Departments & Programs

Religious Studies

Interdepartmental Major in Religious Studies and African American and African Diaspora Studies

Required Courses

Students must meet the following course requirements for a minimum total of 42 credit hours.

Religious Studies

  1. At least 21 credit hours, with no more than one 100-level course counting toward the minimum and with at least 12 credit hours in courses at the 300 level or above.
  2. At least one course above the 100 level from Area C (The Americas).
  3. At least one course above the 100 level chosen from two of the remaining three areas: A (Africa, Europe, and West Asia), B (South and East Asia), D (Theory, Ethics, Comparison).
  4. One course (3 credit hours) in Religious Studies at the 400 level (other than R494, R495, R496, and R499).
  5. R389 Majors Seminar in Religion.

If a student chooses to take the Senior Honors Thesis course pair of R399-R499, the chosen topic may cross over Religious Studies and African American and African Diaspora Studies, although minimum credit hours in each area must still be met. A faculty mentor of the student's choice will be assigned, and graders from each department will read the final thesis. This requires an application and the approval of the director of undergraduate studies before authorization is granted to begin the project.

African American and African Diaspora Studies

At least 21 credit hours, of which at least 12 credit hours must be at the 300 level or above:

  1. A150 Survey of the Culture of Black Americans.
  2. A355 African American History I or A356 African American History II.
  3. A379 Early Black American Writing or A380 Contemporary Black American Writing.
  4. 9 additional credit hours taken from courses in any of the three concentration areas: (1) Arts, (2) Literature, or (3) History, Culture, and Social Issues. (Majors are strongly encouraged to take A363 Research on Contemporary African American Problems I when it is taught.)
  5. Additional credit hours to reach the minimum of 21 credit hours to be chosen in consultation with advisor. These credit hours may include the Senior Seminar.

If a student chooses to take the Senior Honors Thesis of A499 or the course pair of R399-R499 in Religious Studies, the chosen topic may cross over African American and African Diaspora Studies and Religious Studies although minimum credit hours in each area must still be met. A faculty mentor of the student's choice will be assigned, and graders from each department will read the final thesis. This requires an application and the approval of the director of undergraduate studies before authorization is granted to begin the project.