Members of Assumption's CTEQ program
Undergraduate

Core Texts & Enduring Questions

The CTEQ Program unites four separate departments—Art History, Philosophy, Theology, and Political Science—in one integrated minor. Students explore perennial human questions regarding justice, beauty, human nature, and God.

The Core Texts & Enduring Questions Program (CTEQ) is a unique program at Assumption University. This select Catholic liberal arts program offers an intellectually rich interdisciplinary minor that complements any pre-professional, natural science, mathematics, or humanities major.  Students in this engaging program attend lectures by nationally known speakers, compete in student essay contests, take part in intercollegiate student research conferences, and travel on CTEQ class-related trips to major cities in the United States and Europe.

Specifically designed for those students seeking an intense and integrated liberal arts education as they simultaneously pursue a specialized major, the CTEQ minor brings faculty and students together to study great works of human thought not simply to learn something about them and their authors, but, more importantly, to learn something vital and enduring about ourselves as human beings.

Believing that the dialogue between the best of ancient and modern thought gives us profound access to permanent truths about ourselves and our world, the CTEQ minor contributes to the integration of students’ specialized education by allowing them to hone their reasoning, writing, and speaking skills as they engage in a substantive, ongoing dialogue about timeless human questions and perennial human goals. 

 

Program Contact

Daniel P. Maher, Ph.D

Professor of Philosophy, Director of CTEQ
508-767-7575 Tsotsis Family Academic Center Room 248

Events

Apr 06
2024
Department of Art & Music Student Recital
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Chapel of the Holy Spirit

An Ideal Place To Learn

100%
All classes taught by professors, none by teaching assistants
Students from 29 states and 21 countries
11:1
Student/Faculty ratio

Program Curriculum

  • Students are required to take the following courses to fulfill obligations for the minor:

    Required Courses
    ARH 160 Art Ancient & Modern: The Question of Beauty (fulfills 3 credit hours in the “Culture and Expression” area of the core curriculum)
    THE 153 Revelation: Ancient & Modern (fulfills 3 credit hours as a second required theology course in the core curriculum)
    PHI 245 Reason: Ancient & Modern (fulfills 3 credit hours in the “Great Conversation” area of the core curriculum)
    POL 350 Republicanism: Ancient & Modern (fulfills 3 credit hours in the “Great Conversation” area of the core curriculum)
    Choose from Two of the Following Single Book Seminars
    THE 285 Augustine’s The City of God
    ARH 325 Nietzsche and the Avant-Garde
    PHI 351 Plato’s Republic
    POL 356 The Prince Among Republics
    POL 358 Tocqueville’s Democracy in America
    PHI 375 Nietzsche’s Beyond Good and Evil

    Course Descriptions

  • 4/20/2022. Fortin Gonthier Lecture-5:00pm Fuller Auditorium
    Lecture title: “Contempt and Civic Animosity: Can We Achieve Rational Disagreement”

    This year’s lecture will be given by Dr. Thomas Hibbs, the J. Newton Rayzor Sr. Professor of Philosophy and Dean Emeritus of Baylor University. The author and/or editor of seven books, most recently Wagering on an Ironic God: Pascal on Philosophy and Faith, Dr. Hibbs has served as Dean of the Honors College at Baylor University and President of The University of Dallas.

  • Rémi Brague, Fortin/Gonthier Lecture, October 24, 2018

     

    CTEQ Greece 2019 Trip

    Temple of Apollo Corinth

    CTEQ Greece Trip

    CTEQ Greece 2019 trip

Faculty

Daniel P. Maher, Ph.D
Director, Core Texts & Enduring Questions program Professor of Philosophy Director of CTEQ
Matthew C. Briel, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Bernard J. Dobski, Ph.D.
Professor of Political Science
Heidi Gearhart, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Art History
Marc D. Guerra, Ph.D
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Professor of Theology
Molly Brigid McGrath, Ph.D
Professor of Philosophy Director of Center for Teaching Excellence
Ty Monroe, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Theology Department Chair, Theology
Toby Norris, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Art History
Samuel A. Stoner, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Philosophy

Experiential Learning

Assumption's Rome Campus

At Assumption's campus in Rome, Italy, the city and the country become your classroom through daily and weekend-long excursions throughout "the eternal city" and the Italian countryside. This unique study abroad experience will enrich your academic and cultural pursuits as you walk in the footsteps of emperors and gladiators then enjoy delectable Italian cuisine or perhaps a cappuccino after class in a local cafe. (Did you know that your financial aid follows you to Rome?)

Explore the Rome Campus

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Programs Related to Core Texts & Enduring Questions

Art History

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CTEQ Pre-College Program

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Global Studies

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Graphic Design

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History

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Honors Program

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Music

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Philosophy

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Political Science

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Pre-Law

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Studio Art

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Theology

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Women's Studies

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