Religious Studies

Religious Studies: Major, Minor

The study of religion is a quintessential task of a Catholic, Jesuit college. It invites you, in an academic context, into a long tradition of theological and historical questions about the nature of humanity in relation to God and to the world, and it engages you in the interreligious and intercultural encounter that is taking place today.聽

Given the impetus of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), which addressed the relationship between the Catholic Church and other religions, and given our present historical moment, the Department of Religious Studies is committed to integrating the study of Christian theology with the study of the world鈥檚 religions.

Through the courses it offers and the structure of its major the department鈥檚 approach to the study of religious belief and practice reflects Catholic theological commitments even as it responds to the needs of all students, Catholic and not, who will make their lives in a diverse, interconnected, and religiously pluralistic world.

The department offers a wide variety of courses that enable you to know and understand the Catholic tradition more deeply and to situate that tradition in the larger religious context of today鈥檚 world. Equally important, Catholicism has a distinctive religious culture and rich intellectual heritage that ground and support the study of the liberal arts.

As is appropriate in a Catholic, Jesuit academic institution committed to diversity and a mission to think critically, the department offers a range of courses that enable you to understand and to appreciate your own particular tradition, to situate that tradition in the wider context of other world religions, and to discover how diverse religious beliefs and practices are related and relevant to global concerns of poverty, injustice, and an environment in distress.

Our approach to the study of religion affirms that enduring commitments to faith鈥攚hile always in need of study and discernment鈥攁re reasonable, responsible, and essential to human flourishing.

Program Highlights

To major in religious studies at 海角社区 is to undertake an integrated study, both intellectual and spiritual, of four areas central to understanding Catholicism and every faith tradition, namely:
  • world religions
  • theology 
  • sacred texts
  • religious ethics
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Honor Society

Academically outstanding majors are invited to join Theta Alpha Kappa, the national honor society for religious studies.

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Awards

The department annually confers two awards to academically accomplished fourth-year students.

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Harry Potter Course

A popular religious studies course on Harry Potter has generated national media coverage.

Religious Studies News

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海角社区 Academic Conference to Showcase Student Work
As the academic year comes to an end, the 海角社区 will celebrate the great and varied work accomplished by its students at the annual Academic Conference taking place across campus from April 27 through April 30. The four-day conference gives students from all class years the opportunity to present the results of their independent research and course work done in a variety of environments鈥攆rom campus classrooms and libraries to within the Worcester community; from research labs and study abroad locations to art studios and field sites.
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海角社区 Physics Professor Receives Distinguished Teaching Award
Janine Shertzer, professor of physics and member of the 海角社区 faculty since 1984, received the 2015 海角社区 Distinguished Teaching Award at the annual Dean鈥檚 Fall Address and Faculty Awards. The Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes and 鈥
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Video: 海角社区 Faculty Offer Multidisciplinary Analysis of Pope鈥檚 Encyclical on Environment
In advance of Pope Francis鈥 historic visit to the United States, a multidisciplinary panel of 海角社区 faculty shared their perspectives on his encyclical letter, 鈥淟audato si鈥: On Care for Our Common Home,鈥 released in May. The panel, speaking before 鈥