Santa Clara University

DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES

 

Professors Emeriti: Joseph A. Grassi, Anne Marie Mongoven, O.P.
Professors: Michael J. Buckley, S.J. (Augustine Cardinal Bea, S.J. University Professor), Denise L. Carmody, Paul G. Crowley, S.J. (Santa Clara Jesuit Community Professor), Diane E. Jonte-Pace, Gary A. Macy (Department Chair and John Nobili, S.J. Professor), Frederick J. Parrella, David J. Pinault, John David Pleins
Associate Professors: James B. Bennett, David B. Gray, Kristin Heyer, Teresia Hinga, Michael C. McCarthy, S.J. (Edmund Campion, S.J. Professor), Catherine M. Murphy, Ana Maria Pineda, R.S.M., James W. Reites, S.J., Philip Boo Riley, Francis R. Smith, S.J.
Assistant Professors: Michael T. Castori, S.J., Akiba Lerner
Acting Assistant Professor: Socorro Castañeda-Liles
Senior Lecturers: Margaret R. McLean, Salvatore A. Tassone, S.J.

 

The Department of Religious Studies offers a degree program leading to the Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. The department also offers a minor program for those who wish to concentrate in theological and religious studies. In keeping with the University’s commitment to the Catholic faith tradition, the department offers a variety of courses in Scripture, history, and Catholic theology. Faithful to the Jesuit tradition of liberal education and engagement with other religions, the department offers a wide breadth of courses in various religious traditions and methodologies for the study of religion. The department also offers courses as part of the University Core Curriculum, at both lower-division and upper-division levels. Courses are clustered in three areas: Theology, Ethics, and Spirituality (TESP); Scripture and Tradition (SCTR); and Religion and Society (RSOC).

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR

In addition to fulfilling University Core Curriculum requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree, students majoring in religious studies must complete the following departmental requirements:

• Four lower-division courses, one from each of the three areas (scripture and tradition; theology, ethics, and spirituality; and religion and society) and an additional course from any area
• Eight approved upper-division courses after reaching junior status, including four designated religious studies seminars, with one in each of the three areas and an additional one in any area
• Senior portfolio: a critical compendium of the seminar papers submitted to the faculty for evaluation

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR

Students must fulfill the following requirements for a minor in religious studies:

• One introductory-level religious studies course (1–19)
• Two intermediate-level courses (20–99)
• Four approved advanced-level courses (100–199), one of which must be a religious studies seminar. Of the seven courses, at least one must be from each the three areas (scripture and tradition; theology, ethics, and spirituality; and religion and society).

LOWER and UPPER DIVISION COURSE LISTINGS are AVAILABLE in the Undergraduate Bulletin (PDF)