The Minor in Catholic Social Tradition is an interdisciplinary minor that explores the rich tradition of the Church’s social doctrine. Students will gain a deep knowledge of both the magisterial texts of this tradition and the “signs of the times” that inspired popes, synods, and bishops’ conferences to expand this body of teaching. They will also become familiar with the scholarship of theologians actively working in this field.

CST is rooted in several core concepts, including: justice, the common good, solidarity, human dignity, integral human development, subsidiarity, integral ecology, and the preferential option for the poor. These concepts feature throughout the courses on the Minor.

The Church’s social doctrine begins with the pontificate of Leo XIII when he issued Rerum Novarum (1891), an encyclical letter dedicated to the plight of the working poor in industrial Europe. Since then, popes have drawn upon Rerum Novarum to broaden Pope Leo’s set of social, economic and political concerns. Popes, regional bishops’ conferences, and Synods continue to address urgent local and global issues across all spheres of life from the family to international politics.

Today, the human family faces several urgent moral challenges. In response to this, the Church’s social teaching seeks to engage in collaborative intellectual engagement on matters such as ecological justice, human trafficking, homelessness, poverty, war and conflict, and migration. In so doing, it helps advance interdisciplinary, sophisticated thinking that is rooted in human dignity and the common good.

Graduates of Notre Dame assume leadership positions in a broad spectrum of professions and spheres of life, ranging from politics, law, education, science, the media, technology, and the military. This Minor in Catholic Social Tradition is a resource for Notre Dame students to critically engage with the Church’s social mission in the world, and to be inspired to become agents of positive social transformation throughout their lives.

The Minor in Catholic Social Tradition involves 15 credits of coursework. Students must take five 3-credit courses, which includes a Gateway course (3 credits), a Senior Capstone course (3 credits), and three electives.

If you have questions about the CST minor, please contact one of the co-directors: Suzanne Mulligan at smulliga@nd.edu or Margaret Pfeil at mpfeil1@nd.edu.