The Theology Program

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.

What Can I Do With a Major in Theology?

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:

  • Teach religion in high school
  • Do ministry in the Church
  • Attend graduate school
  • Deepen their understanding of the faith

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. 

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How being a Theology major will help students before and after graduation:
  • The Theology Department has more than 40 majors and minors. 
  • 92 percent of all Theology graduates have a job or pursue graduate studies upon graduation. 
  • 15 percent of them are currently employed as high school religion teachers. 
  • 20 percent are employed as youth ministers. 
  • 25 percent are pursuing graduate work in theology at places including Harvard Divinity School, Boston College, Villanova University, University of Dayton, and Catholic Theological Union. 
  • 15 percent are enrolled in professional programs such as law school, medical school, or graduate programs in counseling. 
  • 1 percent of them are in seminary. 
  • The rest of the majors are employed in a variety of fields including higher education administration, community organizing, health care, marketing, and accounting. 
  • 25% of majors do internships in youth ministry and high school teaching to gain valuable work experience. 
  • Every theology major who has gone on to graduate school has received funding ranging from full-tuition scholarships to full-tuition scholarships with stipends to cover room and board. 
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Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology

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
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Student Work and Research

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 and Careers

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:

  • Children’s Catechetics
  • Youth Catechetics
  • High School Religion Teacher

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:

  • Youth Ministry
  • Campus Ministry
  • Parish Ministry
  • Military Chaplaincy
  • High School Theology Teachers
  • Graduate Schools
  • Year of Service
  • Seminary
  • Learning Objectives

    Students majoring in Theology at Saint Vincent College will be able to:

    • Understand the meaning of the Christian scriptures and the various methods necessary for studying them.
    • Understand and contextualize the major doctrines of Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular.
    • Understand the relevance of the Christian tradition to contemporary moral issues.
    • Understand the Catholic approach, as articulated by the Second Vatican Council, to the true and holy as expressed in other religious and intellectual traditions