Theology (BA)
Why Major in Theology?
When the former British prime minister Tony Blair was asked what effect his embrace of Christian faith at the University of Oxford had on him, he commented simply, “I began to make sense of the world.” A major in Theology at Notre Dame will challenge you to do just that.
Our majors encounter head-on the great questions of life: Where is the God of justice? What is truth? Who do you say I am? Why did God become a human? What must I do to inherit eternal life?
Yet majors in theology are challenged to do still more. They are challenged to think of their life journey not only in terms of how they might best be served by careers, but also how they might best serve others. Whether they go on to careers in law, medicine, business, journalism, education, ministry, government, or any other field, theology majors do so with an experience of intellectual and spiritual illumination that is absolutely unique.
Our majors also benefit from working closely with faculty in one of the premiere Catholic Departments of Theology in the world. Theology majors at Notre Dame have majored in a field for which Notre Dame is renowned and will study with the best of the best.
When Father Edward Sorin, C.S.C., envisioned the school that would be built next to two remote lakes in Indiana, he commented, “This college will be one of the most powerful means of doing good in the country.” This faith in the great potential of the school that would be called Notre Dame emerged from his belief in a Catholic education. Theology majors at Notre Dame, having experienced the fullness of a Catholic education, are indeed powerful forces for good in this country, and in the world.
Beyond the six theology credits required of every Notre Dame student, primary majors take 28 hours. Each major combines formally required courses and electives. The two University requirements (6 credits) are prerequisites for upper-level courses. All courses in the theology major must be 3-credit courses and graded (with the exception of the proseminar).
Including the University requirements (6 credits), the primary major consists of 34 credit hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University requirements in Theology (WKFT and WKDT) | ||
| THEO 40201 & THEO 40202 | The Christian Theological Tradition I and The Christian Theological Tradition II | 6 |
| THEO 40101 & THEO 40108 | Introduction to the Old Testament and New Testament Introduction | 6 |
| Upper Level Electives 1 | 15 | |
| THEO 43001 | Proseminar | 1 |
| Total Hours | 28 | |
- 1
Up to 6 may be courses in a classical language.
The Theology Honors Thesis
The Theology Department offers a special program for particularly gifted undergraduate majors who seek a deeper, more sustained experience in the major through the completion of a thesis project. Each spring semester, the junior class of theology majors will be invited to apply; those selected will be assigned a thesis director from among the faculty of the department. A minimum grade point average of 3.66 within the major is normally expected.
Seniors in the Honors Program will enroll in a one-credit Honors Colloquium (THEO 48006) as well as a two-credit directed reading course (THEO 48005) in the fall semester, and a three-credit Honors Thesis Writing (THEO 48003) course in the spring semester, culminating in the submission of a 40–55-page thesis. The Honors Program will normally consist of 37 hours, as compared to 34 hours in the regular primary major. To receive the honors designation on their transcript, students must earn an A– or higher grade on their thesis.