Theology Religious Studies

    Bachelor of Theology Religious Studies at Fordham University

    Bachelor of Theology Religious Studies at Fordham University

    The Theology Religious Studies at Fordham University is a Full Time Bachelor program offered across its Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campuses in Manhattan , United States of America. The program is delivered on campus in English and can be completed in 4 years. Students develop academic knowledge and practical skills that prepare them for future careers in this field. The next available intake starts on August 30, 2026.

    About Bachelor of Theology Religious Studies

    Think critically about questions of God, human existence, and the role of religious traditions in our lives.

    What does it mean to be human? How shall we live? What does it mean to believe in (or reject) the existence of God? Why are there so many religions? As a theology major at Fordham, you'll explore these profound questions through an intellectually sophisticated engagement with the Christian tradition in dialogue with other faiths.

    In light of Fordham's Jesuit heritage, our program focuses on the rich diversity within the Catholic tradition. You'll discover, interpret, and understand the evolving beliefs and practices of Christianity through a variety of disciplines, including history, philosophy, and literature. Your coursework will emphasize the mutual influence of faith and culture historically and in the present.

    You'll make connections between the world's religious and moral teachings and the realities of social injustice, which are widely on display in New York City. You'll confront these contradictions both morally and practically through service to others.

    You'll learn more than theology here. You'll also study philosophy, literature, art, history, mathematics, languages, sciences, and the performing arts through Fordham's common core curriculum, the centerpiece of our liberal arts education.

    We want you to excel in your field__and as a human being.

    As a theology major, you take 10 classes covering foundational study in three disciplines:

    • Biblical Studies
    • Historical Theology
    • Systematic Theology

    Our five-year accelerated MA program allows theology majors to attain both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in theology in five years.

    Fordham's Career Services offers CareerLink, a database of thousands of job and internship opportunities exclusively for Fordham students.

    Facilities

    The Fordham Center on Religion and Culture sponsors a range of public events at our Lincoln Center campus where scholars explore the complex relationship between religious faith and contemporary culture.

    The Francis and Ann Curran Center for American Catholic Studies hosts national conferences, public lectures, fora and readings, academic seminars and conversations, and publishes both scholarly and imaginative works.

    We host a chapter of Theta Alpha Kappa, the national honor society in theology and religious studies.

    Every semester, we offer many program activities, including:

    • Guest speakers
    • Movie series
    • Musical events
    • Monthly faculty seminars
    • Study trips
    • Informal gatherings with faculty
    • Retreats
    • Museum visits 

    Study Abroad

    Study abroad enriches you academically, culturally, and personally. There is a globe of possibilities available through Fordham's International and Study Abroad Program.

    Service Learning

    Many theology students explore the core Jesuit concept of homines pro aliis__“men and women for others”__through service learning opportunities at the Center for Community Engaged Learning. Here you'll connect service, justice, community, and spirituality.

    Sin and Salvation in Medieval Theology
    The Torah
    The Gospel of John
    The Jesus of History
    The Bible and Social Justice
    Hindu Literature and Ethics
    Classic Buddhist Texts
    Latino and Latina Theology
    Theologies of Sexuality and Gender
    Cappadocian Theology
    Orthodox Christian Ethics
    Human Nature After Darwin
    Wartime Religion in U.S. History
    God and Evils

    A degree in theology teaches you to read critically and carefully, argue positions soundly, and communicate ideas clearly. These are invaluable skills in the job market and prerequisites for advanced study in any field.

    While some of our majors pursue advanced graduate work in theology or religion, other students go on to have meaningful and successful careers in:

    • Law
    • Business
    • Nonprofit sector
    • Medicine

    Get a job, right? Yes, but you want more: a career. Our career services tap Fordham's ties with more than 3,500 companies. We offer:

    • Post-graduation career search
    • Resume development, Interviewing practice
    • Networking skill development
    • Hands-on case-study sessions with industry executives
    • Field-specific advising/coaching

    You also get access to our powerful (and Fordham-loyal) alumni network, who want to see you succeed as they have.

    Disciplines

    Theology and Religious Studies

    Requirements and Admission Criteria for Bachelor of Theology Religious Studies at Fordham University

    Entry Requirements

    • Common Application, including the essay and optional short answer response in the writing section, and the $70 application fee. 
    • Letter of Recommendation
    • Transcripts
    • English Language Proficiency Test Results
      • International students whose first language is not English must demonstrate their proficiency through English Language Proficiency test results.
        • TOEFL iBT: 90+ (Fordham code: 2259)
        • TOEFL ITP Level 1 Test with Vericant Interview option (China only): 575+
        • IELTS & IELTS Indicator: 7.0+
        • Duolingo English Test (DET): 125+
        • Pearson Test of English (PTE): 65+
      • International students who are not submitting required TOEFL, IELTS, DET or PTE results must complete the English Language Proficiency Test Waiver Request Form linked within the online applicant portal after an application has been officially submitted.
      • Applicants who live in the New York City area can alternatively take Fordham’s ESL placement evaluation (FELT) at the Institute of American Language and Culture. Email [email protected] or call +1-212-636-6353 to make an appointment.
    • Fordham University Statement of Funding or CSS Profile 
      • Fordham University has a need-aware admission process for first-year applicants who plan to attend Fordham for the Fall term on a non-immigrant visa.
      • Applicants who plan to fully fund their study at Fordham are required to complete the Fordham University Statement of Funding. This form will be available to eligible applicants upon submission of the application.
      • Applicants who plan to partially fund their study at Fordham and will apply for need-based financial aid are required to complete the CSS Profile and demonstrate an ability to pay (Expected Family Contribution) at least $30,000 USD per year.

    English Requirements

    • PTEMin 65
    • IELTSMin 7
    • TOEFLMin 90

    Fee Information

    Application Fee 70

    How to Apply

    Required Components:

    • The Common Application, including an essay 
    • High school transcript
    • Letter of recommendation

    Optional Components:

    • SAT or ACT scores (SAT code: 2259; ACT code: 2748). We are test-optional for the 2023-2024 admission cycle. Please review our additional guidance on test score submission.
    • Optional short responses
      • Additional information
      • COVID-19 impact
      • Unique Fordham question

    Selecting a College and a Campus

    • Students must select a campus when they apply to Fordham, either Rose Hill in the Bronx or Lincoln Center in Manhattan. 
    • Students must also select a college when they apply to Fordham, either Fordham College at Rose Hill, Fordham College at Lincoln Center or the Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill and Lincoln Center.
    • Students are only evaluated for the campus and college to which they apply. 

    We’re here to help!

    • Make sure to check out what we're looking for in our applicants.
    • Requirements for international, transfer, as well as theatre, dance, and visual arts majors differ--so we have some helpful guidelines on these pages.
    • Due to our large applicant pool, we are unable to accommodate requests for personal interviews.

    Application Deadlines

    Note on application deadlines: For Fordham University, we would like your application to be as complete as possible by the deadline. We do understand that it is not always possible for official scores and supporting documents to arrive with the application. Only the Common Application needs to arrive on or before the deadline. However, we should receive any other supporting documents within two weeks of the deadline.

    Fall Admission

    • Early Action (Non-Binding)*: November 1
      • *Applicants to Dance and Theatre majors apply Early Action.
    • Early Decision I (Binding): November 1
    • Regular Decision: January 3
    • Early Decision II (Binding): January 3

    Spring Admission

    • November 1 Deadline
      • Students who are looking to enroll at Fordham in January 2024 should apply as Spring 2024 applicants.

    Information About Application Fee Waivers
    Our institution proudly participates in the following fee waiver programs:

    • College Board’s SAT-to-College Application Fee-Waiver Program. If you took the SAT using a fee waiver, you automatically qualify for a college application fee waiver to apply for admission here at Fordham University. You can learn more about this program at College Board.
    • Students can also select the "NACAC Fee Waiver" option on the Common Application.
    • We are pleased to offer waived application fees for members and dependents of members of the US Armed Forces. If you indicate you are a veteran on the Common Application, we will automatically waive your fee.
    • You’ll find a range of other fee waiver options on the Common Application. Please select the one that fits you best.

    Am I a first-year student or a transfer student?
    Any student who earns college credit after completing a secondary school diploma is considered a transfer student, regardless of the number of credits completed. Both matriculated and non-matriculated students who earn credit will be considered a transfer. If you have audited a class or completed noncredit coursework, then you may be considered an incoming first-year student. Typically, students who complete language intensive classes, who do not earn credit, are considered incoming first-year students.

    Students who begin their studies at a college or university and withdraw prior to earning credit must contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission via email at [email protected] to confirm their status. In order to be considered as a first-year, a student must withdraw prior to the add/drop date at the institution they attended and provide official documentation (college transcript, withdrawal form) indicating the date of their withdrawal. In addition, to be considered a first year, the student must not have had any financial aid disbursed from the federal government while at the college or university that he or she attended.

    The Office of Undergraduate Admission will exercise professional judgment and consider each student’s circumstances to ensure that, regardless of status (first year or transfer), the best interest of the student’s needs are met related to enrollment.

    Note: Fordham University (its undergraduate colleges, graduate and professional schools) is an eligible institution of higher education that admits as students only persons who (i) have a high school diploma (ii) have a recognized equivalent.

    Bachelor of Theology Religious Studies at Fordham University
    Fordham University
    Fordham University
    United States of America

    United States of America, Manhattan

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