Institute for Pastoral Initiatives
The institute mobilizes the resources of the University of Dayton for partnerships with the Catholic Church that create and implement innovative pastoral initiatives designed to meet the needs of the Church and to articulate faith within the context of the contemporary culture. Some opportunities for religious studies students include the Forum for Young Catechetical Leaders, a pre-professional course of studies.

Service Learning Courses
The department offers several courses that have service learning components, such as Faith and Justice, Christian Ethics and Health Care, and Christian Ethics and Environment.
 
Campus Ministry’s Center for Social Concern
Campus Ministry’s Center for Social Concern provides volunteer opportunities in a variety of ways, including:

• Volunteering is done by students with local, national and international organizations such as St. Vincent DePaul, Amnesty International, American Red Cross, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, Appalachia Club and many others.
• Annual events include Rural Plunge, Urban Plunge, Disabilities Awareness Week, Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Hunger Awareness Week and more.
• The International Summer Immersion gives students the opportunity to experience life in a developing country by living with a host family. The opportunity to receive credit for this experience may be worked out with the student’s home department.