Pursue the big questions at a Catholic women’s college
Saint Mary’s is the first Catholic college in the nation to offer an undergraduate major in religion and was the first Catholic college to offer advanced degrees in theology to women. Former president Sister Madeleva Wolff, CSC (1934 – 1961) was a pioneer for women's study of Catholic theology, and following her spirit, the department continues to offer a major or a minor in religious studies preparing you for a wide variety of careers and roles of leadership in the church and beyond.
As part of the core curriculum in the Avenue Experience, each Saint Mary's student chooses two courses in Religious Studies and Theology. The department also offers a major and minor, both of which are designed to work well with other majors across the College. Our courses help students learn about a variety of religious traditions and gain deeper knowledge of Christian theology.
What continues to join all Religious Studies and Theology courses is a focus on life’s big questions. Who am I? Who is God? How should we live together? What beliefs and practices sustain other communities and cultures? What gives people a sense of purpose and meaning? How do others imagine the world and our place in it? Through our pursuit of these questions, the Department of Religious Studies and Theology offers students resources for reflecting on their lives while equipping them to think critically, communicate effectively, and engage diverse communities for a lifetime of personal and professional success.
“Saint Mary's cultivates such faith-filled disciples on an individual level.”
- Caroline Ebberwein '17
