Theology Religious Studies Major

Theology religious studies majors are members of the theological community formed by the department’s faculty and graduate students. The theology religious studies major offers students foundational study in the disciplines of biblical studies, historical theology, and systematic theology.

The theology religious studies major requires 10 courses. It is structured so as to bring together two elements:

1. Content: a consideration of traditional theological themes, such as God, Christ, Church, ethics and liturgy; and
2. Method: various aspects of Christianity are approached through distinct methods, which may or may not be engaged in doing theology per se, but whose end results are relevant to theology

The major is comprised of four required courses, a concentration requirement, and a capstone course, THEO 3860 CONTEMPORARY CONVERSATIONS IN THEOLOGY. The capstone course crowns the requirements for the major by focusing on a common theological theme. The theme of the course and the works utilized will depend on the expertise of the instructor; it includes a 25-to 30-page final paper.

All Fordham College undergraduates are required to take THEO 1000 FAITH AND CRITICAL REASON as well as one Sacred Texts and Traditions course (courses with the STXT attribute code). Although they are part of the Core Curriculum, they also provide a fundamental introduction to the coursework required of the major.

Availability

The major in theology-religious studies is available at Fordham College at Rose Hill, Fordham College at Lincoln Center and Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies at Lincoln Center and Rose Hill. 

Fordham College at Rose Hill students: The requirements above are in addition to those of the Core Curriculum.

Fordham College at Lincoln Center students: The requirements above are in addition to those of the Core Curriculum.

Professional and Continuing Studies students: The requirements above are in addition to those of the PCS Core Curriculum.

Concentrations

The course requirements for each concentration are as follows where elective courses are indicated, students will choose elective courses from any of the offerings of the theology department:

Theological Studies concentration

This concentration consists of systematics, ethics, liturgy, and historical courses and fosters critical capacities for thinking about fundamental questions such as God, the human person, truth, and society, as well as questions about how to live. It requires the following:

Sacred Texts concentration

This concentration centers primarily on the textual traditions of Christianity but also allows space for the sacred scriptures of other traditions. This concentration trains its students in the methods of exegesis and scriptural interpretation. It requires the following:

Faith and Culture concentration

This concentration focuses on the dynamics of religious beliefs and practices as an area of human experience shared across time and cultures and seeks to develop a broader understanding of the phenomenon of religion as practiced by persons of various faiths. It requires the following:

American Catholicism concentration

This concentration focuses on the theology, history, and practice of Roman Catholicism in the United States. It requires the following:

The following courses may be used as electives for the American Catholicism concentration. 

Courses in this group have the THAC attribute.