CV NEWS FEED // A woman majoring in nursing at the New Jersey-based Seton Hall University recently shared how she is using a Catholic Studies minor to strengthen her ability to serve those she encounters in the medical field.
Rising senior Reilly Williams shared about her approach to the field in a June 20 university news article that the university’s Catholic Studies Program Administrative Assistant Gloria Aroneo wrote.
“I spend most of my time in nursing listening to lectures and applying clinical skills, but my Christianity classes explore a world outside of nursing,” Williams said. “This improves my critical thinking skills and makes me a well-rounded student.” She explained that the minor broadens her perspectives and helps her learn about the experiences of people in other majors.
According to Seton Hall’s undergraduate minors information page, to earn a Catholic Studies minor, students have to complete five theology-related courses, or 15 credit hours. One of the required courses is CAST 1001, or “The Search for Human Fulfillment.”
Seton Hall’s course catalog explains that CAST 1001 begins by using Scripture to explore the questions of, “What is human fulfillment and how does one find it?”
“The course will investigate the basics of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition through theology, history, literature, philosophy and end with a look at ultimate fulfillment in the life of heaven,” the course catalog reads, noting that students will read primary sources from all of these disciplines.
Students minoring in Catholic Studies are also required to take four higher-level CAST classes. According to the course catalog, higher-level CAST classes that students may choose range from Medieval Philosophy, to Catholic Social Teachings, to Catholic Theology of Science, among several others.
In the June 20 article, Williams shared with Aroneo about different reasons the Catholic Studies minor has helped her develop her skills as a leader and aspiring pediatrician. Williams is senior co-president of the on-campus Student Nurses Association (SNA). Last year, she served in the junior co-president position.
“One important aspect of nursing is being able to connect with others, which is a skill I have strengthened through my minor in Catholic Studies,” Williams said. She added that the minor has helped her have a broader understanding of how someone’s religion, Catholic or not, might affect their medical decisions.
Taking classes for the Catholic Studies minor has also helped her to have a holistic view of every patient, Williams explained: “The skills I have learned help ensure that I and the rest of the healthcare team are providing patients with the best possible care physically, emotionally and spiritually.”
