The Catholic University of America

What is the history of The Catholic University of America?

The Catholic University of America was founded in 1887 by the Catholic bishops of the United States, with the approval of Pope Leo XIII. It opened in Washington, DC, in 1889 as a graduate institution intended to advance scholarship within the Catholic intellectual tradition.

Undergraduate education followed in the early 20th century. Over time, the university added professional and undergraduate schools alongside its original graduate work in theology and philosophy. That history explains its present combination of liberal arts, research, professional education, and programs connected to the Catholic Church. Its name refers to a private university, not a public university or a branch campus of another institution.

What are the faculties and departments at The Catholic University of America?

Catholic University offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional study through schools spanning the humanities, sciences, arts, and professions. Applicants should identify the school that houses their intended major because curricula and admission requirements can differ.

Its academic organization includes the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Architecture and Planning, Busch School of Business, School of Engineering, Columbus School of Law, Conway School of Nursing, School of Philosophy, School of Canon Law, National Catholic School of Social Service, Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art, School of Theology and Religious Studies, and School of Professional Studies.

Examples of undergraduate fields include biology, political science, psychology, architecture, engineering, business, nursing, music, and theater. Graduate and professional offerings include law, social work, theology, and canon law. Students comparing programs should check the current academic catalog for the precise degree, required courses, clinical or studio components, and whether admission involves a separate portfolio, audition, or professional-school application.

What is the location of The Catholic University of America?

Catholic University's main campus is in Brookland, a Washington, DC, neighborhood northeast of the city center. The campus sits near the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and has access to the Brookland-CUA station on Metro's Red Line.

The location can make internships, museums, government offices, nonprofit organizations, and other DC institutions accessible, although travel time depends on the destination and schedule. Metro and buses give students alternatives to driving; this matters particularly because first-year students are not permitted to register or park a car on campus under the reported parking policy. Washington Reagan National Airport is a regional air-travel option. Applicants planning to commute should calculate their actual transit route and cost rather than assuming every part of the metropolitan area is close to campus.

What is the mission and vision of The Catholic University of America?

Catholic University identifies itself as the national university of the Catholic Church in the United States. Its stated mission brings Catholic intellectual and religious traditions into teaching, research, professional preparation, and service.

The university's educational approach includes inquiry across disciplines while retaining an explicitly Catholic institutional identity. Students do not need to infer that every course is religious instruction, but they should expect the affiliation to be visible in campus worship, academic offerings, and public events. Prospective students of any background can use the mission statement and the requirements for their particular degree to assess how the university's commitments fit their own educational goals.