Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies (IAJS)

The Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies seeks to deepen understanding and appreciation of the history, spirituality, educational heritage, and pedagogical approach of the Society of Jesus through courses, workshops, publications, and scholarly symposia.

Founded in 2014, the Institute seeks to deepen understanding and appreciation for the history, spirituality, educational heritage, and pedagogical approaches of the Society of Jesus. We hope to serve as a dynamic and collaborative scholarly resource—both on and off the campus of Boston College—for important coursework, publications, symposia, online materials, and other programs that convey the distinctive character of the Jesuit mission.

The Institute brings to Boston College the world’s most preeminent scholars in the burgeoning field of Jesuit Studies. The Lecture Series on Jesuit Studies, which we cosponsor with the Institute for Liberal Arts, gives visiting historians, theologians, and other experts the opportunity to engage with the University’s community and the general public. We collaborate with other academic departments and programs at Boston College to host additional presentations by emerging and distinguished scholars, all of which are open to the public. Lastly, the Institute’s in-residence fellowship program facilitates the completion of academic work related to the Society of Jesus by providing scholars the necessary resources to research and publish, including access to the rich Jesuitica holdings at the University’s libraries. These distinguished scholars regularly present their findings, including to undergraduate classes, during their fellowships at Boston College.