If you want to continue your studies of Theology beyond the core requirements, the Theology Department has five different programs from which to choose—Major in Theology, Major in Religious Studies, Minor in Theology, Minor in Religious Studies, and the Pastoral Leadership Minor.

The Major in Theology and the Major in Religious Studies will provide you with the opportunity to examine in both breadth and depth either the Christian theological tradition or the contemporary field of religious studies. The major is declared by application to the Director of Undergraduate Programs and consists of 36 hours (12 three-credit courses). A minimum of five courses at the 300-level is required. Students are encouraged but not required to take up to two courses outside the department with prior approval for the theological studies track and three for the religious studies track. Theology majors receive faculty advising to facilitate their progress through the major.

The Minor in Theological Studies and Religious Studies require six courses: any three courses from the four core level areas of doctrine, Scripture, life and practice, and religious traditions; and three electives from 300-level courses. Each student's program is individually tailored to his/her plans in consultation with the Director of Minors.

• Major in Theology
• Major in Religious Studies
• Minor in Theology
• Minor in Religious Studies

Statement of Current Department Undergraduate Learning Goals

As teacher-scholars in the fields of Theology and Religious Studies within Loyola University Chicago’s Department of Theology, we identify the following as fundamental learning goals for the undergraduate students whom we have the privilege to teach and learn. These goals express our hopes for, and our promise to, our students throughout their learning experience with us; while no single one of our courses likely achieves all of these goals (or even necessarily all of any one goal), we aim to provide a learning environment across the sum of our courses in which students may achieve all four.

• Expand awareness and critical openness to the complex interaction of religion and human experience, the diverse ways that this experience has been expressed by individuals and communities around the world, and the theological reflection on that experience in the Christian tradition.
• Deepen understanding and interpretation in the areas of religious studies and Christian theology using the fields’ best methods and the best interdisciplinary resources within the university.
• Sharpen evaluative skills regarding the cognitive, ethical, and aesthetic impact of religions on human life and the natural world.
• Encourage action utilizing theological and religious studies backgrounds for the betterment of human society and the natural world.

Learning Outcomes

Students completing the Theology Major should be able to: 

• Demonstrate knowledge of the sources and historical development of beliefs and practices of Christianity with particular attention to the Roman Catholic tradition.
• Apply scholarly methods to the understanding of scripture.
• Demonstrate familiarity with key theological concepts and doctrines of the Christian faith (e.g., Christology, trinity, ecclesiology, sacramental theology, etc.) as enunciated by at least two theologians.
• Demonstrate foundational knowledge of at least one other religious tradition outside of Christianity.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how Christian perspectives and sources inform responses to pressing ethical questions. 

Students completing the Religious Studies Major should be able to:

• Demonstrate conceptual understanding of the general concept of religion and specific knowledge of key features of two or more religions. For example:
  • Delineate the key features of a religion and discuss how they interact.
  • Describe and compare the central elements of two or more world religions.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the major scriptures, doctrines and practices of two or more religions.
• Know and use academic and analytical scholarly methods and terminology employed in the field of Religious Studies.  For example:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of a range of scholarly methodologies
  • Accurately use the academic and scholarly terminology used in the field of religious studies
  • Be able to apply scholarly methodologies to research questions
• Analyze how a religion’s components interact with the culture to which it belongs, explaining how it shapes and is shaped by the surrounding society. For example:
  • Articulate how religions shape aspects of people’s everyday lives. Discuss aspects such as: family organization and relationships, social structure, food choices, clothing choices, ethical behavior, or gender roles.
  • Describe how religions interact with popular culture (as evidenced by literature, visual arts, film, music, TV, the Internet, etc.) and how that interaction functions to influence public opinion and belief.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of religious approaches to ethics and ethical issues. 

Students completing the Theology Minor should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge in at least two of the following areas:
  • the sources and historical development of beliefs and practices of Christianity with particular attention to the Roman Catholic tradition;
  • the application of scholarly methods to the understanding of scripture;
  • key theological concepts and doctrines of the Christian faith (e.g., Christology, trinity, ecclesiology, sacramental theology, etc.);
  • foundational knowledge of at least one other religious tradition outside of Christianity;
• Demonstrate an understanding of how Christian perspectives and sources inform responses to pressing ethical questions. 

 Students completing the Religious Studies Minor should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge in at least two of the following areas:
  
  • the sources and historical development of beliefs and practices of Christianity with particular attention to the Roman Catholic tradition;
  • the application of scholarly methods to the understanding of sacred texts within at least two non-Christian traditions;
  • key theological concepts and doctrines of at least two non-Christian religions, individually understood and in a comparative setting.
• Demonstrate an understanding of basic methodology that distinguishes the field of religious studies from the field of theology.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of religious approaches to ethics and ethical issues.

Double-Dipping Policy

• Students may not major and minor in the same discipline.
• Majors: Not less than 21 credit hours in the individual student’s transcript must be unique to each major; that is, the courses in question are considered as actually fulfilling requirements of one major, not of more than one major
• Minors and interdisciplinary minors: not less than 8 credit hours in the individual student’s transcript must be unique to each minor; that is, the courses in question are considered as actually fulfilling requirements of one minor, not of more than one minor or major.
• General exceptions to Rules 2 and 3 will be made if approved by the chairs/directors of the department(s)/program(s) housing each affected major and minor. A list of standing general exceptions will be maintained by the Dean's office.
• Individual student exceptions may be made in appropriate cases by department chairs and program directors.
• Departments and Programs may enforce stricter double-dipping policies than those stated above, which also should be provided to the Dean’s Office.

Contact Us

Interested in one of these Majors or Minors? Contact Dr. Lauren O'Connell (loconnell1), the Theology Department's Undergraduate Program Director, or Randall Newman (rnewman2@luc.edu), Program Coordinator.