Ave Maria University
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
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.
Fast Fact: Several of our alumni are now ordained priests!
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
Education: 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
Education: 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
Education: 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
Education: 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
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
Education: 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
Education: 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
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
Education: 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
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
Education: 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
Education: 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
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
In addition to the core curriculum, theology majors take the following courses:
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
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.
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.
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.
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.