When choosing an undergraduate theology degree program, it is important to first identify your own career goals, as a degree in theology is often a stepping stone to an academic career or a religious vocation. In addition, you should choose a school that has a good reputation and is properly accredited in the jurisdiction in which it operates. Ideally, you should visit the school to see if you are comfortable with its faculty, students, and general surroundings. You should also consider the school’s course offerings and think about whether the courses offered by the school address your theological interests.
Many people who choose to study theology at the undergraduate level intend to use their training to prepare for further scholarship or a career in some type of ministry. If your plan is to eventually become an academic, you may wish to look at the entrance requirements for the postgraduate schools of theology that interest you. This is important, because postgraduate schools typically expect you to enter their programs with specific types of academic knowledge, so it is important to know what sort of coursework they will be looking for when reviewing your student transcripts. For example, some graduate schools will want you to have a background in philosophy and the social sciences as well as theology. With this knowledge, you can better choose both your undergraduate theology courses as well as classes in other disciplines.
If your plan is to enter the ministry and you plan to pursue postgraduate ministry studies at a theological seminary, you should likewise review the undergraduate coursework requirements set by the seminaries that interest you. On the other hand, if you are part of a denomination that does not require graduate study to enter the ministry, you should contact the ordination or credentialing board to ask about which types of courses you should take while completing your undergraduate theology degree.
It is very important to carefully review each school that you consider for completing your undergraduate theology education. Ensure that it is properly accredited and that it has a good reputation within the theological and academic community. When possible, make a campus visit and ask if you can sit in on a course to get an idea of what the academic community is like. You should also ask the school about financial aid options, including scholarships and the availability of student loan programs. Finally, spend some time in the city or town where the school is located to see if this is a place where you can comfortably live for the next several years.
