About

The interdisciplinary minor in Catholic Social Tradition serves as a resource for Notre Dame undergraduates to learn the Catholic Social Tradition and is open to undergraduate students from every college and major. Drawing on faculty and courses from a number of departments, the minor is directed by Margaret Pfeil, Ph.D.

The Catholic Social Tradition offers a long-standing and profound corpus of thought and teaching that draws upon classical texts and tradition in the full range of social spheres - economic, political, religious, cultural, and familial. It does so through a constellation of concepts that, taken as a whole, give articulation to a coherent yet variegated vision of the good society, a vision that serves as a guide for human and institutional behavior. Such concepts include the Common Good, Rights and Responsibilities, Option for the Poor, Subsidiarity, and Peace.

A key thesis of the Catholic Social Tradition is that the pursuit of truth, the life of faith, and the practice of social justice are not limited to those who have made a formal commitment to ministry in the Church but are essential elements of the vocation of every Christian in every state of life and profession (Gaudium et Spes #43).

This website provides information that is of particular interest both to current and prospective students in the minor, including the program curriculum and available courses, information concerning upcoming events, and links of general interest to students who are interested in learning more about the Catholic Social Tradition. We welcome inquiries from students, faculty, and visitors, and invite you to explore this site.

You may be interested to learn about the marks of the minor and the history of the program.

If you have questions about the CST minor, please contact Director Margaret Pfeil or her administrative assistant, Paula Muhlherr (574) 631-9402.