Great Reasons to Attend

Faithful and Orthodox

The Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology (DSPT) offers a faithful, orthodox education to its students without stifling academic curiosity. The traditional Dominican pedagogical method of seeking "first principles" allows students and faculty to study and engage all types of ideas and traditions, while remaining faithful to the tradition of the Catholic Church.

In 2007, the Vatican ordered an Apostolic Visitation of seminaries in the United States. The Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education said about DSPT:

The syllabi of the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology refer to Church documents and classical theologians plentifully, thus reflecting a serious intention to think with the Church. There is no doubt that the students are taught to love and to be faithful to the Tradition and Magisterium of the Church.

A serene sense of confidence in the value and usefulness of the Magisterium's teaching and its central importance for those who are learning theology prevails. St. Thomas is given pride of place in many of the philosophy and theology courses, though at the same time the best of contemporary sources is also in evidence.

The students seem to know the issues involved in the contemporary crisis of subjectivism and moral relativism, and are adequately trained to provide a response based on reason and affirming the existence of moral and philosophical truth.

The seminarians most certainly show apostolic zeal. They also have an authentic 'Catholic spirit' with a genuine love for and dedication to the universal Church.

As an Apostolate of the Western Dominican Province , DSPT draws students from religious orders such as the Salesians, Capuchin Franciscans, and the Daughters of St. Paul. About 40% of our students are members of religious orders who have chosen DSPT for its rigorous and orthodox academics.

DSPT is established by the Master of the Order of Friars Preachers (Dominicans) as a Center of Studies for the Order, but it is also chartered by the State of California as a degree granting institution of higher education and it is accredited by both the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC ) and the Association of Theological Schools (ATS ) in North America. The tradition of Dominican pedagogy allows DSPT to remain an orthodox seminary for the Western Dominican Province, while its academic integrity maintains our accreditation by these associations of higher education.

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