Program overview
The program examines the relationship between law, morality, reason, human nature, justice, and the common good, with particular attention to the classical and Catholic traditions of jurisprudence. Students engage with foundational authors and schools of thought, including Aristotle, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, the Scholastic tradition, the School of Salamanca, and later developments in Christian jurisprudence.
Natural Law is studied as an enduring intellectual framework for examining the foundations and limits of positive law, human dignity, rights, duties, political authority, and the moral structure of legal systems. The curriculum emphasizes Thomistic philosophy of law; the relationship among divine, natural, and human law; justice and the common good; Christian jurisprudence; natural rights; classical and medieval legal thought; Catholic social and legal thought; and contemporary debates in jurisprudence.
Admission requirements
- A bachelor’s degree or equivalent undergraduate qualification from an institution acceptable to PCU-USA.
- Official transcripts from every postsecondary institution attended.
- A curriculum vitae describing academic, professional, ministerial, or research experience.
- A statement of purpose explaining the applicant’s preparation and interest in Natural Law and Christian jurisprudence.
- A substantial academic writing sample demonstrating analytical ability.
- Evidence of proficiency in the language of instruction. Reading competence in Latin or another relevant source language may be required for particular research topics.
Curriculum
- Foundations of Natural Law — 3 credits
- Thomistic Jurisprudence — 3 credits
- Divine Law, Natural Law, and Human Law — 3 credits
- Philosophy of Justice and the Common Good — 3 credits
- Christian Jurisprudence — 3 credits
- Natural Rights and Human Dignity — 3 credits
- Classical and Medieval Legal Thought — 3 credits
- The School of Salamanca — 3 credits
- Natural Law and Positive Legal Systems — 3 credits
- Contemporary Issues in Natural Law — 3 credits
- Graduate Research Seminar — 3 credits
- Master’s Thesis or Final Research Project — 3 credits
Learning outcomes
- Explain the principal philosophical and theological foundations of Natural Law.
- Analyze legal institutions through the classical Christian tradition of jurisprudence.
- Distinguish Natural Law from legal positivism and other major schools of jurisprudence.
- Examine the relationship among law, morality, justice, political authority, and the common good.
- Interpret major authors and source texts in the Natural Law tradition with scholarly discipline.
- Conduct advanced academic research in Natural Law and Christian jurisprudence.
- Apply principles of Natural Law to contemporary juridical and ethical questions.
Assessment
- Assessment may include close readings of primary sources, analytical essays, comparative jurisprudence exercises, seminar presentations, research papers, and structured discussions. Each course publishes its graded activities, criteria, weights, and deadlines in the classroom gradebook. The program culminates in either a supervised master’s thesis or an approved final research project evaluated under institutional standards for graduate research and academic integrity.
Completion requirements
- Earn all 36 required credits.
- Pass every required course and remain in satisfactory academic standing.
- Complete and obtain institutional approval of the master’s thesis or final research project.
- Resolve all academic-record and graduation requirements before conferral.