As of Fall 2026, this program is no longer accepting applicants.

Students in the field of religious studies gain a basic knowledge of the history, central texts (where applicable), beliefs, and practices of religious traditions and develop skills that enable them to discern the religious dimensions of our political, social, and cultural life. 

Related Programs

Curriculum

Students may pursue one of three tracks in the religious studies major:

• the standard major;
• an honors track; and
• an interdisciplinary studies track

The honors track is a more rigorous version of the standard major and is intended for students seeking to pursue graduate studies in the field of religious studies or who plan to teach religious studies in high school. Students in the field of religious studies gain a basic knowledge of the history, central texts (where applicable), beliefs, and practices of religious traditions and develop skills that enable them to discern the religious dimensions of our political, social, and cultural life. This new interdisciplinary studies track is designed so that students may take the religious literacy gained from their religious studies coursework and relate that knowledge to other areas of study such as health, political science and global studies, education, the various areas within the humanities, and journalism. One course in the interdisciplinary studies major in particular is designed to help students with this task of relating knowledge gained from religious studies to other disciplines. In THEO 280, students will undertake a research project that integrates knowledge gained from their coursework in religious studies with another discipline. 

Requirements

All major tracks require 36 hours of coursework - seven (7) required courses and five (5) electives. At least five (5) of the 12 courses required for the major must be at the 300-level or higher. 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Christian Traditions
Select one of the following:		3
THEO 100	Christian Theology 1,2
THEO 185	Christian Ethics
THEO 232	New Testament
THEO 265	Sacraments and the Christian Imagination
THEO 267	Jesus Christ
THEO 279	Roman Catholicism
THEO 281	Christianity Through Time
THEO 317	Christian Thought: Ancient-Medieval
THEO 318	Christian Thought: Reformation to Modern
Non-Christian Traditions
Select three of the following:		9
THEO 272	Judaism
THEO 282	Hinduism
THEO 295	Islam
THEO 297	Buddhism
THEO 299	Religions of Asia
Religious Comparisons or Themes Course
Select two of the following:		6
THEO 107	Introduction to Religious Studies
THEO 186	Global Religious Ethics
THEO 278	Religion & Gender
THEO 393	Seminar (various titles)
Religious Studies Elective Courses
Select five elective courses 3		15
Capstone		3
For the Standard major:
THEO 353	Religious Traditions 4
or THEO 280	Religion & Interdisciplinary Studies
For the Honors track:
THEO 353	Religious Traditions 5
For the Interdisciplinary Studies track:
THEO 280	Religion & Interdisciplinary Studies 6
Total Hours		36

¹

Eligible students in the Standard Major and the Interdisciplinary Studies Track may substitute HONR 101 Western Traditions - Antiquity to the Middle Ages/HONR D101 Developments Western Thought I Discussion, THEO 190 Loyola's Mission: Ignatian Traditions, or PHIL 190 Loyola's Mission: The Philosophical Vision for THEO 100 Christian Theology.

²

Eligible students in the the Honors Track may substitute HONR 101 Western Traditions - Antiquity to the Middle Ages/HONR D101 Developments Western Thought I Discussion for the Doctrine requirement.

³

THEO 200 level or higher. Up to three (3) courses may be taken outside of the Theology department with prior permission from the undergraduate program director.  For students in the Interdisciplinary Studies track, two 300 level electives courses must be taken in a single discipline if outside of Theology.

⁴

With prior approval from the undergraduate program director, students may replace THEO 353 Religious Traditions with THEO 373 Theology Capstone. THEO 280 Religion & Interdisciplinary Studies must be taken as an Engaged Learning Course. 

⁵

With prior approval from the undergraduate program director, students may replace THEO 353 Religious Traditions with THEO 373 Theology Capstone

⁶

THEO 280 Religion & Interdisciplinary Studies must be taken as an Engaged Learning Course. 

THEO 280 Religion & Interdisciplinary Studies may be taken to fulfill a major requirement, depending on the course topic. Please consult your department for more information. 

Suggested Sequence of Courses

The Standard Major

The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework.  An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for the major.  Students should consult the undergraduate program director for assistance with course selection.

Plan of Study Grid

Freshman
Fall		Hours
Religious Comparisons Course (THEO 107)		3
Religious Comparisons Course (THEO 186)		3
	Hours	6
Spring
Christian Traditions Course (200-Level or Higher)		3
Non-Christian Traditions Course #1 (200-Level or Higher)		3
	Hours	6
Sophomore
Fall
Non-Christian Traditions Course #2 (200-Level or Higher)		3
Non-Christian Traditions Course #3 (200-Level or Higher)		3
	Hours	6
Spring
THEO 200-Level or Higher Elective Course		3
THEO 300-Level or Higher Elective Course		3
	Hours	6
Junior
Fall
THEO 300-Level or Higher Elective Course		3
	Hours	3
Spring
THEO 300-Level or Higher Elective Course		3
	Hours	3
Senior
Fall
THEO 300-Level or Higher Elective Course		3
	Hours	3
Spring
THEO 353	Religious Traditions	3
	Hours	3
	Total Hours	36

The Honors Track

The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework.  An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for the major.  Students should consult the undergraduate program director for assistance with course selection.

Plan of Study Grid

Freshman
Fall		Hours
Religious Comparisons Course (THEO 107)		3
	Hours	3
Spring
Christian Traditions Course (200-Level or higher)		3
Non-Christian Traditions Course #1 (200-Level or higher)		3
	Hours	6
Sophomore
Fall
Non-Christian Traditions Course #2 (200-Level or Higher)		3
Non-Christian Traditions Course #3 (300-Level or Higher)		3
	Hours	6
Spring
THEO 300-Level or higher Elective Course		3
THEO 300-Level or higher Elective Course		3
	Hours	6
Junior
Fall
THEO 300-Level or Higher Elective Course		3
Religious Comparisons Course (THEO 393)		3
	Hours	6
Spring
THEO 300-Level or Higher Elective Course		3
	Hours	3
Senior
Fall
THEO 300-Level or Higher Elective Course		3
	Hours	3
Spring
THEO 353	Religious Traditions	3
	Hours	3
	Total Hours	36

¹

Eligible students may substitute HONR 101 Western Traditions - Antiquity to the Middle Ages/HONR D101 Developments Western Thought I Discussion, THEO 190 Loyola's Mission: Ignatian Traditions, or PHIL 190 Loyola's Mission: The Philosophical Vision for THEO 100 Christian Theology.

²

With prior approval of UPD, up to three 300 level elective courses may be taken from outside of the Theology department. Two 300 level elective courses in a single discipline must be taken from courses outside of Theology.

³

THEO 280 Religion & Interdisciplinary Studies must be taken as an Engaged Learning Course. 

The Interdisciplinary Track

The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework.  An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for the major.  Students should consult the undergraduate program director for assistance with course selection.

Plan of Study Grid

Freshman
Fall		Hours
Religious Comparisons Course (THEO 107)		3
	Hours	3
Spring
Non-Christian Traditions Course #1 (200-Level or Higher)		3
	Hours	3
Sophomore
Fall
Non-Christian Traditions Course #2 (200-Level or Higher)		3
Non-Christian Traditions Course #3 (200-Level or Higher)		3
	Hours	6
Spring
Religious Comparisons Course (THEO 393)		3
THEO 300-Level or Higher Elective Course		3
	Hours	6
Junior
Fall
THEO 300-Level or Higher Elective Course		3
Christian Traditions (THEO 317 or 318)		3
	Hours	6
Spring
THEO 300-Level or Higher Elective Course		3
	Hours	3
Senior
Fall
THEO 300-Level or Higher Elective Course		3
THEO 300-Level or Higher Elective Course		3
	Hours	6
Spring
Capstone (THEO 280)		3
	Hours	3
	Total Hours	36

Additional Requirements for the Honors Track

Students may apply for the Honors track after the completion of Theology Core. 
At least a 3.5 GPA in the major and in overall coursework is required. 

Transfer-Student Residency Requirement

At least 18 credit hours of RELS-BA requirements must be completed at Loyola

Double-Dipping Policy

This department observes the CAS Double-Dipping Policy regarding unique credits required for each declared major/minor.

College of Arts and Sciences Graduation Requirements

All Undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences are required to take two Writing Intensive courses (6 credit hours) as well as complete a foreign language requirement at 102-level or higher (3 credit hours) or a language competency test.  More information can be found here.

Additional Undergraduate Graduation Requirements

All Undergraduate students are required to complete the University Core, at least one Engaged Learning course, and UNIV 101.  SCPS students are not required to take UNIV 101.  Nursing students in the Accelerated BSN program are not required to take core or UNIV 101.  You can find more information in the University Requirements area.

Learning Outcomes

Students completing the major should be able to:

• Explain the history of different ways of defining the category of religion.
• Compare aspects of two or more religions within their particular contexts.
• Identify relationships between aspects of a religion and other social contexts.
  
• Analyze approaches to ethics in two or more religions while noting internal diversities.
• Produce an original research paper using theory and methods found in religious studies.