Theology/Philosophy
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Program TypeMinor
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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, Applied Catholic Theology, or Master of Business Administration/Master of Arts in Philosophy.
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
Chair of Philosophy Program, 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.
