Faculty

Associates of the Faculty

By vocation, the Universitas magistrorum et scholarium is dedicated to research, to teaching and to the education of students who freely associate with their teachers in a common love of knowledge. With every other University it shares that gaudium de veritate, so precious to Saint Augustine, which is that joy of searching for, discovering and communicating truth in every field of knowledge. A Catholic University's privileged task is "to unite existentially by intellectual effort two orders of reality that too frequently tend to be placed in opposition as though they were antithetical: the search for truth, and the certainty of already knowing the fount of truth."

—Ex Corde Ecclesiae

We who are dedicated to teaching and learning in the School of Arts and Sciences at The Catholic University of America share some simple convictions.

We believe that despite the increasing complexities of a globalizing world, the traditional core of humanities, arts, social sciences and natural sciences still provides the best educational launching pad for our undergraduates, and still constitutes the most dynamic, most essential core of higher research. We maintain that our Catholic mission and identity enable us to marry reason and faith in a way that enriches every discipline. We are convinced that the best teachers are the best researchers, and we seek to attract and retain the best faculty dedicated to primary research as well as graduate and undergraduate teaching. We know from experience that our location in the nation's capital allows us to offer students a stunning array of cultural experiences, work, research and internship opportunities, and quality of life.

By far the biggest school at CUA, arts and sciences currently enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduates and nearly 600 graduate students. The school encompasses 18 departments and several more nondepartmental programs, with a regular faculty of more than 165. We currently list almost 60 undergraduate majors and approximately 70 graduate degree programs.

In 1975, the Graduate School and the College of Arts and Sciences were combined to form the present School of Arts and Sciences.

The Academic Council, composed of the heads of departments with the dean as chair, is the standing committee of the faculty, with the primary responsibility for the administration of the school. The Academic Council operates under the supervision of the chancellor, president, provost and dean. Its recommendations are made to these and other proper authorities, as well as to the faculty. Such recommendations include, among others, the approval of candidates for degrees. The faculty is represented, proportionally to its size, along with the other schools of the university, in the Academic Senate, a combined administration-faculty body having primary responsibility for academic policies and procedures, and in the graduate and undergraduate boards, faculty committees, which oversee university-wide academic matters.

Degree programs within the school are provided through the various departments of instruction.

Requirements and Prerequisites

Results of the Graduate Record Examination must be submitted by all applicants.  M.A. students must take a pair of core courses (ANTH 600, 601) and at least one specialty and one area course.  M.A. candidates are expected to acquire a general competence in one area of the world and familiarity with one or more subfields, such as medical anthropology, cultural analysis, ecological or economic anthropology, or archaeology.  The minimum requirement for the M.A. is 30 graduate semester hours of credit, up to six of which may be in guided research.  In addition to a thesis option, a nonthesis option is available at the M.A. level.  M.A. students must also demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language with a discipline-relevant literature by passing an appropriate course or examination, administered or accepted by the Graduate School (where appropriate, this may also be a language of field research), and pass a comprehensive examination.  Satisfactory performance in coursework must be maintained to continue in the M.A. program. One F or two C grades are cause for review and termination.

The deadline for receipt of graduate application, transcripts, test scores and recommendations is April 1 for September registration and Nov. 15 for January registration, and February 1 for financial aid awards.

Assistantships and Policy

The department offers a limited number of teaching assistantships and research assistantships for graduate students. The Cooper-Herzfeld Anthropological Society is an association of graduate and undergraduate anthropology students.

Courses Offered

Please consult the department Web site at http://anthropology.cua.edu/ for descriptions and schedule of courses offered in the current semester.

The Department of Art is not admitting students to the graduate degree programs for the 2009–2010 academic year. The department does offer courses in the areas of art history and studio art for graduate credit. A low student-to-faculty ratio ensures that students receive individual attention in every class. A student who wishes to take graduate courses in the Department of Art, either for credit or as an auditor, may apply for admission as a special, Non-Degree student.

Courses Offered

Please consult the registrar's Web site at https://cardinalstation.cua.edu for descriptions of courses offered in the current semester.

The Department of Biology offers Master of Science, M.S., and Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., degrees in biology, with emphasis in cell, microbial, and molecular biology, The M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are also offered in clinical laboratory science. When applying for admission, please indicate the preferred program.

The purpose of the M.S. and Ph.D. program in biology is to prepare students for research,  teaching, and administrative careers in the biological or the biomedical sciences. Courses in this program provide a foundation in biochemistry, cell biology, developmental biology, genetics, microbiology, molecular biology and virology. In addition, presentations and participation in a graduate seminar program prepare students to be effective teachers and communicators. All graduate students accepted in the doctoral program are required to do some teaching during graduate training. To fulfill thesis requirements, a student performs experimental research under the tutelage of the faculty. Fields of research concentration currently include transcriptional regulation and development in C. elegans, membrane dynamics and trafficking in polarized cells, alcohol metabolism in liver, structure and function of molecular motors, genetic engineering approaches to epitope presentation and vaccine development, cellular response to weak electromagnetic fields, genetic analysis of multiple drug resistance, mechanisms of DNA packaging in bacteriophages and viruses, molecular biology of cancer and metastasis, regulation of gene expression during muscle development and membrane trafficking in polarized epithelial cells and bacterial pathogenesis.

Standard prerequisites for graduate work in biology include two years of chemistry, two years of biology (including biochemistry and microbiology), one year of physics and one year of calculus. A student admitted to the department with a deficiency takes the required courses during the first year of graduate work. Applicants must include results of the Graduate Record Examination, including the advanced test in biology.

The purpose of the Ph.D. program in clinical laboratory science is to prepare individuals to assume positions as directors of clinical laboratories, as researchers, or as faculty of medical technology programs. Students first receive a broad background in basic sciences, biomolecular sciences and clinical laboratory sciences, and then proceed to specialize in clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology or clinical immunology. Students may complete their dissertation research in the Department of Biology at The Catholic University of America or at one of the affiliated hospitals or research institutions. After receiving a broad science background, as described above, students in the M.S. program specialize in education, laboratory management or research. Applicants must submit results of the Graduate Record Examination and scores of a medical technology certification examination.

The School of Library and Information Science and the Department of Biology offer a joint master's program. (Contact the Department of Biology for further details.)

The Department of Biology accepts both full-time and part-time graduate students. In addition to the thesis options described above, a non-thesis option is available at the M.S. level. Applications from women and minority students are encouraged for all programs. Financial aid is available as university scholarships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships.

Courses Offered

Please consult the registrar's Web site at https://cardinalstation.cua.edu for descriptions of courses offered in the current semester.

In conjunction with the Department of Politics, the Department of Business and Economics offers a master's degree in international political economy. This interdisciplinary program offers prospective graduate students a carefully designed combination of theoretical training and exposure to outstanding policy issues. Individuals professionally involved in aspects of international economic relations—international business, finance, banking, and government service—will find such a program of particular career interest. The minimum number of semester hours of graduate credit to be earned by degree candidates is 36. In keeping with the objectives of the university, the department incorporates into its curriculum, wherever appropriate, values and insights that derive from its Christian heritage.

General Departmental Requirements

Students admitted to the program are bound by university and departmental regulations specified in these Announcements as well as by any additional regulations approved by the university or department subsequent to the publication of these Announcements. Before regular admission can be granted, the student must take the GRE. Any student with deficiencies in undergraduate prerequisites or deficiencies indicated from results of a placement examination must remedy the deficiencies by taking appropriate prerequisite coursework for which no credit toward graduate degree requirements will be given. Students are required to obtain a grade of B- or better in all required courses as specified by the department. Under certain circumstances, a student who earns a grade less than a B- in a course may retake the course. The department will review the continuance in any program of students who have accumulated two grades of less than B-. Students must complete all required courses before or during the semester in which they take the comprehensive examination. A student who twice fails the comprehensive examination will not be allowed to continue in the program.

Program in International Political Economics

Undergraduate Requirements

A minimum of 27 semester hours of undergraduate credits in the following fields: economics (15), including intermediate micro- and macroeconomic theory; two semesters of statistics; politics (12), including American government and comparative politics. Two semesters of calculus are also recommended.

Coursework

Certificate of Proficiency in Computer Science

This certification should be completed during the first year of coursework. It is obtained by the successful completion of a computer science course or an equivalent course that has been approved by the department (MGT 568, Microcomputer Applications in Business, is highly recommended) or by the equivalent practical work with computers, which is so evaluated by the department. The course in computer science or the equivalent course is not part of the 36 minimum credit hours necessary for the M.A. in International Political Economics.

Comprehensive Examination

Students must complete all required courses (see Required Courses section, above) before the semester in which they will take the comprehensive examinations. Students are required to pass a comprehensive examination demonstrating in two three-hour examinations mastery of (1) economics and (2) political aspects of international economics.

Doctor of Philosophy in Economics

The Ph.D. program in the Department of Business and Economics does not admit new students at this time.

Courses Offered

Please consult the registrar's Web site at https://cardinalstation.cua.edu for descriptions of courses offered in the current semester.

The Department of Chemistry is not admitting students to the graduate degree program for the 2009–2010 academic year, except for master's students in chemical education.

Courses Offered

Please consult the registrar's Web site at https://cardinalstation.cua.edu for descriptions of courses offered in the current semester.

PLEASE NOTE: Applications to this program are not being accepted until further notice

Administration of the Program

The comparative literature program is administered by the Interdepartmental Committee on General and Comparative Literature Studies. The committee comprises the professor of comparative literature, the director of the comparative literature program and the chairs of the departments of modern languages, English, Greek and Latin, and Semitic and Egyptian languages and literatures, with additional members from participating departments as deemed advisable.

Purpose of the Program

The program is designed (1) to train students in the general problems of literary history, theory and criticism; (2) to provide them with the historical and critical perspectives needed for comparative studies; and (3) to introduce them to the tools and methods needed for professional work in the field.

Prerequisites

To be accepted as a degree candidate in the program, a student should have training in at least two languages and literatures, with a preparation in one of them equivalent to an undergraduate major.

Course Offerings

In addition to courses of a specifically comparative nature, students have a range of offerings (including courses in genres, periods and individual authors) available to them in the participating departments. Such courses normally deal with one national literature. Through independent study and in consultation with their professors and with the director of the comparative literature program, students are expected to establish comparative relationships among national literatures. Students with interdisciplinary interests are permitted to take selected courses in areas such as the arts, music, politics, science, religion and other fields. Before applying to the program, prospective students are advised to consult the director as to the availability of offerings in the national literatures and subject areas in which they are interested.

Individual Programs

After the student has chosen a major field from those offered at The Catholic University of America (in classical, medieval European or modern Western literatures), a program, planned in consultation with the director of the program and the student's professors, will be arranged. It will include both "vertical" (diachronical) and "horizontal" (synchronical) components—courses, for example, on chronological developments in two or more literatures, such as the study of romanticism as an international movement. Students may also take advantage of courses available through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area in order to supplement those offered at this university. In planning a program that also will prepare for the comprehensives, it is suggested that candidates make an early choice of a period or genre in the national literatures that are the subject of their study.

Course Requirements

At the first opportunity, students are required to take 701, Proseminar: Introduction to the Comparative Study of Literature; and 702, Proseminar: Modern Critical Movements.

Thirty semester credit hours are required for the M.A., distributed as follows: 12 hours in the major literature, six hours in the second literature, six hours in 701 and 702, and six hours in research guidance for M.A. with thesis. Two additional seminars (three semester credit hours each) may be substituted for the thesis. These are to be approved by the director and completed with a grade of B or better. (See Thesis section, below.)

Students are expected to maintain a minimum B level or B- in all their courses. Students who receive two course grades of C+ or below are subject to dismissal from the program.

Language Requirements

Comparative literature students are required to demonstrate proficiency in the languages of the literatures that are the topic of their study; besides their own first language, they must be proficient in at least one foreign language for the M.A. Ordinarily, comparative literature students will demonstrate proficiency in foreign languages by acceptable performance (a grade of B- or above) in two courses taken at the graduate level where works are studied in the original tongue. In cases where a university language requirement must be satisfied in a language other than those of the national literatures chosen for the program, that requirement may be fulfilled by means of a standardized test or an appropriate language course, as described in these Announcements in the introductory section relating to General Requirements for Graduate Study.

The programs of some students (e.g., those in medieval literature and in certain areas of Renaissance literature) may, in addition to the vernaculars involved in the study of their major and minor fields, require a reading knowledge of Latin. Determination of the applicability of this rule will be made in individual cases by the director of the comparative literature program. Such knowledge may be established by an examination administered by the Department of Greek and Latin or by a course in Latin given by the same department and approved by the director of the comparative literature program.

Comprehensive Examinations

M.A. comprehensives consist of two parts, which are taken separately: (1) methodology (three hours) and (2) either a period or a genre (or motif) in two literatures (four hours). Majors in Greek and Latin will take the examination in methodology and comparable sections of the departmental M.A. comprehensive.

Early in their programs, comparative literature students should consult with the director of the program to determine areas in which they will be examined and to plan the coursework and readings needed as preparation. No later than the beginning of the semester in which the comprehensive, or part thereof, is to be taken, they should notify the director of their intention to present themselves for the examination and should then confirm details of its administration.

Thesis

The thesis for the M.A. normally treats some aspect of the literature of the period of the candidate's major concentration. It should examine historical interrelations or structural comparison or theoretical problems involving works selected from two or more national literatures. The M.A. thesis is commonly replaced by two three-hour seminars (over and above the 24 required semester credit hours of coursework) approved by the director and completed with a grade of B or higher.

Courses Offered

Please consult the registrar's Web site at https://cardinalstation.cua.edu for descriptions of courses offered in the current semester.

The Department of Drama offers the B.A., an M.A. Program in Theater History and Criticism, an M.A. Program in Theater Education and M.F.A. programs in acting, directing and playwriting. For a packet of detailed information on the graduate programs, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions.

M.F.A. Programs

The graduate theater programs at The Catholic University of America are designed on the premise that theater is a fundamental cultural necessity. Theater is enriched by, and enriches, the community in which it is located. We believe that theater is a common ground for cultural discourse and that it is incumbent upon theater artists to use their voices responsibly. We strive to understand why theater is an essential art, asking what we can achieve in theater that cannot be achieved in other art forms. We challenge ourselves to recognize that by its nature performance is an innately spiritual act. We offer the training and experiences necessary for students to develop an imaginative creative process and disciplined personal expression in the theater. All of our endeavors are informed by a thorough knowledge of theater history and theory along with a critical understanding of the world canon of drama. We engage professional artists from the local, national and international theater community to support our mission and aid our students as they transition into the field.

Our programs entail the following: Acting—71 course credit hours for actors, with 2 practicum credits; Directing— 71 credit hours and 2 practicum credits; Playwriting—60 credit hours plus 4 practicum credits. There is no tuition charge for practicum credit hours. Normally, students should enter the program in the first, or fall, semester.

In the first two years, students are expected to enroll full time, with actors and directors taking 15 credit hours minimum each semester and playwrights taking 12 hours each semester. Students should expect to devote full time to the program, which entails rehearsal preparations for studio courses, readings and written work for critical studies courses, and practicum work.

In the third year, acting, directing and playwriting students enroll in five to eight credit hours each semester (paying part-time tuition), depending on their tracks. M.F.A. students satisfy the comprehensive examination requirements by essays on questions from the faculty related to their projects in their final year. All students are expected to make their work in their program courses, practicums and department productions their first priorities. Outside professional theater work by students while enrolled must be approved in advance by the student's program director(s) and by the department chair.

Acting

The M.F.A. Acting Program is designed to coincide with the three-year directing and playwriting tracks. Actors work sequentially through levels of studio courses designed to develop their imaginative and intellectual performance abilities and skills.

First year courses focus on the actor's self awareness—on the actor's instrument and tools: the body and voice, the senses and feelings, strengthening their confidence of impulse, sense of play and exploring personal resources through various acting approaches. Special attention is given to improvisation and contemporary material.

In the second year courses actors concentrate on "character"—the process of transformation and performing with progressive emphasis on creating a world from classical and modern texts. Particular focus is put on the discovery of the play's action, character development, stage combat, language demands and analysis of more complex literary material from classic and experimental origins.

Actors are required to audition for and play as cast in all department productions and are required to serve on one production crew.

Third-year actors focus on living playwrights, dialects, a monograph performance, auditioning, theater as a business and professional jobs and/or internships. Third-year actors will be eligible to audition for professional opportunities in the D.C. theater community depending on university casting and/or assistantships. Actors prepare scenes and monologues for their final graduate acting project, a New York and/or Washington, D.C. showcase that helps them transition into their professional careers.

Directing

In The M.F.A. Directing Program we emphasize a collaborative approach to theater within an interdisciplinary context. We strive to give directing students the ability to work across a wide variety of genres, with a distinct voice and passion, as thinking, caring, professional theater artists.

Over the course of their three years of study at CUA, directing students will be challenged to evolve their dramatic imaginations. They will explore the role of the director as interpreter and auteur. They will learn about style, develop the ability to work with classical texts, engage in new play development, have exposure to non-Western theatrical styles, participate in varying modes of play creation, explore the interaction between music and theater, confront issues of language and translation, engage in intercultural theater projects, explore scenography and develop their choreographic sense. They will be exposed to various modes of performance-oriented theater including site-specific theater, performance poetry, collage, metatheater and forms of deconstruction.

As part of this program, directing students are expected to take an elective in a related area of interest, such as history, music theory, or culture, chosen in consultation with adviser. The directing program will work to situate directing students in internships on the local, national and international level during their course of study in order to aid their transition into the profession upon their graduation.

Playwriting

In the M.F.A. Playwriting Program, student writers collaborate with student actors and directors in developing new works in rehearsal processes, and have opportunities to develop new works outside of these processes. They consider a variety of dramaturgical techniques for the development of action, character, language and structure. Student playwrights are encouraged to explore work that expands the boundaries of the theater event. In creative collaboration with student actors and directors, they shape and reshape some of their works in readings and workshops.

In their second and third years, student playwrights are introduced to the work of adaptation and to the various professional venues for writers. They explore more fully the issues of rehearsal collaborations and continue to develop work on their own. Over the three years, students are expected to have completed at least four texts suitable for public presentation, one of which is to be an adaptation of nondramatic material.

M.A. Programs

Theater History and Criticism

The Program in Theater History and Criticism leading to the M.A. prepares students to enter the field of advanced theater studies, with particular consideration of the play within its social context and theatrical performance as cultural expression and transaction. The M.A. requires the satisfactory completion of 30 credit hours and two practicum credit hours. The course requirements for the M.A. degree are: 601 and 606; three other critical studies courses; three electives; and two research seminars, such as DR 983 and 984, or a thesis. Students are not required to complete a thesis in order to earn the M.A. degree. To complete a thesis an M.A. student must take two semesters of Thesis Guidance (DR 995). This option is only recommended to those students continuing their graduate studies in a Ph.D. program in theater history.

Note: completing the thesis uses two of the 10 courses in the program. Other seminars may be available in this or other departments. Course choices are determined in consultation with the program director and in consideration of the student's background and objectives. Students will be encouraged to serve as dramaturgs on department productions or on other performance projects with students in the M.F.A. programs. The time and sequence of course offerings are such that students should plan for a 12-credit-hour, full-time semester in the fall term of the second year; this would allow completion of the degree within two academic years. Up to six hours of graduate work at another accredited institution may be applied toward the M.A.; these credits can be transferred once the student has completed successfully one full-time semester (or its equivalent) at CUA. Students take a comprehensive examination at the end of the program, usually in the semester in which they are completing their final course requirements. The examination has a written and an oral component. 

The two practicum credit hours are earned by satisfactory completion of production crew assignments; there is no tuition charge for them. Practicum credits can be earned through dramaturgical work. Students must complete these to be admitted to comprehensive examinations. Practicum credits are awarded when, in the judgment of the cognizant supervisor, the student's work has been satisfactory.

M.A. students are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of a modern language, usually French or German, although others may be approved. This must be done before the student can be admitted to comprehensive examinations. Reading proficiency can be demonstrated by passing the Graduate School Foreign Language Test or by satisfactory completion of a noncredit intensive language course at CUA. The student whose native language is not English shall be considered to have fulfilled the language requirement without examination if his/her native language has demonstrable value for theater research. (For further information, see the section on language under General Requirements for Graduate Study, in these Announcements.)

Theater Education

The Program in Theater Education prepares students, teachers, and teaching artists to use the creative and instructional skills of the theater in the classroom, in productions at elementary and secondary schools, and in community programs. The program's curriculum concentrates on four related areas:

1. Developing practical skills for the creation and production of plays and teaching of theater in K-12 schools and community programs.

2. Advancing the skills of the theater artist as a writer, dramaturg and collaborator working with diverse populations.

3. Using the techniques of dramatists (actors, directors, designers, playwrights) to enhance the learning process across the curriculum and in different educational settings.

4. Creating a more complex understanding of how the dramatic arts can impact the curriculum in K-12 schools and the community as a whole.

The M.A. in Theater Education requires the satisfactory completion of 33 credit hours and passing a comprehensive exam. The head of the program and the student's adviser determine course choices in consultation with each student, keeping in mind his or her background and objectives. Each student must have a total of 30 credit hours of approved coursework and complete a 3 credit supervised project (DR 951). To earn an M.A. in Theater Education, students must successfully complete eight courses in the drama department and two courses in the Department of Education. The M.A. Program in Theater Education is structured to allow teachers and artists to complete the degree in four semesters and two summer sessions at CUA, followed by one semester of supervised work (DR 951). M.A. students who work or teach full-time can take one course each semester during the academic year. Each course will meet for one night a week. Students may elect to enroll in more than one course each semester and complete the program sooner. Students may add courses each semester to complete a Graduate Teacher Certification Program through the Education Department.

Continuation/Dismissal Policy

The full faculty regularly assesses the semester-by-semester progress of each student and makes determinations about continuation, based on academic and/or professional criteria defined as follows:

Academic Standard The full faculty may recommend the withdrawal or dismissal of students who receive grades of below B- in three courses. The courses include the work in studio courses, practicums and critical studies.

Professional Standards The full faculty evaluates each student's attendance to and completion of work on a consistent basis, which raises the craft and trade of the theater to the dignity of a learned profession. Continuation in the program is never guaranteed at any time.

Applications

Full instructions for applying to the graduate programs can be found on the drama Web site: http://drama.cua.edu, Graduate Programs, How to Apply. Applicants ordinarily should present an undergraduate major in drama or a related field, plus supporting materials as specified below. Students with other majors who have had some successful theater coursework (academic or performance) or production experience are welcome to apply.

All applicants for graduate programs, M.A. and M.F.A., must present an official undergraduate transcript; scores of the Graduate Record Examination—taken within the last five years; at least two letters of recommendation testifying to the student's academic and creative potential for graduate work; and résumés of acting, directing or other theater experience. Reference letters should testify to the applicant's potential for, and probable commitment to, the chosen program.

The department strongly encourages, in addition, the submission of a formal writing sample (such as an academic paper) by applicants for all programs, most especially applicants who believe their academic potential may not be fully represented by transcripts or GRE scores. Applicants for the acting and directing tracks of the M.F.A. program must audition. Writers must present manuscripts of plays, and applicants for the M.A. program must submit an example of their writing concerning literature, history or performance. Interviews are strongly recommended for anyone interested in the M.F.A. Playwriting Program and M.A. programs. Applicants will be contacted by the department to make arrangements for their audition. Application materials and an application fee of $55 should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064.

Courses Offered

Please consult the registrar's Web site at https://cardinalstation.cua.edu for descriptions of courses offered in the current semester.

The Department of Education, a scholarly community of faculty and students, shares in the general mission of The Catholic University of America. Through instruction, research and service, the department aims to contribute to knowledge and practice in education and to articulate the educational mission of the Catholic Church.

To this end, the department aims to develop scholarship, leadership, research capacities and practical skills that contribute to the growth and development of the field of education. By providing quality programs with common historical, philosophical, psychological, sociological and research foundations, the department prepares graduates to contribute to the academic, personal and social development of students. Graduates of doctoral programs are expected to be competent scholars and researchers who are able to provide leadership in practical settings. Graduates of master degree programs are expected to be skilled practitioners who are knowledgeable about the research and current developments in their area of specialization.

The department supports research on issues critical to the field of education, particularly those involving knowledge of the learner, the teaching-learning process, and instructional settings and the role of cultural and religious diversity within the educational enterprise. The department attempts to maintain a balance between basic and applied research, using both quantitative and qualitative methods, and strives to strengthen its research capacities among both faculty and students.

The department provides a variety of services to local, national and Church organizations. In response to its surroundings, the department has a special goal of offering services to the urban public and Catholic schools in the surrounding community. It expects its faculty to serve as a professional resource to these organizations.

As part of a Catholic institution of higher learning, the department aims to provide national leadership in the areas of Catholic schooling and research. The department does this by educating those who will serve as Catholic educators; by offering in service and preservice development for teachers, administrators, counselors and others who work in Catholic schools or diocesan central offices; by providing a comprehensive model program for improving education; and by promoting research that focuses on schools.

Endowed Chairs in the Department

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Chair

The International Federation of Catholic Alumnae and other contributors have established a term chair in honor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. The chair supports an outstanding scholar within the Department of Education to give greater focus on Christian values in Catholic schools and on the integration of these values in the contemporary curricula.

Euphemia Lofton Haynes Chair

A trust fund established by Haynes, an African-American CUA alumna and prominent Washington-area educator, supports this chair. It is dedicated to enriching programs within the Department of Education.

Brother Patrick Ellis Chair

The Board of Trustees of the university established this chair in honor of Brother Patrick Ellis, F.S.C., former president and alumnus of the university. The chair is established to enhance the Department of Education's programs in leadership development for Catholic education.

Admission Requirements

Master's Applicants

Applicants seeking admission to one of the master's degree programs must meet the following admission requirements:

1. An application indicating a desire to pursue a master's degree in education and specifying the specialty the applicant wishes to pursue.
2. Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work.
3. Graduate Record Examiniation (GRE) Aptitude (verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing) score or a Miller Analogies Test (MAT) score.
4. Three strongly supportive letters of recommendation, at least one of which should be from a person familiar with the applicant's academic production; others may be from an immediate supervisor or other familiar with the applicant's professional work.
5. Applicant's statement of goals that demonstrates motivation, is well written, and gives evidence that the applicant's goals fit with Department programs.
6. An admission interview with members of the faculty, as required by the specialty.

Graduate Teacher Certificate Program Applicants

Applicants seeking admission to the Graduate Teacher Certificate Program (GTCP) in either Secondary Education or Special Education must meet the following admissions requirements:

1. An application indicating a desire to pursue a GTCP and specifying the specialty the applicant wishes to pursue.
2. Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work.
3. Praxis I scores as required by the District of Columbia for licensure.
4. Three strongly supportive letters of recommendation, at least one of which should be from a person familiar with the applicant's academic production; others may be from an immediate supervisor or others familiar with the applicant's professional work.
5. Applicant's statement of goals that demonstrates motivation, is well written, and gives evidence that the applicant's goals fit with Department programs.
6. An admission interivew with members of the faculty, as required by the specialty.

Exceptions for Secondary Education or Special Education Master's Degree Applications from Students Previously Admitted to the GTCP at CUA

Secondary Education or Special Education applicants, who have been admitted to pursue the GTCP at Catholic University, after having completed 5 or more GTCP courses at Catholic University, may apply for admission to the master's degree program under the following conditions:

1. File an application indicating that they wish to change from the GTCP to a degree seeking program in Education.
2. Seek a review of their transcripts to demonstrate that they have received no grade below a "B" in any course taken as part of their GTCP.
3. Request a waiver of the requirement to submit either GRE scores or an MAT score.
4. Provide recommendations from two Catholic University, Department of Education faculty members familiar with the applicant's academic work.
5. Provide a statement of goals with reasons for now wanting to pursue a master's degree.
6. Present themselves for an interview with members of the faculty, if requested to do so.

Doctor of Philosophy Applicants

Applicants seeking admission to one of the Ph.D. programs must meet the following admission requirements:

1. An application indicating a desire to pursue a doctoral degree in education and specifying the specialty the applicant wishes to pursue.
2. Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work.
3. GRE Aptitude score or a MAT score.
4. Applicants must have been awarded a master's degree from a recognized college or university, or demonstrate having obtained graduate credits equivalent to the number required for a master's degree.
5. Three strongly supportive letters of recommendation, at least one of which should be from a person familiar with the applicant's academic production and ability to do doctoral work; others may be from an immediate supervisor or others familiar with the applicant's professional work.
6. A statement of goals that demonstrates motivation, is well written, and fits with Department programs.  This detailed statement will indicate specifically why the applicant is seeking the degree and what areas of research they would like to explore in more depth.  This statement should also include any information from the applicant's background that will help the admissions committee evaluate the applicant's potential for advanced graduate study.
7. Doctoral applicants are urged to schedule an interview with the Department chairperson and, as appropriate, other faculty in the applicant's area of specialization.

Catholic Educational Leadership and Policy Study (CELPS)

1. Submit an application indicating an interest in being admitted to either the doctoral program or the advanced graduate certificate program in Catholic Education Leadership.
2. Candidates seeking admission to the doctoral program or the advanced graduate certificate in Catholic Education Leadership (CELPS) should possess a master's degree from an accredited institution in educational leadership or a related field, and submit for review and evaluation GRE or MAT scores, and official transcripts of all previous academic work.
3. Submit three strongly supportive letters of recommendation, at least one of which should be from a person familiar with the applicant's academic production and ability to do doctoral work; others may be from an immediate supervisor or others familiar with the applicant's professional work.
4. Submit a statement of goals that demonstrates motivation, is well written, and fits with Department's programs.  This  detailed statement will indicate specifically why the applicant is seeking the degree and what areas of research they would like to explore in more depth.  This statement should also include any information from the applicant's background that will help the admissions committee evalute the applicant's potential for advanced graduate study.
5. In addition, an interniew is required with the program director or designee.
6. For candidates with at least ten years of documented administrative experience as a diocesan official (e.g. superintendent, associate superintendent, school principal) or comparable administrative role, GRE and MAT scores may be waived and, upon review and approval by the Program's Coordintator, up to 24 graduate credits from an accredited institution may be transferred regardless of the date the credits were earned.

Exceptions for International Applicants

International applicants seeking admission to one of the Department of Education's graduate programs must meet the following admission requirements:

1. An application indicating a desire to pursue a doctoral degree or a master's degree in Education and specifying the specialty the applicant wishes to pursue.
2. Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work.
3. All international students must submit TOEFL scores that meet University standards.
4. Grades and letters of recommendation must be submitted, but no predefined criteria will be specified, given the variety of practices abroad.
5. Graduate Record Examination Aptitude (verbal,  quantitative and analytical writing) scores are required with obtained scores appropriate for the degree program for which the applicant is applying.
6. A statement of goals appropriate for the degree being pursued (masters or doctorate) as indicated above.
7. Telephone interviews may be substituted for any required interviews for applicants living abroad.

Financial Aid

The university's Office of Financial Aid offers a number of financial packages. Interested applicants are urged to contact that office directly for information about these packages. The deadline for application is Feb. 1. The phone number for the Office of Financial Aid is 202-319-5307. The School of Arts and Sciences also offers full- and half-tuition scholarships for students of exceptional academic quality. These scholarships are administered through the department. Applicants to the Department of Education who plan to attend full-time and wish to be considered for a full-tuition, merit-based University Scholarship must submit GRE test score results. Students interested in these awards should contact the chair of the department. The deadline for applications for merit-based University Scholarship awards is Feb. 1.

Additionally, the department has a limited number of financial aid awards for graduate students. These awards are in the form of teaching assistantships or research assistantships, and each includes a stipend plus partial or full tuition remission. Applicants for teaching or research assistantships may submit either MAT or GRE scores as part of their application. These awards are made as funds are available and do not have a fixed deadline for application.

Catholic School Educators Scholarships

Half-tuition scholarships for Catholic school educators are available to any administrator, teacher, guidance counselor, special educator or librarian who is currently employed in a Catholic preschool, elementary school or secondary school, and who intends to continue working in a Catholic school setting. They may be used by doctoral, master's or special students in any school of the university except the Columbus School of Law.

Euphemia Lofton Haynes Student Loan Fund

In 1981, the will of Euphemia Lofton Haynes, Ph.D., established a low-interest loan fund for graduate students majoring in education. The loan program allows a student to borrow up to $10,000 during the course of study and requires that a student begin repayment of the loan six months after graduation or withdrawal from the university. The loans are to be used to aid in financing one's educational expenses. The university's Office of Financial Aid administers the loan fund. Applications for loans are available in that office. Final approval of loans is the responsibility of the department chair.

Federal Family Education Loan Program and the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program

Those who teach for five consecutive years in a designated elementary or secondary school serving students from low-income families may have up to $17,500 of the loan forgiven after completion of the fifth year.

Degree Programs and Requirements

The department offers a wide variety of graduate opportunities for individuals interested in professional education. Broadly speaking, two types of programs are available. Nondegree programs are offered for educators seeking licensure in secondary and special education. Additionally, the department offers a series of professional development workshops and institutes for practicing educators interested in updating and improving their professional skills and obtaining  credit toward recertification.

Degree programs in education are offered at both the Master of Arts, M.A., and the Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., levels. At the M.A. level, three specialty areas are available:

• Secondary Education;
• Special Education;
• Catholic School Leadership;

At the Ph.D. level, two broad specialty areas are offered:

• Educational Psychology
• Catholic Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.

Any graduate student who obtains two or more grades of C in coursework for his or her graduate program is subject to academic dismissal. For any graduate student in the teacher education program, no course with a grade below C will be counted toward certification.

If a graduate student has taken a required course and received a grade of F, the student must repeat the course to earn a grade of B- or higher. A student may choose to repeat a course in an effort to earn a better grade regardless of the initial grade received. In both cases, the following rules apply:

• The student may repeat the course only once.

• Whether higher or lower, the later grade will be used in computing the grade point average.

• The student will only receive credit for taking the course once.

Continuous enrollment is required of all students in degree and certificate programs unless an authorized leave of absence has been granted. Failure to maintain continuous enrollment or to obtain an official leave of absence is considered to be evidence that the student has withdrawn from the university.

Master of Arts Degree

The M.A. program consists of a minimum of 30 semester hours of post-baccalaureate coursework, the option of completing two nonthesis papers or a master's thesis, and comprehensive examinations. All M.A. students are required to complete nine hours of study in general education courses (i.e., core requirement). The remainder of the coursework (i.e., 21 to 42 hours) is completed in one of the three specialty areas. With additional coursework, professional certification is available in teacher education, specifically through the secondary education and special education programs.

Students who select the option of working toward professional certification will spend more than the 30-hour minimum completing coursework. CUA's Teacher Education Unit has been accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 1975, and the unit's teacher education programs are state approved.

Core Requirement

The core course requirement comprises three 3-credit courses in general education. Successful completion of the following courses is mandatory for fulfilling this requirement:

Transfer credit for the above courses is not usually allowed. Note, however, university policy permits the transfer of up to six semester credit hours of previous graduate work into the M.A. program with the approval of the student's academic adviser. In addition, the Department of Education normally will consider for transfer only credits earned in the five-year period immediately preceding the student's admission to the university, and for which the student earned a grade of B or better.

Other Requirements

In addition to the core courses, students must satisfy three additional requirements. First, students complete a Program of Studies in their specialty area. A Program of Studies is a projection of the student's series of courses. It must be approved by the student's academic adviser and the department chair, and it must be filed in the student's departmental records before the end of the first year of study. Approval of a projected program does not obligate the university to offer all the courses listed.

Second, the student must successfully complete either a written thesis or two nonthesis papers. The student selects one of these options based on his/her educational goals and in consultation with the student's adviser. [Note: The finished paper(s) under either of the above options must be approved by the student's adviser and submitted to the department chair no later than the end of the first week of the semester in which the student registers for the comprehensive examination.] If the thesis option is chosen, the student will register twice for Thesis Guidance and present a short proposal for approval. For details, see the general information section of these Announcements, and follow the directions outlined in the university's Master's /Licentiate Thesis Handbook.

The third requirement is the successful completion of a written comprehensive examination. Students typically register for this exam during their last semester of coursework and may do so only after all other requirements have been satisfied.

Graduate Teacher Certification Program (Nondegree)

A Graduate Teacher Certification Program, GTCP, is available in secondary and special education. Admission into the GTCP in secondary education requires a bachelor's degree and passing scores on the PRAXIS I (reading, writing and math tests) but does not require scores on either the GRE or MAT. GTCP coursework is similar to the coursework required for the M.A. in teacher education, with the exception that students do not take EDUC 699, Introduction to Educational Research, and are not required to complete nonthesis option papers or the comprehensive exam. Contact Joan Thompson, Ph.D., the program coordinator, for more information on the Secondary Education Graduate Teacher Certification Program. The GTCP in special education consists of 30 credit hours, assuming certain prerequisites have been met. Admission to the GTCP in special education requires a bachelor's degree and passing scores on the Praxis I as above but does not require scores on either the GRE or the MAT. GTCP coursework is similar to coursework required for the M.A. with the exception that candidates do not take EDUC 699 or 702, nor do they have to take comprehensive examinations. GTCP candidates must complete an Action Research Project and successfully pass the PRAXIS II: Core Knowledge of Special Education. Contact Tom Long, Ed.D., the program coordinator, for more information on the Special Education Graduate Teacher Certification Program.

Specialty Areas of Study for the M.A. Degree

Teacher Education with Licensure in Secondary Education. This specialty offers students the professional education coursework needed for state licensure in secondary education.  The program prepares teachers to work with diverse, adolescent learners and focuses on learning theory and teaching methodology; instructional design and the use of assessments; and classroom management.  Incorporated into the M.A. program are opportunities to reflect on practice through directed field experiences.  The Secondary Education sequence prepares middle school and high school teachers in the following subject areas.  Art, Drama, English, Mathematics, and Social Studies.  Through transcript review, applicants must demonstrate successful completion of 30-36 credit hours of coursework in one or more subject areas.  Subject requirements must be completed prior to student teaching.  The M.A. program in Secondary Education is a 42 credit hour program that includes a semester of full-time teaching in a secondary school setting.  Applicants who are teaching full-time in the area of specialization may be eligible to substitute enrollment in a 4 credit teaching seminar for student teaching.

Teacher Education with Licensure in Special Education. This specialty prepares K-12 non categorical special education teachers. It specifically focuses on special education teachers who will work with children with high incidence disabilities in inclusive settings. The special education certificate program offers coursework needed for state licensure in the District of Columbia as a K-12 non-categorical special educator. Applicants are expected to have completed coursework in normal human growth and development, as well as classroom management, before beginning the  M.A. program. Such coursework is available for those candidates who may not have previously taken these courses. 30 -36 credits are required for the degree. A minimum of 30 graduate credits is applicable in two situations: for students receiving approval for transfer of up to six credits earned at another graduate institution, and for graduates of CUA's B.A. program who completed up to six credits of prior certification coursework at the 500 level, e.g. EDUC 581 or EDUC 522, with a grade of B or better.

This master's degree program and the Graduate Teacher Certificate Program include three field experiences necessary to acquaint students with best practices in special education. Because of the extent of the field-based practice incorporated into this program, students must be available to pursue coursework full time during summers but may take courses part-time during the regular academic semesters. Students should be able to complete the entire degree sequence in two years, even while holding a full-time teaching post, as long as they are able to attend classes during summers. Course requirements include those listed under Core Requirements, plus the following:

Also the following if the student has not previously completed this coursework:

Catholic School Leadership

The Catholic School Leadership program is designed to prepare practitioners to assume administrative positions specifically in Catholic elementary and secondary schools.  This program is offered in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Washington through a cohort model.  The sequence of courses provides exposure to theory, research and practice in education integrated with a Catholic educational philosophy. 

 Advanced Graduate Certificate in Catholic Diocesan Leadership

The Department of Education offers the Advanced Graduate Certificate Program in Catholic Diocesan Leadership for students who already hold a master's degree. The Advanced Graduate Certificate Program requires students to complete 19 credits in Catholic education content courses and Catholic Educational Leadership and Policy Studies specialty courses. An additional six hours of coursework in Catholic Educational Leadership and Policy Studies is required for those candidates who hold an M.A. in a different content area. This program is intended for Catholic school teachers or principals who have an M.A. and seek preparation for diocesan leadership. The program is tailored to meet a student's past academic history and future employment plans. The certificate program offers summer classroom instruction over two consecutive summers with a field experience during the intervening year.

In addition to the academic aspects of the programs, opportunities will be provided both for individual spiritual growth and community building with cohort members. Cohort members will have the opportunity to interact with key Church leaders in the metropolitan region. Access to the national Catholic organizations and strategic relationships with these groups, allows faculty to engage students in the highest level of interaction with Catholic educational leaders while on campus. When students return to their home diocese, networking and mentoring contacts will be available to further assist them as they transition to new leadership roles.

Professional Development Workshops and Institutes

The Professional Development Workshops and Institutes are designed to bring together administrators, teachers and counselors to explore current educational challenges and issues from a multidisciplinary perspective. Through a series of intense short-term workshops and institutes, each focused on a specific topic or issue, participants will be able to gain the theoretical and applied knowledge necessary to expand their areas of certification or to recertify. The workshops and institutes are offered in the fall, spring and summer.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree

Specialty Areas for the Ph.D. Degree

The department offers two specialty areas, Educational Psychology and Catholic Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. The department's approach to doctoral training is mentor oriented. Typically, a student identifies a faculty member from one of the specialties with whom the student will work. Together, the mentor and the student plan a program of studies. These programs of studies are individualized and sometimes interdisciplinary but remain within the broad areas of Catholic Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and educational psychology. All students take a core area, a research area and a specialty area of courses as designed by their adviser to meet department requirements.

Educational Psychology. This specialty is broadly concerned with the areas of learning, instruction, and evaluation of different aged populations. Educational psychology graduates are prepared to assume positions as college and university professors, educational researchers, researchers for government and industry, statistics and research methodology consultants, instructional designers and developers, program evaluators, and directors of research for school systems. An emphasis is placed on preparing competent researchers. Students in educational psychology may take 34 to 40 post-baccalaureate semester hours of specialty coursework. The design of this sequence can be individualized based on the interests and background of the student. The types of sequences that are often selected include courses in the areas of cognition and instruction, research and evaluation and human development. To illustrate, a student interested in cognition and instruction would take a series of courses in cognitive psychology, computing, instructional design and development, and independent study/directed research. Some of these would be taken within the department and others would come from relevant disciplines. Regardless of the student's specific program, all Educational Psychology students must take the following:

Additionally, the following topics of study are also encouraged:

Catholic Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, CELPS. This special doctoral strand is offered under a nontraditional format that includes three intensive summer sessions of prescribed coursework and intervening assignments in the field. The intention of the program is to prepare leaders who will continue to transform Catholic educational practice with current professional research while at the same time infusing Catholic tradition and values into their vision and practice.

All Catholic Educational Leadership and Policy Studies students must take the following or other courses as necessary to meet requirements:

Catholic Education Core

Research Core

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Other Requirements

In addition to the core courses, students must satisfy three requirements. First, students complete a Program of Studies in one of the two specialty areas. A Program of Studies is a projection of the student's series of courses. It must be approved by the student's academic adviser and the department chair, and it must be filed in the student's departmental records before the end of the first year of study. Approval of a projected program does not obligate the university to offer all the courses listed.

The second requirement is the successful completion of a written comprehensive examination. This exam is typically taken during the final semester of coursework.

Third, students are required to complete and defend a written dissertation. The dissertation is viewed as a major research project and is expected to be of publishable quality. The approval process for a dissertation topic is described in the university's Dissertation Handbook. See also The Doctoral Degree in the General Information section of these Announcements for more detail regarding the dissertation.

Resources and Facilities

Center for the Advancement of Catholic Education. This center brings together scholars and practitioners to identify major challenges facing Catholic education in the 21st century and to explore practical solutions to these problems. To achieve this goal, the center has three major functions. The center's first function is to establish a systematic national data collection on Catholic schools that will serve bishops, pastors, school officials, researchers and policy makers. The second major function of the center is to provide planning services to meet the needs of dioceses and individual Catholic schools as a continuation of assistance provided by The Catholic University of America since the early 1980s. The center's third major function is outreach. The outreach function focuses on providing a service to dioceses or individual schools in three areas:

1. developing Catholic leadership and collaborating with Catholic school leaders at various levels to explore practical solutions to the challenges facing Catholic education;

2. designing programs to educate children with special needs in Catholic schools; and

3. strategizing ways to provide quality Catholic education for minority children, especially those in urban Catholic schools.

Other Information

Transfer of Credit In addition to the university's regulations for the transfer of graduate work earned at another institution (see General Information section), the Department of Education normally will consider for transfer only credits earned in the five-year period immediately preceding the student's admission to the school and courses in which students attained a B or better.

Advisers Each student in the Department of Education is assigned a faculty adviser prior to initial registration. It is anticipated that the student will take responsibility for making an appointment to meet with the faculty adviser at an early date. The adviser assumes the role of providing guidance regarding study and degree requirements, counsel for academic problems that may arise during the student's course of study and a continuing resource for the student.

At the doctoral level, students work directly under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Doctoral students will be matched with mentors upon admission. This decision is based primarily on the mutual research interests of the students and prospective mentors. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with faculty research interests at time of application.

Courses Offered

Please consult the registrar's Web site at https://cardinalstation.cua.edu for descriptions of courses offered in the current semester.

The Department of English offers the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in English and American literature. It also houses the graduate program in rhetoric, which offers a certificate, as described below. Full and current information on degree requirements is available on the departmental Web site: http://english.cua.edu/. Applicants for admission should submit a sample of their academic writing, such as a term paper or thesis, in addition to the materials required by the School of Arts and Sciences. Students applying to the M.A. program may begin their studies either first or second semester, or even in Summer Sessions. Students who apply to the Ph.D. program are ordinarily admitted during second semester (spring) to begin studies the following fall.

Degrees in English Language and Literature

Students in both the M.A. and Ph.D. programs must take ENG 721 and CLIT 702 (Modern Critical Movements), each during the first semester of their graduate study in which the course is offered, and ENG 625. With the approval of the department, graduate students in English may follow related courses offered by other departments as part of their work in the major field.

All students who intend to specialize in medieval English literature should consult Professor Wright, the department's senior specialist in this area, to plan their programs—if possible, before registration the first semester of their residence, and periodically throughout their studies.

For the M.A. degree, 30 credit hours of coursework, including two research seminars are required. By petition to the department, an M.A. thesis may substitute, in rare cases, for the research seminars. For the Ph.D. a total of 54 semester credit hours after the baccalaureate degree is required. Ph.D. students also must include among their courses two research seminars after the M.A.

The minimum language requirement for the master's degree is a reading knowledge of one foreign language. The minimum language requirement for the Ph.D. is a reading knowledge of two foreign languages or the successful completion of  graduate courses taught in a foreign language.

Students who receive two grades of C or below are subject to dismissal from the program.

After completing their coursework, both M.A. and Ph.D. students must pass a written comprehensive examination.

As the culmination of their academic training, doctoral students must produce a dissertation representing a substantial piece of original research.

The university is a member of the Folger Institute of Renaissance and 18th-Century Studies, and English department students may register for seminars given at the Folger Shakespeare Library as part of this cooperative program.

Student Aid

A number of tuition scholarships are available to students entering the department's programs. More advanced students may be eligible for graduate assistantships that are available each year. These require teaching in the lower-division undergraduate program and pay a stipend. Holders of assistantships also receive tuition scholarships.

All applicants will be considered for any scholarships and assistantships that are available and for which they qualify. These are awarded on a competitive basis. Since the process of selection begins in early February, applicants whose materials are received by Feb. 1 can be considered for the largest number of awards. Given the limited amount of financial aid, it is important that applicants submit their materials as early in the spring semester as possible.

Rhetoric Certificate

The Department of English offers a certificate of rhetoric granted upon completion of four courses, approved by the department, in the field. Notation that the certificate has been earned will appear on the student's transcript. Students may count rhetoric courses taken to gain the certificate in the total number required for the degree. M.A. students with an interest in rhetoric may take one part of the two-part master's comprehensive in that field; Ph.D. students may choose a topic in rhetoric for one part of the three-part doctoral comprehensive. Adviser: Stephen McKenna.

Joint M.A. (English)—M.S. in L.S. Program

The School of Library and Information Science and the Department of English in the School of Arts and Sciences offer a joint-degree program that enables students to have careers as editors in publishing, humanities librarians or antiquarian booksellers. The program requires 54 semester hours, 30 hours in library science and 24 in English. Applicants for joint degrees must submit complete and separate applications to both degree-granting units of the university. Joint degrees are conferred simultaneously after all requirements for both degrees have been met.

Courses Offered

Please consult the registrar's Web site at https://cardinalstation.cua.edu for descriptions of courses offered in the current semester.

The Department of Greek and Latin offers three graduate degree programs, leading to the M.A. degree in Greek and Latin, the M.A. degree in Latin, and the Ph.D. degree in Greek and Latin, and three graduate certificate programs, in Greek, in Latin, and in Greek and Latin. Detailed information about all these programs is available at the department's website.

Programs at the master's level emphasize the study of Classical Greek and/or Latin literature, but may also include approved coursework in history, art and architecture, patristics, postclassical Greek and Latin, epigraphy, papyrology, paleography and other disciplines. Neither M.A. program requires a thesis, but degree candidates must submit two substantial research papers for review by a committee of the faculty. In the doctoral program there is a special emphasis on the late antique period and on postclassical Greek and Latin, and a requirement that Ph.D. dissertations focus on a patristic, late antique, or Medieval Latin topic.

This emphasis at the doctoral level reflects the department's reputation as a center for the study of Christian Greek and Latin, which is exemplified by two series of published dissertations it has sponsored—Patristic Studies and Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Latin Language and Literature—and by The Fathers of the Church, a well-known series of English translations published by The Catholic University of America Press and long associated with this department. This unique heritage in the study of late antiquity and the medieval period, which is shared by other departments and programs at the university, has also been responsible for the development of a number of projects undertaken by the university press, notably Studies in Christian Antiquity; Medieval Latin: An Introduction and Bibliographical Guide; and the Catalogus translationum et commentariorum, a series devoted to the medieval and Renaissance Latin translations of ancient Greek authors and the Latin commentaries on ancient Greek and Latin authors up to the year 1600. The most recent initiative is The Library of Early Christianity, a new series of texts and facing-page translations, whose editorial director is a member of the department's faculty.

The department's certificate programs (in Greek, in Latin, and in Greek and Latin) are special graduate qualifications available to post-baccalaureate, graduate, or continuing-education students. They provide concentrated and carefully supervised opportunities, unencumbered by the usual obligations of traditional degree programs, to receive intensive instruction in classical and/or postclassical Greek and Latin and to acquire the linguistic skills required for advanced studies and research in Classics and a wide variety of fields in the humanities. Admission is open to applicants with a completed bachelor's degree (in any field), and there is no need to submit GRE scores or to have had any prior experience in Greek or Latin. Each certificate program consists of 15 credit-hours (five courses) of language study at the advanced level and can be completed in less than one calendar year if a student enters with intermediate-level language work already completed. Those without this linguistic background can satisfy prerequisites (elementary and/or intermediate language courses) during the summer before the selected certificate program begins.

The university's John K. Mullen of Denver Memorial Library houses excellent resources for graduate students, including teaching collections of Greek, Roman, and Byzantine coins; medieval and Renaissance manuscripts and diplomata; and 10,000 volumes from the renowned Clementine Library, assembled by Gian Francesco Albani (Pope Clement XI, 1700–1721) and his family. The department also maintains a working library of its own on permanent reserve, as well as a small collection of Greek and Roman antiquities. CUA's membership in the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area ensures that students may take courses for CUA credit at participating institutions and have access to their libraries. In accord with the terms of a special exchange agreement, master's and doctoral students may also be eligible to enroll for credit in courses offered by the Classics department of The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

The prerequisite for beginning a graduate certificate program is a completed bachelor's degree in any discipline. Prior knowledge of Greek and/or Latin is not required. Students who wish to become candidates for the department's M.A. programs in Greek and Latin or in Latin should ordinarily have taken one or both of the classical languages as their programs of concentration in college or should have acquired equivalent training before beginning graduate work. Students wishing to be admitted as candidates for the Ph.D. degree should ordinarily have completed a B.A. or a master's degree program in classics (at CUA or elsewhere), and should be primarily interested in studying patristics, late antiquity, or Medieval Latin against the background of ancient Greek and Roman literature and culture. Deficiencies in training for graduate work, in either Greek or Latin, must be made up before students will be eligible for admission to courses conferring graduate credit. Transfer of graduate credits earned at other accredited institutions is permitted in accordance with the university's regulations. Graduate students who receive a grade of C in any course are subject to review by the faculty of the department. Those who receive a grade of F or a second grade of C are subject to dismissal. Courses may be repeated only at the discretion of the chair.

Candidates for the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees must take written comprehensive examinations based upon departmental reading lists. A reading knowledge of French and German is strongly recommended from the beginning of graduate studies. Competence in either of these languages is required for the M.A. degrees in Greek and Latin and in Latin; a reading knowledge of the other, and of any additional relevant languages, is required for advancement to doctoral candidacy.

Courses Offered

Please consult http://cardinalstation.cua.edu for descriptions of courses offered in the current semester.

The department offers both an M.A. and a Ph.D. in history, as well as joint programs at the M.A. level with the School of Library and Information Science and the Columbus School of Law. The joint M.A./M.S.L.S. and M.A./J.D. programs integrate history with professional training.

At some universities, a student automatically progresses to the Ph.D. without an intervening M.A. as a formal midpoint. In CUA's Department of History, a student must have an M.A. degree from either this or another university, and must be formally admitted to the Ph.D. program by the department. For further information on this admission process, consult the department chair.

The focus at the M.A. level is on building a broad understanding of the historical development, critical historical issues, and research methodologies in one of five broad fields of history (Latin American, Byzantine, medieval, modern European or United States), or in the special field of Religion and Society in the Late Medieval and Early Modern World (1300-1800). Within these fields, no subfields are formally recognized. Thus, for example, while a student may have a strong interest in colonial United States history (1492–1783), the student must also take courses on the nineteenth and twentieth century United States (1783–1980) and will be expected to be conversant with the major issues of the entire period before completing the M.A.  While it has special requirements (see below and consult the departmental website), the special field in Religion and Society in the Late Medieval and Early Modern World shares this characteristic. 

At the Ph.D. level, the reverse expectations hold. A student works with faculty to develop four narrow fields of specialization—two defined as major fields and two as minor fields. The emphasis in the major fields is on the development of depth of understanding and preparation for the Ph.D. dissertation. Students must expect to work very closely with an individual faculty member and take courses that are closely focused.

Master of Arts

The M.A. requires completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours (10 courses) beyond the bachelor's degree. These courses must include HIST 601 and at least two research seminars (800-level courses or 900-level directed research). Students are free to choose (in consultation with their advisers) whether or not to write a thesis for the M.A. degree; those who choose the thesis option include six credit hours of thesis direction toward their minimum required credits.

Degree programs in history must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. A course in which the student has earned less than a B- does not count toward the credit requirements of the degree. It may be retaken once, at the discretion of the department chair. Any student incurring more than one grade below B- (F or C grades) may be dismissed.

Completion of the degree further requires satisfactory performance on a comprehensive examination in the student's chosen area of study (Byzantine, medieval or modern European, U.S., Latin American, or religion and society in the late medieval and early modern world). Every student must also satisfy a language requirement, to be completed prior to the taking of the comprehensive examination. For most areas of study this requires qualification in a minimum of one language, but for medieval European history, two (Latin plus one other) and Byzantine history, two (Greek plus one other). Satisfaction of the language requirement may be by any of the means outlined in the General Information section of these Announcements, and elementary language courses primarily concerned with grammar or reading comprehension do not count toward the minimum number of credit hours required for the degree. All M.A. students must also deposit copies of two research seminar papers with the department office. Students who choose the thesis option must register twice for thesis guidance and have the topic approved by the faculty and the dean. They will be awarded six hours of credit upon successful completion of the thesis.

M.A. Program in Religion and Society in the Late Medieval and Early Modern World

The department now offers a special M.A. degree Program in Religion and Society in the Late Medieval and Early Modern World. This program is designed for students who wish to study the historical dimensions of religion and religious experience in the period from the 14th to the 18th century in Western Europe and the Western Hemisphere. The requirements for this degree are essentially the same as for the regular M.A. degree except that students will concentrate their studies in a range of courses relevant to the program.  The comprehensive examination will reflect the specific focus of this program.

Joint M.A. Programs

In addition to the regular M.A. program outlined above, the department cooperates with the Columbus School of Law and with the School of Library and Information Science.

Admission to the law school is a prerequisite for the joint J.D.-M.A. program. Nine law credits can be applied toward the minimum of 30 credits required for the M.A. in History. students fulfill all other requirements for the Master's degree: proficiency in a modern language, minimum G.P.A of 3.0, satisfactory performance on the comprehensive exam. For further information regarding this option, contact the department chair.

The joint program leading to an M.A. in history and an M.S. in library and information science requires a total of 51 credit hours (30 in library and information science and 21 in history). The history segment of the program requires that the student follow the nonthesis option and complete HIST 601, a minimum of two research seminars (800-level courses or 900-level directed research), and four more courses (readings courses or research seminars) in the student's chosen area of history. Nine credits are transferred from the M.S. in library  and information science program to complete the degree. The student must also satisfy the requirements for a comprehensive examination and languages described above. For information on the M.S. in library and information science requirements, consult the School of Library and Information Science section of these Announcements.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Ph.D requires completion of a minimum of 54 credit hours (18 courses) beyond the bachelor's degree. At the end of the first semester of residency, a departmental committee reviews the grades and performance in the semester's courses and evaluates good progress.  In the case of students entering the Ph.D. program with an M.A. degree already obtained from another institution, the department may transfer a maximum of 24 credit hours (eight courses) toward the minimum required for the Ph.D. The 54 credit hours must include HIST 601 (or its equivalent from another institution's graduate program) and a minimum of four research seminars (800-level courses or 900-level directed research). An M.A. thesis in history from another institution may take the place of two of these seminars.

Further, the Ph.D. requires satisfactory performance on comprehensive examinations in two major and two minor fields of historical study, which are defined through consultation with each student's adviser. Every student must also satisfy a language requirement prior to the taking of the comprehensive examinations: for most areas of study this requires qualification in a minimum of two languages, but for medieval European and Byzantine history, three (Latin plus two others in the case of medieval European, and Greek plus two others in the case of Byzantine). Satisfaction of the language requirement may be by any of the means outlined in the General Information section of these Announcements, and elementary language courses primarily concerned with grammar or reading comprehension do not count toward the minimum number of credit hours required for the degree. Finally, the Ph.D. requires completion of a dissertation under the direction of faculty advisers and the dissertation's satisfactory defense.

Every Ph.D. student's program of study is tailored to that student's particular fields of focus, which in turn are intended to relate to the nature of the eventual dissertation research. Students must thus work closely with their mentors, and student and mentor together must make every effort to define the comprehensive examination fields and the curriculum necessary to prepare for them as early as possible in the student's progress through the program. Within two semesters of entering the Ph.D. program, each student must have a colloquy- a formal meeting with the faculty members expected to participate in examinations in that student's major and minor fields, in order to define the nature of the fields and to specify remaining coursework necessary to prepare for each field. The report of the colloquy committee remains part of the student's departmental file as a guideline for completion of studies. One of the minor fields may be in a discipline entirely outside history (such as literature, political science, archaeology or anthropology, for example).

The department has a limited number of merit-based, tuition-remission scholarships, endowed stipends and stipendiary teaching assistantships to offer graduate students, and reviews the credentials of all applicants to identify potential candidates for such awards.

A more complete set of instructions regarding all aspects of the graduate degree programs may be obtained in print form from the department, and from the department's Web site. 

Courses Offered

Please consult the registrar's Web site at https://cardinalstation.cua.edu for descriptions of courses offered in the current semester.

Program in Irish Studies
Program Director: Christina Hunt Mahony, English

The Program in Irish Studies is administered by an interdepartmental committee representing the departments of English, history, modern languages and politics. Instituted in 1991, the program is part of a tradition of academic commitment to Irish studies at CUA, dating from the endowment of a chair in Celtic Languages and Literatures by the Ancient Order of Hibernians in 1896. Instruction in the Irish or Gaelic language and its literature has continued in the century since, complemented by courses in Anglo-Irish literature and, from 1982, by the Program in Irish Society and Politics administered by the Department of Politics. The John K. Mullen of Denver Memorial Library maintains strong collections in support of coursework and research in these areas, with particularly distinctive holdings in Gaelic and Anglo-Irish literature and Irish history. The University Archives, furthermore, contain a wealth of materials from Irish republican organizations of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and others pertaining to Irish-American religious and labor history and Irish immigration.

M.A. Degree in Irish Studies

This is an interdisciplinary degree, coursework for which is intended to demonstrate the relationships among Irish literary culture (in both Irish and English), history and politics. Accordingly, of the 30 credits necessary for the degree, 24 are taken in required courses distributed as described below. While there is no prescribed sequence of courses, degree candidates are required to take part for one semester in the Program in Irish Society and Politics, offered in Dublin under CUA auspices through the Institute of Public Administration. This involves a semester-long internship working as a research assistant to a member of the Irish parliament, together with courses in Irish history, politics and literature, offering a total of 15 credits. The remaining 15 credits can be taken at CUA, with provision for a limited transfer of applicable credits from other institutions.

The degree program concludes with a comprehensive examination given over two days: the first day will be devoted to Irish studies in general, the second to a special area chosen by the student with the approval of the student's academic adviser. The academic methods in which students are trained provide a background for further graduate work as desired, in Celtic studies, economics, English, history, international relations, law or political science. Two grades of C or lower can result in dismissal from the program. Students may repeat a course in which they achieve a grade lower than C only at the discretion of the program director.

Courses Offered

Please consult the registrar's Web site at https://cardinalstation.cua.edu for descriptions of courses offered in the current semester.

Program in Irish Studies

PLEASE NOTE: New admissions to this program have been suspended until further notice

The Program in Irish Studies is administered by an interdepartmental committee representing the departments of English, history, modern languages and politics. Instituted in 1991, the program is part of a tradition of academic commitment to Irish studies at CUA, dating from the endowment of a chair in Celtic Languages and Literatures by the Ancient Order of Hibernians in 1896. Instruction in the Irish or Gaelic language has continued in the century since, complemented by courses in Anglo-Irish literature and, from 1982, by the Program in Irish Society and Politics.  The Dublin Parliamentary Internship is now administered by the Office of Global Education. The John K. Mullen of Denver Memorial Library maintains strong collections in support of coursework and research in these areas, with particularly distinctive holdings in Gaelic and Anglo-Irish literature and Irish history. The University Archives, furthermore, contain a wealth of materials from Irish republican organizations of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and others pertaining to Irish-American religious and labor history and Irish immigration.

M.A. Degree in Irish Studies

This is an interdisciplinary degree, coursework for which is intended to demonstrate the relationships among Irish literary culture (in both Irish and English), history and politics. Accordingly, of the 30 credits necessary for the degree, 24 are taken in required courses distributed as described below. While there is no prescribed sequence of courses, degree candidates are required to take part for one semester in the Program in Irish Society and Politics, offered in Dublin under CUA auspices through the Institute of Public Administration. This involves a semester-long internship working as a research assistant to a member of the Irish parliament, together with courses in Irish history, politics and literature, offering a total of 15 credits. The remaining 15 credits can be taken at CUA, with provision for a limited transfer of applicable credits from other institutions.

The degree program concludes with a comprehensive examination given over two days: the first day will be devoted to Irish studies in general, the second to a special area chosen by the student with the approval of the student's academic adviser. The academic methods in which students are trained provide a background for further graduate work as desired, in Celtic studies, economics, English, history, international relations, law or political science. Two grades of C or lower can result in dismissal from the program. Students may repeat a course in which they achieve a grade lower than C only at the discretion of the program director. Students may resit comprehensive examinations once with the consent of the program director.

Courses Offered

Please consult the registrar's Web site at https://cardinalstation.cua.edu for descriptions of courses offered in the current semester.

The Department of Mathematics is not admitting students to the graduate degree program for the 2009–2010 academic year.

Program Director: Lourdes Maria Alvarez

The university's Center for Medieval and Byzantine Studies is under the general direction of an interdisciplinary committee selected from cooperating departments and schools. The study of the Middle Ages has enjoyed a special prominence at The Catholic University of America since its foundation in 1887 as a national university and center for graduate research.

From its earliest years, CUA has fostered research in all the areas comprising the modern interdisciplinary fields of medieval and Byzantine studies and its faculties in the schools of arts and sciences, canon law, music, theology and religious studies, and philosophy have always included distinguished medievalists. The John K. Mullen of Denver Memorial Library holds special collections in medieval history, canon law, philosophy and theology. In addition, the university offers scholars proximity to the extraordinary special collections in Washington at the Library of Congress, the Folger Library and Dumbarton Oaks Research Library.

In addition to university-wide scholarships, the program awards stipends and the Elisabeth Cella Memorial Award in Medieval Studies.

Members of the faculty in the Program in Medieval and Byzantine Studies are drawn from the schools of canon law, music, philosophy and theology and religious studies, as well as from arts and sciences. Departments represented are English language and literature, Greek and Latin, history, art history, modern languages and literatures, and Semitic and Egyptian languages and literatures.

Certificate in Medieval and Byzantine Studies

The Certificate in Medieval and Byzantine Studies, composed of 24 course credits, is designed to offer students a broad experience in various components of medieval and Byzantine civilization, providing both perspectives and tools for specialized research. Students enrolled in the program follow a basic curriculum consisting of courses in the fields of medieval Latin, medieval history, medieval philosophy, and medieval theology. Specializations in medieval vernacular languages and literature, as well as in Byzantine studies are possible.

M.A. Degree in Medieval and Byzantine Studies

The M.A. degree, like the certificate, is designed as an interlocking program that recognizes the complex intertwining of theology, philosophy, languages and history for advanced study in any medieval or Byzantine field. In particular, students interested in acquiring the linguistic background necessary for advanced work in the many fields of the medieval period need a structure that permits the widest possible latitude.

The coursework required for this degree is the same as that required for the certificate, but six additional credits must be taken. These may be either a thesis or two research courses. A written comprehensive examination is required and the student must demonstrate reading proficiency in modern French or German. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2 is normally required to qualify for advancing to the doctoral program.

Ph.D. Degree in Medieval and Byzantine Studies

The Ph.D. program incorporates the M.A. curriculum while also requiring an additional 30 semester hours of coursework in one major and two minor fields. A written comprehensive examination is based upon a reading list approved by the committee. Students must also demonstrate reading proficiency in both modern French and modern German.

Courses Offered

Please consult the registrar's Web site at https://cardinalstation.cua.edu for descriptions of courses offered in the current semester.

Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

Professors Bruno M. Damiani; Joan Tasker Grimbert, Chair; Jean-Michel Heimonet Associate Professors Lourdes M. Alvarez; Margaret Ann Kassen; Stefania Lucamante; Hanna Marks; Peter Shoemaker; Chad C. Wright Assistant Professors Claudia Bornholdt; Mario Ortiz Assistant Professor for Professional Practice Kerstin T. Gaddy Visiting Assistant Professor  Rafaela Fiore Urizar

M.A. Degree in Spanish Language and Literature

The department offers the M.A. degree in Spanish.

The normal preparation for graduate work in Spanish is a Bachelor's degree in that language. Students  with a major in another field are required to have at least 24 semester hours of college work in Spanish, including a general survey of literature  and an advanced language course, or their equivalents.

The program leading to the M.A. degree may include courses in the medieval and modern language, applied linguistics, philology, culture and civilization, literature, literary theory and criticism. A minimum of 30 hours of graduate work is required; transfer of up to 6 credits is allowed.  After completing their coursework, students must pass a written comprehensive examination.

Students who receive two grades of C are subject to dismissal from the program.

Ph.D. Program in Spanish Language and Literature

The Ph.D. is offered in Spanish. Candidates for the Ph.D. in Spanish take a minimum of 54 semester hours of credit. (Students with an M.A. from another institution may be able to transfer up to 24 credits.) Students may take up to 18 credit hours in a minor program within the department. It is also possible, with the permission of the departmental chair and the advisor, to select a minor outside the department, such as comparative literature or medieval studies. For the Ph.D. in Spanish, two minors are particularly suitable: Arabic and/or Hebrew (Romance-Semitic studies). Students interested in studying Arabic or Hebrew should consult the offerings in the Semitics department. Students interested in studying Gaelic should consult the listings under Irish Studies.

Required Courses

For both M.A. and Ph.D. candidates, the following courses are required: SPAN 609, History of the Spanish Language; 703, Spanish Proseminar.

Language Requirements in the Research Languages

M.A. Degree Candidates. Candidates for the M.A. degree in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures may be certified by the departmental chair as having fulfilled this requirement with their proficiency in Spanish. International students must be proficient in English.

Ph.D. Candidates. Candidates for the Ph.D. degree are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of a second language. The research language will be chosen, with the advisor's approval, to fit the program selected by the candidate.

The accepted method of satisfying this requirement is either:

1. passing the Graduate School Foreign Language Test;

2. satisfactorily completing the department's noncredit intensive course in the language, Reading for Comprehension (500);

3. having a Ph.D. minor in the language and receiving certification of such from the departmental chair; or

4. being certified as having proven competency in the language in a graduate course on the 500 level or above.

Directed Reading Courses

The department also offers directed reading courses to accommodate the needs of individual students under special circumstances.

Comprehensive Examinations

The M.A. and Ph.D. degrees require a written comprehensive examination in the major subject. Students preparing for comprehensive examinations should note the instructions, which follow.

Candidates for the M.A. or Ph.D. degrees are expected to have:

1. a satisfactory speaking facility in each language taken as a major or minor and an accurate knowledge of the modern grammar of each;

2. knowledge of the old and modern literature of each language taken as a major or minor (students seeking specific guidance in their reading program should consult their professors or the chair of the department; reading lists are available in each field); and

3. an adequate knowledge of the main scholarly and critical works relating to the literatures of their specialization.

Courses Offered

Please consult the registrar's Web site at https://cardinalstation.cua.edu for descriptions of courses offered in the current semester.

The Department of Physics offers programs leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. These degrees are designed to prepare the candidate for a professional research career. Research areas include materials science, astrophysics, nuclear physics, condensed matter physics, statistical mechanics and vitreous state physics. In addition, arrangements can be made for cooperative research projects in nearby governmental laboratories such as GSFC, NRL, and NIST. All incoming students must take a preliminary examination at the undergraduate level at the beginning of their first semester of residence. The exam serves as a diagnostic tool for course placement.

Master of Science Degree

Candidates for the M.S. degree must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate work in residence. A B average should be maintained. In the nonthesis program at least 24 semester hours must be in physics, and no more than nine of these may be in courses numbered below 600. In the thesis option, at least 18 semester hours must be in physics, six of which may be in research guidance and not more than nine in courses numbered below 600.  For either option, the student must satisfactorily pass a comprehensive examination.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree

Candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in physics are required to complete 53 semester hours, of which 35 must be in physics. A B average should  be maintained. Mastery of the material presented in PHYS 525, 611, 612, 615, 621, 622, 623, 624, 659 and 660 is required of all students. Additional work is arranged according to the preferences of the student. A maximum of nine semester hours in courses below 600 may be applied toward the degree. A comprehensive examination, which includes both written and oral parts, must be passed after the equivalent of two full years of study. In addition, candidates must present a satisfactory dissertation.

Prospective students are invited to write to the department for additional information.

Courses Offered

Please consult the registrar's Web site at https://cardinalstation.cua.edu for descriptions of courses offered in the current semester.

Subject to the general regulations for graduate study at The Catholic University of America and the School of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Politics offers programs leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy. The following fields of instruction are offered: Political Theory, American Government and World Politics. In addition to the on-campus M.A. and Ph.D. programs,  two special master's degree programs are offered off campus: the M.A. in Congressional and Presidential Studies and the M.A. in International Affairs. In cooperation with the Department of Business and Economics, the department also offers a master's degree in international political economics. In cooperation with the Columbus School of Law, the department offers a joint M.A.-J.D. program.

Master of Arts Degree

Admission

Students may be admitted to the department provided they have graduated from an accredited college with an average of B or better. The Graduate Record Examination is also required from all applicants, excepting only MA/JD joint degree applicants for whom the LSAT is accepted. Students should have completed 15 semester hours in the social sciences, including nine hours in political science.

Requirements for Graduation

Coursework

For the master's degree, a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework is required. A 3.0 grade point average or better must be maintained. American Government and Political Theory students must take POL 651 and 652 (Political Theory One and Political Theory Two). World Politics students may concentrate in either International Relations or Comparative Politics, and they must take POL 606 (Introduction to International Affairs) and 607 (Graduate Introduction to Comparative Politics). Students who concentrate in American Government are required to complete POL 625 (Graduate Introduction to American Government). Students who select Political Theory or World Politics as their fields of concentration must take at least six hours in the other fields offered by the department.

Research Skill Requirements

All on-campus M.A. students, and all off-campus M.A. students in Internatonal Affairs, must demonstrate basic competence in a research skill, which can be either a foreign language or a methodology. For the acceptable means of demonstrating basic competence in a foreign language, which may be a classical language, students should consult General Requirements for Graduate Study in the General Information section of these Announcements. Note: courses taken in statistics, a foreign language, or other research skills do not count toward the 30 credit minimum course requirement for the M.A. degree.

For students in Political Theory, only languages are acceptable. For students in World Politics, either languages or statistics are acceptable. For students in American Government, languages, statistics, historiograhpy or archival methods are acceptable.

All M.A. students are also required to demonstrate successful completion of major research papers. Generally, this requirement is met by submitting two faculty-approved seminar papers to the Department in the semester before the comprehensive examination. These papers must be signed by a member of the faculty indicating completion of research and writing at an advanced level. In some cases, students may satisfy the research requirement by electing to write a faculty-supervised master's thesis on a topic approved by the department and the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. Students choosing this option register twice for Thesis Guidance and earn six credits upon deposit of the approved thesis.

The department may require additional research skills, if this is considered necessary for satisfactory completion of the student's program.

Comprehensive Examination

Students who have completed or are in the final semester of 30 hours of coursework will take a written comprehensive examination in their field of concentration. Courses completed to satisfy language or methodology requirements are not counted toward the 30 hours. The comprehensive examinations are offered only twice each year, in March and October. All core courses, research skills, and seminar paper requirements should be completed by the end of the semester prior to the comprehensive examination.

Congressional and Presidential Studies and International Affairs Programs

The Department of Politics offers an M.A. program in International Affairs and an M.A. program in Congressional and Presidential Studies (CAPS) at the Hall of States building on Capitol Hill.  For these M.A. programs, students must complete 30 hours of coursework in the field, complete and submit two seminar papers to the department signed by faculty members, and successfully pass a comprehensive examination. In CAPS, two courses are required: CPOL 671 Modern Congress and CPOL 626 Modern Presidency. In International Affairs, one course is required: CPOL 500 Introduction to International Affairs. Additionally, International Affairs students must demonstrate basic competency in a foreign language or statistical methods. Off-campus graduate courses are designated by the prefix CPOL and are listed after the on-campus courses. All core courses, research skill and seminar paper requirements are to be completed by the end of the semester prior to the comprehensive examination.

M.A. in International Political Economics

The interdisciplinary Program in International Political Economics offers graduate students both theoretical training and exposure to central policy issues. This program combines graduate studies in politics and economics. Individuals interested in aspects of international economic relations, such as international business, finance, banking or government service, will find the program of particular value. Thirty-six semester hours of graduate credit are required. Prospective students should contact the Department of Business and Economics for further information.

Joint J.D.-M.A. Program

The Department of Politics, in cooperation with the Columbus School of Law, offers a joint J.D.-M.A. program. This program allows students to pursue the J.D. and M.A. degrees concurrently and to finish both programs more quickly than if each degree was pursued independently. In this program, students may apply nine semester credits earned in the law school toward the M.A. degree and may apply 12 semester credits earned in the M.A. program toward the J.D. degree. Details of this program are available from the Department. Admission to this program requires a separate admission to the law school. To qualify as a joint degree, both the J.D. and the M.A. must be completed in the same semester.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree

Admission

Current students completing the Master's degree and interested in continuing in the doctoral program are encouraged to consult with their professors and the department chair before submitting an application for the higher degree.  A student's ability to proceed with doctoral studies will be assessed by a committee of the faculty after the comprehensive examination at the Master's level has been evaluated.

Transfer Students

Students who wish to transfer credit toward the Ph.D. program from another institution must normally take the M.A. comprehensive examination. This may be taken at any of the regularly scheduled times for comprehensives, but should not ordinarily be later than the semester in which the student will have completed 24 hours at the university. The results of this examination will be one of the measures used to judge final admission to the doctoral program. Following successful completion of the examination, a colloquium will be held with the student in order to review all the requirements for the Ph.D. degree.

Course Requirements

For the doctoral degree a minimum of 54 semester hours of coursework is required, including those completed for the master's degree in the Department of Politics or transferred from another university. POL 651 and 652 (Political Theory I and II) are required of all doctoral students. Each student will complete 36 semester hours of coursework in a field of concentration within the department (including courses in the field of concentration which may have been taken toward the M.A.). Students in World Politics must take POL 606 and 607. Students concentrating in American Government are required to complete POL 625.

Each student also will take 12 semester hours of coursework in a minor field, which is normally one of the department's other fields of instruction.

Independent Study

Doctoral students may be permitted to take up to nine semester hours in the form of independent study or directed reading. Such coursework must have the approval of the department chair and must be done under the supervision of a faculty member.

Research Skill Requirements

All Ph.D. students are required by the department to demonstrate (a) basic competence in one research skill and (b) advanced competence in a second research skill. Ordinarily these skills should be foreign languages. Except in the case of concentrators in American Government, at least one of the skills must be a foreign language. For Political Theory students, both must be foreign languages.

For the acceptable means of demonstrating basic competence in a foreign language, which may be a classical language, students should consult the General Requirements for Graduate Study in the General Information section of these Announcements. Advanced competence in a language, meaning ability to conduct research in the language, is demonstrated by means of an additional examination to be arranged by the department.

With the approval of the department, students in World Politics or American Government may offer a methodology relevant to the discipline of politics as one of the two required research skills. Among the methodologies that may be accepted are statistics and, for American Government only, archival methods or historiography.

In addition to languages and methodologies, doctoral students must submit to the department four, faculty-approved seminar papers (or two such papers with the completion of a master's thesis) by the semester prior to the Ph.D. major doctoral comprehensive examination. 

The department may require additional research skills, if this is considered necessary for satisfactory completion of the student's program.

Comprehensive Examination

Doctoral students are required to take an oral preliminary examination in their major field and written comprehensive examinations in both their major field of concentration and their minor field. The major and minor comprehensive examinations are ordinarily taken in different semesters; however, the oral and written examinations in the major field are given in the same semester. All core courses, research skills, and seminar paper requirements are to be completed by the end of the semester prior to the comprehensive examination.

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree in the Department of Politics is contingent upon the department's approval, following an appropriate level of performance on the Ph.D. major comprehensive examination. Full-time doctoral students are encouraged to submit an acceptable dissertation topic by the end of the semester following the completion of comprehensive examinations in the major and minor fields. Part-time doctoral students are encouraged to submit an acceptable dissertation topic by the end of the second semester following the completion of comprehensive examinations in the major and minor fields. The formal proposal needs departmental approval before being submitted to the dean no later than the fourth semester of candidacy.

Courses Offered

Please consult the registrar's Web site at http://cardinalstation.cua.edu for descriptions of courses offered in the current semester.

The following courses are offered off campus as part of the M.A. programs in congressional studies and international affairs:

The Department of Psychology, one of the first established in the United States, was founded by Edward Pace upon his return in 1891 from study with Wilhelm Wundt in Leipzig.  From early in its history, the department has combined education in both theoretical and applied aspects of psychology. 

The department offers three programs at the doctoral level: clinical psychology, applied-experimental psychology and human development; and three at the master's level: general psychology, human factors, and a joint J.D./M.A. program. Students are not admitted to the doctoral program in human development for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Master of Arts Degree

The department offers an M.A. in general psychology, a specialized M.A. program in human factors, and a joint J.D./M.A. program.

Prerequisites and Admission Requirements

Students applying for admission to the M.A. degree program must present a bachelor's degree from an accredited college. At least one course in general psychology or its equivalent is preferred, although not required. Additional coursework in basic areas of psychology is also desirable.

Information on application procedures, supplementary instructions, and links to application forms may be obtained at http://psychology.cua.edu/graduate. All application credentials should be sent to: Office of Graduate Admissions, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064. In addition to the completed application form, the applicant should also request that the following be sent to graduate admissions: transcripts of undergraduate records and any other postsecondary studies; three letters of recommendation from officials or faculty members of the institution previously attended or from employment supervisors in the event that a long time has elapsed since the bachelor's degree studies. All M.A. programs, except the J.D./M.A. program, also require results of the verbal, quantitative and writing sections of the Graduate Record Examination. Applicants are not required to take the psychology section of the GRE.  Acceptance into the J.D./M.A. program is contingent upon acceptance into the Columbus School of Law at CUA.  Although applications are accepted throughout the year for all M.A. programs, applications must be received at least six weeks before the start of classes.

Applicants should note that admission to the M.A. program does not ensure admission to a Ph.D. program. After completion of the M.A. degree, students may reapply to the Ph.D. area of their choice.

Programs

The Master of Arts degree is offered in general psychology, human factors, and psychology and law (J.D./M.A.). A formal thesis is required in the Human Factors Program. The General M.A. and the J.D./M.A. programs are nonthesis degrees; however, completion of an in-depth topic paper is required.

General M.A. Degree. The Master of Arts in general psychology is awarded upon completion of 31 semester hours of credit, passing of a comprehensive examination and completion of a topic paper. There are four required courses: Historical and Biological Foundations, Cognitive and Social Foundations, Research Methods, and Statistical Methods. The student must pass six additional courses from a variety of different areas in psychology. Students may complete a three-credit research apprenticeship and a three-credit independent readings course toward the requirement.  Registration for Topic Paper Guidance is required during the semester in which the topic paper is completed. 

Human Factors. The Human Factors Program provides a basic foundation in statistics, research methods and the applied-experimental techniques used by researchers in applied areas. The M.A. in human factors is awarded upon completion of 32 semester hours of credit (including directed readings and research apprenticeships), successful completion of a written comprehensive examination and successful defense of a master's thesis. There are five required courses: Historical and Biological Foundations, Cognitive and Social Foundations, Research Methods, Statistical Methods I and Statistical Methods II. Requirements for five additional courses are determined in consultation with the faculty advisor. Each student is encouraged to take up to six credits of approved coursework in a related area of concentration outside of psychology. Current areas of concentration in human factors are cognitive science, visualization and virtual reality, and human-computer interaction.

Joint J.D. (Law)–M.A. (Psychology). Students who have already been accepted to Catholic University's Columbus School of Law may apply for a joint program leading to simultaneous degrees in psychology and in law. The program requires 94 semester credit hours (72 in law, 22 in psychology), compared to 115 credits if the two degrees are pursued separately. For further information, write directly to the Director of M.A. Programs at the Department of Psychology, The Catholic University of America, 4001 Harewood Rd., N.E., Washington, DC 20064.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree

The first-year Ph.D. program introduces general scientific psychology and methodology. After the first semester, specialization begins with individual research tutorials and continues to the doctoral dissertation. Research papers and other scholarly products are required as part of this training. The third and fourth years of study (and fifth year internship in the clinical psychology program) are devoted primarily to the student's specialty.

At the end of every year each student's course grades and general academic standing are reviewed. Continuation of advanced studies toward the doctoral degree is contingent upon a favorable review of the student's progress and the successful completion of requirements set by the faculty.

Prerequisites and Admission Requirements

Prospective applicants can find program information and admission requirements on the department Web site, http://psychology.cua.edu. We prefer that applicants for the Ph.D. level of graduate study have taken the following undergraduate courses: General Psychology, Experimental Psychology (with laboratory), Statistics, and one semester of a laboratory science other than psychology. Additional coursework across the basic areas of psychology is highly weighted. Applicants also must submit results of the Graduate Record Examination (including the subject test in psychology for clinical program applicants). The required letters of recommendation should be written by individuals familiar with the applicant's academic background and aptitude for graduate study.

Applicants to the clinical program must also submit a Clinical Psychology Interest Form, rating sheets to accompany letters of recommendation, and a two- to three-page personal statement , and a Curriculum Vitae. The application deadline for the Clinical Psychology Program is Dec. 15. All application materials for the doctoral programs should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064.

Required Courses

Required courses for all Ph.D. students in the department are the following: Historical and Biological Foundations, Cognitive and Social Foundations, Research Methods, Statistical Methods I and II, Research Apprenticeship (three semesters). Additional hours of core electives also are required within each program. The remainder of the student's program is planned in consultation with an adviser.

Completion of Degree Requirements

Coursework for the doctorate is usually completed within three or four years. The doctoral comprehensive examination is typically taken during the third year of study. Students are expected to complete all doctoral degree requirements within four years (five years for the Clinical Program). For legitimate reasons, an extension of the time limit may be granted in individual cases by the faculty.

Programs

Concentration is offered in three areas: clinical psychology, applied-experimental psychology, and human development. In addition, further specialization is offered in two areas: Children, Families and Cultures; and Cognitive Deficits across the Lifespan. The Children, Families and Cultures specialization provides interdisciplinary training in both normal and abnormal developmental processes within family and broader cultural contexts. Students wishing to train in that specialization are admitted to either the clinical or human development programs. The Cognitive Deficits track focuses department-wide expertise in specific areas of human cognition, human emotion, and neuroscience. Program information is available on the department's Web site, http://psychology.cua.edu.

While a minimum of 53 semester hours of credit is required for the Ph.D., of which a maximum of 24 may be transferred from other institutions, Ph.D. degree training involves considerably more than the accumulation of credits. The development of research and applied skills is fostered by active participation in department activities, by individual tutorials, and by experience in training placements. Ph.D. candidates from other departments desiring to minor in psychology must obtain approval of selection of courses from the Chair.

Clinical Psychology. The program is based on the scientist-practitioner model and is accredited by the American Psychological Association (Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, American Psychological Association, 750 First Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20002. Web site address: http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation, 202-336-5979). The goal of the program is the preparation of clinical psychologists with a thorough understanding of the science of psychology and its methods of investigation and a solid grounding in the application of psychology to the solution of human problems. Students receive supervised research and clinical experience at each level of graduate training to prepare them for careers in the research, teaching or professional aspects of clinical psychology. Research skills are taught through coursework, a three-semester research apprenticeship and the dissertation. Clinical skills are taught through courses and practica. Practicum experiences are provided on campus within the department and at the University's Counseling Center and off campus in a variety of mental health facilities. One year of the program is devoted to a full-time internship. 

The specialization in Children, Families and Cultures involves both basic and applied research on children, couples and families. Training in both child and family therapies is offered to students, including a program which provides family therapy services to the community. Issues of culture are an essential ingredient of the theoretical, methodological, and intervention training and research.

Applied-Experimental Psychology. The Applied-Experimental Psychology Program offers advanced training in applied-experimental psychology, cognitive science and cognitive neuroscience to prepare individuals for careers in academic, industrial, government, health-care, and other settings that require strong research, analytical and writing skills. Although students are admitted to pursue the Ph.D. degree through a 5-year curriculum, they are awarded the M.A. degree after completing at least 30 hours of coursework, an M.A. thesis, and oral defense. A major objective of the program is to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to understand, organize, and critique the scientific literature of the field, to develop and carry out original, scholarly research and to appreciate the translational implications of this work for practical problems. 

Core Ph.D. courses are designed to provide a strong foundation for research. The foundations course sequence examines the basic science of psychology focusing on historical and biological foundations as well as on cognitive, social and affective areas including their neurological and developmental aspects. The two-semester sequence in statistics provides graduate-level training in the theory and application of statistics including the use of computer software for data analysis and modeling. The research methods course examines experimental, quasi-experimental and observational research designs as well as ethical standards and report preparation. A series of additional elective courses on advanced topics are taken to complete the formal pedagogical curriculum and required minimum of 53 credit hours. Course selection beyond the core curriculum is tailored to the individual needs and interests of each student.  Students also have the option of electing certain courses offered in related departments at the University such as Social Work, Nursing and Biomedical Engineering as well as at CUA's sister institutions through the Washington Consortium of Universities.

Coursework is supplemented by "hands-on" research training throughout graduate study following an apprenticeship model. Within the first year, students identify a specialty related to the research interests of a program faculty member and receive research-intensive experience in that area. This experience includes carrying out a first-year research project that is written up as a formal M.A. thesis and defended in an oral examination by the end of the second year.  The program faculty members have research interests that span a wide range of issues, including cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience, cognitive aging, cognition and technology, social cognition and cognitive rehabilitation.

Research laboratories associated with the Applied-Experimental Psychology Program are located in O'Boyle Hall. The nine-room Cognitive Aging Lab includes sound-attenuated testing booths as well as a network of PC and Apple Macintosh computers. The Cognition and Virtual Reality Lab includes several graphics workstations, two head-mounted displays with motion sensors, and a large rear projection screen. Special facilities are also available for the use of virtual reality and eye-tracking techniques in research on autism. The Cognitive Neuroscience laboratory includes a 64-channel EEG/Event Related Potential system. Other laboratories contain microcomputers and video equipment. The university's high-performance workstations are also available for students and faculty members.

Human Development. (Currently accepting new students for the M.A. program only). This program offers training in developmental psychology to prepare individuals for diverse career opportunities in government, private businesses and universities. Students gain a thorough knowledge of theory, basic research and applied research in the area of developmental psychology from infancy to old age. Students also gain competency with quantitative methods, qualitative methods and statistics. A sequence of relevant statistics and methods courses is required of all students. In the course of their training, students participate in ongoing research projects and conduct independent empirical investigations on selected topics. Following their first semester, students conduct research apprenticeships in developmental psychology each semester. All students are required to complete an empirical M.A. thesis and an oral thesis defense in order to be considered for Ph.D. candidacy.

The Human Development Program offers a Specialization in Children, Families and Cultures. This specialization emphasizes both normal and abnormal processes in child and adolescent development and examines these processes in the context of family life as well as the broader cultural environments within which people live. Students specializing in this area take courses focusing on the importance of family and cultural processes for theoretical, methodological and applied work. Students also work with faculty on research projects that situate development within either family and/or cultural contexts. A special asset of the human development program is its affiliation with the university's Life Cycle Institute. The institute houses researchers from the university as well as visiting scholars who study the human life span from interdisciplinary perspectives (such as psychology, sociology and political science). Research focuses include community service, marriage and family, acculturation, and civic development.

Other Information

Financial Support

For information concerning university scholarships and fellowships, contact the Office of Graduate Financial Aid, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064 or review the information at  http://financialaid.cua.edu/graduate.htm. Applications completed by specified program deadlines (but no later than February 1) will be considered for University scholarships.  A number of teaching assistantship positions are typically available to Ph.D. students in their second year or later. Research assistantship appointments are made by individual faculty.

Nondegree Students

Applicants may apply for nondegree status, although some courses are open only to students in particular Ph.D. sequences. The Director of M.A. Programs should be consulted for advice on available courses.

Nondegree students who later wish to be considered for degree status must submit updated applications ordinarily required for admission; however, there is no guarantee of acceptance into degree programs. If admitted as a regular student in a degree program, a maximum of three courses successfully completed as a nondegree student may be applied toward an advanced degree.

Clinical Training Centers

The university administers the on-campus Counseling Center, which provides psychological services to the student body. It is also a training site for clinical practica and externships. These clinical experiences allow graduate students-in-training the opportunity to provide supervised personal, vocational, and educational counseling.

The Family Therapy Clinic, within the Department of Psychology, offers clinical psychology doctoral students supervised training experiences in family and couple therapy.

Life Cycle Institute

The department is affiliated with an ongoing multidisciplinary research program involving the core social sciences covering many aspects of public policy.

The institute's interdisciplinary setting encourages students to have a broad perspective toward research and theory. Upon recommendation by the Department Chair and the LCI Director, students may hold appointments at the institute as research assistants.

Courses Offered

Please consult the registrar's Web site at https://cardinalstation.cua.edu for descriptions of courses offered in the current semester.

The Department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures embodies CUA's historical commitment to integrate religious studies with the arts and sciences. From the beginning, the study of biblical and Christian Near Eastern languages and literatures was part of the university's curriculum. Graduate programs in Semitic and Coptic languages and biblical and Near Eastern antiquities were formally established in 1895. Two years later the department was founded in the School of Arts & Sciences by Monsignor Henri Hyvernat, the first professor chosen for CUA.

Major programs (M.A. and Ph.D.) in ancient Northwest Semitic languages (hereinafter ANWSL), with a concentration in Biblical Hebrew, furnish the linguistic training and other auxiliary studies needed for a scholarly grasp of the texts of the Jewish and Christian Holy Scriptures in their historical and cultural contexts. Major programs (M.A. and Ph.D.) in early Near Eastern Christian languages and literatures (hereinafter NECLL), with concentrations in Syriac, Coptic and Arabic, offer future scholars the opportunity to acquire advanced first-hand knowledge and interpretation of the Christian literatures of the Near East in their historical and cultural settings, including Christian interactions with Muslims especially in the early Islamic period. The department's commitment to research and instruction in the languages, literatures and history of the Christian Near East is unique in this country, and it is one of the few academic centers where such studies are actively pursued.

The department provides instruction supportive to programs in other departments and schools, primarily programs in biblical studies and theology in the School of Theology and Religious Studies and the interdisciplinary graduate program administered by the Center for the Study of Early Christianity. In addition, the department cooperates with the Schools of Theology & Religious Studies and of Philosophy and the Departments of History and Anthropology in the School of Arts & Sciences in the area of early Islamic studies. The facilities of the department are available to all qualified research workers. These facilities include the library, manuscripts and collection of Oriental antiquities of the Institute of Christian Oriental Research, founded by Monsignor Hyvernat.

Course Requirements. Thirty semester credit hours are required for the M.A. The thirty credit hours must include twelve in the student's major language; credit hours at the 500 level in the student's major language do not qualify. The thirty credit hours must also include at least six credit hours in a second Semitic language judged (by the faculty) to be the most necessary for effective work in the student's major field. Up to six credit hours of Greek (beyond the elementary level) may be counted. ANWSL students may take history or language courses (including Syriac, Arabic and Coptic) from the NECLL program; NECLL students may take history and language courses (including Hebrew and Aramaic) from the ANWSL program. In addition to these thirty semester credit hours, the M.A. student must select (with the approval of the chair) two papers written for courses (completed with a grade of B or better) requiring a major research paper. After the courses are completed, the student must revise the papers and resubmit them to the major professor and to an additional reader for approval.

Students who wish to pursue a program combining aspects of both major programs are urged to consult in advance with all relevant faculty. The Ph.D. program incorporates the M.A. curriculum and requires an additional thirty semester hours of coursework.

Transfer of relevant graduate credits earned at other accredited institutions is permitted in accordance with the university's regulations.

Students are expected to maintain a good overall standing in the program; students who do not do so will be subject to faculty review and dismissal, if warranted. In particular, a student who receives one C may be subject to faculty review and may be placed on probationary standing in the program. A second C may lead to dismissal. A student may repeat a course in which the grade of C was earned, and the grade of the retake may replace the C; this can only be done once and must be done in consultation with the faculty.

Ph.D. students are required in addition to take two courses, ordinarily six credits, outside the department with the approval of the adviser and the chair. The courses should complement the student's interests and be adjusted to his or her background and training. The requirement may be fulfilled by courses at the graduate or advanced undergraduate level (500 level or higher). The courses can be taken in a variety of departments and programs, including biblical studies, theology, early Christian studies, English, modern languages, comparative literature, history, economics and politics. The student may propose any courses at CUA that fit into his or her program. The courses may be taken in one or more departments. In certain circumstances, courses offered elsewhere in the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area or at The Johns Hopkins University; the University of Maryland, College Park; or other neighboring schools may be considered.

Language Requirements. All students are required to take six credits of Greek or be able to demonstrate an equivalent competence. A reading knowledge of French and German is strongly recommended from the beginning of graduate studies. All M.A. candidates must successfully complete the modern language qualification examination in one of these languages. Ph.D. candidates must successfully complete examinations in both languages.

Comprehensive Examinations. M.A. degree candidates must, with the permission of the department chair, register for M.A. comprehensive examinations in their major and minor languages. Ph.D. candidates must, with the permission of the dept. chair, register for a doctoral comprehensive examination in their major and minor language areas. All degree candidates, whether M.A. or Ph.D., must register for the comprehensive examination before the beginning of the semester in which they will take the examinations. These examinations must be passed before work on the Ph.D. dissertation can begin.

Courses Offered

Please consult the registrar's Web site at https://cardinalstation.cua.edu for descriptions of courses offered in the current semester.

The Department of Sociology, founded in the mid-1890s is one of the oldest sociology schools in the United States. It is associated with the Life Cycle Institute—an advanced social science and public policy research center. In keeping with its long academic tradition the department offers a graduate program leading to the degree of Master of Arts. Currently, the master's program is organized around three principal foci: Public Policy Analysis (offering courses on poverty, education, ethnic, urban, disability, sports and gender policies as well as economic sociology and social change), critical contemporary criminology (offering courses on the sociology of law, international crime and terrorism, surveillance and penology, sociology of organizations and law enforcement), and global macro-social processes (offering courses on globalization and fragmentation of modern markets and societies, urban development, political and religious change around the world, civil society and social justice, and comparative analyses of contemporary societies, which focuses on Latin American and European societies). In each of these areas students receive profound training in research methods and theory. Students prepare for careers in public policy analysis, research and teaching. Graduate education at the Sociology Department serves as an excellent terminal degree attainment strategy, as well as a conduit for successful application to law schools, doctoral programs in sociology and social work, and professional schools.

The graduate program has a required core curriculum. Upon request, programs other than the three main areas of specialization may be designed, drawing on current human capital of the department, and on other schools that participate in the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan area. Students can take courses within other departments of The Catholic University of America. The course of studies is complemented by a variegated spectrum of internships. Recently, students interned in Justice Department, Health and Social Services Department, World Bank and the IMF, and various law enforcement agencies, that included the Federal Marshall Service and the FBI.

Additional information is available from the chair of the department on concentrations and course offerings that can be secured through other consortium sociology departments at American, Georgetown, George Washington and Howard universities and the University of Maryland. Thus the students have available to them many courses in numerous areas of specialization, as well as a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches to sociology.  Consortium classes need approval by the Chair and the Dean.

Prerequisites and Requirements

Candidates for the master's degree must successfully pass the following courses: 501, Research Methods; 503, Social Statistics; 512, Contemporary Sociological Theory; 604, Intermediate Social Statistics. There is no language requirement for the M.A. The master's degree requires 30 semester hours of graduate work, six of which can be fulfilled by writing an M.A. thesis. As an option to the thesis, two significant written reports of a research nature may be submitted. Departmental grade policy is as follows: students are required to have grades not lower than a B- from all courses in sociology. The department makes a distinction between the skill and the core courses. Students who receive a grade lower than a B- from any of the skill courses (501, 503, 506, 604) may petition the department and may be allowed to retake the course one more time with departmental permission. Core courses cannot be retaken. Departmental grade policy specifies that students who do not meet the grade criteria are subject to dismissal from the program.

A comprehensive examination is given to students finishing their M.A. coursework. The examination is based on coursework and especially on an integrated reading list revised periodically by the faculty. The department views carefully the professional training of each graduate student; in this regard the faculty normally expects students to engage successfully in teaching or research under faculty supervision. This can be done through an assistantship, independent research or outside employment.

Financial Aid

The department offers a limited number of teaching assistantships. In addition, research assistantships are available when faculty members have funded research projects. Research assistantships also are available through the Life Cycle Institute. Applicants wanting to apply for a teaching or research assistantship should correspond directly with the chair of the Department of Sociology. Other applications for financial aid are made at the time of application for admission to graduate study (see the section on Financial Support in the General Information section of these Announcements).

Courses Offered

For descriptions of courses offered in the current semester, please consult the registrar's Web site at https://cardinalstation.cua.edu.