Theology

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Major icon MAJOR Minor icon MINOR

Dive deep into God’s supernatural revelation to us found in Scripture and the living Tradition of the Church. Discover the profound harmony between faith and reason while also growing in your relationship with the Blessed Trinity. Study how God’s plan of salvation unfolds from the beginning of the human race, culminates in the death and resurrection of Christ and is carried on through the Church until the end of the world.

Careers: Professor, Religion Teacher, Youth Minister, Writer, Counselor, Priest, Religious

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Pursue Your Path With God

A theology degree from AMU will prepare you for a career in academics, counseling, youth ministry and Catholic media. It’s also a great choice if you’re discerning a religious or priestly vocation. You’ll also gain research and critical thinking skills that will help you in any career.

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theology skills you will gain

Skills you will gain with

A THEOLOGY DEGREE

  • A deeper knowledge of Catholic doctrine and practice. Get to know not only what the Church teaches, but why. Explore the scriptural and historical foundations of Catholic thought and practice as well as the harmony between faith and reason.
  • Research and critical thinking skills. Many of our theology courses have research papers that challenge you to dig deeper into specific theological topics and compare and evaluate the insights of different theologians.
  • Practical ways of growing closer to God. Your ultimate goal in life is not your career (though that’s still important), but getting to heaven! By studying theology you’re learning more about God, the source of all love and joy!
theology skills you will gain

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A look into the

THEOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Sedes Sapientiae, ora pro nobis!

Thank you for visiting the Ave Maria University website in order to learn more about our B.A. in theology. AMU is committed to the renewal and deepening of genuinely Catholic spiritual, intellectual, and cultural life. To choose a theology major is to embark on an exacting and exciting venture to deepen both one’s contemplative union with the Triune God and one’s understanding of the great truths of the Catholic faith.

To study theology challenges us to open our minds and hearts to Jesus Christ, the one Teacher who illuminates everything by his very being as the Word of the Father in the Holy Spirit. To study Catholic theology is to realize that the Word Incarnate and the Holy Spirit inspired Sacred Scripture and continue to guide the Magisterium of the Church, whose Tradition directs us as we reach up to the great minds and hearts of the many saints and scholars who over the millennia have contributed to the quest for genuine holiness, wisdom, science, scholarship, and art.

If you decide to become a theology major at AMU, it is their lives and writings that you will study. Fidelity to Catholic truth demands more—not less—commitment to deepening and broadening one’s intelligence to appreciate the unity of theological and philosophical wisdom, too often forgotten in the many specializations and fragmentations of contemporary academic culture. Our program emphasizes a contemplative pattern of study that initiates students into the great tradition of speculative wisdom, with its unifying theoretical vision of the whole of God’s creative and redemptive presence.

Dr. Dauphinais

Gerald Boersma, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Theology

Gerald BoersmaEducation: B.A., Religious Studies, Trinity Western University; M.A., Theology, Ave Maria University; Ph.D., Theology and Religion, University of Durham
Office: Henkels 3003
Email: gerald.boersma@avemaria.edu
Phone: (239) 304-7910
Curriculum Vitae: Download

Fr. Romanus Cessario, S.T.D.

Adam Cardinal Maida Professor of Theology

Father Romanus CessarioEducation: B.A., St. Stephen’s College; M.A., St. Stephen’s College; S.T.L., Dominican House of Studies; S.T.B., Dominican House of Studies; S.T.D., University de Fribourg; S.T.M., The Order of Preachers, Santa Sabina, Rome
Email: rev.romanus.cessario@avemaria.edu
Office: Henkels 3026
Phone: (239) 304-7935

Michael Dauphinais, Ph.D.

Chair of the Theology Department, Fr. Matthew L. Lamb Professor of Catholic Theology, Professor of Theology and Humanities

Michael DauphinaisEducation: B.S., Engineering, Duke University; M.T.S., Theology, Duke Divinity School; Ph.D., Systematic Theology, University of Notre Dame
Office: Henkels 3005
Email: michael.dauphinais@avemaria.edu
Phone: (239) 280-2538
Curriculum Vitae: Download

Fr. Robert Garrity, S.T.D.

Associate Professor of Theology

Father Robert GarrityEducation: B.A., English Literature, Aurora University; M.A., Theology, Catholic University of America; S.T.L., Theology, Catholic University of America; J.C.L., Canon Law, The Catholic University of America; S.T.D., Theology, The Catholic University of America
Office: Henkels 2068
Email: robert.garrity@avemaria.edu
Phone: (239) 280-2424
Curriculum Vitae: Download

Andrew Kuenstle, M.A.

Adjunct Instructor of Theology

Education: B.A., Liberal Arts, Thomas Aquinas College; M.A., English, University of Dallas; M.A., Theology, Ave Maria University; Ph.D. (candidate), Theology, Ave Maria University
Email: andrew.kuenstle.adj@avemaria.edu

Daniel Lendman, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Theology

Daniel LendmanEducation: B.A., Liberal Arts, Thomas Aquinas College; M.A., Philosophy, Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology; S.T.M., Theology, International Theological Insitute; S.T.L., Systematic Theology, International Theological Insitute; Ph.D., Systematic Theology, Ave Maria University
Email: danielw.lendman@avemaria.edu
Office: Henkels 3029
Phone: (239) 304-7934

Steven Long, Ph.D.

Professor of Theology

Dr longEducation: B.A., Philosophy, University of Toledo; M.A., Philosophy, University of Toledo; Ph.D., Philosophy, The Catholic University of America
Office: Henkels 3007
Email: steven.long@avemaria.edu
Phone: (239) 280-1664

Fr. Joseph Lugalambi, Ph.D. (candidate)

Adjunct Instructor of Theology

Education: B.A., Sacred Theology, Pontifica Universitas Gregoriana; M.A., Theology, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary/Kenrick School of Theology; Ph.D., Systematic Theology, Ave Maria University
Email: fr.joseph.lugalambi@avemaria.edu

Fr. Guy Mansini, S.T.D.

Max Seckler Chair of Theology

mansiniEducation: B.A., Philosophy, Saint Meinrad College; M. Div., Theology, Saint Meinrad School of Theology; M.A., Religious Studies, Indiana University; M.A., Philosophy, Marquette University; S.T.D., Pontifical Gregorian University
Office: Henkels 3009
Email: fr.guy.mansini@avemaria.edu
Phone: (239) 280-2594

Mark Miravalle, S.T.L., S.T.D.

CONSTANCE SCHIFFLIN BLUM CHAIR OF MARIOLOGY

Education: B.A., Theology, University of San Francisco; S.T.L., Sacred Theology, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas; S.T.D., Sacred Theology, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas
Office: Canizaro Library 363

Email: mark.miravalle@avemaria.edu

Phone: (239) 304-7902

Roger Nutt, S.T.L., S.T.D.

Provost, Professor of Theology

Roger NuttEducation: B.E.S., Literature & Philosophy, St. Cloud State University; M.A., Theology & Christian Ministry, Franciscan University of Steubenville; S.T.B., Sacred Theology, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, S.T.L., Sacred Theology, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas; S.T.D., Sacred Theology, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas
Office: Henkels 3056
Email: roger.nutt@avemaria.edu
Phone: (239) 280-1603
Curriculum Vitae: Download

T. Adam Van Wart, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Theology

van wartEducation: B.S., Psychology, Texas Christian University; M.A., Counseling, Dallas Theological Seminary; Th.M., Systematic Theology Dallas Theological Seminary; M.T.S., Theology, Duke University; Ph.D., Religious Studies, Southern Methodist University
Office: Henkels 3008
Email: thomas.vanwart@avemaria.edu
Phone: (239) 304-7825
Curriculum Vitae: Download

Jeffrey Walkey, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Theology

Education: B.S., Management Purdue University; M.T.S. Theological Studies, Duke Divinity School; Ph.D. Religious Studies, Maquette University
Office: Henkels 3004
Email: jeffrey.walkey@avemaria.edu
Phone: (239) 304-7363
Curriculum Vitae: Download

  1. Theology is one of the most popular majors at Ave Maria. We have over 60 students in the program.
  2. Because of the importance of theology, all students, no matter what their major, are required to take three courses in theology.
  3. Students discover that the theology courses help them in their personal and spiritual development.
  4. Because most of the professors in theology are also teachers in our graduate program, the undergraduate students get the very best instructors.

In addition to the core curriculum, theology majors take the following courses:

Core Courses

  • LATN 101 Elementary Latin
  • LATN 102 Intermediate Latin
  • THEO 105 Sacred Scripture
  • THEO 205 Sacred Doctrine
  • THEO 305 Moral Theology (for majors)

Required Courses for the Major

  • THEO 206 Creation and Grace
  • THEO 306 Catholic Spirituality or THEO 409 Christian
  • Marriage: Theology of the Body
  • THEO 307 Sacraments
  • THEO 309 Christ and His Church
  • THEO 405 Triune God
  • THEO 490 Senior Seminar

Elective Major Courses (two required):

  • Any THEO courses at the 300 or higher
Click the button to view our typical 4-year plan.

Students who graduate with a major in theology have a variety of options. Some go on for further study at the graduate level either in the U.S. or in Europe. Many go into teaching, working in Catholic high schools and in parish educational programs. Some have found work in diocesan offices and others have chosen to serve the Church as priests, sisters and brothers.

Center for the Renewal of Catholic Theology

More to help you

ON YOUR JOURNEY

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CAREER SERVICES

Career Services prides itself on providing students, alumni and employers with the opportunity to connect. No matter where you are in your career search, whether it’s deciding on a path, preparing for your first job interview or working on graduate school or fellowship applications, we can help.

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Catholic Culture

The spiritual life on campus is the beating heart of Ave. Whether it’s attending Mass, receiving the sacraments, participating in retreats or getting spiritual direction, you’ll find the spiritual support you need from the priests and staff of Campus Ministry.

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CORE CURRICULUM

With AMU’s core curriculum, you’ll not only achieve breadth of knowledge, but also depth of knowledge. You’ll encounter the truth about God and His creation more completely through the dynamic interplay of all of the liberal arts, including theology and natural science.

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Sunny skies, warm temperatures, a beautiful campus. What more could you want? How about a community-like atmosphere, quality instructors who care about your success, a wealth of spiritual activities, expert career guidance… and that’s only the beginning. Imagine your future at AMU. It all starts by filling out our free application today.

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