The Department of Theology offers undergraduates the unique opportunity to complete a combined BA/MA in Theology in just five years (instead of the customary six). Upon completion of the degree, graduates will be prepared to assume a variety of positions where theological training and competence are in demand, such as teaching theology in a high school/academy, or developing educational programs for a parish. Of course, a Master’s degree in Theology is also the requisite step for entrance into a doctoral program in theology for those interested in the life of a professor of theology, hence for teaching and researching theology.

The 5 year BA/MA in Theology aims to:

• Accelerate the overall time-to-graduation of a student by allowing two courses to count as requirements for both the undergraduate Major and Master’s degrees in Theology; this will allow students to complete twelve hours of graduate courses during their senior year;
• Reduce the total tuition cost of obtaining both degrees;
• Encourage excellent undergraduate students in Theology to continue their graduate studies at Loyola;
• Provide a direct and expedited admission process for Loyola Majors in Theology into the Master’s Program in Theology.

For more information on the BA program click here.

Admission to the Graduate Program

First, having majored in theology at the undergraduate level, students will be admitted to the BA/MA program when they have made satisfactory academic progress as an undergraduate student in Theology, having completed a minimum of 60 credit hours toward the degree, with a minimum of 15 credit hours matriculated at Loyola University Chicago with a grade of B or above. Students intending to apply for the joint degree in Theology can formally apply to the Graduate Program in their junior year. The deadline for their submission is usually March 1st once the student has completed 60 credit hours of coursework. They must submit their academic transcript and a written statement of purpose that demonstrates their commitment and dedication to the academic study of Theology, as well as two letters of recommendation. Specific reference should be made to academic coursework and the student’s potential to do graduate-level work in Theology.

Program overview

Students pursuing their BA in Theology take seven entry level and compulsory courses in that field, leaving them with five Theology electives to complete in the first stage of the program. In the proposed accelerated degree, two courses taken in the student’s fourth year would match two of the MA level courses.

While there is some possibility of flexibility here, the courses that would be the most suitable for these electives are Theo 317/318 and two MA level courses in Bible, e.g. Old Testament and New Testament at the 400 level.

The program is jointly administered between the Director of Majors and Minors (Undergraduate level) and the Graduate Program Director in the Theology Department.

Curriculum Requirements

1. Entry-level courses: Three core courses: Theo 100, a second Tier 200 level core course, and Theo 185 Christian Ethics. Students who choose a core-level ethics course in the Philosophy Department will be required to take an upper-level ethics course in Theology.
2. Compulsory Courses for the Theology Major:Two to Four compulsory courses (depending on Entry-level course choices)

• An Old Testament and a New Testament course (at either the 200 or 300 level) [one or both may have already been fulfilled at the 200 level as part of core]
• A 300-level course in the History of Christian Thought ( Theo 317 or 318);
• A course in a religious tradition other than Christianity (if not taken at the entry level)

1. Elective Courses: The additional courses at the 200 or 300 levels required to complete coursework for the major (36 total credits required). At least seven of these must be taken at the 300 level or above.
2. Capstone Course: In their junior or senior year, Theology Majors must complete a capstone course, Theo 373, which is designed to give students an opportunity to integrate various aspects of their theological education. Students will be expected to draw upon the major sources and disciplines (Scripture, History, Systematic Theology, Ethics) of the Christian tradition with particular attention to the Roman Catholic tradition. The particular faculty member teaching the course may also decide to include at least one other religious tradition outside of Christianity as part of the course content.
3. Graduate studies: A total of ten (10) courses at the Master’s level, including Old Testament and New Testament at the 400 level, both Theo 317 and 318: History of Christian Thought I & II. These specific courses are intended to be taken in one’s senior year, though this will vary from student to student. The remaining six (6) elective courses are all to be taken as electives at the master’s level after the 4th (‘senior’) year of the BA program. In addition, all MA students take a comprehensive exam at the end of their program.

Suggested Curriculum Outline for BA/MA in Theology

36 credit hours for BA (including capstone) and 30 credit hours for MA fulfills credit hour requirements for both degrees.

Freshman Year

First Semester—3 Theology Credit Hours
English 105—3 credit hours
History 101—3 hours
Natural Science Core—3 hours
Communicative/Philosophy Core—3 hours
Theology Core—(Theo 100) 3 hours
Second Semester—3 Theology Credit Hours
English 106—3 hours
History (2nd Core requirement)—3 hours
Social Science Core—3 hours
Expressive Arts—3 hours
Ethics Core—Christian Ethics (Theo 185)—3 hours*

*If a student takes a 100-level Philosophy core course, he or she is required to take an upper level ethics course in Theology at some point in his or her BA studies.

Sophomore Year

First Semester—3 Theology Credit Hours
Literature Core—3 hours
Mathematics Core—3 hours
Natural Science Core—3 hours
Philosophy Core—3 hours
Theology Core—2nd tier 200 level Core—3 hours
Second Semester—3 Theology Credit Hours
Literature Core—3 hours
Philosophy Core—3 hours
Natural Science Core—3 hours
Social Science Core—3 hours
Theology 300 Level—3 hours

The program outlined above provides that all the core requirements will be met by the end of the second year except for one last Literature Core course. This frees up Junior and Senior year for concentration in the major. Application to the accelerated Master’s program would normally occur during one’s Junior year.

Junior Year

First Semester—6 Theology Credit Hours
Theology 200 Level OT
Theology 200 Level World Religion
Literature CAS Core
Elective
Elective
Second Semester—9 Theology Credit Hours
Theology 200 Level NT
Theology 300 Level
Theology 300 Level
Other Core or Elective
Elective

Senior Year

First Semester—3 BA Credit Hours/6 MA Credit Hours
Theology 317 (BA)
Theology 400 OT Course (MA)
Elective
Elective
Elective
Second Semester—6 BA Credit Hours/6 MA Credit Hours
Theology 318 (BA)
Theology 373 Capstone (BA)
Theology 400 NT Course (MA)
Elective
Elective

*Please note: For courses offered both to upper level undergraduate students and to graduate students, the distribution listed above can be different.

Master's Year

First Semester—9 MA Credit Hours
Theology Graduate Level
Theology Graduate Level
Theology Graduate Level
Second Semester—6 BA Credit Hours/6 MA Credit Hours
Theology Graduate Level
Theology Graduate Level
Theology Graduate Level & Comprehensive Exams