LORAS COLLEGE OFFERS DIVERSE STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS
All Loras students, no matter their major, have the opportunity to live and study in another country. Loras College sponsors study abroad semesters in Ireland, Portugal, South Africa and Spain, along with a broad range of short-term study travel options such as Belize, China, Costa Rica, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Mexico,and Peru.
Loras College is globally connected to provide students unique learning experiences around the world. Whether students are looking to enhance their foreign language skills or simply to immerse themselves in a different culture, the Center for Experiential Learning helps students identify international programs that best match their learning goals. International study broadens perspectives, enhances self-confidence and strengthens adaptability. Studying abroad also makes graduates more attractive to potential employers and graduate schools. Study abroad experiences are life-changing.
“While studying at the University of Pretoria I was fortunate to have the ability to take classes that Loras couldn’t’ offer. The sustainability focused classes I took at UP allowed me to fulfill a passion of mine and have shaped my biological thesis to be sustainably driven—vermicomposting.” — Tom Blacklock, South Africa
“The life-long learning experiences that come about while being abroad will never be fully understood unless you take the opportunity to go out of your comfort zone and experience life in another country. If I had to sum up how my experience in Spain changed me, it would be that I am more self-confident, more globally aware, and I am now yearning to learn about and connect with people from all over the world.” –Jessica Welp, Spain
“Now is truly the best time to take advantage of these experiences! Being able to go abroad for schooling allows you to have opportunities that you would not have as a tourist, so don’t rely on the thought, ‘Well, I could always go there in the future.’ Go!!”
— Brittany Seyller, India
Visit our Study Abroad page for additional information.
Scholarships
Catholic Social Teaching, they tend to be winners of the annual Valder Scholarship, which provides students with stipends to serve in a Catholic organization dedicated to addressing problems of social justice. In addition, students use their research to deliver papers and presentations at conferences like the Great Plains Undergraduate Theology Conference.
The Fides et Ratio Scholarship aids students pursuing either a minor in Catholic Studies, or a minor or major in Religious Studies and Theology. The goal of this scholarship is to equip Loras College students with the intellectual background to practice their faith as strong parish leaders following graduation. Learn more about the Fides et Ratio Scholarship.
The Breitbach Catholic Thinkers & Leaders Scholarship Program, made possible by a generous $15-million donation from Paul (’60) and Frances Breitbach, is a unique and vibrant four-year experience. Its goal is to challenge and engage the whole student, helping you to develop academically, spiritually, personally and socially while learning what it means to be a Catholic thinker and leader in today’s modern world. Lean more about the Breitbach Catholic Thinkers & Leaders Scholarship program.
Internships available
Religious Studies students participate in internship programs offered through the Center for Experiential Learning. Many internship opportunities are available in the Dubuque Community, nation wide and internationally. The Loras Center for Experiential Learning is key in assisting students in helping students with internships.
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS
Founded by Matthias Loras, Archbishop of the Dubuque Diocese, Loras College has ties to the Archdiocese that stretch back—well into the nineteenth-century. That long relationship has meant that the College has had many successful partnerships with the Archdiocese, working closely with Archdiocesan offices to meet a number of needs and educate several generations of religious leaders.
Today faculty from Loras College serve the Archdiocese as priests, chaplains, committee members, speakers, and Directors of Archdiocesan offices. In addition to those many individual commitments, faculty also are committed to provided academic programming to an emerging generation of lay leaders.
Loras has also sponsored summer Institutes in Liturgical Studies and Parish Leadership.
LORAS PREPARES YOU FOR SUCCESS IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Theology argues that the claims of one particular tradition are true, and perhaps unique. At Loras, that tradition is Christianity, as practiced in the Roman Catholic tradition.
Religious Studies majors will take courses in studies of the Bible, moral/ethical behavior and systematic theology (systems of thought that are based on Christian revelation). They benefit from a faculty that teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, and from a library that has outstanding resources—both paper and electronic.
Thanks to these resources, all Religious Studies majors who have sought to continue their educations in graduate programs have been accepted by accredited institutions.