
Purdue University is not a Catholic institution in the classical sense, but it has a close relationship with the Catholic faith. The university offers a Religious Studies Program that allows students to investigate how different religious traditions, including Catholicism, seek and understand ultimate reality and how this understanding influences human action and belief. Outside of the classroom, there are several Catholic organizations and activities at Purdue, such as Catholic Life and Outreach (CLO) and the Purdue Notre Dame Club, that provide spiritual activities, retreats, and community service opportunities for students. Additionally, St. Thomas Aquinas, a prominent Catholic church near campus, offers a residence hall for students seeking a faith-based living community.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religious studies program | Provides students with the opportunity to investigate how different religious traditions seek and understand ultimate reality |
| Religious studies major | Offers an interdisciplinary perspective, including English, history, philosophy, sociology, and anthropology |
| Catholic residence hall | $44 million, 6-floor, 330-bed student housing center with a chapel, courtyard, and subterranean parking |
| Catholic organizations | Catholic Life and Outreach (CLO), Purdue Notre Dame Club, Boiler Catholics |
| Campus ministry | St. Thomas Aquinas, a prominent Catholic church near campus |
| Founding and historical influence | Influenced by the Catholic Church and Catholic priests and sisters in its early development |
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What You'll Learn

Religious studies major
Purdue University offers a Religious Studies major as part of its College of Liberal Arts. The major provides students with the opportunity to explore how different religious traditions across the world understand and seek an ultimate reality. It also investigates how these understandings influence human beliefs and actions, as well as how historical contexts have shaped religious thought and practices.
The Religious Studies Program takes an interdisciplinary approach, allowing students to study from the perspectives of various departments, including English, History, Philosophy, Sociology, Languages and Cultures, and Anthropology. This interdepartmental approach enables students to tailor the program to their specific interests. Through this exploration of diverse religious traditions, students develop a critical appreciation and awareness of the range of religious expressions.
While Purdue University does not appear to offer Catholic education specifically for children, it does have several Catholic organizations and facilities on campus. For instance, St. Thomas Aquinas, a prominent Catholic church near the university, offers various ministries and activities for Catholic students, known as Boiler Catholics. These ministries include New Student Overnighter, Spring Break Mission trips, Boiler Awakening, and teaching Religious Education.
Additionally, St. Thomas Aquinas has constructed a $44 million Catholic residence hall for Purdue students, featuring a chapel for sacramental services and individual prayer, a courtyard for various events, and subterranean parking. This residence hall is open to undergraduate and graduate students of all faiths, with the aim of fostering a community that encourages engagement and interaction among its residents.
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Catholic residence hall
Purdue University offers a Religious Studies Program that allows students to investigate how different religious traditions seek and understand an ultimate reality. The program also covers how historical contexts influence religious thought and practice.
St. Thomas Aquinas, a Catholic church near the Purdue University campus, planned to start constructing a Catholic residence hall in late May or June. The residence hall was expected to open in the summer of 2020. The residence hall will be a six-floor, 330-bed student housing center built on a parking lot adjacent to the church. It will be available to all undergraduate and graduate students, although the main focus will be on sophomore students and above. The residence hall will offer a variety of room layout options, including 11 single units. It will also feature a courtyard/outdoor plaza and a subterranean parking level with 102 parking spaces. The residence hall will have a code of conduct for its residents, with guidelines related to living a "good, moral life", having guests in rooms, and alcohol restrictions.
The driving force behind the project, according to Rev. Patrick Baikauskas, director of campus ministry for St. Tom's, was to create a space that encourages students to engage with one another as part of a community. He also stated that the residence hall will serve students of all faiths at Purdue.
St. Tom's offers various ministries and activities for Purdue students, including New Student Overnighter, Spring Break Mission trips, Boiler Catholic Seminars, Boiler Awakening, and teaching Religious Education.
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Catholic student organizations
Purdue University offers a Religious Studies Program that allows students to investigate how different religious traditions seek and understand ultimate reality, how this understanding influences human beliefs and actions, and how historical contexts influence religious thought and practice. The program is housed in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, and its faculty is drawn from various departments, including English, History, Philosophy, Sociology, Languages and Cultures, and Anthropology.
In addition to this program, there are several Catholic student organizations at Purdue University that cater to students seeking a Catholic education or community. One such organization is Boiler Catholics, which is based at St. Thomas Aquinas, a prominent Catholic church near campus. Boiler Catholics strive to promote an active Catholic lifestyle for students by living the gospel, building a faith community, sharing their faith, strengthening their Christian conscience, working for justice, and facilitating the personal development of leaders. They provide opportunities for spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of God's word and its application through social justice.
Another Catholic student organization at Purdue is Mastodon Catholics at Purdue University Fort Wayne. This organization is open to all students at Purdue Fort Wayne and a limited number of non-students, including faculty, staff, alumni, and community members. They provide information on Catholic teachings, practices, and beliefs to interested students, faculty, and staff.
In addition to these organizations, there is also a Catholic residence hall for Purdue students. St. Thomas Aquinas Church is constructing a six-floor, 330-bed student housing center with a variety of room layout options, a chapel for intimate sacramental services and prayer, and a courtyard/outdoor plaza available for various functions. The residence hall will have a code of conduct for its residents, encouraging them to live a "good, moral life" and will be open to undergraduate and graduate students of all faiths.
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Catholic heritage and history
While Purdue University is not a Catholic institution, it has a rich Catholic heritage and history. The university was founded in 1865 by John Purdue, who was influenced by the Catholic Church in his philanthropic efforts. Catholic priests and sisters played a significant role in the university's early development, establishing the Old Campus Cable Building in 1879, which was the university's first building. The university's Alma Mater, "Hail Purdue, hail our Golden Years," also contains references to the Catholic tradition.
The university has a vibrant Catholic life on campus, with several Catholic organizations and activities. One notable organization is Catholic Life and Outreach (CLO), a student-driven group that provides spiritual activities, retreats, and community service opportunities for students. Another example is the Purdue Notre Dame Club, which fosters connections between students from the University of Notre Dame and Purdue. Additionally, there is a strong presence of Boiler Catholics at St. Thomas Aquinas, where students actively live the gospel, build their faith community, and deepen their understanding of Catholic teachings.
The university also offers a Religious Studies Program, where students can explore different religious traditions, including Catholicism, and their impact on human history, art, philosophy, politics, and societal organization. The program takes an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating perspectives from various departments such as English, History, Philosophy, Sociology, and Anthropology.
Furthermore, there are plans to build a $44 million Catholic residence hall for Purdue students, named St. Tom's, in collaboration with the nearby St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic church. This residence hall will be open to undergraduate and graduate students of all faiths, encouraging engagement and community-building. It will include a chapel for intimate sacramental services and a courtyard for various events, fostering a well-rounded Catholic environment on campus.
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Catholic community support
While Purdue University is not a Catholic institution, it has a close relationship with the Catholic Church and welcomes students of all faiths. The university's Catholic community is vibrant and active, with several Catholic organisations and activities on campus.
One of the most prominent Catholic organisations at Purdue is St. Tom's, or St. Thomas Aquinas, a Catholic church near the campus. St. Tom's offers a range of ministries and activities for students, including intramural sports teams, New Student Overnighters, Spring Break Mission trips, Boiler Catholic Seminars, Boiler Awakening, and teaching Religious Education. St. Tom's also plans to build a $44 million Catholic residence hall for Purdue students, featuring a chapel, a courtyard, and a subterranean parking level. The residence hall will be open to students of all faiths and will encourage community engagement and interaction.
Another Catholic organisation at Purdue is Catholic Life and Outreach (CLO), a student-driven group that provides spiritual activities, retreats, and community service opportunities. The Purdue Notre Dame Club is a co-ed organisation that fosters connections between University of Notre Dame and Purdue students.
Purdue also offers a Religious Studies Program, where students can investigate how different religious traditions, including Catholicism, understand and seek Ultimate Reality, and how these understandings influence human action and belief. The program takes an interdisciplinary approach, with faculty in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies as well as departments such as English, History, Philosophy, Sociology, and Anthropology.
Overall, Purdue University provides a welcoming and supportive environment for students of all faiths, including those from the Catholic community, and encourages spiritual enrichment and community support.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Purdue University is not a Catholic institution in the classical sense, but it has a close relationship with the Catholic faith. It is a public land-grant university, which means that it is not affiliated with any specific religious denomination.
Purdue University is not a Catholic institution and does not offer Catholic education to kids per se. However, it has a vibrant Catholic life on campus with several Catholic organizations and activities. These include Catholic Life and Outreach (CLO), a student-driven organization that provides spiritual activities, retreats, and community service opportunities, and the Purdue Notre Dame Club, a co-ed organization fostering connections between universities.
The Religious Studies Program at Purdue University offers students the opportunity to investigate how different religious traditions of the world seek and understand Ultimate Reality, how this understanding influences human action and belief, and how historical contexts influence religious thought and practice. Students can study from an interdisciplinary perspective, including English, history, philosophy, sociology, and anthropology, and cultivate a critical appreciation of diverse religious traditions.
Yes, there is a $44 million Catholic residence hall planned for Purdue students by St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church near campus. The residence hall will have a chapel, a courtyard, and a subterranean parking level. It will be open to all undergraduate and graduate students but will focus on sophomore students and above.
Catholic students at Purdue can get involved with organizations like Boiler Catholics at St. Thomas Aquinas, which promotes an active Catholic lifestyle on campus. Students can participate in various ministries, such as New Student Overnighter, Spring Break Mission trips, Boiler Catholic Seminars, Boiler Awakening, teaching Religious Education, and intramural sports teams.











































