Understanding that the differences between theology and religious studies starts with checking our presuppositions. Students may assume that they already have some knowledge of what these terms mean, which can limit their understanding and miss theology and religious studies distinctions. So, getting a sense of what each term means, rather than making assumptions, is the best way to alleviate confusion.
Virtually all religions contain theology. Etymologically, theology is the study of God. However, it's usually understood more broadly, particularly in terms of interpretation of key beliefs, teachings, writings, practices, and so on.
Theology is a more specific discipline than religious studies in the sense that it focuses on important core values, especially doctrines or teachings within particular faiths. There are different kinds of theology, such as biblical, systematic, constructive, philosophical, and practical. The common denominator is that all these types of theology are trying to get us to learn how religious believers (for example, Christians) ought to understand and live out those beliefs and teachings.
Some students might think that religious studies must mean studying about a specific religion, such as Christianity, or studying religions in general. However, “religion” is an all-encompassing term. Many things can make up religion (singular), and religions (plural) are extremely diverse. Religious studies focuses on important concepts like beliefs, rituals, and experiences, involving both individual and corporate-level contexts, gathered around a general sense of the divine (God, for example) or other ultimate reality.
Religious studies programs may include specialized areas of emphasis, commitments, doctrines, and so on. Grand Canyon University (GCU) and the College of Theology specifically focus on Christian studies, based on the fact that we are a missional, Christ-centered university. However, this doesn't mean that we discuss Christianity exclusively; we also consider and assess other religions as part of our curriculum (e.g., INT-244 World Religions).