The mission of the Department of Religious Studies is to discover, explore, and analyze religious experience in its various manifestations, emphasizing the Roman Catholic tradition, in dialogue with the other Christian traditions and with the world religions.

The faculty and staff in the department believe that understanding the human condition necessarily involves understanding religious experience and expression. The study of religion opens the imagination to manifestations of the sacred in multiple cultures and enables critical understanding of its inculturated expressions. In keeping with the Catholic and Marianist character of the University, the department is committed to the education of the whole person so that learning can be integrated into the daily life, service activities, faith, and community building.