Because Viterbo is a liberal arts university which is both Christian and Catholic, it has an obligation to provide courses in religious studies for its students. In a world becoming increasingly technological, men and women need the stabilizing and integrating experience of the Transcendent. Religious studies courses provide for both the inner search and outer exploration of the elements that are part and parcel of the human religious experience. Religious studies are not a desirable peripheral benefit of a college education at Viterbo; they form an integral and integrating core.

The religious studies department provides the professional academic background and experiential learning for those who choose a career within Church or Church-related programs.

The ministry program aims to prepare students for a fuller and more effective participation in the Church's mission, i.e. to bring about the kingdom of God. It invites people to a deeper response to their baptismal call to the ministry and to a greater development of their personal gifts. In the context of a liberal arts education in a Christian community, the ministry major offers opportunities for personal growth in spirituality and in theological understanding. It encourages an integration of academic learning with experiential learning through reflection, dialogue, and cooperation with other church groups and programs.

Assessment Standards

The Religious Studies department of Viterbo University uses the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers as the foundation for its assessment implementation and evaluation. The National Certification Standards were developed by the National Association for Lay Ministry, the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership and the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry and approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Commission on Certification and Accreditation, April 2003.