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.

Core Texts & Enduring Questions Program

Program Tracks Available

Minor

Admission Deadline

Early Decision: November 15

Early Action: November 15

Early Action II: December 15

Regular Decision: March 15 (Preferred status deadline)

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School

D'Amour College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Department

Interdisciplinary Studies, Art & Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Theology

Program Overview

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.

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Program Contact

Marc D. Guerra, Ph.D.

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Professor of Theology

508-767-7551 mguerra@assumption.edu La Masion - 002

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

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Program Curriculum

Minor

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.

Faculty

Marc D. Guerra, Ph.D. Director, Core Texts & Enduring Questions program Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Professor of Theology

Matthew Briel, Ph.D. Assistant Professor

Bernard J. Dobski, Ph.D. Professor of Political Science

Daniel P. Maher, Ph.D Professor of Philosophy

Daniel Mahoney, Ph.D. Professor of Political Science Augustinian Boulanger Chair

Molly Brigid McGrath, Ph.D Professor of Philosophy Director of Center for Teaching Excellence

Ty Monroe, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Theology

Toby Norris, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Art History

Samuel A. Stoner, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Philosophy

Gregory S. Weiner, Ph.D President Professor Political Science

Experiential Learning

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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.

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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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.