Discover the Theology and Religious Studies Curriculum
Theology and Religious Studies at USD provides students with a range of knowledge, varied perspectives of many global religions, methodologies, research opportunities and critical thinking skills that will equip them to better understand and respect the opinions and cultures outside of their own.
Major
The theology and religious studies major offers a diverse community of scholars who advance the teaching and study of religion with particular attention to fostering the understanding of Catholic and other religious traditions. Students engage in creative dialogue to develop knowledge and empathetic skills that serve them well throughout their lives.
What theology students learn:
- Basic terms and definitions of theology and religious studies and be able to explain, analyze and evaluate fundamental issues that frame theological and religious inquiry.
- An understanding of methodologies and research techniques standard in theology and religious studies.
- Effective communication skills in theology and religious studies.
Minor
The theology and religious studies minor is an open-ended program that teaches students foundational religious history and practice.
Explore Theology Courses
Read descriptions of our current Theology classes on our Courses page!
Program Requirements
Each student declares their major(s) and minor(s) under a single catalog of record that is identified on the student's degree audit (available on Degree Works).
The program requirements below are based on the current course catalog and may not be applicable if a student is declared in an earlier catalog.
Find all previous course catalogs on our Archived Catalogs of Record page.
36 units
Major
18 units
Minor
Estimates include major preparation courses as well as major requirements.
- Major
- Minor
The Theology and Religious Studies Major
Majors may choose to concentrate in specific areas of study through careful distribution of their units, including but not limited to biblical studies, religious studies, systematic theology, and theological ethics. Where this is the case, it is valuable to select an advisor specialized in one’s area of interest.
LOWER DIVISION | ||
Select two courses (6 units) from the following. Majors are encouraged to choose these two lower-division courses in consultation with their advisors. Majors may choose to apply up to three additional units of lower-division study (normally one course) toward their elective requirements. | 6 | |
THRS 110 | Exploring Religious Meaning | |
THRS 112 | Introduction to World Religions | |
THRS 113 | World Religions in San Diego | |
THRS 114 | Introductory Studies in Catholic Theology | |
THRS 116 | Introduction to Biblical Studies | |
THRS 117 | The Bible and Migration | |
THRS 119 | Christianity and Its Practice | |
THRS 120 | Christianity and Conquest | |
THRS 121 | Chicanx Religious Identities | |
THRS 125 | Fundamentals of Africana Studies II | |
THRS 137 | Thinking Catholic: The Development of Catholic Faith and Practice | |
THRS 231 | Christian Changemakers | |
THRS 232 | Religion and Animals | |
THRS 233 | Religion and Food | |
THRS 294 | Special Topics in Theology and Religious Studies | |
Total Lower-Division Units | 6-9 | |
Major Requirements
UPPER DIVISION | ||
THRS 301 | Religion Café: Majors and Minors Seminar (Taken as soon as possible after declaring the major) | 3 |
THRS 495 | Capstone in Theology and Religious Studies (Must be taken in final spring semester) | 3 |
Select at least one course in Bible or in Christianity chosen from the following: | 3 | |
THRS 323 | War and Peace in the Christian Tradition | |
THRS 330 | Reproductive Justice and Catholic Theological Ethics | |
THRS 331 | Sexual Ethics in the Catholic Tradition | |
THRS 332 | HIV/AIDS and Christian Ethics | |
THRS 333 | LGBTQ+ and Christianity | |
THRS 334 | Christian Social Ethics | |
THRS 335 | Catholic Social Thought | |
THRS 337 | Catholic Faith and Interreligious Dialogue | |
THRS 338 | Faith and Environmental Justice | |
THRS 340 | Being Human: Race, Gender and Sexuality | |
THRS 343 | Christian Marriage | |
THRS 349 | Art and the Theological Imagination | |
THRS 350 | Christian Spirituality | |
THRS 353 | Early Christianities | |
THRS 356 | Catholicism in the United States | |
THRS 358 | Latinoa Catholicism | |
THRS 359 | Jesus of Hollywood | |
THRS 360 | Who Is Jesus? | |
THRS 361 | Jesus and Justice | |
THRS 362 | Christian Understandings of Salvation | |
THRS 365 | Black and Womanist Theologies | |
THRS 366 | The Problem of God | |
THRS 367 | Feminist Theology and Ethics | |
THRS 369 | Liberation Theology | |
THRS 372 | Women, Gender, and Christianity in the Ancient World | |
THRS 375 | Faith and Politics: Theological Perspectives | |
THRS 376 | Racial Justice: Catholic Perspectives | |
THRS 377 | The Theologies of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X | |
THRS 379 | Literature, Theology, and the Religious | |
THRS 381 | The Five Books of Moses | |
THRS 382 | The Prophetic Tradition of Israel | |
THRS 383 | The Gospel of Luke: Scriptures and Justice | |
THRS 384 | The Gospel of Luke: Scriptures and Justice - Advanced Writing | |
THRS 385 | Reading Paul, Reading Culture | |
THRS 387 | Apocalypse and Revelation | |
THRS 388 | Bibles and Worlds | |
THRS 389 | Gospels and Gospel Traditions - Advanced Writing | |
THRS 390 | The Holocaust: Religious Questions | |
Select at least one course in a religious tradition other than Christianity chosen from: | 3 | |
THRS 305 | Buddhist Art and Pilgrimage in India | |
THRS 311 | Jewish Thought and Culture - Advanced Writing | |
THRS 312 | Hindu Thought and Culture | |
THRS 313 | Jewish Thought and Culture | |
THRS 314 | Buddhist Thought and Culture | |
THRS 315 | Islamic Thought and Culture | |
THRS 318 | Islam, Women and Literature | |
THRS 320 | Indigenous Religions and Spiritualities | |
THRS 326 | Religion and the Performing Arts in Bali | |
Fulfill remaining elective units by taking additional courses, including those below if desired: | ||
THRS 394 | Special Topics in Theology and Religious Studies | |
THRS 496 | Research Experience in Theology and Religious Studies (up to 3 units) | |
THRS 498 | Internship in Theology and Religious Studies (up to 3 units) | |
THRS 499 | Directed Individual Study | |
Total Upper-Division Units | 27-30 | |
Students must complete 18 additional units (6 courses) of elective credit in THRS, a maximum of 3 units (1 course) of which may be chosen from among the lower-division courses. | ||
Total Units for the Major | 36 | |