Catholic Social tradition (CST) Minor
Because Justice is Major
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.
“CST is more than just an academic pursuit — it impacts how we think about ourselves and how we can enact good in the world around us. The CST minor was an indispensable component of my ND education.”
– Bianca Widjaja ’23
Why study Catholic Social Tradition (CST)?
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. The 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.
“Combining CST with my major in environmental engineering and minor in sustainability has given me a lens to see the world as one with interconnected people working towards a common good in a common home.”
– Gabriel Gaspar ’18
What will you do in your Catholic Social Tradition (CST) minor?
Any undergraduate student interested in the themes of the Catholic social tradition may elect the CST Minor. Students in the Catholic social tradition minor are required to take 15 credit hours, including a 3-credit gateway/intro course, three 3-credit electives, and a 3-credit senior capstone. The same course cannot be counted twice towards the CST Minor.
- Gateway course (CST 20610, 3 credits). In Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of justice through CST concepts such as the Common Good, Rights and Responsibilities, Option for the Poor, Human Dignity, Subsidiarity, and Peace. Once a student has declared the CST Minor, this course must be completed within the first two semesters.
- A range of electives (9 credits): Choose from Catholic social tradition minor courses, Institute for Social Concerns courses, and other University courses that carry the CSTE attribute. Engage with classical texts and tradition in the full range of social spheres—economic, political, religious, cultural, and familial—with students from across the University.
- Capstone project (CST 48001, 3 credits): Creatively integrate your major and minor fields of study throughout your time at Notre Dame. Students can write a paper, do a research project, or develop a creative work that synthesizes what you have learned.
If you have questions about the CST minor, please contact director Suzanne Mulligan at smulliga@nd.edu.