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Bachelor of Arts in Theology

Want to learn more? Speak with an admissions counselor.

Chaired by James Flynn, Ph.D.

Students at Caldwell University are delighted that their classes in Theology and Philosophy connect to their studies and interests in history, law, medicine, health care,  communications and more. In this video, professors in the department share how the vibrant disciplines of Theology and Philosophy can be integrated into other academic fields and impact students’ lives favorably and richly. Within Caldwell university’s purpose to advance higher education within a Catholic framework, the Department of Theology and Philosophy serves a vital role. We contribute to this purpose through instruction in the principles of philosophy and Catholic theology. We are motivated by a desire to instill high ideals of character and conduct, develop religious fervor, social skills, and intellectual abilities that are becoming of a cultured citizen. Our mission is to gift our students with Sapientia et Scientia.

Why Caldwell?

The best reason to choose Caldwell University for your degree is the value of a small school experience with a great Liberal Arts Foundation.  You will know all of your professors by name, and this makes for a friendly learning environment.  You will have a much easier time meeting other students, as most of our classes are small.  You will find your Theology and Philosophy teachers not only concerned about your academic development, but also ready and willing to help in your spiritual development.  Welcome.

The Department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in theology, and minors in both theology and philosophy.

MAJORS
B.A. in Theology

MINORS
Philosophy
Theology

Career Opportunities in Theology

Career Opportunities in Philosophy

You can decide to use this as the academic foundation for a life as:

  • a priest, minister, or religious order member.
  • a church administrator or aid worker.
  • a non-profit administrator.
  • a Theology teacher at the grade school, high school, or college level
  • a Christian living an examined life

You can use this as the academic foundation for a career:

  • as a Philosophy teacher in higher education
  • a career in Law (Philosophy majors as a group generally are the highest ranked in terms of test scores on the L.S.A.T.)
  • in the Catholic Priesthood.  (All Catholic seminarians are required to have two years of Philosophy at a college level.)

In addition, you can use this as a way of preparing yourself for any graduate training in the Humanities.

You can use this as a way of examining the meaning of life and how you should live your life.

Statement of Outcomes Assessment

In addition to the 39 credits for the theology major, students declaring a theology major are required to take a theology capstone course, TH 495.

Students declaring a major have the option to fulfill their outcomes assessment with either TH 495, or an alternative process to be determined in consultation with the department chairperson. Outcomes assessments are required for all majors.

The TH 495 capstone course reviews material from each of the four major assessment areas (Scripture, Moral Theology, Christology, and Church History). In each area, the student will concentrate on material corresponding to their coursework used to meet their requirement. For example, Moral Theology will focus on either TH 201 or TH 209, while Scripture will focus on TH 318 or TH 319, depending upon the student’s coursework. Students who have had two Scripture courses or Moral Theology courses will be able to choose their area of focus for their capstone. Normally, this is to be taken sometime during the student’s final year of classes, or as shortly thereafter as possible. It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her advisor, as well as the department chairperson, of his or her intention to begin preparing for assessment. This should be done the semester prior to the time this preparation begins.

Within TH 495, students will be assessed on covering all four areas mentioned above. While the course will be taught by a single instructor, the work by each student may be assessed by full-time professors within the department to determine if the work is of passing quality. The decision about whether or not a student’s performance for a given area is sufficient to pass is to be determined by the instructor and other department faculty who may be involved in the assessment, in consultation with one another. Each student must receive an assessment of “passing” for each of the four areas to pass the course. If by the end of the course the student has failed to pass any of the four areas before the conclusion of the course, he or she will receive a grade of “no pass” for the course. Students failing to pass TH 495 may either take the course again when it is next offered, or be reassessed in the particular area(s) which they failed to pass. Depending upon the timeline of the course, students may be able to redo work in areas they fail to pass before the conclusion of the course, though only as time allows. While there is no limit how many times a student may retake an assessment for any of the four areas, students will typically be allowed only one retake per area per semester

Courses

Core Curriculum