Bayer School and Catholic Studies

School of Natural and Environmental Sciences students are generally able to complete a minor in Catholic Studies. Biological Sciences students may be able to complete a second major with careful planning and course selection.

Students who declare a minor in Catholic Studies can apply for a Jeffery S. Kelly Term Scholarship. Additional details are available here.

For most programs, the first opportunity is in the first semester of Sophomore year with the Essential Questions Seminar course. EQ courses taught by Catholic Studies professors contribute to a minor.

Other Catholic Studies opportunities occur in Junior and/or Senior years. These are in the form of:

  • Bridges Competency Courses
  • Theology Requirement
  • Philosophy Requirement
  • Electives

Catholic Studies Opportunities by Program:

Programs

Biochemistry (Traditional Track)

Degree plan and Catholic Studies opportunities for a Biochemistry major:

First Year

Fall
  • BRDG 101 Writing and Analysis - 3 cr.
  • Biochemistry Major - 14 cr.
Spring
  • BRDG 100 Research & Info Skills - 1 cr.
  • BRDG 102 Writing and Literature - 3 cr.
  • Biochemistry Major - 13 cr.

Second Year

Fall
  • Biochemistry Major - 13 cr.
  • EQ Seminar (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
Spring
  • BRDG 105 Ethical Reasoning - 3 cr.
  • Biochemistry Major - 13 cr.

Third Year

Fall
  • Biochemistry Major - 13 cr.
  • Bridges (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
  • Elective (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
Spring
  • Biochemistry Major - 10 cr.
  • Theology (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.

Fourth Year

Fall
  • Biochemistry Major - 10 cr.
  • Bridges (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
Spring
  • Biochemistry Major - 4 cr.
  • Bridges x 2 (CATH opportunity) - 6 cr.
  • Philosophy (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.

Biochemistry (Pre-Health Track)

A degree plan and Catholic Studies opportunities for an Biochemistry (Pre-Health Track) is below.

Note: at least one course taken must satisfy two requirements at once, in order to free up an elective to take the required Catholic Studies minor course CATH 395 Development in the Life of the Church, which does not satisfy any Bridges requirement on its own. A number of Catholic Studies courses can facilitate this. For instance, CATH 251 Christian Philosophy fulfills Philosophy (or Theology) and Critical Thinking & Problem Solving.

First Year

Fall
  • BRDG 101 Writing and Analysis - 3 cr.
  • Biochem (Pre-Health) Major - 14 cr.
Spring
  • BRDG 100 Research & Info Skills - 1 cr.
  • BRDG 102 Writing and Literature - 3 cr.
  • Biochem (Pre-Health) Major - 13 cr.

Second Year

Fall
  • Biochem (Pre-Health) Major - 13 cr.
  • EQ Seminar (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
Spring
  • BRDG 105 Ethical Reasoning - 3 cr.
  • Biochem (Pre-Health) Major - 16 cr.

Third Year

Fall
  • Biochem (Pre-Health) Major - 16 cr.
Spring
  • Biochem (Pre-Health) Major - 13 cr.

Fourth Year

Fall
  • Biochem (Pre-Health) Major - 7 cr.
  • Bridges (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
  • Theology (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
Spring
  • Biochem (Pre-Health) Capstone - 1 cr.
  • Bridges x 3 (CATH opportunity) - 9 cr.
  • Philosophy (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.

Biological Sciences

A degree plan and Catholic Studies opportunities for a Biological Sciences major.

Note: a concentration (Molecular Biology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, or Physiology Curriculum) does not have a significant effect with respect to a Catholic Studies minor.

First Year

Fall
  • BRDG 100 Research & Info Skills - 1 cr.
  • BRDG 101 Writing and Analysis - 3 cr.
  • Biological Sciences Major - 13 cr.
Spring
  • BRDG 102 Writing and Literature - 3 cr.
  • Biological Sciences Major - 9 cr.
  • Elective (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.

Second Year

Fall
  • Biological Sciences Major - 14 cr.
  • EQ Seminar (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
Spring
  • Biological Sciences Major - 13 cr.
  • Bridges (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.

Third Year

Fall
  • BRDG 105 Ethical Reasoning - 3 cr.
  • Biological Sciences Major - 8 cr.
  • Elective (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
Spring
  • Biological Sciences Major - 14 cr.
  • Bridges (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.

Fourth Year

Fall
  • Biological Sciences Major - 9 cr.
  • Theology (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
  • Bridges (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
Spring
  • Biological Sciences Major - 6 cr.
  • Bridges (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
  • Philosophy (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
  • Elective (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.

Chemistry

Degree plan and Catholic Studies opportunities for a Chemistry major:

First Year

Fall
  • BRDG 101 Writing and Analysis - 3 cr.
  • Chemistry Major - 14 cr.
Spring
  • BRDG 100 Research & Info Skills - 1 cr.
  • BRDG 102 Writing and Literature - 3 cr.
  • Chemistry Major - 13 cr.

Second Year

Fall
  • Chemistry Major - 14 cr.
  • EQ Seminar (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
Spring
  • BRDG 105 Ethical Reasoning - 3 cr.
  • Chemistry Major - 13 cr.

Third Year

Fall
  • Chemistry Major - 10 cr.
  • Bridges (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
  • Elective (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
Spring
  • Chemistry Major - 12 cr.
  • Theology (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.

Fourth Year

Fall
  • Chemistry Major - 10 cr.
  • Bridges (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
Spring
  • Chemistry Major - 4 cr.
  • Bridges x 2 (CATH opportunity) - 6 cr.
  • Philosophy (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.

Environmental Chemistry

A degree plan and Catholic Studies opportunities for an Environmental Chemistry major is below.

Note: at least one course taken must satisfy two requirements at once, in order to free up an elective to take the required Catholic Studies minor course CATH 395 Development in the Life of the Church, which does not satisfy any Bridges requirement on its own. A number of Catholic Studies courses can facilitate this. For instance, CATH 251 Christian Philosophy fulfills Philosophy (or Theology) and Critical Thinking & Problem Solving.

First Year

Fall
  • BRDG 101 Writing and Analysis - 3 cr.
  • Environmental Chemistry Major - 14 cr.
Spring
  • BRDG 100 Research & Info Skills - 1 cr.
  • BRDG 102 Writing and Literature - 3 cr.
  • Environmental Chemistry Major - 13 cr.

Second Year

Fall
  • Environmental Chemistry Major - 13 cr.
  • EQ Seminar (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
Spring
  • BRDG 105 Ethical Reasoning - 3 cr.
  • Environmental Chemistry Major - 13 cr.

Third Year

Fall
  • Environmental Chemistry Major - 10 cr.
  • Bridges (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
Spring
  • Environmental Chemistry Major - 10 cr.
  • Bridges (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
  • Theology (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.

Fourth Year

Fall
  • Environmental Chemistry Major - 10 cr.
  • Bridges (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
Spring
  • Environmental Chemistry Major - 7 cr.
  • Bridges (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
  • Philosophy (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.

Environmental Science

Degree plan and Catholic Studies opportunities for an Environmental Science major:

First Year

Fall
  • BRDG 100 Research & Info Skills - 1 cr.
  • BRDG 101 Writing and Analysis - 3 cr.
  • Environmental Science Major - 14 cr.
Spring
  • Environmental Science Major - 16 cr.

Second Year

Fall
  • BRDG 102 Writing and Literature - 3 cr.
  • Environmental Science Major - 11 cr.
  • EQ Seminar (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
Spring
  • BRDG 105 Ethical Reasoning - 3 cr.
  • Environmental Science Major - 8 cr.
  • Bridges x 2 (CATH opportunity) - 6 cr.

Third Year

Fall
  • Environmental Science Major - 12 cr.
  • Bridges (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
Spring
  • Environmental Science Major - 13 cr.
  • Elective (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.

Fourth Year

Fall
  • Environmental Science Major - 9 cr.
  • Bridges (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
  • Elective (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
Spring
  • Environmental Science Major - 12 cr.
  • Elective (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.

Forensic Science and Law

As an accelerated Master's degree, Forensic Science and Law can be difficult to complete in such a way that a Catholic Studies minor is added. There are 4 openings in the standard suggested sequence. A fifth course in Catholic Studies is required for the minor. This is possible through taking a summer course, an overload in a Fall/Spring semester, or for students who earned College credits in high school.

First Year

Fall
  • BRDG 100 Research & Info Skills - 1 cr.
  • BRDG 101 Writing and Analysis - 3 cr.
  • Forensic Science and Law - 14 cr.
Spring
  • BRDG 102 Writing and Literature - 3 cr.
  • Forensic Science and Law - 15 cr.

Second Year

Fall
  • Forensic Science and Law - 15 cr.
Spring
  • Forensic Science and Law - 14 cr.
  • EQ Seminar (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.

Third Year

Fall
  • Forensic Science and Law - 17 cr.
Spring
  • Forensic Science and Law - 15 cr.

Fourth Year

Fall
  • Forensic Science and Law - 14 cr.
  • Bridges (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.
Spring
  • Forensic Science and Law - 13 cr.
  • Elective (CATH opportunity) - 3 cr.

Fifth Year

(No further opportunities in the Professional Phase.)

Physics (BS)

Physics degress plans allocate 25 credits to Bridges requirements, including an Essential Questions Seminar and Bridges competencies. Four of these courses are fixed (BRDG 100, 101, 102, and 105). The remaining 5 courses represent an opportunity for a Catholic Studies minor.