Study Abroad / Saint Mary's Programs

Catholic Studies in Rome

Affiliated Programs

Catholic Studies in Rome

Catholic Studies in Rome is a program like no other. It’s not just a study abroad program; it’s a Catholic Studies immersion program. Nowhere else can you study Catholic art, philosophy, architecture, history, theology, literature, and more all while exploring the Eternal City of Rome. Study at the largest Pontifical University in Rome, the prestigious Jesuit-run Gregorian University, with world-class faculty from the Gregorian and US scholars in classes conducted entirely in English.

Program Dates

TBD

Application Deadline

April 3, 2026

Eligibility

Minimum GPA – 2.75
Class Standing – Sophomore, Junior, or Senior
Eligibility will also be based on recommendations & record of behavior at SMU

Fall 2025 Courses

Christian Discipleship
Sacred Spaces: Catholic Art and Architecture
Philosophical Anthropology: Aristotle and St. Augustine on Happiness, Suffering, and Friendship
two other courses offered by a visiting American scholar of Catholic Studies

Program Fee

The cost of the program is approximately the same as tuition and room/board for a regular semester on the Winona Campus.

The program cost does not include airfare, passport fees, additional meals, personal travel, supplies, personal expenses.

Financial Aid

All federal and state aid (except work-study) and any Saint Mary’s institutional aid may be applied to the program’s costs. However, certain forms of institutional aid, including tuition remission, the FGI Scholarship, the Catholic Educator Promise, and the Cardinal Promise, are not eligible.

Program costs include

Double occupancy room
All meals except one dinner per week
All overnight and day trips
Rome metro/bus pass
Transportation to and from the airport, and more

Testimonials

“Catholic Studies in Rome was truly a gift to experience. Through the beauty, history, and faith of the Eternal City, I grew as a student and person while encountering the richness of the universal Church. I fostered meaningful and lasting connection by living at the Irish College in intentional community. This experience enriched not just my academic journey but also my soul in life long ways.”

Madelyn McCartney – Fall 2025

“It was an incredible blessing getting to spend a semester studying abroad in Rome! From meeting the Pope in Vatican City, to praying at the tomb of St Francis in Assisi, there were so many incredible paces I got to go and people I got to meet. The CSR program provided fraternity and formation, helping me to deepen my faith and form friendships with my peers as we explored Rome and experienced Italian culture. This truly was a once in a lifetime experience, filled with many new friends from halfway across the globe, and even more new memories of my time in the Eternal City!”

Xavier Stevermer – Fall 2025