Religious Studies
CHAIR: Robert K. Gnuse, Ph.D., Office: 408 Bobet Hall
WEB PAGE: cas.loyno.edu/religious.studies/
The academic study of religion is pursued in a spirit of free intellectual inquiry. The immediate concern of the religious studies program is to achieve an understanding of the person as a religious believer and of the impact of religion upon human existence. This means that religion is reflected upon as a force that has shaped and been shaped by social, political, scientific, and ethical concerns. Since Loyola is a Catholic university, these studies are undertaken from within the perspective of the Catholic tradition. The Department of Religious Studies is ecumenical both in the composition of its faculty and in its outlook.
Students electing a religious studies major are assigned a faculty adviser in the department. They can choose a track in Christianity or a track in world religions. For the track in Christianity, students must complete 30 credit hours of religious studies with the following required courses: Introduction to World Religions (prerequisite), Old Testament as Literature, New Testament as Literature, Christian Ethics, Early Christian Thought, Medieval Christian Thought, Modern Christian Thought, one major elective (not in Common Curriculum), and three additional elective courses. For the track in world religions, students must complete 30 credit hours of religious studies with the following required courses: Introduction to World Religions (prerequisite), Old Testament as Literature, New Testament as Literature, one of Early, Medieval, or Modern Christian Thought, one major elective (not in Common Curriculum), and six additional elective courses. Minors are also available in both tracks. Adjuncts in appropriate disciplines and foreign language study are encouraged.
BACHELOR OF ARTS–RELIGIOUS STUDIES
CHRISTIANITY TRACK
| Freshman | F |
S |
|
| Major | RELS T122 | 3 |
0 |
| Major | RELS U149 — U147 | 3 |
3 |
| Common Curriculum | 6 |
9 |
|
| Foreign Language | 3 |
3 |
|
15 |
15 |
||
30 |
|||
| Sophomore | F |
S |
|
| Major | RELS A200 — A201 | 3 |
3 |
| Major | RELS Elective | 3 |
3 |
| Adjunct/Electives | 3 |
3 |
|
| Common Curriculum | 9 |
6 |
|
18 |
15 |
||
33 |
|||
| Junior | F |
S |
|
| Major | RELS A202 & V142 | 3 |
3 |
| Adjunct/Electives | 6 |
9 |
|
| Common Curriculum | 6 |
3 |
|
15 |
15 |
||
30 |
|||
| Senior | F |
S |
|
| Major | RELS Electives | 3 |
3 |
| Common Curriculum | 3 |
0 |
|
| Adjunct/Electives | 9 |
12 |
|
15 |
15 |
||
30 |
|||
| TOTAL: 123 cr. hrs. | |||
(View A&S Common Curriculum Requirements.)
Specific Common Curriculum requirements are given in the beginning of this chapter under Curriculum Design. Refer to A&S Common Curriculum in the index for page number.
BACHELOR OF ARTS–RELIGIOUS STUDIES WORLD RELIGIONS TRACK
| Freshman | F |
S |
|
| Major | RELS T122 | 3 |
0 |
| Major | RELS U149 — U147 | 3 |
3 |
| Common Curriculum | 6 |
9 |
|
| Foreign Language | 3 |
3 |
|
15 |
15 |
||
30 |
|||
| Sophomore | F |
S |
|
| Major | RELS A200 or A201 or A202 | 3 |
0 |
| Major | RELS Elective | 3 |
3 |
| Adjunct/Electives | 3 |
3 |
|
| Common Curriculum | 9 |
9 |
|
18 |
15 |
||
33 |
|||
| Junior | F |
S |
|
| Major | RELS Electives | 6 |
3 |
| Adjunct/Electives | 3 |
9 |
|
| Common Curriculum | 6 |
3 |
|
15 |
15 |
||
30 |
|||
| Senior | F |
S |
|
| Major | RELS Electives | 3 |
3 |
| Common Curriculum | 3 |
0 |
|
| Adjunct/Electives | 9 |
12 |
|
15 |
15 |
||
30 |
|||
| TOTAL: 123 cr. hrs. | |||
(View A&S Common Curriculum Requirements.)
Specific Common Curriculum requirements are given in the beginning of this chapter under Curriculum Design. Refer to A&S Common Curriculum in the index for page number.