Religious Studies & Theology

Overview

The role of religion is a main ingredient in every culture’s self-understanding, identity, and value system. Our undergraduate program investigates the contributions religion makes bto the community and the society to which it belongs. While the focus in many courses is upon Christianity, an exposure to other Western and non-Western religious traditions constitutes an integral part of the curriculum.

The B.A. in religious studies is for students who intend to work in Catholic schools, in parish religious education programs, or in various offices and ministries associated with either the local or diocesan church. The major also offers a solid foundation for graduate study.

The M.A. in theology program takes a faith perspective as well as an academic one and enriches its offerings with a selection of visiting professors from various parts of the country.

The curriculum fosters intensive study in various areas of scripture and theology. Graduates are prepared for both ministerial and educational careers within the faith tradition. The program affords a range of courses and resources that reflects an ecumenical, Catholic perspective. The certificate in theology is for students who do not seek an M.A., but intend to develop their skills in theology for their own teaching expertise or personal interest.

Undergraduate Degree

B.A. in Religious Studies

Minor

Religious Studies

Graduate Degree

M.A. in Theology

Certificate

Certificate in Theology

Related Areas of Study

American Studies
International Area Studies
Women’s Studies

Details

The program in religious studies offers a series of courses whose purpose is to investigate, from various perspectives, the dimension of life called religion. The conviction of the department is that the study of religion is an important part of the liberal arts curriculum, in that it records the way people have understood themselves, their world and their God. An exposure to Western and non-Western religious traditions constitutes an integral part of the department’s course offerings.

The student is expected to reflect upon the great ideas of religious traditions in an academic fashion as well as achieve a sympathetic understanding of their importance and viability as perhaps the deepest part of human experience. In so doing, the study of religion can become the appreciation of the whole human person and the forces that have so deeply influenced our civilization.