I am currently attending a community college my goal is to transfer and double major in philosophy and theology but I am quickly learning that quite a lot of public universities don’t have theology schools but rather “religious studies” which is vastly different once you look into it despite how similar it may look or sound on the surface on the same note how am I supposed to study this if my family does not have the funds for me to attend a private catholic university?
Sewanee - The University of the South has a school of theology.
Separation of church and state. Public universities cannot teach theology.
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that is moronic if that is actually the reasoning the point of a university is for people to study for a future career there are career that involve these form of studies and people would be choosing to take such classes nothing is being pressured onto students that I find to be a very weak argument and quite lame to be completely honest as historically most universities originated as schools of theology
Sorry, I realized you said public universities. Sewanee is private.
First, learn to use punctuation. Second public universities did not originate as schools of theology. Most started out as agricultural schools.
If you want to be a priest or a minister you will have to pony up the cost of a private seminary.
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Because theological schools are generally graduate schools. Liberal arts undergrad and then theology but it will be a specific theology, not world religions which goes back to undergrand religious studies departments. Different purposes.
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Why theology? What are you going to do with that?
I’m planning to enter the priesthood for the catholic church the whole process for how seminary admissions work is a can of worms in and of itself seeing how I’m coming out of a community college its unlikely that I will be accepted by the diocese to go there to finish my bachelors but I will likely be told to rather go to a university for 2 years or so to finish the process and later return to work on my masters (the reason for this is because they like to get people through in an orderly fashion from what I understand go through for either 4 or 8 years) but as for payments most seminarians are offered scholarships by there bishop which pay for most of the tuition for said diocese if they are preparing for ordination but since I am not there yet and likely will not be able to go there for university because I am coming from a cc I will have to go to a university the problem with that is I am double majoring in philosophy and theology as said above and most public universities do not have theology programs sure I could chose religious studies but its different as for private catholic universities well sure for me that would probably be a better option but my family doesn’t have the funds for that so it is truly very complicated
So you need a degree in theology to be a priest? And priest, is that a career path?
yes and yes
Actually, yes religious studies is different from theology since theology is the doctrine of one religion from that religion’s point of view. Public universities can’t propagate one religion 's doctrine.
If you can’t attend a Catholic university, you’ll need to double major in philosophy and Religious studies (different religions from various scholarly perspectives) at the undergraduate level, then go to Divinity school or straight to Seminary.
You also need to take Latin and some classical Greek (nor sure if it’s offered at cc 's.)
I think taking classes in government would also help you to understand separation of church and state as you’re likely to need that (in the same way doctors need to understand at a basic level legal ramifications of medicine as well as public health policies ). As a representative of the Catholic Church you’ll have to have a clear understanding of your legal status and obligations in addition to your obligations to the Church and your parishioners.
I would suggest you apply to both public and Catholic universities, such as Holy Cross, UDayton, UScranton, stLouis University, collaboration, DePaul, Loyola Chicago and Loyola New Orleans, Fordham, saint Bonaventure, Siena, saint Anselm… Some may offer you a scholarship that allows you to study there.
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thank you this is actually exactly the kind of answer I was looking for and no latin greek nor Hebrew are not offered at community colleges but they are offered at most public universities from what I understand
as well as private obviously
What state do you live in?
Does your CC have a transfer agreement with a university (if so, which one)?
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I live in Sacramento, California and attend American River College the school directly feeds into Sacramento State and more or less into the rest of the CSU system in some ways as well as indirectly feeds into the UC system specifically UC Davis but yea it is mostly connected to Sacramento State
You might double check that info about when the seminary would accept you. I am a Catholic in the Philadephia Archdiocese, and I personally know three priests who entered after one or two years of undergrad at public universities. If your diocese doesn’t operate that way, would you consider studying a a Cathlic seminary in another city?
I feel like something is not right.
Where I live, the diocese pays for the seminarian’s education from the beginning of the undergrad education after they go through a discernment and screening process.
I didn’t really understand your explanation about why you’re not doing that.
There are Catholic universities that aren’t too much more expensive than public schools.
In California, St. Thomas Aquinas meets need.
The University of Dallas has very good merit scholarships which can bring costs down to my in state levels.
The University of Mary in Bismarck and Belmont Abbey have low COAs and merit scholarships.
Christendom will forgive all their institutional loans (they don’t do federal loans) if a student enters the priesthood or religious life.
Holy Apostles (in CT) has a very low cost, especially for their online classes, I’ve heard. It’s possible to go to a local public college and take your theology courses through them.
And (gently) please do work on the punctuation. It’s an important part of written communication and shows care for others, something that’s important for your future goals.
Don’t give up. We need vocations. 
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You would have through, with the dearth of catholic priests in the west, that the catholic industrial complex would be throwing money at you to be a priest.
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I feel like something is not right.>>
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Right LOL. That “can of worms” maybe being the screening process.
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“that is moronic”
Maybe you should ask yourself if being a priest is a good career choice for you.
Do you really have the temperament ?
And personally, if my state taxes went towards teaching Catholicism, I would protest.
I have no problems with teaching religion in a historical context, but separation of church and state
is fundamental to this country. Do what you like in private, and pay the cost. Maybe there is a scholarship you can get privately.
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