Skip To Main Content

An Episcopal, co-educational 100% boarding school in Middletown, Delaware for grades 9 – 12

Religious Studies

In keeping with School founder Felix duPont's vision and purpose, St. Andrew's has included religious studies in its academic curriculum since its earliest years. Our core curriculum requirements in religious studies—History of Religious Thought, taken in the IV Form year, and a Philosophy or Religious Studies elective taken the VI Form year—provides an understanding of the major religious and philosophical traditions that have shaped Western civilization. Through course discussions and essays, our goal is familiarize students with the many varied ideas and theologies they will encounter in college, and throughout their lives, while also encouraging students to formulate their own faith practices and make conscious decisions about their value systems.

Sophomores taking History of Religious Thought are asked to rigorously examine the claims of great religious thinkers—from Aquinas to Marx, Avicenna to Freud, Maimonides to Thomas Paine, St. Theresa of Avila to contemporary theologians and philosophers. In dialogue with these writings and with the Hebrew Bible, the Christian Bible, and the Qur’an, students consider differing answers to central religious questions. This course provides an opportunity to analyze the Judeo-Christian worldview in particular, the importance of revelation in Christianity through historical events and persons, and the moral implications of religious commitment within contemporary life.

Sixth Form students spend the first half of the year taking Philosophy, which provides an introduction to central philosophical inquiries, and an exploration of epistemology, ontology, metaphysics, theology, ethics, and aesthetics. In the second half of the VI Form year, students take a religious studies elective that explores world religions and philosophies using a particular critical or topical lens (such as gender, violence, service, or applied ethics); a full list of electives is available below.

Religious Studies Courses

Yearlong Courses

Semester-long Electives

Terence Gilheany

Titles: Religious Studies Department Chair, History, Weekend Duty Head, Assistant Coach - Boys Crew, Faculty Secretary

Jay Hutchinson

Titles: Head Chaplain, Religious Studies, Director of Community Service, Assistant Coach - Boys Soccer, Assistant Coach - Boys Lacrosse

Jason Kunen

Titles: V Form Academic Advisor, Religious Studies & Philosophy, Schmolze Dorm Parent, Assistant Coach - Boys Swimming

Stephen Mufuka

Titles: IV Form Dean, Religious Studies & Philosophy, Voorhees Dorm Parent, Assistant Coach - Boys Soccer, Head Coach - Boys Tennis

Elizabeth Preysner

Titles: Associate Chaplain, Religious Studies, Spanish, Assistant Coach - Indoor Track