/Institutions/Catholic-University-of-America/json/2024-2025/Undergraduate-Announcements-local.json

/Institutions/Catholic-University-of-America/json/2024-2025/Undergraduate-Announcements.json

Undergraduate Announcements > School of Philosophy > Basselin Foundation

Basselin Foundation

Advisory Committee	President of the University; Provost of the University; Provincial, Society of St. Sulpice
Administrative Officers	Dean, School of Philosophy Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, School of Philosophy Rector, Theological College

In fulfillment of the will of Theodore Basselin, The Catholic University of America established a foundation in his name to provide fellowships in a special course of studies for diocesan seminarians preparing for the Catholic priesthood.

Candidates for the fellowships must have completed two years of the liberal arts curriculum in a college/university or a college/university program under diocesan sponsorship; they must also have given evidence of superior performance in their studies. The Basselin Foundation fellowships carry such students through three years of intensive work in philosophy: two years on the undergraduate level and one year of postgraduate work. The undergraduate course of studies is the concentration program of the School of Philosophy. Students admitted under the Basselin fellowships must qualify for this program and maintain an acceptable average to retain their fellowships.

In the curriculum, first importance is given to those branches of philosophy most necessary as a preparation for the study of theology; stress is laid upon the courses in scholastic philosophy. The Basselin fellowship, as is stipulated in its charter, also requires its recipients to give special attention to public speaking in view of later pastoral responsibilities.

During the three years of study, full tuition, room, and board are provided to students accepted into the program. In addition to these academic and financial benefits, the students continue their preparation for the priesthood through participation in the life and programs of Theological College of The Catholic University of America. Although the Basselin students are part of the larger community, they receive attention in areas specific to their stage in priestly preparation.

In addition to the regular requirements for the Ph.B. cited above, Basselin students are required to take three courses in the area of public speaking. Two of these, taken usually in the junior year, are available in the School of Philosophy:

PHIL 374 Ritual, Language, and Action (3)

PHIL 375 Liturgical Readings (3)

The third course, DR 205 Introduction to Speech Communications, or DR 403 Public Speaking, is available in the offerings of the Department of Drama, if the student has not previously taken a speech or drama class.