GTU Programs on World Religions Will Benefit JST Students
Deborah Lohse
BERKELEY, Calif., Nov. 18, 2014 --The Graduate Theological Union (GTU) is creating eight new initiatives that will expand faculty and programs in the study of Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Mormon and Buddhist religions, as well as in Dharma Studies. GTU is a consortium of seminaries and theology schools of which Santa Clara University’s Jesuit School of Theology (JST) is a part.
The changes mean students at JST will have access to even more course offerings and exposure to the richness of all the world’s religions, said Thomas Massaro, S.J., dean of JST. It will also likely add to the tremendous diversity in JST classrooms, as students who come to GTU to study the various religions take courses at JST. JST already enrolls students from dozens of countries worldwide, who are pursuing degrees in theology, divinity studies, and biblical languages.
“Any initiative that enhances the inter-religious offerings of the consortium immediately benefits students of JST,” said Massaro. “It is a wonderful complement to the educational philosophy we hold dear: the culturally contextualized study of theology, especially in a setting that takes seriously inter-religious dialogue and inter-cultural engagement. “
The news release from GTU is at http://gtu.edu/news/gtu-board-endorses-new-initiatives-expansion-affirms-commitment-robust-degree-programs-res.
Media Contact
Deborah Lohse | SCU Media Relations | dlohse@scu.edu | 408-554-5121