Religious Studies
Study religious experience, expression and thought
The mission of the Department of Religious Studies is to discover, explore, and analyze religious experience in its various manifestations emphasizing the Roman Catholic tradition, in dialogue with the other Christian traditions and with the world religions.
Our undergraduate programs.
We are committed to lifelong growth through effective learning in undergraduate general education, with an undergraduate major and four undergraduate minors. We also offer an integrated Bachelor Plus Master's program.
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Our graduate programs.
We offer two master's degrees in pastoral ministry and theological studies, which prepare students for ministry in the church, university and community, and for further academic study. Our theology Ph.D. program has a distinctive research focus on the practices/praxis of Catholicism in United States context.
Learn MoreThe International Marian Research Institute (IMRI) is no longer offering pontifical degrees and has transitioned to its new home in the College of Arts and Sciences. Faculty from former IMRI programs and the Department of Religious Studies have collaborated to create new offerings in Marian Studies.
Who are we?
We are a community of scholars serving the University and our local community by teaching, research, prophetic criticism and action. We study religious experience, expression and thought, with special emphasis on the Roman Catholic tradition while dialoguing with other Christian world religions.
Meet Our Faculty
Grow with us.
In keeping with the Catholic and Marianist character of the University, the department is committed to the education of the whole person so that learning can be integrated into the daily life, service activities, faith and community building. This can be achieved through both our curricular and extracurricular activities.
Opportunities and ActivitiesStudents enrolled in our Master of Arts programs are encouraged to apply for three scholarship opportunities:
- Patrick J. Tonry, S.M. Scholarship for the Advancement of Women in Ministry
- Sisters of the Precious Blood Scholarship
- Thomas M. Martin Memorial Scholarship Fund
Faculty from our department recently discussed petitionary prayer with students in a far-ranging conversation about the relationship between prayer and work for justice, human freedom and God's action, and providence and history, with a special shout-out to Doctor Who mixed in. This event was led by Dr. Kelly Johnson, Fr. William J. Ferree Chair of Social Justice.
Visit the Website of the Fr. William J. Ferree Chair of Social Justice >
Sister Angela Ann Zukowski, Professor in the Department of Religious Studies and Director of the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives, offers a weekly inspirational video through Campus News Digest, the e-newsletter for the University of Dayton community. The videos offer you a brief moment for liberating your mind and experiencing inner communion with the Divine.
UD's mission to educate the whole person is embodied in a new mini-course being developed with a grant from the Social Science Research Council.
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The Department of Religious Studies launched two hybrid master’s programs in 2021, offering degrees in pastoral ministry and theological studies.
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UD Professor Susan Trollinger traveled to Kentucky with her second-year Core program class to experience the Creation Museum.
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