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Why should I major in Theology and Religious Studies?
Are you the kind of person who searches for meaning in life? reflects upon
faith, religion and reason? examines the role of religion in the world? wants to
make informed ethical choices? is fascinated by the interplay of religion and
culture? Then you are very likely the right person to join fellow Villanovans in exploring these and related
issues with our faculty. (We have additional major-related questions
listed here.)
In addition to nourishing your personal interests, the study of Theology and
Religion is rewarding personally and professionally. It enables you to
understand the complexities of life on our planet and prepares you to make a
positive difference in the world. In fact, employers in a
wide range of fields (see below What can I do with a Theology and
Religious Studies major?) value Theology and Religious Studies majors for being able to think
outside of the box. To read a fuller description, click here.
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What’s unique about the Theology and Religious Studies major at Villanova?
We would argue that Theology and Religious Studies might well
be among the most enjoyable majors at Villanova, because of the wide
range of courses we offer and the inherent interest of our subject matter.
Theology and Religious Studies is a very versatile major and has personal,
intellectual, and professional advantages leading to many different job
possibilities.
Also, our major can be combined with another major (see
I am interested in a double major. Can I do this with Theology and Religious Studies?)
or the five-year BA/MA program specially designed for VU Theology and
Religious Studies majors (click
here for more information). Our major is interdisciplinary even for students
who choose not to double major; you can take one elective course from another
department that complements your Theology and Religious Studies major.
Finally, Theology and Religion courses at Villanova typically do not rely
primarily on lectures; we mostly learn by discussing things thoroughly in class.
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I am interested in a double major. Can I do this with Theology and Religious Studies?
Yes indeed. It is easy to combine a Theology and Religious Studies major with other
majors. Actually, we are convinced that studying Theology and Religion is an interdisciplinary
venture. Therefore, we encourage and welcome double majors. To facilitate studies in diverse
fields of inquiry, you may count up to two associated or related courses from
the second Major toward fulfilling your Theology Major requirements.
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What are the requirements for being a Theology and Religious Studies major?
As with other majors at Villanova, you need to complete 11 courses (including
one of our Introduction Courses THL 1050/51).
Four of these courses are free electives and five required. There is also a senior
seminar. One required course fulfills the junior research requirement. The department’s
required courses—chosen from different areas of inquiry—are chiefly
designed to give you a sense of the range and diversity in Theology and Religious Studies.
To read a fuller description, click here.
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How do I know which courses fill what requirements for the major?
Here is a
list of specific
courses that fill the requirements for the major. For a complete listing of departmental course,
click here.
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I’m thinking about becoming a Theology and Religious Studies major. What do I do now?
Talk to people. One excellent resource is fellow students who major in
Theology and Religious Studies who would be glad to give you their perspective
on Theology and Religion. You can find their names and email addresses by
contacting the secretary to our Department Chair. Don’t be shy about contacting them;
our students look
forward to speaking to prospective majors.
Theology and Religious Studies faculty are also happy to discuss the major. You probably
already know a member of our department from an Introduction class or a second course in Theology and Religion. One faculty member is
particularly designated to talk to prospective majors:
Prof. Timothy Brunk. Just contact him and set
up an appointment. You can also directly contact our
Department Chair who advises majors, or any
other Theology and Religious Studies faculty (to see their telephone numbers and
email addresses, click
here).
You can also deepen your sense of what majoring in Theology and Religious
Studies would involve by taking another Theology and Religious Studies course soon. We recommend, though,
that you take one of the required courses (here is
the
list).
Why? You need your elective courses if you wish to double major (see
I am interested in a double major. Can I do this with Theology and Religious Studies?)
or pursue the five-year BA/MA program specially designed for VU Theology and
Religious Studies majors (read further).
You can also take one elective course from another department that complements your
Theology and Religious Studies major (click here for more information).
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Now I’ve decided to become a Theology and Religious Studies major. What’s my next step?
It’s easy. You simply go to our office and ask to see the
Department Chair who also advises our majors.
He will discuss with you all aspects of the program: requirements; program
structure; course selection; and possibilities and opportunities for further
studies in Theology.
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What are the requirements for a
Theology and Religious Studies minor?
The Theology and Religious Studies minor involves five courses (plus the
Introduction Course THL 1050/51) offered by our department. To read more,
click here.
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What kind of variety is there to
Theology and Religious Studies classes?
There is great variety to the courses you can take as a major in Theology and
Religious Studies. Our department offers traditional courses in major fields (for instance,
Hebrew Bible or Religion and Culture) but also courses, to give a few examples, on topics such as “Ethics of Life and
Death,” “Global Poverty & Liberation Theology,” “Islamic Political Thought,” and “Catholicism
in the United States.” Our faculty members are also always developing new
courses, insuring that the variety of courses we offer will continue to expand. To read
more about our courses,
click here.
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How much choice do I have in picking my theology and religion classes?
Plenty. Of the eleven courses you would take as a Theology and Religious Studies major, four are entirely
free electives, and you can choose the other seven (which fulfill area requirements, the Junior
Research requirement, and the
Senior Seminar requirement) from among many possibilities.
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What can I do with a Theology and Religious Studies major?
The academic study of Theology and Religion prepares you to formulate
responses to our world's most demanding questions, that is, for anything that
requires intellectual, spiritual, and ethical skills in, for example, business
or humanitarian, philanthropic and other non-profit, charitable, or religious
organizations. To read more about career possibilities, click here.
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What do Theology and Religious Studies majors actually study?
We analyze religious phenomena, read and interpret religious texts, examine
ethical traditions and the complexities and pluralism of Christian beliefs and
practices, analyze conditions that enhance or limit human life and dignity and
the life of the planet - among others. In short, we study what enables us to formulate responses to our world's most demanding questions. To read more about
the fascinating facets of studying Theology and Religion,
click here.
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Can I also earn a master's degree in Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova?
We offer a master's degree in Theology that is open to all VU
students. Students who successfully major in Theology and Religious Studies are
highly qualified to enroll. You can read more about our graduate programs on our
Graduate Studies page.
Did you know that we also offer a five-year BA/MA program specially
designed for VU Theology and Religious Studies majors?
Read further.
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Where is the department located?
Our department is located in the Saint Augustine Center (Room 107) on
Villanova's main campus (click
here for a campus map). The general office number is 610.519.4730.
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What are Concentrations?
Concentrations are an optional way of giving more shape and focus to your
Theology and Religious Studies
major. A concentration (other departments at Villanova call it a "track") is a cluster of
three or more courses organized about a
field of inquiry (for example, bible or history) or an independent topic of your creation (for example,
Environment and Morality, or Interreligious Dialogue). It is designed to allow you to define your specific
theological and religious interests by carefully choosing what courses you take as your electives.
You do not have to take extra courses to complete a concentration, and courses from
other departments may count towards a concentration, thus enabling you to make your
concentration interdisciplinary.
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