Theology/Philosophy
-
Program TypeMinor
-
SchoolSchool of Arts & Sciences
Explore the great quest for truth from the interconnected perspectives of faith and reason.
What You’ll Learn
Pope St. John Paul II taught that faith — the domain of theology — and reason — the domain of philosophy — are "like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth."
In the theology/philosophy minor, you’ll explore the question of truth in a flexible program of study.
- Discover the seminal works that have shaped our culture.
You’ll engage with the foundational writings that continue to inform modern thinking — from Socrates and Aristotle to Saints Benedict and Aquinas.
- Receive individualized attention.
You’ll enjoy small class sizes and have the opportunity to be mentored by your professors.
- Prepare for graduate study at Mary.
Continue your exploration of theology and philosophy in Mary’s Master of Arts in Catholic Studies, Master of Arts in Applied Catholic Theology, or Master of Business Administration/Master of Arts in Philosophy.
Program Information
Please visit our catalog for admission requirements and a full list of our courses.
Featured Faculty
Philip Porter, ThD
Chair of Theology Program, Assistant Professor of Theology
I am a theologian whose interests include philosophical theology, Latin patristics, the theology of death, and ordinary language philosophy. As an undergraduate, I attended the University of California, Berkeley earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2006. After graduation, I was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. I studied in the Master of Theological Studies program at Loyola University Maryland, graduating in 2015. I completed my doctoral studies at Duke University’s Divinity School in 2020. When not reading and writing theology, I spend time with my wife and four children.
David Echelbarger, PhD
Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Associate Professor of Philosophy
I joined the philosophy faculty at Mary in 2014, after earning my PhD from Baylor University. In addition to teaching philosophy, I have the great privilege of serving as a faculty mentor for the Gregorian Scholars Honors Program. My wife and I have been blessed with three children. Originally from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin, we have developed a great fondness for North Dakota — especially its people and austere beauty.
