Theology and Religious Studies Minor

A minor in Theology and Religious Studies can be fulfilled by taking any six courses taught within the department. Doing a Theology and Religious Studies minor is relatively easy, and could even be completed using only GEP courses. A third of the minor will be completed by required GEP courses: every student must take THE 154 and a Religious Difference course. Students could then complete the minor by taking their First Year Seminar, Ethics Intensive, Faith and Reason, and Writing Intensive courses within the department. However, students can complete the minor with any six courses, whether GEP courses, electives, or ILC courses for other majors.

Goal 1: Students will understand at least two religious traditions beyond an introductory level, including their histories, beliefs, practices and contemporary expressions.

Outcome 1.1: Students will articulate the foundations, historical development, and ethical ramifications of the basic content of the Catholic faith using sources and methods appropriate to the discipline of Theology.

Outcome 1.2: Students will articulate the foundations, historical development, and ethical ramifications of at least one religious tradition other than the Roman Catholic tradition, using sources and methods appropriate to the discipline of Religious Studies.

Goal 2. Students will understand the implications of religious belief for moral decision making and ethical action in the world.

Outcome 2.1: Students will articulate key ethical implications that arise from the study of theology and religion.

Goal 3. Students will be able to examine theological and religious traditions from a critical distance.

Outcome 3.1: Students will analyze devotional, theological, ritual, ethical and sacred texts according to their particular literary genres and historical contexts.

Goal 4. Students will appreciate the diversity of method, content, and history that exists within the contemporary academic disciplines of Theology and Religious Studies.

Outcome 4.1: Students will understand the nature and language of academic theological inquiry

A minor in Theology and Religious Studies can be fulfilled by taking any six courses taught within the department. Doing a Theology and Religious Studies minor is relatively easy, and could even be completed using only GEP courses. A third of the minor will be completed by required GEP courses:  every student must take THE 154 and a Religious Difference course. Students could then complete the minor by taking their First Year Seminar, Ethics Intensive, Faith and Reason, and Writing Intensive courses within the department. However, students can complete the minor with any six courses, whether GEP courses, electives, or ILC courses for other majors.

Some students might like to focus their Theology and Religious Studies minor on topics they find of particular interest. This, too, is quite easy to do. The following are only some of the potential combination of courses. Feel free to design your own focus.

Focus in Asian Religions

Focus in Biblical Studies

Focus in Ethics

Focus in Systematic Theology

Focus in Historical Theology

Focus in History and Material Culture

Focus in Islamic, Jewish, and Christian Relations

¹

Students should take at least one each in Judaism and Islam and at least one interreligious dialogue course which deals with the relations of Christianity with at least one of the other traditions.

 Focus in Jewish-Christian Relations