Religious Studies

Chairperson: Linda Schearing (Fall 2013), Robert Hauck (Spring 2014)
Professors: M. Cook, S.J.(Emeritus), J. Dallen (Emeritus), H. Doohan (Emerita), L. Doohan (Emeritus), J. Downey, P. Hartin, R. Large, P. McCormick, J. Milos, C.S.J, A. Nigro, S.J. (Emeritus), L. Schearing, C. Siejk, C. Skok (Emeritus), B. Tyrrell, S.J. (Emeritus)
Associate Professors: R. Hauck, S. Kuder, S.J., K. McCruden, M. Rindge, J. Sheveland
Assistant Professors: S. Dunn, E. Goldstein,  J. Mudd,  A. Wendlinder
Senior Lecturer: V. Thompson
Lecturer: P. Baraza, A. Bass

Religion pervades our economic, political, and social lives. Gonzaga’s Religious Studies Majors explore the religious dimensions of human experience and cultures. They analyze how religious traditions mediate meaning and value through sacred texts, theological reflection, ethics, spirituality, and ritual. Students utilize these meanings and values to respond to critical human problems in a contemporary global context. In keeping with the University’s Jesuit inspired mission, Religious Studies Majors will be attentive to caring for the whole person, promoting justice, and being women and men for and with others, especially the poor.

Undergraduate students in all degree programs are required to take three religious studies courses (nine credits) sequenced as follows: one 100-level course, one 200-level course, and one 300-level course.

A Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Religious Studies requires 36 credits. Following two 100 level scripture courses (New Testament and Hebrew Bible), students will be required to take 4 more classes which will effectively build on the interpretative skills they have acquired on the 100 level.  These will be (1) History of Christian thought, (2) a course on the Catholic Intellectual tradition, (3) Christian Ethics, and (4) Interreligious Dialogue, a course that seeks to build interconnections between Christian theology and the theologies of other religious traditions.  All majors will also take a Junior Seminar where they will learn methodology and develop research skills prior to their advanced study.  Lastly, students are also required to take a course in religions other than Christianity.

Each major must choose either a Christian Theology or Religious Pluralism Concentration. Majors who want to delve deeper into the history, beliefs and practices of Christianity should choose the Christian Theology concentration. They will choose three electives from the following four areas: Systematic Theology, Women and Theology, Practical Theology and Contemporary Issues, and an upper level Scripture class. Other majors, seeking a more comparative approach in the study of religion, should choose the Religious Pluralism concentration. They will be required to choose three electives from the following four areas:  World Religion, Women and Religion, Religions and Contemporary Issues, and the study of Sacred texts. Each concentration will conclude with a Senior Seminar.

The Religious Studies Department also offers a minor in religious studies. A total of eighteen credits is required for the minor in religious studies, of which nine (9) credits must be upper division.
Only electives offered by the Department of Religious Studies or approved by the department chair may be counted toward the major.