Explore issues of faith and the human experience.

The Department regards its overarching purpose as public theology, by which we mean that our work emerges from and engages with our diverse modern lives. The study of religion is both interdisciplinary and methodologically diverse. We seek to connect ideas from many religious traditions with human realities in an informed and analytical manner in order to challenge and deepen thinking on important questions within our contemporary contexts. In so doing, we aim to speak in languages and with arguments persuasive across a variety of religious and secular contexts and, especially, to speak truth to power, siding with oppressed, marginalized, or excluded persons and communities across the world.

Three Concentrations to Personalize Your Coursework

  • Theological Studies 鈥� a writing-intensive concentration to help understand the history of faith and its connection with culture and preparation for teaching or graduate school.

  • Pastoral Ministry 鈥� serves as a Pre-Seminary program or direct career path into a pastoral position, working with either youth or adults.

  • Religious Studies 鈥� comparative exploration of multiple religious traditions, engaging questions about the public and private roles of religion in society, including the intersection of religion and gender and sexuality, race, violence and healing, restorative justice, memory, ethics, emotions, politics, economy, power, art, literature, the media, and more.

Minors Available to Complement Your Degree

  • Theology - Based on the same core as both the Theological Studies and Pastoral Ministry majors, the minor allows for flexibility in electives tailored to student interests in teaching, business, law, and more.

  • Peace and Justice Studies - Students learn just peace strategies and nonviolent conflict negotiation tactics as tools for positive social change in their communities or on a global scale.

Sample Courses:

  • Search for Faith
  • Foundation of Peace and Justice Studies
  • Hebrew Bible
  • Global Christianity
  • Introduction to Islam
  • Catholic Sacraments
  • Sexuality, Spirituality, and Relationships
  • Religion & Popular Culture
  • Practicing Faithful Justice

Career Areas:

  • Teacher/Professor
  • Ethicist
  • Non-profit worker
  • Pastoral Counselor
  • Journalist
  • Migrant justice advocate
  • Historian
  • Youth minister
  • Liturgical and/or music minister
  • Equity and inclusion officer
  • Community Organizer
  • Civil Rights Advocate

On Campus Opportunities:

  • Asian American Association
  • Catholic Educators Club
  • Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
  • Interfaith Cooperation Committee
  • Lewis Counselors for Social Justice
  • Lewis Habitat for Humanity
  • 海角社区 Gospel Choir
  • Muslim Students' Association
  • National Society of Leadership & Success
  • Peer Ministry
  • Students for Justice in Palestine
  • Sustainability Club

Admission Requirements

Please refer to the Office of Admission for application requirements and specific next steps.

VIEW THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM

For more information, feel free to contact the Department Chair, Dr. Christie Billups at billupch@lewisu.edu or call (815) 836-5148.

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