Religious Studies

Religious Studies: Major, Minor

The study of religion is a quintessential task of a Catholic, Jesuit college. It invites you, in an academic context, into a long tradition of theological and historical questions about the nature of humanity in relation to God and to the world, and it engages you in the interreligious and intercultural encounter that is taking place today. 

Given the impetus of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), which addressed the relationship between the Catholic Church and other religions, and given our present historical moment, the Department of Religious Studies is committed to integrating the study of Christian theology with the study of the world’s religions.

Through the courses it offers and the structure of its major the department’s approach to the study of religious belief and practice reflects Catholic theological commitments even as it responds to the needs of all students, Catholic and not, who will make their lives in a diverse, interconnected, and religiously pluralistic world.

The department offers a wide variety of courses that enable you to know and understand the Catholic tradition more deeply and to situate that tradition in the larger religious context of today’s world. Equally important, Catholicism has a distinctive religious culture and rich intellectual heritage that ground and support the study of the liberal arts.

As is appropriate in a Catholic, Jesuit academic institution committed to diversity and a mission to think critically, the department offers a range of courses that enable you to understand and to appreciate your own particular tradition, to situate that tradition in the wider context of other world religions, and to discover how diverse religious beliefs and practices are related and relevant to global concerns of poverty, injustice, and an environment in distress.

Our approach to the study of religion affirms that enduring commitments to faith—while always in need of study and discernment—are reasonable, responsible, and essential to human flourishing.

Program Highlights

To major in religious studies at Holy Cross is to undertake an integrated study, both intellectual and spiritual, of four areas central to understanding Catholicism and every faith tradition, namely:
  • world religions
  • theology 
  • sacred texts
  • religious ethics
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Honor Society

Academically outstanding majors are invited to join Theta Alpha Kappa, the national honor society for religious studies.

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Awards

The department annually confers two awards to academically accomplished fourth-year students.

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Harry Potter Course

A popular religious studies course on Harry Potter has generated national media coverage.

Religious Studies News

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At Holy Cross, Professors Become Mentors
With small class sizes and faculty members committed to their success, Holy Cross students develop close bonds with professors, both in and out of the classroom — a cornerstone of the Holy Cross experience. From guiding students in independent lab work to fueling their passion for a new field, Holy Cross professors inspire students to reach far and support them along their journey.
Mathew Schmalz, associate professor of religious studies. Photo by John Buckingham
Holy Cross Professor Who Studied Christianity in Sri Lanka Says Easter Attacks Reflect Rise in Extremism
Coordinated suicide bomber attacks targeting Christians and foreigners in churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday left the nation reeling. But why would a nation that is predominantly Buddhist become the latest target of anti-Christian violence? Writing for …
students at a planning meeting
Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society Takes Business Programs at Holy Cross to Next Level
“Before, we emphasized that students could ‘major in anything, succeed in business,’ but we only offered the one pathway, the co-curricular certificate of readiness through COES,” says David Chu, the Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society’s director of certificate programs …