What are Core Texts and Enduring Questions?
The Core Texts and Enduring Questions (CTEQ) Program at Assumption unites four academic departments—Art History, Philosophy, Theology, and Political Science—in one intellectually coherent minor. The questions about what is ultimately good, true, and beautiful endure not because there are no answers. They endure because each generation of students deserves to face these questions personally so as to see with their own eyes and not simply to be handed a doctrine that tells them authoritatively what they must pursue, think, and admire.
Why Study Core Texts and Enduring Questions?
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.
You will have opportunities beyond the classroom, with trips to major cities in the United States and Europe, lectures and seminars on campus, reading groups, complimentary theater tickets, and chances to compete in student essay contests or attend academic conferences. These opportunities enrich the intellectual experience available to CTEQ students, no matter what major they are pursuing.
The CTEQ Program exists because alumni of Assumption had their lives transformed by the education they found here, and they have endowed this program to ensure that this type of education will always be available at Assumption. There was a time when students enrolling in college expected just this sort of transformation. Today, most students go to college looking for professional training of one sort or another, and colleges have adapted to make that possible. CTEQ exists to ensure that the opportunity for a life-transforming education is still possible at the same time.
Faculty
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?)
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Faculty/Student Research
The Assumption curriculum encourages scholarly and real-world experience. With hands-on research conducted alongside faculty mentors, students gain a depth of knowledge and skills that lead to professional success and personal fulfillment.Study Abroad
At Assumption University, the world is your classroom. Students can study and explore abroad in over 50 places from Vienna to England, South Africa, and even our own campus in historic, yet modern, Rome, Italy. Assumption’s study abroad program offers culture, history, and a living classroom for all.Internships
Assumption starts planning for your future the day you arrive on campus. Our Career Development and Internship Center helps students secure exciting and fulfilling internships where you’ll apply knowledge obtained in the classroom in a professional setting, preparing for a future career or additional study. Assumption connects students to internship opportunities in corporations, government agencies, research hospitals, non-profit organizations, and more.First-rate Academics in a Catholic University Setting
Assumption University awakens in students a sense of wonder, discovery, and purpose, forming graduates known for their intellectual seriousness, thoughtful citizenship, and devotion to the common good. Students are provided an education that shapes their souls, forms them intellectually, and prepares them for meaningful careers. Enlivened by the harmony of faith and reason, here, students’ minds and hearts are transformed.