The School of Arts and Sciences at The Catholic University of America is a unique liberal arts research college strongly committed to the Gospels and the teachings of the Catholic Church in all that we do as laid out in St. John Paul the Great’s apostolic constitution Ex Corde Ecclesia.

We are a beacon of light that draws people around the country and the world to freely investigate the profound questions of meaning and truth and to search for beauty and transcendence. It is our privilege and obligation to engage in ethical research and education that lays the strong foundation for clear, forward thinking, purposeful action and true understanding.

The 17 departments and seven interdisciplinary programs in the school form the core of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences at the University; we both serve the other schools and are the basis for the University’s research efforts. We aim to change the course of students’ lives and propel them toward a meaningful future by recruiting excellent faculty members who carry our research and Catholic missions forward, by building cutting-edge laboratories and facilities, and by providing professional development and networking opportunities in the heart of the nation’s capital.

We believe that all the disciplines of the liberal arts should seek to serve humankind through Catholic social doctrine. As we see in so much of the world today, they can clearly do the opposite. But together with our faculty, students and staff from all faith backgrounds, the School of Arts and Sciences lifts its strong voice as the conscience of higher education.

  • Fall colored trees in front of McMahon Hall

    At a Glance

    The Catholic University of America is unique as the national university of the Catholic Church and as the only higher education institution founded by the U.S. bishops. Established in 1887 as a papally chartered graduate and research center, the University began offering undergraduate education in 1904.

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