Program Overview
Theology (BA) Program at Loyola University Chicago
The Theology (BA) program at Loyola University Chicago is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the Christian tradition, as well as the skills to analyze and critically evaluate theological concepts.
Overview
The program offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology, with three tracks: the standard major, an honors track, and an interdisciplinary studies track. The honors track is a more rigorous version of the standard major, intended for students seeking to pursue graduate studies in theology or teach theology in a Jesuit high school. The interdisciplinary studies track is designed for students who want to integrate knowledge from another discipline into their studies in theology.
Curriculum
The standard theology major requires 36 hours of coursework, including seven required courses and five electives. The required courses include:
- Doctrine Course (3 hours)
- Bible, Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Course (3 hours)
- Bible, New Testament Course (3 hours)
- Christian Thought Course (3 hours)
- Non-Christian Religious Tradition Course (3 hours)
- Ethics Course (3 hours)
- Theology Capstone (3 hours)
The electives can be chosen from a list of 200-level and 300-level THEO courses, including:
- THEO 203: Social Justice and Injustice
- THEO 204: Religious Ethics and the Ecological Crisis
- THEO 231: Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
- THEO 232: New Testament
- THEO 265: Sacraments and the Christian Imagination
- THEO 266: Church & Global Cultures
- THEO 267: Jesus Christ
- THEO 272: Judaism
- THEO 276: Black World Religion
- THEO 278: Religion & Gender
- THEO 279: Roman Catholicism
- THEO 280: Religion & Interdisciplinary Studies
- THEO 281: Christianity Through Time
- THEO 282: Hinduism
- THEO 293: Christian Marriage
- THEO 295: Islam
- THEO 297: Buddhism
- THEO 299: Religions of Asia
- THEO 302: Wisdom Literature and Psalms
- THEO 303: Pentateuch
- THEO 304: Israel Conquest to Exile
- THEO 308: Biblical Hebrew I
- THEO 309: Biblical Hebrew II
- THEO 311: The Meaning of Jesus Christ
- THEO 313: Gospels of Matthew, Mark & Luke
- THEO 317: Christian Thought: Ancient-Medieval
- THEO 318: Christian Thought: Reformation to Modern
- THEO 330: Liberation Theology
- THEO 331: Theology of Secularization
- THEO 340: Foundations of Christian Morality
- THEO 342: Perspectives on Life and Death
- THEO 343: Contemporary Christian Sexuality
- THEO 344: Theology and Ecology
- THEO 348: Supervised Ministry
- THEO 349: Theological Topics for the Bioethics Capstone
- THEO 350: Topics in Islam
- THEO 352: Topics in Buddhism
- THEO 353: Religious Traditions
- THEO 356: Topics in Judaism
- THEO 365: Women, Gender and Embodiment in Islam
- THEO 366: Contemporary Islamic Thought and Movements
- THEO 373: Theology Capstone
- THEO 376: Language and Faith
- THEO 378: Theology and Culture
- THEO 382: Readings-Liturgy
- THEO 383: Theology Arts & Literature
- THEO 392: Readings in Theology
- THEO 393: Seminar
- THEO 395: Theology Tutorial
Requirements
The standard major requires at least five of the 12 courses to be at the 300-level or higher. The honors track and interdisciplinary studies track require at least seven of the 12 courses to be at the 300-level or higher.
Additional Requirements for the Honors Track
Students in the honors track must have a 3.5 GPA in the major and overall coursework. They must also complete both Christian Thought 317 and 318.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
The suggested sequence of courses for each track is provided, including the standard major, honors track, and interdisciplinary studies track.
Transfer-Student Residency Requirement
At least 18 credit hours of THEO-BA requirements must be completed at Loyola University Chicago.
Double-Dipping Policy
The 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 must take two Writing Intensive courses and complete a foreign language requirement at the 102-level or higher.
Additional Undergraduate Graduation Requirements
All undergraduate students must complete the University Core, at least one Engaged Learning course, and UNIV 101.
Learning Outcomes
Students completing the major should be able to:
- Accurately describe basic sources and historical development of beliefs and practices of Christianity
- Analyze a biblical text using academic tools
- Compare at least two different approaches to basic theological concepts
- Describe beliefs and practices of one religion other than Christianity
- Name the four sources of Christian ethics: Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience
- Analyze and critically evaluate arguments from at least two different Christian ethicists on a contemporary ethical issue
- Demonstrate knowledge of the sources and historical development of beliefs and practices of Christianity with particular attention to the Roman Catholic tradition
- Demonstrate foundational knowledge of at least one other religious tradition outside of Christianity
- Demonstrate foundational knowledge of one other discipline outside of theology
- Demonstrate familiarity with a key theological concept or doctrine of the Christian faith and explain how knowledge from a different discipline has affected the understanding and formulation of that doctrine
- Demonstrate an understanding of how Christian perspectives and sources inform responses to pressing ethical questions and how knowledge gained from a different discipline is integrated into the analysis of the pressing question and the response
- Complete a research project or internship experience which undertakes the tasks listed in either learning outcome #4 or #5.