Discipleship Stage

The four-year liberal arts curriculum, leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree, may be completed with a major in Philosophy, a double major in Philosophy and Literature, or a double major in Philosophy and Theology. In all cases, a minimum of 128 semester hours must be completed. A four-semester interdisciplinary humanities sequence forms the core of the general education curriculum in which students trace the elements of culture through a series of key texts supported by an integrating narrative. Other courses in the curriculum complement the historical chronology of this core while retaining their disciplinary distinctions.

Seminarians in the Bachelor of Arts program participate in the complete program of formation at Mount Angel Seminary, i.e., Human, Spiritual, Intellectual, and Pastoral Formation.

Program Outcomes

1. Students will articulate the broad contours of the Western intellectual tradition from the perspective of Christian humanism, discerning its theological orientation and using critical reasoning and situationally appropriate communication skills.
2. In preparation for the graduate study of theology for the Catholic priesthood, students will demonstrate a sound grasp of philosophy and the fundamental beliefs and practices of the Catholic faith, integrating faith and reason.
3. Students will demonstrate an ability to integrate and direct classroom learning towards their formation as Christian disciples, in their personal knowledge and faith in Jesus Christ, their growth in virtue, and the ordering of their learning towards self-giving service.

The MA (Philosophy) curriculum at Mount Angel is designed for qualified seminarians in the Discipleship Stage who wish to deepen their knowledge of philosophy. With greater rigor and extended coursework/examination/research, such students that qualify, can earn an MA (Philosophy) degree.  Unless otherwise specified, the general policies of the MA (Theology) program also apply to the MA (Philosophy) program.

Program Outcomes

Students engage in 36 hours of classroom instruction combined with 4 hours of thesis writing and 4 hours of comprehensive examination. To this end, students will:

1. Show a solid grasp of the field of philosophy: different eras in the history of philosophy; the different subdivisions of philosophy; philosophical methodology and philosophical content.
2. Demonstrate a capacity for graduate-level research: how to use library/information resources, how to formulate a thesis, and produce a thesis-project outline with bibliography.

The Certificate in Philosophy at Mount Angel Seminary is designed for seminarians who ordinarily already have an undergraduate degree but require additional academic formation before entering the theology program.

Program Outcomes

In accord with the PPF, Mount Angel Seminary’s Discipleship Stage has the comprehensive goal of preparing candidates to participate fully in priestly formation at the Configuration Stage. Because the primary academic goal is to provide a foundation for graduate theology and ministry, Discipleship seminarians take courses in Philosophy, Theology, and other related areas, supplemented by field education placements. In this program:

1. Students will articulate the broad contours of the Western intellectual tradition from the perspective of Christian humanism, discerning its theological orientation and using critical reasoning and situationally appropriate communication skills.
2. In preparation for the graduate study of theology for the Catholic priesthood, students will demonstrate a sound grasp of philosophy and the fundamental beliefs and practices of the Catholic faith, integrating faith and reason.
3. Students will demonstrate an ability to integrate and direct classroom learning towards their formation as Christian disciples, in their personal knowledge and faith in Jesus Christ, their growth in virtue, and the ordering of their learning towards self-giving service.