Undergraduate
Bachelor's Degree Programs
Religious Studies
Religious studies explores the historical development and cultural diversity of the world's religious traditions from the perspectives of the academic study of religion. Courses help students to discover the many ways that religions (1) shape individuals' views of the world, (2) create and sustain the communities in which people live, and (3) interact with politics, law, ethics, economics, race, gender, sexuality, the arts, the environment, and other aspects of culture and society. Through this curriculum, students develop their skills of critical thinking, cogent analysis, moral imagination, and persuasive written and oral communication, Along with an ability to understand and work with people from different backgrounds. The department offers both a major and a minor, allowing students to investigate religions in depth and encouraging connections with other fields in the humanities, social sciences, and the professions.
Program Planning
In the degree programs, the Department of Religious Studies pays special attention to each student’s expressed hopes and plans, and students are encouraged to declare their intentions to major or minor in religious studies as early as possible in their college careers.
Students who choose to major in the department are invited first to explore courses that introduce the history and diversity of the world's religions from the 100- and 200-level courses in the curriculum. Then students are able to pursue more specialized courses depending on their personal interests. The curriculum for majors is divided into two tracks: 1) Religious Traditions courses are historical in focus, and they explore the developments and the internal diversity within a religious tradition, a family of religions, or a foundational religious scripture. 2) Comparative and Thematic courses examine intersecting patterns or particular issues across multiple religions.
Religious studies majors have gone into careers in a variety of fields. Our graduates have found employment in counseling, health care, social services, teaching, higher education, ministry, nonprofits, fundraising, government, community organizing, publishing, and business. Religious Studies attracts curious inquirers and global thinkers who are passionate about big ideas, different cultures, and complex problems. About half of our majors pursue graduate study, including law, social work, counseling, religious studies, philanthropy, medicine, ministry, philosophy, history, bioethics, linguistics, educational psychology, international relations, biology, and more.
Requirements
Beyond the general distribution and credit hour requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree, students who choose to major in religious studies will complete 30 credit hours of course work designated by the faculty as follows:
- 15 credit hours will be selected from the category of Religious Traditions
- 12 credit hours will be selected from Comparative and Thematic Studies
- 3 credit hours in the departmental senior seminar (R433)
- at least 18 credit hours to be taken at the 300 level or above.
For details concerning these course designations, students should consult the department website or contact the faculty mentor. Any religious studies course in which a student receives a grade below C (2.0) may not be used to fulfill major or minor requirements (C– does not qualify).
Double Majors
Religious Studies complements many other fields, including medicine, nursing, and public health; law, public affairs, and international relations; social work and counseling; and nonprofits and philanthropy. Students are encouraged to seek a double major in religious studies.
Students wishing to acquire double majors in religious studies and a second subject area will need to fulfill all of the above requirements, as well as those of the second subject area; will need a faculty mentor for each major; and will need to file their plans for a double major with the academic advisors in each major.
