The Theology Program at Saint Vincent College offers thoughtful and comprehensive scholarship on Scripture and Tradition. Students majoring in theology will not just learn what it means to be a Christian; they will also be able to relate the Christian tradition to contemporary topics.
Our theology professors, who are experts in their fields, will guide all theology students on their way to graduation. Studying on a Benedictine campus means you will get to experience first-hand what it means to live a life in faith. Beyond the classroom, Saint Vincent Campus Ministry and other service-learning opportunities allow you to carry what you learned into your community.
The Theology Department at Saint Vincent College offers a rigorous and engaging course of study in theology, embracing St. Anselm’s famous description of theology as “faith seeking understanding.” In the spirit of the Benedictine tradition, the department teaches students to integrate faith and reason. With a major in theology students can:
But beyond focusing on faith-related topics, the Theology Program at Saint Vincent College offers students the opportunity to broaden their critical thinking and writing skills along with conveying the importance of community service. Developing these skills allows theology graduates to pursue careers in a variety of fields ranging from law school to non-profit organizations.
Theology Major Requirements: (30 credits)
The basic requirements are below. Majors wishing to focus on ministry, graduate schools or teaching high school need further courses chosen in conjunction with the chair of the department.
TH 119 First Theology - 3 credits
TH 300 Systematic Theology - 3 credits
TH 301 Biblical Theology - 3 credits
TH 499 Theology Capstone - 3 credits
One course in scripture (TH 201-249) - 3 credits
One course in moral theology (TH 250-299) - 3 credits
One course in doctrines (TH 300-349) - 3 credits
One course in religious traditions (TH 350-399) - 3 credits
Two Electives - 6 credits
Exit Interview: 0 credits
Theology Minor Requirements (18 Credits)
TH 119 First Theology - 3 credits
TH 300 Systematic Theology - 3 credits
TH 301 Biblical Theology - 3 credits
Three other theology courses - 9 credits
Beyond their classroom assignments, theology majors will complete a senior thesis under the direction of the chair of the department. This research is usually done during the senior year, after students have completed their core sequence of classes. Topics are developed between the chair and the students in one of the sub-disciplines of theology (e.g., moral, systematic, scripture).
Recent examples of senior theses include: John Paul II’s Theology of the Sexes, Marion versus Metaphysics, The Charismatic Liturgy, Marriage and Community Involvement, Maximums the Confessor’s Letter of Love, and Luke 23:13-25 and the Paschal Pardon Question.
Theology students present their research and work at the annual Academic Conference at Saint Vincent as well as various regional conferences.
Our faculty work diligently to help our students on their path to graduation, both inside and outside a classroom. Watch this video to see how the collaboration between students and faculty comes to life.
Internships allow theology students at Saint Vincent College to take what they learned in the classroom and apply it to the professional world. The Theology Department typically runs internships in three fields:
The critical thinking and community service skills acquired by theology majors during their time at Saint Vincent College will help their careers in a variety of fields. The following career paths are most common for our majors upon graduation:
Students will: