Department of Religious Studies (University of San Diego) records, 1964-1995

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Summary

Title:
University of San Diego Department of Religious Studies records
Dates:
1964-1995
Abstract:
These records contain correspondence, reports, and meeting minutes pertaining to the Department of Religious Studies in the early 1970s. The majority of these records pertain to discussions about the Catholicity of the merging USD College for Men and College for Women and general education requirements in religion.
Extent:
0.5 Linear Feet (1 letter doc box)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Folder Title], Box # Folder #, Department of Religious Studies records, Copley Library, University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections. [Date Accessed.]

Background

Scope and content:

The Department of Religious Studies records relate to the early administration of the department, namely discussions about the merger of the College for Men and the College for Women, programs put on by the department, and discussions of general education requirements. Records largely consist of correspondence, news releases and clippings, and reports. In addition to the early 1970s administrative records, are records for the Masters in Religious Education which was first offered in 1977.

Biographical / historical:

Until 1969 the College for Women and the College for Men had separate departments of theology with separate general education requirements. Catholic men, and all women, were required to take a theology course each semester. As discussions of merging the two colleges were occurring, and with personnel changes, the Department of Religious Studies became the first completely merged department in 1969. John R. Portman served as the founding chair of the Department of Religious Studies until 1974. The department professed to ensure the academic nature of courses in religion not character formation. Religious study was, and is, part of the general education requirement for each student. In 1972,general education requirements in religion changed to nine credits for all students.In 1974, Religious Studies was added to the list of majors.

The prominent program the Department oversaw in the 1970s was the Ecumenical Center for World Religions. Founded by John R. Portman, the Center opened in January 1972 as a space to deepen students' understanding of world religions, for scholarly research about world religions, and to explore points of contact between religious traditions around the world. The Center also offered seminars each summer.

Arrangement:

These records consist of one series of Administrative Records which are arranged in chronological order.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
This collection was processed by Tessie Camina in 2008. It was further processed by Ashley Toutain in 2016. Updated by Gabrielle Wood, 2025.
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-12-09 14:34:33 -0800 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

These records are open for research.

Terms of access:

Department of Religious Studies records are the physical property of the University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections. Copyright, except in cases where material has passed into the public domain, belongs to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns.

Preferred citation:

[Folder Title], Box # Folder #, Department of Religious Studies records, Copley Library, University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections. [Date Accessed.]

Location of this collection:
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110 2492, US
Contact:
(619) 260-2730
spcoll@sandiego.edu
Website