Religious and Theological Studies (BA and Minor) | St. Edwards University in Austin, TX

Reflect on Questions That Captivate Humankind Through the Lens of Faith

Understand what religion teaches us about justice and how it influences culture, conflicts and current events around the world with a BA in Religious and Theological Studies.

Study the development of global religions and the role they play in the world today. Learn what religion teaches people about the meaning of life and one's purpose.

Why earn your Religious and Theological Studies degree at St. Edward's?

The Department of Religious and Theological Studies reflects the university's mission and Holy Cross heritage. Here, you'll gain context to explore questions of faith in a setting informed by the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. At the same time — recalling the hospitable and welcoming ethos of the Brothers of Holy Cross — the department also provides a context for the academic study of religion that extends to all traditions.

Join the conversation at annual lecture series

Tune in to the university's two annual lecture series: The Nostra Aetate Lecture and The Most Reverend John McCarthy Lecture Series. The Nostra Aetate Lecture explores interreligious dialogue and the values reflected in the groundbreaking Vatican II (1965) document of the same name. The Most Reverend John McCarthy Lecture Series on the Catholic Church in the 21st Century is named in honor of a former Diocese of Austin bishop and features religious and lay experts from around the country discussing issues facing modern and contemporary Catholicism.

Study faith through service

Volunteer and learn about local life through Service Break Experiences, which are built on ongoing relationships between St. Edward’s and the service locations. Give back to the community through S.E.R.V.E Austin, a weekly, semester-long volunteer commitment at a specific site where you’ll develop relationships with immigrants and refugees, children at an after-school program, young adults working on their GED, the elderly or the formerly homeless. S.E.R.V.E. 1 Day events are also offered through the semester and include Saturday-morning service.

Learn and lead with Campus Ministry

Campus Ministry at St. Edward’s offers programs that enhance your spiritual life. Small-group Bible studies and retreats help you meet other students and set aside time to focus on prayer and scripture. The peer ministry program equips student leaders to help plan retreats, interfaith events, and programs that support social justice advocacy.

Apply social justice on and off the hilltop

You’ll be encouraged to put your faith into practice through advocating for a more just world. St. Edward’s students can volunteer or intern with Catholic social justice organizations including Pax Christi, NETWORK and the Campaign to End the Death Penalty.

Reap the Rewards of Austin

Austin’s religious community is diverse and offers many opportunities to participate in interfaith dialogue, volunteer or intern at faith-based service organizations, or work at the intersection of religion and politics.

What do our graduates do?

St. Edward’s Religious and Theological Studies majors go on to a variety of careers. Here’s a sample:

Judicial Law Clerk for Supreme Court of Texas
Literacy Tutor for AmeriCorps
Director of Campus Ministry at St. Mary’s College
Ambassador for Poverty Relief with Noonday Collection
Director of Social Justice Ministries at St. Austin Catholic Parish
Filmmaker for The Congregation of Holy Cross
Director of the Beecken Center for the School of Theology at Sewanee, The University of the South
Peace Corps Volunteers, Dominican Volunteers, Jesuit Volunteer Corps

Explore Details about the BA in Religious and Theological Studies

Degree Plan

Major Requirements:
The Bachelor of Arts in Religious and Theological Studies requires 30 hours of major courses. The curriculum introduces students to key facets of the study of religion and theology and our signature courses emphasize clarifying one’s values, experiential learning, and career readiness.

A few examples of courses students in this major take:

Global Religions – Understand how religion impacts beliefs and cultural practices by studying the religions of those right here in Austin and around the globe.
History of Christian Theology – From the end of the first century to the fifth century, study the development of Christian Theology and dive into the controversies over the nature of God, the divinity of Christ and the structure of the Church and its teachings.