River. Located in the Prati section of Rome, directly across from the Borghese Gardens, it is a 20-minute walk to the Vatican and a 30-to 40-minute walk to the Angelicum.
The recently renovated residence has preserved a uniquely Italian sensibility with its 20-foot ceilings with carved moldings, shuttered windows, granite and marble floors, wrought-iron fence and gates and its charming, 50-seat chapel. The Luisa and Dante Seghiere Chapel provides students a quiet place for meditation and prayer, and mass is offered regularly.
The residence also features a modern dining room, where breakfast and evening meals are served, a computer room with internet connection to the St. Thomas system, a student lounge with television, and public sitting rooms. Laundry facilities are available in the residence.
Gardens surround the building and cap it, too: A rooftop garden overlooks the city and provides a 360-degree view of the Rome skyline, from the mountains to the northeast to St. Peter's Basilica in the southwest. The ground-level garden includes lemon and lime trees to harvest.
Student Rooms
Two corridors of student rooms provide housing for men and women. Rooms are primarily doubles, with some triples and singles available. A bed, desk and chair, desk lamp, and wardrobe is provided for each student. Each room has a telephone with a voice mailbox, and a clock radio. Weekly linen service is provided. Students share bathrooms on the corridor, with typically no more than two rooms to each bath.
Meal Plan
Students receive breakfast daily, including cereal, rolls, fruit, yogurt, juice, coffee and tea. Students have dinner at the residence 2 nights a week, and receive vouchers for dinners for 3 more nights -- for a total of 5 dinners.
Mail
Students' mail may be sent airmail to this address:
Student Name
c/o Catholic Studies Program
University of St. Thomas: Rome Campus
Lungotevere delle Armi, 16
00195 Rome
ITALY
Faculty Directors and Program Staff
- Bernardi Campus Director: Thanos Zyngas
- Sr. Helen Alford, Faculty of Social Science and Angelicum Program Director
St. Thomas Faculty Directors for 2008-2009:
- Fall Semester: Dr. William Cavanaugh, UST Theology Faculty
- Spring Semester: TBA
Chaplain: Father Frank Carola, S.J. serves as chaplain for the program. He offers mass regularly in the residence chapel, leads the semester retreat, is available for confession and can arrange for spiritual direction.
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Excursions and Weekend Retreats
Included as part of the program are study tours to Bologna in the fall and Ravenna in the spring. Most of the courses will also include site visits. The St. Thomas faculty director will organize more informal events and trips in which students may elect to participate at their own cost.
Each semester a weekend retreat is planned at the English College villa near the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo. The villa is on a lake and offers respite from the activity of Rome. Students will have time for quiet prayer and reflection as well as community life and activities.
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Insurance
All students participating in St. Thomas study abroad programs are required to verify that they hold health and hospitalization insurance that will cover them while abroad.
Once in Rome you are required by the Italian government to hold the I.N.A. Assitalia, the Italian national hospitalization insurance. This insurance is included in the program fee and is obtained during the orientation in Rome.
As a participant in this program, you will also receive the International Student ID card, which provides supplementary health insurance including medical evacuation and repatriation insurance.
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Italian Visa Information
U.S. citizens are required to obtain a visa if their stay in Italy will exceed 90 days. St. Thomas will assist all students on the program in obtaining a visa (which is actually a stamp in your passport granting permission to remain in the country for a specified period of time). Upon acceptance to the program, St. Thomas will provide you with a visa application and the instructions to complete it properly.
Students must submit their completed visa application to St. Thomas by June 1st for fall or by November 1st for spring; St. Thomas will submit the application to the Italian Consulate on the student's behalf and the passport with visa will be returned to the IEC. The cost of the student visa is covered in the program fee.
Students are advised NOT to arrange any international travel plans during the period 90-days prior to departure for Rome since your passport needs to be submitted with your visa application. Any international travel plans (including January Term courses prior to a Spring Semester in Rome) may jeopardize your ability to obtain an Italian visa, and you will be required to apply for your visa without the help of St. Thomas.
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Grades and Transcripts
St. Thomas receives grade reports from the Angelicum and records the courses, credits and grades received for each student on the St. Thomas transcripts. Each course is worth four semester credits. A conversion is made for the Italian grades to U.S. letter grades.
Non-St. Thomas students may request that the transcript be forwarded to the Registrar on their home campus. One transcript is provided to each student at no cost.
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St. Thomas will offer a round-trip group flight from MSP each semester, but a minimum number of students is required to secure the rate. Information will be distributed to confirmed students during the semester prior to study in Rome. This group flight is the one designated for ground transportation to the Bernardi Residence upon arrival in Rome.
If students have different departure sites and dates, students make their own travel arrangements to Rome.
You will be provided with the arrival information and instruction on how to get from the airport or train station to the Bernardi Campus. You should check with your home campus International Office for suggestions on travel arrangers. Be sure to inquire about a student discount on airfare.
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Volunteer Opportunities
As Service is an essential part of Catholic life, all students are strongly encouraged to serve Rome's poor. You may chose to work with such communities as the Missionaries of Charity, the Little Sisters of the Poor, or the Saint Egidio Movement, providing ample opportunity for reflection on your life and vocation as a member of the larger Catholic community.
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Get an application! Pick up from the Center for Catholic Studies, on the corner of Summit and Cleveland, or call (651) 962-5700.
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Application Deadlines Spring Semester: Fall Semester: |
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Group Meetings for Fall 2008 students
Italian student visas, St. Thomas Forms, pre-departure requirements,program payments, registration, logistics. |
11:45 - 1:00 11:45 - 1:00 |
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Orientation (Required) |
9:00 - 2:00 |
| Visa Signing Session | 11:45 - 1:00 Thursday, May 1st IEC, 44 N. Cleveland |
