Overview

"The Jesuit purpose in higher education is to move the minds and hearts of developing humans. The direction of this movement, in the Jesuit view, is Godward (which is why Jesuits think that theology is an essential part of a college education). The norm is truth (which is the rationale for including philosophy). The outcome, it is to be hoped, is wisdom (hence the importance of the humanities in Jesuit education). And wisdom, in the Jesuit understanding, is a gift from God that enables the recipient to understand what is really important in events past or present."

William J. Byron, SJ, Jesuit Saturdays, p. 9

The disciplines of Philosophy and Theology lie at the intellectual center of the Catholic, Jesuit educational tradition. Each of these disciplines, in its own way, engages “ultimate questions” regarding the meaning of human existence and desire for transcendence—questions of faith and the divine, of creation and human destiny, of evil, reconciliation, and the good. The University Core introduces students to these disciplines in courses  that ask students to reflect critically on their own and others’ worldviews by wrestling with ultimate questions in dialogue with the Catholic, Jesuit tradition.

This Core component area consists of two courses (allowing for suitable flexibility to accommodate varied faculty expertise). In the structure of the Core, this component area is distinct from, and should not be confused with, a “Way of Thinking” or an “Attribute.” These courses have specific requirements and are not intended to be fulfilled by any course with philosophical or theological content; rather, they are meant to introduce students to the disciplines of philosophy and theology in general and, in particular,  to bring students into dialogue with Catholic, Jesuit beliefs and traditions of thought and spiritual and moral practice. 

Instructors and Instructor Resources for UQ Courses

Taught by theologians and philosophers primarily in the Departments of Theological Studies and Philosophy in St. Louis, in the School of Professional Studies, and at the SLU Madrid campus, these courses are not restricted to faculty in these units. With their chair’s approval, faculty with appropriate qualifications from any department are welcome to submit proposals for this component area.

All instructors are encouraged to consult the Instructor Resources on the Catholic, Jesuit Tradition to help think through how their courses can convey key aspects of and encourage dialogue with that tradition (and so help students achieve SLO 1: "Students will be able to examine their actions and vocations in dialogue with the Catholic, Jesuit tradition").

Courses 

In Ultimate Questions: Philosophy, students focus on the nature of reality and our ability to know it, the nature of wisdom and the good life, and the nature and meaning of human existence. Ultimate Questions: Philosophy introduces students to distinctively philosophical ways of reasoning about such questions, including philosophical approaches found in the Catholic tradition. 

In Ultimate Questions: Theology, students focus on the nature of faith; the nature, existence, and personhood of God; the nature and ends of creation and human life; evil and salvation. Ultimate Questions: Theology introduces students to the fundamental texts, teachings, practices, and modes of inquiry of one or more major religious traditions, always including the Catholic tradition. 

Course Pre-/Co-requisites, Attributes, and Numbering

Each course carries as a pre- or co-requisite Cura Personalis 1: Self in Community (CORE 1500). Students will usually take these courses in their freshman or, at the latest, in their sophomore year. Faculty should not assume that students have any background in theology, the study of religion, or philosophy prior to taking this course.

These courses may carry additional Core attributes (e.g., Writing Intensive, Reflection-in-Action, or attributes in the Equity and Global Identities suite) and may incorporate Cura personalis 2: Self in Contemplation.

These courses will have course numbers in home departments but will always be cross-listed as CORE 1600 (Theology) or CORE 1700 (Philosophy). 

Artifacts

Every Ultimate Questions course is required to include a culminating assignment, project, or paper that serves as an artifact for university assessment of the Core. See the UQ Artifact Tips and Guidelines page for more information.

Below is the Evaluation Rubric used by the subcommittee for all submissions. If revisions are requested, submitters can expect to receive detailed feedback on p.2 of the rubric. The feedback is meant to guide revisions so that, after resubmission in light of the feedback, the course may be recommended for formal approval to the full UUCC.