Overview Program Goals Academic Program & More   What is Catholic Studies? Catholic Studies is an exciting, new interdisciplinary program at U-Mary that examines the Catholic Church's comprehensive contributions to human thought and culture, past and present. As a sustained, rigorous study of Christian culture, the Program invites students of any faith who wish to deepen their knowledge of Catholicism's rich history and living tradition as found in each age of the Church's mission in the world. Whether you want to major in business, nursing, education, music, theology, or any other field, the University of Mary Catholic Studies Program can enhance your perspective and enrich your understanding of your major and yourself. Mission Statement The Bishop Paul A. Zipfel Catholic Studies Program seeks to build a close-knit community of faculty and students from various academic and pre-professional programs who seek to discover together the rich and multifaceted ways Catholicism may be integrated into academic, professional, cultural, personal, and social life. Catholic Studies and the University of Mary: Catholic Identity and Mission The Catholic Studies Program celebrates the Christian, Catholic, and Benedictine identity of the University of Mary and seeks to bolster our mission to be "Faithfully Christian, Joyfully Catholic, and Gratefully Benedictine." The University of Mary is the only institution of higher learning in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming to offer a Catholic Studies Program. In the words of our president, Monsignor James Patrick Shea, "This program is an innovative way both to enhance the university's Catholic identity and to provide an avenue through which students of all faiths can deepen their knowledge of Catholicism's rich and living heritage. We hope Catholic Studies will offer our students space for reflection on the crucial issues of our time and a deeper maturity of faith." Catholic Studies will give you a solid foundation to carry on the New Evangelization of the world today and offers a new way of preparing you to become a morally courageous leader in service of truth. Our History and Name The Catholic Studies Program, an initiative of U-Mary President Monsignor James P. Shea, was launched fall of 2010. On October 19, 2010, the program was named in honor of Bishop Paul A. Zipfel, sixth bishop of the Diocese of Bismarck, North Dakota, due to a generous gift from Joe and Florence Hauer.