A group of students pose outdoors during a world religions class in Hawaii.

Minor in Interfaith Leadership

Interfaith leadership at St. Thomas will prepare you to lead in career and community amid a world growing more religiously diverse. With an eye to professional preparation, you will study contemporary and historical encounters between, among and within various religious, spiritual and secular traditions, worldviews and ways of life.

Why Study Interfaith Leadership at St. Thomas?

Today's leaders must be aware of potential tensions and opportunities involving religious and worldview diversity, and have the ability to drive construction solutions with thoughtful action. With a minor in interfaith leadership, you will examine how religions and worldviews interact, discern your leadership strengths, acquire basic (inter)religious literacy and engage with lived religion in the world today.

Deepen Your Perspective

  • Minor Requirements
  • Degree Awarded
  • Practical Application
  • Minor Requirements

    After an introduction to basic theological literacy and examining how various religious worldviews and ideologies influence justice and peace, you'll venture beyond the classroom to develop your leadship skills and gain first-hand experience with local religious diversity.

    • THEO 100: Foundations (4 credits)
    • THEO 227: Contexts: Justice & Peace (4 credits)
    • THEO 228: Comparative: Interreligious Encounter (4 credits)
    • THEO 228: Comparative: Topics (4 credits) or directed internship or research

    Degree Awarded

    • Minor in Interfaith Leadership

    Practical Application

    Tailor your minor in interfaith leadership to complement your vocational, academic and professional aspirations. You can choose to fulfill the final minor requirements by completing an internship with a community partner or a faculty-mentored research project on a topic related to interreligious studies or interfaith leadership. 

    Minor Requirements

    Minor Requirements

    After an introduction to basic theological literacy and examining how various religious worldviews and ideologies influence justice and peace, you'll venture beyond the classroom to develop your leadship skills and gain first-hand experience with local religious diversity.

    • THEO 100: Foundations (4 credits)
    • THEO 227: Contexts: Justice & Peace (4 credits)
    • THEO 228: Comparative: Interreligious Encounter (4 credits)
    • THEO 228: Comparative: Topics (4 credits) or directed internship or research

    Degree Awarded

    Degree Awarded

    • Minor in Interfaith Leadership

    Practical Application

    Practical Application

    Tailor your minor in interfaith leadership to complement your vocational, academic and professional aspirations. You can choose to fulfill the final minor requirements by completing an internship with a community partner or a faculty-mentored research project on a topic related to interreligious studies or interfaith leadership. 

    Professor Munger speaks with a female student in a classroom.

    Career Paths

    You'll be able to employ your interfaith leadership skills in a variety of different careers after graduation.

    • Healthcare
    • Education
    • Business and team management
    • International relations
    • Media relations and journalism
    • Public, civic and community leadership
    • Law
    • Social services

    Gain the Skills Employers Seek

    The need for religiously literate leaders is growing across all professions.

    70%

    of Americans indicate their workplace as the top location for the most frequent interaction with people who do not share their religion.*

    *Public Religion Research Institute

    Real Experience

    Your applied internship or research experience will show future employers you can lead, serve and communicate with diverse teams.

    A Growing Need

    Global religious populations are projected to grow at a rate 23 times higher than religiously unaffiliated populations.*

    *Religious Freedom and Business Foundation 

    Learning in Action

    You'll benefit from opportunities to get hands-on, practical experience outside of the classroom.

    Tailor your minor to match your professional goals with an interfaith internship or faculty-mentored research project.

    Get paid to do research with an Interreligious Research Fellowship with the Jay Phillips Center.

    Take your learning global by studying away in India, Hawaii or Norway, to name a few. 

    Take the Next Step

    best-value-logo-2022-transparent.pngThere is more to learn about St. Thomas; including our ranking as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report, the many classroom and extracurricular activities that will be part of your student experience and so much more. Schedule a visit to see our beautiful campus or start your application today.