The programs in Religious Studies respond to the needs of modern women by stimulating the student to ask why religion is such a vital element of the human experience. Religious Studies is an area study of religious phenomena mostly from a humanities perspective within the broad field of the liberal arts.
The courses offered at Rosemont College serve both the broader curricular requirements and electives as well as providing a major and minor field in the Women's College. The scope of offerings is wide ranging from the introductory study of religion and the study of Biblical literature to the study of specific religions of the world, with special emphasis on Catholic theology and practice as is appropriate to an institution in the Catholic tradition.
The common objective of the course offerings is to acquaint the student with different aspects of the religious experiences of humankind using a variety of methodological approaches (e.g. historical, theological, literary, and phenomenological) providing the student with critical skills to appreciate and understand the riches of the religious heritage.
Finally, the program provides a sound and balanced preparation for graduate studies and for a life of Christian intellectual and practical service.
Experiential Learning
Most recently, the department offered a course entitled "Faith that does Justice"; students pursued intense study of church documents related to issues of justice. In addition, each student participated in community service programs and related her personal experiences to the topics pursued in class sessions.
Many students in the Religious Studies program are involved in the Campus Ministry program. Their activities include: serving as ministers in campus liturgical celebrations both Catholic and inter-faith, organizing community service projects for students, and facilitating student retreats.
Students who have studied abroad include a current senior who spent a semester in Lyon, France where she received credit for completing successfully two Scripture courses conducted entirely in French.
Rosemont students attended World Youth Day in Toronto, Canada and Cologne, Germany, where they had the opportunity to meet thousands of other young people from many different countries, to attend special theological sessions, and to meet Pope John Paul II and newly elected Pope Benedict XVI.
Internships for Rosemont students have included directing youth programs and teaching in religious education programs in local parishes and directing the services of a homeless shelter in center city Philadelphia.
Department Activities:
Visiting professors have included:
Dr. Thomas Bremer, Dean, Catholic Theological School, University of Muenster, Germany
Dr. Mitja Velikonja, sociology of religion, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Dr. Elena Glavatskaya, Urals State University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
Students in the class:
"Religious Questions of the Holocaust" plan an annual Yom HaShoah program; Yom HaShoah is the world wide day of Holocaust Remembrance.