"Being a Religious Studies major and being educated under a vast resource of intelligent and motivated staff has challenged me to think outside the box; to engage myself in ways of life I never would have imagined; and has given me the passion to never stop the love of learning.

Currently (summer 2008), I am doing a year of volunteer work at the Amate House program (associated with the Archdiocese of Chicago). I am living in community and teaching Spanish at an all-girl high school."

Brian was one of two recipients of the Outstanding Graduating Seniors Award in Religious Studies in 2007. He is currently attending law school at the University of Virginia.

Linda was one of two recipients of the Outstanding Graduating Seniors Award in Religious Studies in 2007. She is currently finishing her M.A. degree at JCU in religious studies. In Fall 2008, Linda will attend law school at Ohio State University.

"I graduated in 2003 with my BA in Religious Studies and History and returned for my MA in Religious Studies, completing that degree in 2005.  I spent two years teaching part-time for the RL department and began working towards my PhD in Theology at Duquesne University in 2007. 

My work at John Carroll and with the RL department prepared me for the challenges of pursuing my PhD.  The professors do an excellent job of stretching their students minds and pushing them to see things in new ways. 

My ability to synthesize material and to write reflectively about theological issues can be traced back to my time at JCU.  I strongly recommend a major/minor or MA in Religious Studies because it offers you a chance to reflect about what matters most in life, while improving your ability to think, read and write."

Jim received the Outstanding Graduating Seniors Award in Religious Studies in 2003.

Christina Foos
May 2002 Graduate

"My religious studies major afforded me the opportunity to more fully incorporate my faith experience into academic learning.  One summer I traveled to Ecuador as part of a volunteer immersion program with a group of students from John Carroll.  I complemented this experience of poverty in Latin America with an interdisciplinary ethics course entitled Justice and Economy team taught by a Jesuit moral theologian and an economics professor.

My religious studies major afforded me the unique opportunity to learn how to respectfully challenge, honestly defend, insightfully research, and critically evaluate the ideas, concepts, and values that sustain the world's major religions.  In my experience as a religious studies major . . . I discussed the Holocaust with a Rabbi, prayed with an Imam at the local Mosque, analyzed systematic theology with a Protestant minister and scholar, visited the art museum while researching the religious meaning of Buddhist and Hindu art, studies Christology and learned about the historical Jesus while on tour in Israel, reflected on contemporary Catholic theological issues through current events, and worshiped in five different Christian churches as I learned Church history through liturgy.  My experience as a religious studies major was nothing short of extraordinarily exciting!

Brian Sinchak is currently Vice-Principal at Benedictine High School, Cleveland, Ohio."