This book has no title — yet. That’s for you to decide.
Write your story
Your
story begins
her
re
O
n this campus. In these classrooms. This story is as much yours as it is ours, and we can’t wait to see what you do with it. Will you be the protagonist that fights for a more equitable future for all? What mentors guide you as your plot develops? How high will your story arc go — and where will you land when it ends? The story you create here may be the most important one you ever write. Blank pages are only daunting until the ideas start flowing. And once you arrive on campus, you won’t be able to get them down quickly enough. From introspection to extracurriculars to research in the nation’s capital, each twist will be more captivating than the last. Your cast of characters will keep you guessing. Your surroundings will awaken all the senses. By the time you reach the final chapter, you’ll have answered many questions and sparked a million more. A good story does that. It stays with you to be revisited often, revealing new meaning at each phase of your life. You may not know the story yet. (That wouldn’t be very interesting, would it?) But at The Catholic University of America, yours will unfold before you know it. Just have a little faith.
3
Miles to Capitol Hill
377
Full-time faculty, 416 part-time
32
Research centers and facilities
50
Major campus buildings
Introducing:
your se ing Nestled just north of Capitol Hill sits Catholic University. Step onto campus and find yourself immersed in a world within a world — in both a powerful and historic city, and surrounded by lush green landscapes and cherry blossom trees. Things here are defined by juxtaposition: college and the real world, home and your next big step. With 176 acres, Catholic University has the largest campus in Washington, D.C. We are home to more than 3,000 undergraduate students and 2,400 graduate students, and live at the cross section of Catholicism and culture. Here, students of all backgrounds, races, and religions write the next chapter of our world’s future together.
“T his is my stop” you’ll declare proudly
That’s right. We have our very own Metro stop: Brookland-CUA. Otherwise, you might not know this residential, grassy oasis we call home is just minutes from downtown Washington, D.C. We are the largest and greenest campus in one of the most expansive college towns in the U.S., meaning this really is a college experience with something for everyone. But that doesn’t stop with the setting. There’s always something going on, whether it’s a University-wide tradition like Cardinal Weekend or the MLK Day of Service, or a spontaneous snowball fight on the “Pryz” lawn.
welcome
to the neighborhood What’s not to love about Brookland — one of the most vibrant and fastest-growing neighborhoods in the city? Dubbed “Little Rome” for its abundance of Catholic organizations, schools, and churches, Brookland is buzzing with restaurants, shops, and galleries, all within walking distance. (Don’t miss the Monroe Street Farmers’ Market on Saturdays.)
establish
your point of view Whether you’re into politics, competitive ballroom dancing, anime, or repping women in engineering, CatholicU has 100+ clubs to fulfill your passion or help you explore something entirely new.
develop
your character We are a welcoming, faith-filled community inspired by discovery and the pursuit of knowledge, committed to social justice, and engaged with highenergy student life. If you have a desire to develop a deeper connection with yourself, your community, and your guiding principles, there’s a place for you here. Along with plenty of opportunities to share your talents through community service. CatholicU students have been honored by the NCAA and Catholic Volunteer Network for national leadership in giving back to our neighbors in Brookland and throughout the capital region.
It ’s hard to say what’s more beautiful — the picturesque acres of green or the sense of community that permeates campus. The smiles are genuine, and even the small talk feels big.
FA I T H
Underscore
your outlook A
t 133 years and counting, Catholic University remains the one and only national university of the Catholic Church in the United States. So it should be no surprise to hear that we believe in the promise and power of doing what’s right — passing those lessons on through six generations now of successful and conscientious alumni. The most important part of any story, after all, is the character of, well, the characters. As a Catholic institution, our identity is grounded in our faith. It anchors our community and offers its members the opportunity to experience a vibrant life rooted in a deeper belief. But that doesn’t mean we expect this of everyone who attends. At CatholicU, we embrace you and the development of your character — regardless of your religious belief. In the best tradition of higher education, we believe in the compatibility of faith and reason, and we pride ourselves on expressing these ideals through acceptance, service, and always striving to better ourselves and the lives of others. The world is ever-changing, and we are moving right along with it (after all, even the Pope uses Twitter). Because at the end of the day, faith and religion teach us about love, tolerance, altruism, and staying true to who you are meant to be — and that’s a narrative we can all support.
n 0% More than
ofofCatholicU regularlyparticipate participate CatholicUstudents students regularly in community service.
You are part of a Green Book
Sr. T hea Bowman 1974
1953 Donald Shirley
1942
FORMER ADMINISTR ATOR
IN OSCAR-WINNING
Sr. Thea Bowman
Paula A. Vogel
GREEN BOOK
EDUCATOR AND
PULITZER PRIZE -
EVANGELIST FOR
WINNING
AFRICAN AMERICANS,
PLAY WRIGHT
COMPOSER DEPICTED
THE FIRST AFRICAN
PHYSICIST/ENGINEER,
1970, 1973
MUSICIAN AND
Marguerite Thomas Williams
Michael D. Griffin
AMERICAN TO EARN A GEOLOGY PH.D. IN THE
OF NASA
SERVANT OF GOD
UNITED STATES
1940
1975
1959
The Hon. Peggy A. Quince
Jane Henson MUPPETEER,
JUSTICE FOR
SESAME STREET
THE FLORIDA
1973 1949 Patricia A. Carroll ACTOR, VOICE OF URSULA IN DISNEY'S LITTLE MERMAID
SUPREME COURT
Maureen Dowd WRITER FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
Alberto R. Ortiz EXECUTIVE PRODUCER FOR CBS NEWS
1988
Angela Santomero
Robert Casey U.S. SENATOR, PENNSYLVANIA
Tara Petrolino ESPN SPORTSCASTER
Timothy Shriver CEO, SPECIAL OLYMPICS
John Slattery
2003
Mathew Dunn SR. DIRECTOR, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS,
1989
SPACEX
Brian M. Cashman GENER AL MANAGER OF MLB'S NEW YORK YANKEES
1984 John Slattery ACTOR, MAD MEN
1990 Angela Santomero CREATOR OF
1992 Alice S. Fisher
2013
ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENER AL FOR THE
John McCarthy
U.S. DEPARTMENT
POLITICAL STR ATEGIST
OF JUSTICE
NAMED TO FORBES 30
BLUE’S CLUES AND
UNDER 30 FOR POLITICS
DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD
1985 Martin O'Malley
2010
Michael J. Bidwill
Dung Nguyen
PRESIDENT OF THE NFL'S
SR. ENGINEER, TESLA
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Dung Nguyen
FORMER GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND
2020
1990
2008, 2015 Betsy Garcete FOUNDER OF ZOPHIA
Twist y t s i w Tplot r u o y Twist y plot plot Here is where your story starts to pick up. It’s where the pieces start to fall into place. This is where passions turn into professions, research into the road map for your future. Sure, it’s laid out in a curriculum, but there’s always room for a plot twist. We are America’s second-oldest research university, a legacy we continue to build upon every day by taking on real-world problems and finding solutions and answers across all
subject matter. We encompass 12 schools, 120 disciplines, and students from 47 countries around the globe. We work to uphold the high standards of our more than 130-year-old institution, while continuously helping students like you discover their gifts and put them to use. Explore more than 70 undergraduate programs — all rooted in a strong liberal arts foundation — and discover exactly what your calling is.
AC A DE M IC S
Jeremy Striano Sometimes, the best stories are spoken, not written. Media and Communication Studies major Jeremy Striano is proof of that. He developed a love of hockey at a young age, engrossed in the chants, chatter, action, and excitement. Now, he shares that passion with the CatholicU community through our student-led WCUA radio station. He works as a sportscaster for the University’s hockey team and hosts his own radio program, “The Dekin’ Deacon Hockey Show.” He’s working to turn this calling into a career as a professional broadcaster.
“
All of my courses offer me something new that adds to my understanding of broadcast journalism, and I've had great attention from all of my professors, who have helped me develop my specific interests.
”
Molly Kelly As if being a Nursing major and member of the Cardinals’ women’s lacrosse team weren’t challenge enough, Molly Kelly served as student leader for the Spanish for Health Care program's service trip to Puerto Rico in 2019 to aid residents still affected by Hurricane Maria. There, Kelly and 15 of her classmates spent a week working in free health clinics, ministering to the homeless on the streets, and visiting elderly patients in their sometimes hard-to-reach and still storm-damaged homes. Although she missed three games while she was away, Kelly had the support of her coach and teammates, who sent her off with medical supplies to help the Puerto Rican communities she visited.
“ To have that kind of unwavering support from your coaches and teammates, rooting you on to be a better nurse in your career, was really humbling for me.
”
AC A DE M IC S
NURSING If there’s anything recent history has taught us, it’s that nurses are the heroes of practically every story. They slay the dragons that we call disease and provide critical care to those most in need. Not only do they restore health, they also preserve futures — and that sounds pretty magical to us. At Catholic, our Nursing students are training to become the heroes our world needs. Discover how earning a B.S.N. from the Conway School of Nursing can set you up for a successful career saving the world.
CatholicU's NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate in 2019 was over 98%.
MUSIC, DRAMA, AND ART Maybe no one knows how to tell a better story than a student in the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art. Whether your medium is scale or sonnet, painting or playwriting, here you’ll develop your craft with full creative freedom. Explore your most artistic passions in the program that has produced 2 Oscar Award, 7 Tony Award, and 2 Pulitzer Prize winners, and see how our school’s connections to D.C. powerhouses such as the National Gallery of Art and the Kennedy Center can change the course of your career forever.
ARTS AND SCIENCES Our largest school, and it would have to be to contain all the programs offered! While being located in the nation’s capital makes Politics a popular major, 16 other departments cover subjects from Anthropology, Biology, Economics, and Education to Greek and Latin, History, Physics, and Psychology. Did you know that CatholicU introduced the study of psychology in the United States? And today students and faculty in 11 research laboratories continue a 125-year history of making significant contributions to the international literature on the latest developments in the field.
Researchers in our Vitreous State Laboratory pioneered the technology being used to clean up the Hanford nuclear reservation in Washington State. Their solution? Turn dangerous nuclear waste into glass.
ENGINEERING Each piece of engineering tells its own story. From the laptop you’ll use to the bridges you’ll cross to get here, every idea and solution holds a world inside it. If you choose to study engineering at Catholic University, you’ll be diving into one of our most popular and prosperous disciplines. And whether your eye is drawn to civil, biomedical, electrical, environmental, or mechanical engineering or computer science, you’ll have the tools and the technology to take your story further than you could ever imagine.
NATIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SERVICE The top-ranked Catholic school of social service in the nation, NCSSS in 2018 celebrated its first century of unwavering commitment to the pursuit of social justice for all. Combining the University’s rich liberal arts curriculum (including philosophy, theology, and rhetoric) with specific courses in human behavior, research, policy, and practice — together with unsurpassed opportunities to partner in meaningful field work with agencies across the District — our social work graduates have a wellearned reputation for being effective advocates and change agents for their clients from day one.
PHILOSOPHY School of Philosophy icon Msgr. Robert Sokolowski defines his subject as “the art of making distinctions.” For millennia, the study of philosophy has encouraged humankind to develop our minds; to think differently about nature and how we organize, analyze, and express ideas. What better preparation for making good judgments in any discipline, for working in any field? Of course, it takes a bit of time, an eye for the big picture, and a preference for truth over convenience. But analytical ability, clarity of thought, and knowing how to get to the essentials of a question will always be prized in the marketplace of both ideas and commerce.
AC A DE M IC S
Venigalla B. Rao, Ph.D. BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
While it’s not every day that lifechanging discoveries are made, such moments could happen anytime when you're in the lab with Professor Rao. As a world-class researcher who studies viruses and disease, Professor Rao combines the best of CatholicU’s service mentality and powerhouse academics. His accomplishments can hardly be numbered, but most notable is his discovery of a new anthrax and plague vaccine that guards against thousands of deaths around the globe. Even more timely, he freely shared his research patents with scientists seeking treatments and cures for COVID-19. As a research university faithful to the Church, “that’s part of our responsibility,” says Rao.
“ This is what science is supposed to be.
”
Patricia Andrasik, AIA SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
Little has slowed Patricia Andrasik since her days as a Fulbright Scholar researching the building effectiveness of mass housing at the University of Slovakia. Three roles keep her busy today: associate professor in the School of Architecture and Planning, founding director of the school’s LEED Lab, and practicing architect in Washington, D.C. As a teacher, advocate, and practitioner of environmental design and sustainability, she is among the latest reasons that Catholic University continues to be recognized as one of the most eco-conscious colleges in North America.
“ Leadership deals with passion — a real passion for helping people — and technology. I think it’s important to use technology in ways that will support people.
”
AC A DE M IC S
ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING Students studying architecture and planning at CatholicU, one of the few schools to offer the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure program, combine world-class technology and centuries of design wisdom to build a better world. Housed within our award-winning Crough Center for Architectural Studies, they explore how the latest digital technologies can meld with classical as well as emerging styles to give expression to buildings, cities, and spaces that serve both human needs and nature. Study under renowned faculty, explore programs like our Design Collaborative to spark real-world change, and become the next leader designing for society's collective social, spiritual, and environmental health.
THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES When someone asked TRS student Katelyn Schnoor ’21 to describe Catholic University in three words or less, she needed only two: “door openers.” To anyone puzzled by her choice, she explains: “Because everyone holds the door for each other on this campus, and because the opportunities at CatholicU are endless. So new doors are always opening!” Katelyn feels that especially within her school — the oldest on campus (est. 1889) — which she describes as a place where “people know one another and feel at home, but where the faculty is large, which means that we are able to have experts in a whole range of fields who are well known for their teaching and writing.”
BUSINESS At CatholicU, business isn’t just about beating the bottom line. It’s about bettering the world we live in. Students who study business here are changemakers with their sights set on a more ethical and innovative future. From accounting to sales to the entire business world beyond, you can study and intern in some of the most exciting and influential sectors of the field. Plus, with classes held inside the newly renovated Maloney Hall, you’ll have access to all the leading technology and resources needed to land you a job at places like Google, NetApp, Ernst & Young, and countless others.
Schools and majors
School of Arts and Sciences Anthropology (B.A.) + Biochemistry (B.A. or B.S.) Biology (B.A. or B.S.) Chemical Physics (B.S.) Chemistry (B.S.) + Classical Civilization (B.A.) Classical Humanities (B.A.)
Exploratory Studies (for undecided students)
Philosophy (B.A.) +
French and Francophone Studies (B.A.) +
Politics (B.A.) +
German Studies (B.A.) + History (B.A.) ^ + Hispanic Studies (B.A.) +
Criminology (B.A.) +
International Economics and Finance—Honors (B.S., joint degree)
Economics (B.A. or B.S.) +
Italian Studies (B.A.) +
Education (B.A.) +
Mathematics (B.A. or B.S.) +
Classics—Greek and Latin (B.A.)
Early Childhood Elementary Secondary Educational Studies (B.A.) English Language and Literature (B.A.) ^ + Environmental Chemistry (B.S.) +
Physics (B.A. or B.S.) + Psychological and Brain Sciences (B.S.) Psychology (B.A.) + Sociology (B.A.) Spanish for International Service (B.A.)
Mathematics Secondary Education (B.S.) ^ Mathematics and Physics (B.S.) Mathematical Finance (B.S.) + Media and Communication Studies (B.A.) + Medieval and Byzantine Studies (B.A.)
The Busch School of Business
National Catholic School of Social Service
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Social Work+
Accounting+ Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Business and Music (dual degree)
HR Management+ International Business+
School of Theology and Religious Studies Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Religious Studies+
Business Specializations:
Marketing+
Accounting +
Mathematical Finance
Business and Public Policy
Not-for-Profit Management
Business and Society
Operations Management
School of Philosophy
Data Analytics
Sales+
Entrepreneurship+
Sports Management+
Bachelor in Philosophy+
Finance+
Technology Management
Conway School of Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing
School of Engineering Biomedical Engineering (B.B.E.)
Electrical Engineering (B.E.E.)
Civil Engineering (B.C.E.)
Environmental Engineering (B.S.Env.E.)
Construction Engineering and Management
Mechanical Engineering (B.M.E.)
Structural/Geotechnical Engineering
Energy & the Environment
Transportation Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Civil Engineering/Architecture (dual degree)
Undecided/Engineering
Computer Science+ (B.S.C.S.)
Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art Bachelor of Arts
General–Choral Music Education
Art History+
Instrumental Music Education Combined General–Choral and Instrumental Music Education
Art: Studio+ Drama+
Musical Theatre
General Music+ Music and Business (dual degree) Music History and Literature
Performance+ Orchestral Instruments
Music Performance+
Organ
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Piano+
Acting
Voice
Bachelor of Music
Piano Pedagogy
Collaborative Piano
Pre-Professional Studies in Conducting+
Composition+
School of Architecture and Planning Architectural Studies (B.A.)+ Architecture (B.S.) Architecture/Civil Engineering (dual degree) Environmental Studies (B.S.)
The University’s Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) program allows qualified students the opportunity to complete requirements for licensure while earning their degree.
Pre-professional Studies Pre-Dental
Pre-Law+
Pre-Medicine
Pre-Veterinary
University Honors Program High-achieving students interested in a distinctive academic experience focused on exploring the conceptual foundations of the major disciplines as well as the latest developments in scholarship are invited to join the University Honors Program. Genuinely multicultural and interdisciplinary, the program offers more intimate, discussion-based classes in philosophy, social science, the humanities, theology, and environmental studies. ^ Also offered as a 4+1 program. + Majors are also offered as minors.
The Centennial Village Honors Community, meanwhile, provides a cohort-based residential experience featuring dinners and discussion with invited professors, movie nights, and group excursions in the District. Students also enjoy research opportunities with Honors faculty, receive invitations to special events, lectures, and museum exhibits, and may participate in a 10-day European seminar scheduled each spring.
Incredible research findings co-aut hored by you We wrote the book on research universities back in 1900, when — as the official research university of the U.S. Catholic Church — we were one of only 14 institutions granting doctoral degrees that came together to form the Association of American Universities. Today, that means you get to be a part of creating new knowledge, not just absorbing it. And that’s true no matter your year or field of study. In fact, our faculty research all kinds of topics, from politics and public policy to healthcare, engineering and technology, and beyond. There aren’t many universities where you can earn a co-author credit on a published paper while you’re still an undergrad. Here, research is for everyone, and the world is better for it.
1st co-author credit
Did you know? As physicists around the world marked the publication of the 1,000th paper of CERN’s CMS Collaboration, four Catholic University scientists shared in the virtual celebration. Provost Aaron Dominguez and Assistant Research Professor Rachel Bartek have been co-authors on all 1,000 papers, including those on the discovery of the elusive Higgs boson, which earned the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics.
A whole day dedicated to research On this day, classes may be canceled, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be learning anything. University Research Day is an annual celebration of the joy of discovery, bringing students and faculty together from all disciplines to share and learn from the breadth of work that’s done here every day. Recent undergraduate research topics ran the gamut from tutoring students with ADHD, Roman cement, and the patent process, to Captain America, Andy Warhol, and even our neighborhood of Brookland.
poster interactive Research Day 2019
# RESEARCH
T here’s a research facility for t hat 32 of them, in fact, including:
The Art and Carlyse Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship Center for Applied Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Research Center for Medieval and Byzantine Studies Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science and Technology Homecare and Telerehabilitation Technology Center Institute for Astrophysics and Computational Sciences International Center for Ward Method Studies
“I felt a tremendous sense of pride not only in getting to display work from the disciplines in which I thrive, but also that I am surrounded by peers who are striving in their own respective fields.”
L iz Shoemaker B.A. 2020, Double major in Politics and Media and Communication Studies
Latin American Center for Graduate Studies in Music Cognition and Virtual Reality Laboratory Vitreous State Laboratory
new
Chart chapters Study abroad is the dream of so many students, especially here at Catholic University. It’s the chance to explore 37 countries, across 6 continents, and experience new sights, new sounds, new memories in the making. It’s the opportunity to learn in historic settings and engage other cultures. Here, we make this dream as accessible as possible to all our students with financial aid and scholarships that can help get you there — wherever that may be. Our flagship program is in Rome. Built on the side of Janiculum Hill in the ancient neighborhood of Trastevere, the University’s Rome Center offers breathtaking views of the Eternal City from its many windows and balconies. The Pantheon and
Colosseum are just across the Tiber River. While fully equipped with five modern classrooms, a dining room, chapel, library, computer room, and newly renovated accommodations, students are encouraged to spend as much time as possible engaged in the local community, improving their Italian language skills and learning more about Roman life by participating in the centuries-old traditions of the city.
S T U DY A B ROA D
So, where exactly are you headed? Study abroad destinations:
FINLAND RUSSIA
UNITED KINGDOM IRELAND
GERMANY POLAND BELGIUM CZECH REPUBLIC AUSTRIA
FRANCE
ROME
SPAIN
MOROCCO
GREECE ISRAEL EGYPT
MEXICO
CUBA
BELIZE COSTA RICA
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC JAMAICA
EL SALVADOR
CHINA JORDAN INDIA THAILAND
GHANA
ECUADOR
PERU
SOUTH KOREA JAPAN
CHILE
ARGENTINA
SOUTH AFRICA
AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND
“It was very beneficial to witness firsthand what we were learning in class”
TAIWAN
I can’t wait for... Maybe it’s the food. Maybe it’s the nightlife. Maybe it’s the fact that no matter what you’re studying, an internship is only a Metro ride away. Whatever it is, the city is ready for you to put your mark on it. But don’t expect us to just set you loose. The Center for Academic and Career Success is here to help you make the most out of the incredible opportunities available to you, both in D.C. and at CatholicU, through individualized support to help you develop as a person and as a professional. Need help finding the right course? Or a path that aligns with your passions? We've got you covered. Ready for the next step? We’ve got close ties to organizations all over the region.
INTERNSHIPS
Many urban universities call their cities their classrooms, but we’ve actually designed an experiential course around ours. Washington 101 was created by professors with interdisciplinary perspectives in politics, history, social work, and English to transform you from a tourist to an informed, thoughtful member of the community (and, of course, to show you all the coolest spots).
These are just a few of the D.C.-based organizations where students have interned or worked
(and you could be next):
Catholic Charities Children’s National Health System District of Columbia Public Schools Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Library of Congress Metropolitan Police Department MSNBC NASA Goddard National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Science Foundation (NSF) Naval Research Laboratory Smithsonian Institution U.S. Census Bureau U.S. Congress World Bank
What's your dream gig?
By the time they graduate, 80% of Catholic University students complete at least one internship.
Foreshadow Every great story deserves a great ending. At Catholic University, we do all we can to guarantee our graduates find the one they’ve worked so hard for. Whether the goal is to work on Capitol Hill or to own a small business, we’ve had students achieve it all. Take Kevin Kelley, Class of 2013, for example. As a business major, Kelley worked tirelessly during his many courses to carve a path for himself in the business world of professional sports. As a junior, he landed an internship with D.C. United, the city’s Major League Soccer franchise, that gave him his first taste of what life after graduation could look like. Thanks to the University’s D.C. location, Kelley was able to turn his internship into a full-blown career. He has advanced into the role of events manager for the World Champion Washington Nationals, a position he describes as his “dream job.” Kelley even had a front-row seat to one of the biggest comeback stories in modern sports history: when the Nationals won the World Series in 2019 and became, in his words, “the center of the sports universe.” Kelley now returns to campus as a guest speaker at business classes, and like so many alumni, enjoys hiring CatholicU students as interns. He encourages students to take advantage of D.C.'s location and recommends they begin networking early in order to build as many connections as possible.
your success
SUCCESS STORIES
“
Being in D.C. is a big advantage of the University in terms of getting experience because everyone is looking for interns.
�
Go ahead, scribble in the margins Every good character in a story needs some dynamic development. No one wants a one-track mind or onepath story. The best, most-worn books always have some adventure. Some notes left in the margins. That’s what all the stuff outside the classroom is: it’s the rest of the story filling in the blanks. So get to doodling. As a first-year student, you’ll be living on campus in one of our single-sex residence halls. You’ll live with peers, build lifelong friendships, and be guided by a resident assistant who can help you with any needs. Feeling hungry? Explore any of our 15 dining options, including familiar names like Starbucks and Chick-fil-A. After that, get to know an unfamiliar corner of campus, like our brand-new chemistry lab in McCort-Ward Hall, expanded engineering research facilities in Pangborn Hall, a new Dining Commons opening in 2022 or our LEED Gold-certified Maloney Hall, home to the Busch School of Business. Wherever you look, there’s always more to explore on our campus.
STUDENT LIFE
A storied past.
A P romising future. N
ational champs and perennial league championship contenders, our CatholicU Cardinals define the term “successful student-athletes.” From a history of college football greatness to the development of an intercollegiate sports program now supporting 25 Division III teams, the Cardinals have always been at the forefront. Feel the electricity in the air as you approach the stadium on game day. Watch the Cardinals edge out the competition with a buzzer-beater. See our women's lacrosse team claim another Landmark Conference Championship (they've won 11, including the last six straight). No matter the sport, as a proud Cardinal, you join the ranks of athletic greats — whether you’re in the game or cheering from the sidelines.
Did you know? Catholic University boasts one of the oldest collegiate football programs in the country, having recorded its first gridiron competition on Nov. 28, 1895. As our program grew, our prowess grew with it, and we played at the upper levels of the college game between 1910 and 1950. Under the guidance of legendary coach Dutch Bergman, the CatholicU Cardinals won the second Orange Bowl championship in Miami on New Year’s Day, 1936, in a one-point victory over Ole Miss.
AT HLET IC S
One for the Books In 2019, Catholic University’s men’s and women’s swim teams were the first to win simultaneous titles at the Landmark Conference Championships. Our team has even had two swimmers win individual national titles. This kind of athletic greatness spans all our teams, with three Cardinal track and field athletes also holding individual national titles. Our men’s basketball team won the national championship in 2001 and has made a total of 16 NCAA tournament appearances throughout the program’s history. But our high regard for the value of athletics is about more than victories. We structure our athletic programs to maximize their contribution to student development, knowing that sports help foster qualities that are vital in life: hard work, resilience, cooperation, respect for others, and leadership.
Men’s Varsity Sports Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Golf Lacrosse Rowing Soccer Swimming & Diving Tennis Track & Field (indoor & outdoor) Women’s Varsity Sports Basketball Cross Country Field Hockey Golf Lacrosse Rowing Soccer Softball Swimming & Diving Tennis
“Catholic University gave me the best opportunity
Track & Field (indoor & outdoor) Volleyball
to not only excel as a student-athlete, but also as a person. If I had to describe my time here in one word, it would be ‘perfect.ʼ” Connor Sullivan PHILOSOPHY, BASEBALL
Having played in 125 games as an outfielder and serving as team captain for the Cardinals, Connor Sullivan finished his college baseball career in 2020 with a .361 career batting average and a total of 127 hits. Along the way, he was part of a Landmark Conference title-winning team as a sophomore and collected three conference all-academic team honors. He also found time to work on Capitol Hill as a Senate intern. Next, the young man his baseball coach calls an “inspirational leader” is bound for law school at Boston College.
23%
Roughly 23 percent of undergraduates are varsity student-athletes
Life
between
t he lines There’s always something more to discover in a story when you read a little deeper or look a little harder. The college experience has been and always will be about more than life inside the classroom or the lines in your notebook. It’s about all the exciting extras, too.
Throughout the year, our campus is alive with events and programming for students to enjoy. From holidays such as Halloween with Campus Ministry to celebrations like Capital Fest and Cardinalpalooza, there’s always something to anticipate on each calendar page. When you’re not celebrating, explore more than 100 student organizations and clubs or create your
own through our Student Organization Resource Center. Play club rugby, write poetry, or join an academic or professional student club. Take on 2, 10, or 20 extracurriculars. Fill your book with as much or as little as you’d like. Here, there’s no limit to the things you can do both inside and outside the classroom, and there’s no telling which direction your story will head once you get going.
Campus
Resources No great novel is written totally on its own. Whether there are editors, proofreaders, contributors or even just loving supporters, no work of art is made in solitude. We don’t expect your story to be any different. As a student here, you’ll have access to an abundant amount of on-campus resources and student tools created to help you excel in every way. From physical health to diversity and cultural support, we’re here to help with any need at every step of your journey.
Center for Cultural Engagement Built to support a diverse and accepting campus environment, the Center for Cultural Engagement works with campus departments and student organizations to sponsor cultural events throughout the year and support the needs of all our students, with a special focus on those who are first in their families to attend college. The center also fosters diversity by supporting several student organizations including the Student Organization of Latinos and the Black Student Alliance. Campus Ministry Emblematic of our approach to faith and service, Campus Ministry provides numerous resources and opportunities for students, faculty, and staff including immersion trips, homeless food runs, and spiritual guidance. Campus Ministry also is responsible for convening the community for prayer and worship, providing a pastoral presence on campus and in the residence halls, facilitating social justice and outreach activities, and offering educational opportunities pertinent to faith development.
Fitness and Recreation Fitness and Recreation Services is here to help students understand how to create and maintain a healthy wellness regimen. They can also connect you with lots of club and intramural sports options, on-campus fitness events, and the many other ways to remain active at CatholicU.
Center for Academic and Career Success Provides an integrated approach and individual support to help students flourish in their studies while preparing for a career. Encounter professional advisors dedicated to ensuring your learning experience is optimal for your objectives — from advice on what classes to choose for your major to how to navigate the course registration process to keeping you aware of possible scholarships, fellowships, and internships. CACS works with long-established partners in both the private and public sectors, as well as a network of accomplished CatholicU alumni around the world, to identify career-advancing experiential learning opportunities for our students. More than 9,000 of them in 2018-19! Student Wellness We are holistically focused on the occupational, physical, social, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional health of our students. Student Health Services, the Counseling Center, the Kane Fitness Center, and Residence Life come together to promote an active process to help students become more self-aware and make better-informed choices. With everything from alcohol-intake education to understanding the warning signs of unhealthy relationships, student wellness goes beyond the call of addressing typical health needs.
Costs
at Catholic
In order for you to write the best story possible over the next four years, we at Catholic University need to give you the tools to do it. For the 2020-2021 academic year, we will commit more than $70 million to support undergraduate students with the means to make their stories extraordinary. We understand the value of an education far surpasses its cost. That’s why, over the last three years, we as an institution directly offered 95% of first-year students scholarships and/or need-based grants. This helps students significantly defray the costs of tuition, room and board, study abroad or other related costs. We offer a comprehensive financial aid program that includes academic scholarships, need-based aid, Federal Work-Study, and other forms of financial assistance. See how the cost of a Catholic University education is broken down and supplemented with substantial aid.
2020–2021 Undergraduate Tuition and Room and Board Tuition*
$48,600
Mandatory Fees
$816
Room and Board
$15,820
Direct Cost
$65,236
Average tuition and room-andboard cost after scholarships and grants to first-year students: $33,325 * Tuition for students in Architecture and Engineering is $49,220.
“
Catholic is one of the nation’s great universities. It has something distinctive and essential to propose in the landscape of higher education, which has everything to do with the claim that human beings are seekers who yearn for the whole truth about themselves and the world.
– T homas
”
W. Smith '
Dean, School of Arts and Sciences
One ending
Endless beginnings
y now, you’ve read tales of Catholic University students past and present — the clubs they joined, the internships they landed, the lessons they learned, and the surprise endings they created. You’ve reached the end of this book, so the only question left is: Are you ready to write your story? Where will your plot take you? To distant lands or to downtown D.C.? Will you study art or accounting, engineering or English? Where will you find yourself most comfortable on campus? How will your faith evolve and what will it change? There’s only one place to go to discover these answers. If you choose to enroll here, you’ll have the characters, setting, twists and turns, mentors, morals, and mettle you need to create the strongest narrative you possibly can. At Catholic University, we know your time here is so much more than a chapter or a short story — it’s the beginning of the series of a lifetime. We can’t wait to see what you come up with.
The first step starts with a visit to campus. Explore Catholic University in person on a tour of campus or virtually with a digital tour through our website. Go to catholic.edu/visit to schedule your visit, take a virtual walk around our 176 acres, participate in live virtual information sessions or schedule a virtual interview with an admission counselor.
Application
Transcript Disruptions Caused by Covid-19
Catholic University uses the Common Application
The Committee on Admission understands that
(commonapp.org) exclusively for both first-year and
students may have experienced inconsistencies
transfer students. We do not charge an application
in course selections and grading policies during
fee to apply for undergraduate admission.
their high school career as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Each student’s record will be carefully
Standardized Tests No Longer Considered
considered in the context of decisions made by their
Beginning in the 2020–21 application year (for spring
school, and we encourage students to submit a
2021 and fall 2021 enrollment), the University’s Committee on Admission will not consider
description of any relevant disruptions and the impact on their studies.
standardized tests as a part of the review for admission, the University Honors Program, and all merit scholarships.
Important Dates November 1 Deadline for Early Action and Early Decision I Applications
January 15 Deadline for Early Decision II and Regular Decision Applications
Mailing Address The Catholic University of America Office of Undergraduate Admission 620 Michigan Ave, N.E. Washington, DC 20064 Campus Address Father O’Connell Hall, Room 102
APPLY TODAY
Email: cua-admissions@cua.edu
www.apply.catholic.edu
Phone: 202-319-5305 Toll-Free: 800-673-2772
The Catholic University of America admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, religion, or disability to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded to students at the University. Title IX Coordinator and Equal Opportunity Officer contact:
Fax: 202-319-6533 Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
/CatholicUadmission
@CUAadmission
@cuaadmission
Frank Vinik 170 Leahy Hall 202-319-4177 titleix-coord@cua.edu
school/the-catholic-university-of-america/
/CatholicUniversity
Write your story...