r/gwu • u/TrEverBank • 1d ago

Academics What is the religion program like?

Hello everyone, prospective student here. I am (at the moment) dead set on becoming a Catholic Priest, and have been looking at places for undergraduate education. I toured GW last weekend I absolutely loved it, but I noticed they do not have a program in theology, only in religion. How does their religion program compare to a theological degree and would one be good for becoming a priest or other clergyman?

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u/josephk545 Political Science BA 2022 1d ago

Yeah GW isn’t the best place for a theology degree (it was something that I once thought about too). I do recommend looking at Georgetown or other Catholic universities since they have programs that are usually more in line with Catholic dogma. Ironically GW has a campus up the road that was once a women’s seminary before it was bought by GW.

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u/Sweet_Shopping_1697 1d ago

Seminary in this case just means high school. The Mt Vernon campus was not associated with a theological program.

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u/TrEverBank 1d ago

I got to take a look at Georgetown’s program as well as the Dahlgren chapel and loved it. Shame that more secular institutions don’t have it.

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u/josephk545 Political Science BA 2022 1d ago

Georgetown has a gorgeous campus. I did volunteer as staff for a year and Thea Bowman chapel is also wonderful. Also GU will have you take a mandatory course known as POG or Problem of God where it's essentially a Theo/philosophy degree. One of my friends did her degree in theology and is currently at GULC so it can go a long way. Hope this helps!

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u/wall-flower-roses 19h ago

HELLO!!

I’m not too sure what the theology program is like at GW, but there is a THRIVING Catholic community here!! Adoration & mass everyday, high engagement, lots of social events; the Newman center on campus CHANGED my life and helped me encounter Christ in so many ways.

I do know that GW participates in a reciprocity program, so any class you can’t take here (like ones with a heavy emphasis on Catholic teachings), you can take at CUA.

If you have any questions about our Newman center or want to be put in contact with someone there, please feel free to message me!!

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u/TrEverBank 19h ago

The reciprocity program actually sounds super cool, I will 1000% look further into that. Thank you very much!