Medieval Philosophy...and Me!

[JKsoren]

I have contribution for philosophical inquiry…where is the best place to study medieval philosophy at the graduate level in the US?

And why? (This question will help keep this post more philosophical and thus justify my asking in this forum.)

I’m currently working toward an MA in “Theology and Being Holy” at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Have any of you heard of it? I bet people who examine graduate applications haven’t!

Anyway, I have developed a strong interest in the study of philosophy while studying at Franciscan, taking a number of extra classes every chance I could get in order to aid my theology. Having done so, I now find that I am more interested in working toward a PhD in philosophy than I am in theology! (For, believe it or not, reasons of evangelization). Specifically, as you might guess I am interested in medieval philosophy/eudaimonisitc ethics/and pre-Kantian metaphysics…which is otherwise known as Metaphysics.

I have good grades, respectable GRE scores, and I went to UCLA for undergrad (Californians love that place!). So I should have a chance at swinging into all but the most prestigious of schools…I pray. (I’m not boasting, btw, I’m just letting you examine my hand before I lay-em-down…and application fees that cost $50 a pop minimum.)

Anyway, I hope anyone out there can give me some kind of advice! (Other than “you’ll be poor”…I’m getting an MA in theology, I know!) I know that there are a lot of great philosophy departments out there, but who on earth offers good concentrations in medieval (“bad”) philosophy in this day and age?

Pray for me! And May God Bless you with His extravagant Love

Me.

Edit: I actually don’t mind Catholic Universities that are “less than perfect” in their fidelity. In my experience many faithful Catholics teach/study/and do research at many Catholic schools that might be lacking in some official capacity. I’m actually mostly looking at Catholic schools in the first place.

 

[Greg27]

I have no experience of the U.S. system, but Notre Dame university has a very good reputation in medieval philosophy and studies internationally.

 

[invocation]

i was going to say the same thing as greg. beyond the philosophy department itself, notre dame also has a medieval institute whose quality is outstanding.

 

[Cajetan]

Look into Saint Louis University.

While not American, you might also check out the University of Toronto.

 

[PoliSciProf]

Check out this link:
philosophicalgourmet.com/breakdown/breakdown23.asp

I hope it helps.

 

[ExMotuAquinas]

i was going to say the same thing as greg. beyond the philosophy department itself, notre dame also has a medieval institute whose quality is outstanding.

I don’t know if things are still this way, but when I was an undergraduate at Benedictine College (graduated in 1994) Dr. Ralph McInerny spoke at BC and I was asking Dr. McInerny about studying St. Thomas Aquinas at Notre Dame and he warned me against it and left me the impression that if I wanted to get in, I’d be wise not to mention Aquinas. The Medieval Studies department at Notre Dame is largely focuses on history and such.

From what I understand, St. Louis University is good. Catholic University is very good. I have an M.A. from the Center for Thomistic Studies at the University of St. Thomas in Houston and my thesis director was Dr. Daniel McInerny (Ralph’s son) and he got his Ph.D. at Catholic U. and he was very knowledgeable of medieval philosophy. For that matter, the Center is very good if you want to specialize in the thought of St. Thomas.