More about our degrees

Explore the courses offered in Theology and Religious Studies

Learn more about the courses and requirement for our BA in Theology and Religious Studies and how to earn our Departmental Honors BA, as well as the minor in Theology and Religious Studies.

Sample Courses

Christian Theology

Catholic Imagination
Ignatian Spirituality
New Testament Storytellers: Jesus
Latin American Liberation Theology
Global Bioethics and Religion
Social Justice, Christian Ethics
Challenges to Christian Faith

Judaism, Islam and Buddhism

Gender in the Hebrew Bible.
Introduction to the Qur'an.
Introduction to Islam.
Buddhism and Film.
Buddhist Thought and Culture.

Interreligious Studies

Christian -Buddhist Dialogue
Christian-Muslim Dialogue
The Holocaust and Christian Faith
Jewish-Catholic Engagement

Our Degrees

BA, Theology and Religious Studies

You will earn your degree with 10 courses (50 credits) in Theology and Religious Studies, in addition to the Core curriculum requirements of UCOR 2100-Theological Explorations and UCOR 3100-Religion in a Global Context.

The BA program allows you to examine different areas of religion and spirituality:

A. Religious Traditions and Spiritual Practices (5 credits)

B. Sacred Texts and the Religious Imagination (5 credits)

C. Religion and Social Justice (5 credits)

It provides you with the opportunity to deepen your knowledge through advanced courses such as:

THRS 2400 - Methods in Theology and Religious Studies (5 credits)

THRS 4080 - Interpreting Sacred Texts (5 credits)

THRS 4300 - Major Themes and Thinkers in Christian Theology (5 credits)

THRS 4500 - Advanced Religious Studies (5 credits)

It allows you to explore your own interests more fully through opportunities to take two elective theology and religious studies courses (5 credits each).

Finally, it invites you to develop practical skills that would be valuable in a number of careers through its internship requirement (5 credits).

Minor in Theology and Religious Studies

To earn a minor in Theology and Religious Studies, students must complete six courses (30 credits) in Theology and Religious Studies. This total includes the Core requirements of UCOR 2100 Theological Explorations and UCOR 3100 Religion in a Global Context. Although UCOR courses do not count toward the major in THRS, they do count toward the minor.

Theology and Religious Studies as a Double Major

Many of our majors are double majors who combine their interests in multiple areas, such as psychology and spirituality or political science and Catholic social teaching, for example, by majoring in Theology and Religious Studies (THRS) and Psychology or Political Science. Those who are interested in working for nonprofits, NGOs, or local government might find it helpful to combine a major in Public Affairs and THRS, especially if they are considering the possibility of working for faith-based organizations. Since we have faculty interested in exploring the relationship between science and religion, we have had science majors pursue either a double major or double degree with THRS as one of their majors.

Theology and Religious Studies Graduates

Right after graduation our majors and minors have gone directly into the workforce at nonprofit organizations, churches in professional ministry positions, and Catholic high schools as theology teachers. Some of our graduates have gone on to masters programs in theology and religious studies at Boston College, Notre Dame, Harvard, Union Theological Seminary, Duke, as well as Seattle University’s own School of Theology and Ministry. Others have gone on to law school or graduate programs in social work and other fields.

Theology and Religious Studies in the University Core

Our faculty has a large presence in the University Core Curriculum. They teach most of the 2100 and 3100 level courses in the Core. The 2100 level courses, part of the Engaging Jesuit Traditions Module, provide an introduction to Christian theology as an academic discipline, especially in its Catholic Jesuit articulation, and provide an opportunity for students to become more thoughtful and articulate in expressing their own spiritual values, whatever they may be. The 3100 level courses, part of the Engaging the World Core Module, examine diverse religious traditions, spiritual practices, and worldviews in a global context. They focus on religions such as Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism as well as on the engagement of religions with each other throughout the world.