(7/9/10)  The University of St. Thomas in Houston is advertising that beginning in spring 2011 students will have the opportunity to study abroad in both Rome and the Holy Land and earn a minor in Catholic Studies.  Dr. Dominic Aquila, VP for Academic Affairs, said this is one of UST’s “premier programs designed specifically to integrate the Catholic intellectual tradition with a range of academic majors.  The Catholic Studies semester abroad in the Holy Land and Rome is a new and exciting way to achieve this integration.  Students in the program will experience directly the places and cultures that form the foundations of the Catholic tradition.”  Students participating in the program will take 18 credit hours in history, fine arts, psychology, theology and Catholic Studies.  University of St. Thomas is included in The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College, also a free online resource, for its strong Catholic identity.  (Source: University of St. Thomas)