The School of Arts and Sciences is the liberal arts core of the University with 17 departments in the arts, humanities, social sciences, human sciences, and natural sciences.  We are the heart of a Global Catholic Research University.

The unique thing about The Catholic University of America is that we are truly an authentically Catholic, global research university. In all of our departments in the School, we carry out research as part of our teaching mission. We integrate that together with our Catholic faith in everything that we do. We search for the truth, while acknowledging the origin of the truth in God and we can do that in all of our disciplines: in the humanities, the sciences, and in the arts.  Our beautiful, green and safe residential campus located in the heart of the world's capital greatly extends our University and our students' and faculty's experience in a way that no other place can.  It's also a place where you can have lots of fun!

Our undergraduate students have direct access to and the ability to participate in the creation of knowledge — cutting-edge research that our faculty and our graduate students are doing. The undergraduates are learning from them in classrooms but also are working with them in their laboratories or with them on their research. We are connecting our research and creation of knowledge in a way that serves man. When we produce knowledge, new knowledge — discover new things — it should be done in a way that helps people and serves God and that is how we integrate education and research in a Catholic university.  And if you are not a Catholic, you are respectfully welcomed here, your own faith and you as a human person are respected here, you are part of this exciting effort and this is your home.

Our students have access to a large, green, residential campus right in the middle of Washington, D.C., not out in the suburbs, with direct access to all parts of the city through the Metro stop that's on campus. The nation's capital is an extension of our School both in education and access to jobs and opportunities. Students can live on campus and experience a traditional university residential life while having access, just minutes away, to NASA, the National Institute of Standards, the Library of Congress, the National Institutes of Health, the Kennedy Center, the Shakespeare Library, Capitol Hill, the Smithsonian museums, think tanks, the list goes on and on. Scholars come to Washington, D.C., from all over the world to do research at these and other facilities where our students work as a regular part of their education. It gives them access to a tremendous range of opportunities which they would not have pretty much anywhere else in the world.

Besides the research and employment opportunities, Washington, D.C., enhances the diverse cultural and intellectual life of our students and faculty, giving us access to beautiful performances, music, dance, art museums, natural history. And this really accentuates our entire experience here at The Catholic University of America.

The kind of liberal arts education that you get here in our School forms the foundation of almost anything that you want to do. If you want to be a scientist, you should learn some philosophy and theology. If you want to be a philosopher, well, you should learn some physics and art.  If you want to be a doctor, nurse or a business person, you should learn some history and a second language. And these are the things that not only are you allowed to do but strongly encouraged and guided to do in our School. It forms the foundation for everything that you are going to do later in life.

Finally, as the global research university of the Catholic Church, we have a special obligation to be the conscience of research and higher education.  At The Catholic University of America we are free not only to study, to learn about other cultures and visit foreign countries, to learn our disciplines, but to ask:

• What is the meaning of this?
• How do we do this the right way to help people instead of hurt them?
• What is good about this, or what is bad about this?
• What is the truth?  
• Where to look for beauty and transcendence?
• How to understand our relationship to each other, to nature, and to God.

Not only is it possible to be men and women of faith and reason, it is the only way to have a truly free, respectful and complete research university.  You will be formed into global citizens with the tools to go out into the world to gainfully and faithfully serve our fellow man, our country and our planet.

Welcome to The Catholic University of America!