Saint Joseph Seminary College

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

REQUIREMENTS FOR DEGREES

The degree of Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and the Liberal Arts is granted to those students who fulfill the following general minimum requirements:
1. 124 semester hours in courses specified below or approved by the Academic Dean, with at least 56 hours of upper-division courses. Any student seeking a degree from Saint Joseph Seminary College is required to be a full-time resident student, taking a minimum of 12 semester hours each semester of enrollment. Courses required by Saint Joseph Seminary College and taken at another college will not be accepted for transfer credit unless previously approved as such by the Academic Dean.
2. Ordinarily, the last 32 semester hours of credit must be in residence at Saint Joseph Seminary College.
3. Maintain a cumulative C average in the courses applicable toward the degree and in upper-division required courses.
4. As specified in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Program of Priestly Formation, there will be a minimum of 30 semester hours in philosophy and 12 semester hours in undergraduate theology.
5. Six semester hours in Latin are required for satisfying the language requirement; additional hours may be undertaken through four to six hours of another language or by a further four to six hours of Latin.
6. Completion, submission and defense of the Capstone Portfolio.
7. Payment of the graduation fee and presence at the graduation exercises are required of all who receive a degree.
The degree of Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Theological Studies is granted to those students who fulfill the following general minimum requirements:
1. Hold 60 or more hours of applicable credit from another institution (see description under Programs).
2. Ordinarily, the last 31 semester hours of credit must be in residence at Saint Joseph Seminary College.
3. Maintain a cumulative C average in the courses applicable toward the degree and in upper division required courses.
4. As specified in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Program of Priestly Formation, there will be a minimum of 30 semester hours in philosophy and 12 semester hours in undergraduate theology.
5. Six semester hours in Latin are required toward satisfying the language requirement.
6. Completion, submission and defense of the Capstone Portfolio.
7. Payment of the graduation fee and presence at the graduation exercises are required of all who receive a degree.

CAPSTONE PORTFOLIO

Submission and defense of the Capstone Portfolio are required of all students at Saint Joseph Seminary College. The Capstone Portfolio is a collection of the student's work and personal reflection which demonstrates an acceptable level of integration and synthesis, both among academic subjects within the liberal arts, and between academic and formational interests. This collection is defended by means of an oral presentation in the spring semester of the students' senior year.

The purpose of the Capstone Portfolio, in addition to providing the students an opportunity to display their work and highlight their writing skills, is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the College's academic programs in promoting development of the whole person and fostering the commitment of seminarians to the Roman Catholic priesthood.

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

The Louisiana Board of Regents has established Statewide General Education Requirements which are found in Board of Regents Academic Affairs Policy 2.16; Statewide General Education Requirements. The goals of the Statewide General Education Requirements are that the undergraduate completer shall attain appropriate competencies in the following areas; oral and written communication, reading, abstract reasoning and critical thinking, the scientific method, technological and informational applications, cultural diversity, fine and performing arts, a personal value; and American political and economic systems.

Therefore, St. Joseph Seminary College furthers these goals by providing a common general education core curriculum which

Furthers the development of the intellectual potential of each student
Assures proficiency in basic English skills so that students are able to communicate effectively in both writing and speech
Assures proficiency in mathematics so that students are able to understand and use numerical data appropriate to their chosen career field
Develops scientific literacy and an understanding of the scientific method as well as a familiarity with the key technological applications of the basic sciences
Fosters those habits necessary to the pursuit of knowledge in a systematic way so that students are able to learn independently and sustain life-long learning
Assures exposure to the rich heritage of human culture so that students are able to recognize and appreciate cultural diversity
Encourages appreciation of the arts so that students are able to understand the nature and value of the fine and performing arts
Presents the great ideas, issues and questions concerning nature, society and the individual in a systematic and analytical manner
Develops an awareness of value systems in the student's own and other cultures so that students can develop a personal value system that includes respect for other traditions
Develops an understanding of the American political and economic system in the context of the world order

All baccalaureate degrees include minimum general education requirements. Gerneral education requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and the Liberal Arts are listed below. General Education requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Philosphy and Theological Studies are described in paragraph two of "Special Admission Information and Other Notices" on page 33 of The College Bulletin.

English composition - 6 hours
Fine Arts - 3 hours
History - 6 hours
Latin - 6 hours
Literature - 3 hours
Mathematics - 3 hours
Natural Science - 6 hours
Philosophy - 9 hours
Psychology - 3 hours
Theology - 6 hours

MAJOR PROGRAM GOALS AND OUTCOMES

The purpose of major baccalaureate programs at Saint Joseph Seminary College is to prepare students for graduate work in theology through close study of philosophy and other liberal arts subjects. As a coherent course of study that emphasizes integration and synthesis among philosophy and other liberal arts, major programs aim for the following goals:

To provide the student with concentrations of study appropriate for entrance into graduate study at a Roman Catholic theologate, as designated in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Program of Priestly Formation.
To provide the student with a survey of the major achievements and the major moral and philosophical questions of Western civilization.
To introduce the student to basic theological principles.
To provide the student with opportunities to develop effective reasoning and critical and creative thinking.
To assist the student in appreciating the need for life-long growth and integration in intellectual, spiritual, human, and pastoral formation.
To assist the student in understanding the need for pastoral charity, expressed through service to one's neighbor.

Student learning outcomes proceeding from the major program goals listed above are expressed in the following measures:

The student will evidence curricular preparation for entrance into graduate study in a Roman Catholic theologate.
The student will demonstrate an appreciation for the past, particularly for the development of philosophical inquiry in Western civilization, in the context of the liberal arts.
The student will demonstrate a basic knowledge of Sacred Scripture and the Catholic faith.
The student will reason effectively and think both critically and creatively.
The student will manifest a mature and healthy lifestyle.
The student will show a foundation for holistic spirituality, a desire for Christian service, and growth in discernment to a vocation to the Roman Catholic priesthood.