Religious Studies, B.A.

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Religious Studies builds skills for your future in a globalized world. You will learn to ask life’s big questions, analyze how communities across time and place have addressed these questions, and communicate persuasively in your own speech and writing.

General Requirements

A major in Religious Studies requires 33 hours (11 courses) plus a second major or minor in another discipline.

For students completing their degree under the 2015 University Studies Program:

Two Required Courses: 6 Hours

RELI 1000 - Introduction to Religion Credits: 3
RELI 4000 - Theories of Religion Credits: 3

Concurrent Concentration I: 9 Hours

Students should acquire a focused concentration by taking three courses (1) on a single religion, or (2) on the religions of a particular region or culture. Courses may be from a limited time period or spread across history. Students may choose from established concentrations or create their own concentration in consultation with their adviser. [Six hours must be above 3000-level.]

Concurrent Concentration II: 9 Hours

Students should take three courses in a religion, region, or culture differing significantly from that of the first concentration. [Six hours must be above 3000-level.]

Electives

Three courses in Religious Studies (see note 2 below) chosen in accordance with the student’s interests. [Six hours must be above 3000-level.]

Language

Students should take three semesters of a single foreign language or demonstrate equivalent proficiency. See note 3 below.

Honors

If a student wishes to pursue an Honors designation in Religious Studies, two additional requirements must be fulfilled.

A three-hour Thesis Seminar or Internship, during which a research paper is written, or other suitable research project is carried out.
Demonstration of competency in a foreign language equivalent to a fourth-semester college-level course.

Notes:

If students majoring in Religious Studies can use its courses to satisfy requirements in a second major or minor, this is permitted.
Courses for the major should be drawn from those with a RELI prefix, or from a list of approved courses taught by other departments or programs. See the list of approved courses on the Religious Studies website. In each of the concentrations, only one course may be from outside RELI offerings. Two such courses may be used as electives. Occasionally, courses on religion are taught by outside departments as one-time opportunities. Students may propose these for inclusion in the major to the Religious Studies Program Director.
The language requirement may be satisfied with American Sign Language (ASL) or, with the approval of the department, coursework in another form of non- English communication (e.g. computer science, statistics, music composition).
All courses must be passed with a grade of C or better.