Religious Studies, B.A.

A major in Religious Studies provides an opportunity for more extensive and intensive exploration of the Christian experience. It is also an excellent focal point for the liberal arts and can serve as a preparation for Christian service, such as Christian education, and for graduate study in Religion, Ministry or other related disciplines.

Religious Studies majors have enrolled in seminaries such as Andover-Newton Theological Seminary, Boston College, Hartford Seminary and Yale Divinity School. Graduates have gone into ministerial roles as campus ministers, ordained hospice and hospital chaplains, and parish ministry. They also work in religious education, counseling and social work.

Program outcomes

The student will:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the Christian Bible or sacred texts of another religious tradition
• Demonstrate ability to critically interpret faith-related documents, with particular attention to the Roman Catholic tradition
• Demonstrate knowledge of a living faith tradition through elements of history, faith, belief, theology, rituals and practices of prayer and worship
• Demonstrate awareness and comprehension of diverse forms of religious thought and practices within and between religious traditions
• Understand religious traditions of social justice, service to others and global responsibility
• Understand women’s spiritual development, faith journeys, leadership and contributions to religious thought and practice

Admission and continuation requirements

Students are accepted as majors upon approval of the department faculty and only after completing six credits in Theology and Religious Studies with an average grade of C+ or higher in these courses. To continue as a major, a student is expected to maintain at least a C average in the major courses. Students who wish to pursue graduate degrees in Theology or Religious Studies should study at least one modern language and consider studying classical languages - Latin and Greek.