Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Religious Studies
Dubuque, USA
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
USD 33,500 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* annual full-time rate
Key Summary
About: The BA in Religious Studies at Loras College links liberal arts to contemporary issues. You’ll explore religion, theology, spirituality, and ethics while developing reflective thinking, ethical decision-making, and community engagement. Students present at national conferences, can access scholarships, pursue internships, study abroad, and join service trips. Through experiential education, 98% of Religious Studies majors find jobs related to their study.
Career Outcomes: Graduates move into ministry, education, nonprofit and social services. Typical roles include Director of Religious Education, Youth Minister, Campus Minister, Social Worker, Publishing Assistant, Educator, and related positions in counseling, community engagement, administration and communications roles.
Religion begins with a desire to understand the purpose of existence; theologies argue that certain reasons for existence are unique and true. At Loras, majors in Religious Studies and Theology majors expand their worldviews and reflect on the complexities of religions and spirituality in the modern world.
Student Experience
Religious Studies students are at the forefront of issues related to social justice, engaging in their major coursework and the community immediately. They are eligible for scholarships, have the opportunity to present at national conferences, and are highly encouraged to engage in life-changing internships.
Students who major or double-major in Religious Studies are some of the most active students at Loras and are the most likely to study abroad and participate in service trips both nationally and internationally. An additional benefit is that through our experiential education, 98% of all Religious Studies majors find jobs related to their course of study.
Loras College offers diverse study abroad opportunities for all students
All Loras students, no matter their major, have the opportunity to live and study in another country. Loras College sponsors study abroad semesters in Ireland, Portugal, South Africa, and Spain, along with a broad range of short-term study travel options such as Belize, China, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Mexico, and Peru.
Loras College is globally connected to provide students unique learning experiences around the world. Whether students are looking to enhance their foreign language skills or simply to immerse themselves in a different culture, the Center for Experiential Learning helps students identify international programs that best match their learning goals. The international study broadens perspectives, enhances self-confidence, and strengthens adaptability. Studying abroad also makes graduates more attractive to potential employers and graduate schools. Study abroad experiences are life-changing.
Partnership Programs
Founded by Matthias Loras, Archbishop of the Dubuque Diocese, Loras College has ties to the Archdiocese that stretch back—well into the nineteenth century. That long relationship has meant that the College has had many successful partnerships with the Archdiocese, working closely with Archdiocesan offices to meet a number of needs and educate several generations of religious leaders.
Today faculty from Loras College serve the Archdiocese as priests, chaplains, committee members, speakers, and Directors of Archdiocesan offices. In addition to those many individual commitments, faculty also are committed to provide academic programming to an emerging generation of lay leaders.
Loras has also sponsored summer Institutes in Liturgical Studies and Parish Leadership.
Loras prepares you for success in Religious Studies
Theology argues that the claims of one particular tradition are true and perhaps unique. At Loras, that tradition is Christianity, as practiced in the Roman Catholic tradition.
Religious Studies majors will take courses in studies of the Bible, moral/ethical behavior, and systematic theology (systems of thought that are based on Christian revelation). They benefit from a faculty that teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, and from a library that has outstanding resources—both paper and electronic.
Thanks to these resources, all Religious Studies majors who have sought to continue their educations in graduate programs have been accepted by accredited institutions.
Student Learning Outcomes – Religious Studies and Theology
- Students are able to explain and reflect critically on important elements of religious tradition(s) using key facts, definitions, and vocabulary.
- Students are able to apply basic methods of research such as the ability to access, gather, and organize information from primary sources.
- Students are able to identify different theological approaches to key concepts, themes, and practices of religious life.
- Students are able to use theology to interpret religious beliefs and practices within the contemporary world.
“What can you do with a Religious Studies and Theology degree?”
As a Religious Studies and Theology major, you will be prepared for a variety of interesting careers:
- Director of Religious Education
- Youth Minister
- Campus Minister
- Social Worker
- Publishing Assistant
- Educator