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LAS2
Program Requirements Quarter Hours
Liberal Studies Requirements 88
Major Requirements 52
Open Electives 52
Total hours required 192

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  • Identify and explain important terms, events, and concepts in Catholicism.
  • Analyze Catholicism from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.
  • Integrate classroom learning with Vincentian ideals.

College Core Requirements

Study in the Major Field

The student’s course of study in the College consists of three parts: Liberal Studies, the major field, and electives. Together these three parts contribute to the liberal education of the student which is the common purpose of all study in the College. By “liberal education” the College understands not only a deep and thorough knowledge of a particular area of study but a knowledge of the diverse areas of study represented by criticism, history, the arts, the behavioral  and social sciences, philosophy, religious studies, the natural science, and mathematics. 

The major field program generally is built upon a set of core courses and a specialized “concentration.” The number of courses required for a major varies by department. Most students go beyond the minimum requirements, electing additional courses which both broaden and deepen their understanding of their chosen discipline. 

Because no academic major program is built in isolation, students are required to pursue a number of electives of the student’s choice. The inherent flexibility of this curriculum demands that the student consult an academic advisor at each stage in the total program and at least once prior to each registration.

Students will be prompted to visit the College Office for their official graduation check early in their senior year.

Declaration of Major, Minor and Concentration

All students in the College are required to declare a major field prior to beginning their junior year. The student will then be assigned a faculty advisor in the major field department or program and should make an appointment to see that advisor at his or her earliest convenience. 

Students must declare or change majors, minors, and concentrations, via Campus Connection. However, for the purpose of exploring the possibility of changing a major field, the student should consult an academic advisor in the Office for Academic Advising Support.

The Modern Language Requirement (MLR)  

All students will be required to demonstrate competence in a modern language (i.e., a language other than English) equivalent to the proficiency attained from one year of college-level language study. This Modern Language Requirement (MLR) may be demonstrated by:

  • placing into 104 or above on the DePaul language placement exam
  • completing the last course or earning AP/IB credit for the last course in the first-year college sequence of any language (e.g. 103 for DePaul language classes)
  • completing a college course or earning AP/IB credit for a college course beyond the first-year level in any language (e.g. 104 or above for DePaul language classes)
  • completing the final course of a four-year sequence of the same modern language in high school*
  • completing a proctored exam by BYU and passing the exam (see the Department of Modern Languages website for registration details)
  • completing a proctored Written Proficiency Test (WPT) by Language Testing International (LTI) and achieving a score of Beginner High or above (see the Department of Modern Languages website for registration details)

*Students are strongly encouraged to take the DePaul language placement exam even if they have met the MLR via study of a language in high school. This will ensure continuation of language study at the proper level.

Please note: Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Requirement.

Students who complete an Inter-College Transfer (ICT) to the College will abide by the MLR in place on the effective date of the ICT, regardless of when they first matriculated at DePaul.

Students who have met the MLR and wish to pursue further work in the language may elect the “Modern Language Option” (see below).

The Modern Language Option (MLO)

The Modern Language Option is available to all BA students who wish to study a modern language beyond the level required by their College, and to all other undergraduate students without a modern language requirement who wish to study a language at any level. 

Students selecting the MLO may substitute a sequence of three courses in the same language for three domain courses. 

The three MLO substitutions must be made in three different domains, and any substitutions must be consistent with the principle that students complete at least one course in each learning domain.

MLO substitutions may not be used to replace requirements in the Math & Computing, and Scientific Inquiry, domains. ​

Students majoring in one modern language may use the Modern Language Option for study of a second language at the Intermediate level or above.

Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Option.

NOTE: Please contact your college/school regarding additional information and restrictions about the Modern Language Option.

External Credit and Residency

A student who has been admitted to the College begins residency within the college as of the first day of classes of the term in which the student is registered. Students in residence, whether attending on a full-time or part-time basis, may not take courses away from DePaul University without the written permission of the college. Permission must be obtained in advance of registration to avoid loss of credit or residency in the college; see the LAS website for more information. 

Liberal Studies Requirements

Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year ProgramHours
Chicago Quarter
LSP 110
DISCOVER CHICAGO
or EXPLORE CHICAGO
4
Focal Point
LSP 112 FOCAL POINT SEMINAR 4
Writing
WRD 103 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1 4
WRD 104 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1 4
Quantitative Reasoning
MAT 120 QUANTITATIVE REASONING 2 4
Sophomore Year
Race, Power, and Resistance
LSP 200 SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE 4
Junior Year
Experiential Learning
Required 4
Senior Year
Capstone
Required 1 4
1

Students must earn a C- or better in this course.

2

Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam, or by credit earned for advanced math coursework at DePaul (MAT 135MAT 136MAT 147MAT 148MAT 149MAT 150MAT 151MAT 152MAT 155MAT 156MAT 160MAT 161MAT 162MAT 170MAT 171MAT 172, or equivalent) or any transfer, CLEP, IB, or AP Calculus credit. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfil any of the three QR/MCD requirements.

Learning Domains

Arts and Literature (AL)

  • 3 Courses Required

Historical Inquiry (HI)

  • 2 Courses Required 

Math and Computing (MC)

  • 2 Courses Required
    [1 CR Course and 1 SR Course]​​

Philosophical Inquiry (PI)

  • 2 Courses Required

Religious Dimensions (RD)

  • 1 Course Required

Scientific Inquiry (SI)

  • 2 Courses Required
    [1 Lab Course and 1 SWK Course]​​

Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)

  • 3 Courses Required

Notes

See Program Director for one additional course reduction.

Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major. Students who choose to take an experiential learning course offered by the major may count it either as a general elective or the Experiential Learning requirement.

In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.

Major Requirements

Course Requirements

Course Title Quarter Hours
CTH 180INTRODUCTION TO CATHOLICISM4
CTH 209THEORIES OF THE CHURCH: CONCEPTS AND CONTROVERSIES4
Select two of the following:8
EARLY CATHOLIC HISTORY: ORIGINS AND EXPANSION
CATHOLIC HISTORY FROM MEDIEVAL TO MODERN: REFORM AND REVOLUTION
CATHOLICISM IN THE MODERN AGE: SECULAR AND SACRED
Select one of the following:4
CATHOLICS AND SCRIPTURE
WHAT CATHOLICS BELIEVE
Select three courses over three of the five areas listed below12
Select four Electives, three of which must be at the 300-level 116
Select one Senior Capstone 24
1

The Study Abroad Program in Rome is encouraged.

2

One Senior Capstone (four credit hours) is required. Consult with the Department of Catholic Studies for approved Capstone options.

Areas

Philosophy, Scripture, and Theology

Course Title Quarter Hours
THE CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE
THEMES IN CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT
METHODS OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
ANCIENT ISRAEL: HISTORY, LITERATURE AND RELIGION
THE NEW TESTAMENT
THE HISTORICAL JESUS
VARIETIES OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY
THE BIBLE AS LITERATURE
THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL
MEDIEVAL MYSTICS IN EUROPE: 1000-1600 A.D.
THINKING ABOUT GOD
ROMAN CATHOLIC LITURGY
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY
MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY
TOPICS IN CATHOLIC THOUGHT
ROMAN CATHOLIC THEOLOGICAL THINKING
DEBATES ABOUT GOD
INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN ETHICS
CONTEMPORARY MORAL ISSUES
NATURE, COSMOS AND GOD: CATHOLICISM AND SCIENCE
THEORIES OF INTERPRETATION
GREEK AND MEDIEVAL THOUGHT
EARLY MODERN PHILOSOPHY
PHILOSOPHY SINCE KANT
LIBERATION THEOLOGY: THEORY AND PRACTICE
SPECIAL TOPICS IN CATHOLIC THOUGHT

Catholicism and Aesthetics

Course Title Quarter Hours
ROMAN CATHOLIC SPIRITUAL LITERATURE
CATHOLICISM AS A SPIRITUAL PATH
ART IN THE SPANISH AMERICAN EMPIRE
CATHOLIC THEMES IN CONTEMPORARY CINEMA
BYZANTINE ART
CONQUEST AND CONVERSION: THE ART OF THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES
THE AGE OF CATHEDRALS: THE ART OF THE LATER MIDDLE AGES
ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL ART
ITALIAN RENAISSANCE ART
BAROQUE ART
NORTHERN RENAISSANCE ART
ART, LITURGY AND LIFE
CATHOLIC FAITH AND MUSICAL EXPRESSION
CATHOLICISM AND LITERATURE
LITERATURE AND THE SACRED
CONTEMPORARY SPIRITUAL MEMOIRS
THE ART OF CRUSADING
LOVE IN THE CHRISTIAN TRADITION
SPECIAL TOPICS IN THE ART, MUSIC AND LITERATURE OF CATHOLICISM

Social Concerns and Moral Questions

Course Title Quarter Hours
CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING
VIRTUE ETHICS
ROMAN CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT IN CONTEXT
CONTEMPORARY MORAL ISSUES
JESUS ACROSS CULTURES
ROMAN CATHOLICISM'S ENCOUNTER WITH OTHER RELIGIONS
HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE U.S.
IRELAND: RELIGION AND THE CONTEMPORARY "TROUBLES
MEDIEVAL PEOPLE: 400 TO 1400 A.D.
CATHOLICISM IN AFRICA
CATHOLICISM AND THE FAMILY
RELIGION AND EDUCATION IN WESTERN CULTURE
GOD, JUSTICE AND REDEMPTIVE ACTION
IRELAND, 1450-1800, CONQUEST, COLONIZATION & REBELLION
IRELAND, 1800 - 2000

Vincentian Studies

Course Title Quarter Hours
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF VINCENT DE PAUL
WOMEN AND SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL
NOTABLE VINCENTIAN WOMEN
OZANAM: A VINCENTIAN LIFE

World Catholicism

Course Title Quarter Hours
INTRODUCTION TO WORLD CATHOLICISM
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN WORLD POLITICS
SPECIAL TOPICS IN THE SOCIAL DIMENSION OF CATHOLICISM

Open Electives

Open elective credit also is required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours.