Aim

The Department of Religious Studies offers a Bachelor Degree in religious studies that concentrates on the study of Christianity from a Catholic and ecumenical point of view. It seeks to meet the spiritual and academic needs of all its students, and promotes the study of religion at university level. The program aims at promoting an appreciation of the religious culture of the Holy Land in an ecumenical and interfaith atmosphere. The department contributes in a special way to the mission of Bethlehem University by preparing qualified graduates to teach Catechism, to participate in the mission of the local church, to be positive members of the churches and society and to be qualified to continue higher education. By limiting enrollment and having smaller class sizes, the learning process is personalized and formative. Besides the academic goals, the department offers ecclesiastical, ecumenical, and personal formation for its students. Several activities accompany the academic formation to make learning a more enjoyable journey. The language of Instruction is Arabic, with English as a second language.

History

The Department began to recruit students in 1998 to offer them a unique opportunity, not only to obtain a bachelor Degree in Religious Studies, but to be a qualified teacher of Christian religious education.