The goal of our major program is to empower student-scholars to engage critically, creatively, and compassionately with the inter-connected world in which they live. Central to our mission is the cultivation of knowledge and skills for understanding, analyzing, interpreting, and reflecting on religion, faith, and ethics, with depth and nuance, drawing from sacred texts, beliefs, and practices.
Students frequently combine a major in theology and religious studies with another major such as education, philosophy, psychology, or social work to augment their skills in service-oriented professions. Theology and religious studies are interdisciplinary fields. Students majoring in theology and religious studies will have the opportunity to take classes from other disciplines that examine religious traditions (e.g. Philosophy, English, History, and Political Science). There are a variety of internship opportunities available in churches, hospitals, outreach programs and volunteer organizations. Students majoring in theology and religious studies are prepared for graduate study in theology, religion, and ministry and in a number of related disciplines in the liberal arts and the professions (e.g. law school, architecture, social work, business management etc.) . A degree in theology and religious studies provides a foundation for critical, spiritual, and ethical reflection; for scholarship and scholarly dialogue; for teaching; and for service and administration.
The Campus Ministry program at the University of Portland as well as the Moreau Center for Service and Leadership provide theology and religious studies students with opportunities to participate in a number of ways: retreats, liturgical ministries, scripture study, faith formation and development, and service outreach.
Theology and Religious Studies majors learn crucial skills for thinking critically about the world, writing persuasively, problem-solving, and communicating effectively—valuable skills all employers seek. While some of our majors pursue graduate work, other students go on to have meaningful and successful careers in other fields such as
In addition to THE 105 and the Theological Perspectives elective, majors take 28 credit hours of upper-division courses. 24 credit hours will be selected from the list of 300-level and 400-level elective courses. At least three credit hours must be designated as a “Sacred Texts” course. At least three credit hours must be designated as a “Theological Ethics” course. In consultation with their advisor from the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, a student may choose a maximum of nine upper-division credit hours of coursework relevant to a Theology and Religious Studies program to be taken from other departments. These optional courses may be chosen from an approved list contained in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies’ two-year course schedule. The remaining 4 credit hours are fulfilled by the three-credit hour capstone thesis (THE 498) and the one-credit hour senior presentation (THE 499).
Theology and religious Studies majors take 39 credits in the University Core Curriculum, 21-33 hours in the College of Arts and Sciences core, 34 hours of Theology and Religious Studies courses for the major, and 21-33 hours of electives.
University of Portland
5000 N. Willamette Blvd.,
Portland, Oregon 97203-5798
503.943.8000
