Bachelor of Arts in Ministry and Theology

Flexible online courses taught by experts.

Leveraging the experience and wisdom of Loyola’s faculty and fellow classmates, students in the online ministry degree become reflective in their faith and qualified to serve in a variety of leadership positions within parishes, schools, and diocesan offices, or in the fields of business, law, healthcare, criminal justice, government, counseling, teaching, non-profit, or public sector work.

Degree overview

Loyola's online ministry and theology degree consist of 120 credit hours, which include:

• 30 credits of Major courses
• 36 credits of Loyola Core courses
• 54 credits of General Elective courses

Major courses

Major Courses (30 credits)

• RELM 300: Introduction to Ministry (3 credits)
• RELM 370: Christ and the Christian Tradition (3 credits)
• RELM 330: Church and Sacraments (3 credits)
• RELM 430: Leadership in Ministry (3 credits)
• RELM 400: Religious Education in Theory and Practice (3 credits)
• RELM 496: Senior Seminar (3 credits)

Choose one of the following courses:

• RELS S249: Old Testament as Literature (3 credits)
• RELS S247: New Testament as Literature (3 credits)
• RELM 338: Introduction to the Bible for Ministry (3 credits)

Choose one of the following Bible Studies courses:

• RELS S220: Biblical Literature in the Roman and Medieval Context (3 credits)
• RELS S225: Humor in the Bible (3 credits)
• RELS A300: Pauline Writings (3 credits)
• RELS A315: Johannine Literature (3 credits)
• RELS S336: Parables of Jesus (3 credits)

Choose one of the following Ethics courses:

• RELS S242: Christian Ethics (3 credits)
• RELM 334: Ethics for Ministers (3 credits)

Choose one of the following Ministry and Culture courses:

• RELS S238: Christianity and Liberation (3 credits)
• RELS A305: Theology of Liberation (3 credits)
• RELS S343: Women in Christianity (3 credits)
• RELS S344: Social Policy and the Christian (3 credits)
• RELS A368: Christianity and the Environment (3 credits)
• RELS A441: Psychology of Religion (3 credits)

Loyola core

Loyola Core Courses (39 credits)

The goal of the Loyola Core is to foster students’ competency in five key areas:

• Critical Thinking
• Effective Communication
• Quantitative Reasoning
• Information Literacy
• Ethical Reasoning

To help students in the online theology degree develop these competencies, the Loyola Core embraces an interdisciplinary approach to learning with an emphasis on the spiritual and intellectual, the moral and ethical, the natural and social scientific, the humanistic, and the artistic.

Foundation Courses

Foundation courses should be taken in your first three online sessions at Loyola and include:

• English – Critical Reading & Writing
• Math Models or Finite Math
• Science Process – Investigating Nature

Knowledge & Values Courses

Online ministry degree students complete courses in the following 9 categories:

• Creative Arts & Cultures
• History Sequence (2 courses for 6 total credit hours)
• Natural Science in Context
• Philosophy I: Introduction to the Philosophy of Reasoning
• Philosophy II: Philosophy of Knowledge & Morality
• Religious Studies I: Christian Traditions
• Religious Studies II: World Religions
• Social Science
• Writing About Literature

General electives

General Elective Courses (54 credits)

The online Bachelor of Arts in Ministry and Theology degree program requires 54 credits of general electives. There is a wide range of online elective courses to choose from in other departments.

What can you do with a theology degree?

Discover your full potential.

Loyola’s 100% online theology degree program will prepare you for advanced studies, such as the master of pastoral studies or the master of religious education, or to enter the workforce in a wide range of careers, including:

• Youth Leader
• Social and Community Service Manager
• Schoolteacher
• Director of Development
• Non-profit Administrator
• Parish Coordinator