Theology and Religion Major

 

Who is God? How are we to understand the relationship between God and humankind? Questions of this nature may express the most fundamental and pressing of all human inquiries. The theology major at Marquette explores faith and what it has to say about the fundamental purpose and meaning of all things, including our own existence. It seeks the deeper unity underlying all reality, its common origin and ultimate purpose. Marquette’s major in theology and religious studies offers opportunities for reflection to all students no matter your faith background.

Ask big questions.

As a theology major, you'll have a chance to develop your own understanding of your faith commitments and to integrate these concerns into your overall intellectual, social and personal development. You will have the resources to critically reflect on what motivates us as human beings most deeply, raising questions like “Why is there suffering?,” “How necessary is religion in the good life?,” and perhaps the most important of all: “Who do I really want to become?”

Go beyond the classroom.

Theology at Marquette is built around real-world experiences that stretch the study of theology beyond the classroom. From service-learning classes to faculty-led study abroad courses (including a popular interreligious course on nonviolence that travels to India) and internship opportunities, the study of theology provides real world experience to develop real world skills.

Appreciate breadth.

Theological questions evoke distinctive responses from the various religious perspectives represented in contemporary society. More than merely recognizing this fact, we respect it in all our theology courses in the ecumenical spirit of Vatican II. In addition to studying Christian doctrine, the history of Christian thought and the Bible, you'll be able to take courses such as Jewish Thought and Practice, Women in the Bible, Medical Ethics, Theology of Violence and Non-violence, Foundations of Ecological Ethics, and Christian Theology in Global Contexts.

Grow holistically.

As a theology major, you will develop the skills you need to help you navigate a religiously diverse world. You will develop critical thinking skills to prepare you to find meaningful work and, more importantly, to lead a meaningful life. The courses you take and relationships you build with your classmates and faculty will support your holistic development at Marquette while you pursue the transformative education that the Catholic, Jesuit tradition promises.

Some of the classes you'll take:

  • Foundations in Theology
  • The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius
  • The Theology of Horror
  • Theology and the Visual Arts
  • Medical Ethics
  • Miracles
  • Bridging the Racial Divide
  • Theology, Violence, and Nonviolence
  • Jewish Thought and Practice
  • Islam: Faith and Practice Studies in Moral Theology

For a complete listing of required courses for the program in theology, please visit the Marquette University Online Bulletin at this link.