Religious Studies (B.A.)

The Religious Studies major is designed to guide students in the study of religion as a social, cultural, and political force in today’s world.  Majors are required to enroll in four Core Courses in global traditions, approaches to the academic study of religion, and religious conflict and cooperation in the world today.  Within this new set of Core requirements, students now have two capstone course options:  a traditional research seminar or an engaged learning project.

Area Electives in the major allow students to explore foundational domains within the academic study of religion:  specific faith traditions around the globe, sacred texts, approaches to the study of religion, and contemporary issues in religion.

120 credits of coursework is required for the baccalaureate degree with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA, and a minimum 2.0 major GPA.

 
 

Program Requirements Overview

General Education Requirements36-39
World Languages and Cultures Requirements3-9
Major Requirements36
Free Electives 145-36
Total Credits120
1

Graduate Swing Courses will count toward free electives for students in combined (UG/GR) programs.

Major Requirements

Core Requirements
RELG 100Religions of the World3
RELG 101Understanding Religion3
RELG 275Inter-religious Encounters3
Area Electives
Global Traditions
Complete two courses from the list below.6
Texts
Complete two courses from the list below.6
Approaches
Complete two courses from the list below.6
Issues
Complete two courses from the list below.6
Seminar
RELG 400Seminar3
or RELG 405 Engaged Learning Project
Total Credits36

Area Electives

Global Traditions

The Arab World and Religion
Introduction to Greek and Roman Religion
Buddhism
Hinduism
Taoism
Religion in the United States
Asian Religions
Islamic Religious Traditions
African Religions
Africana Religions in the Americas
Native American Religion
Religion in Latin America
Study in World Religions
Study in World Religions

Texts

Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures
New Testament/Christian Scriptures
American Religious Texts
The Qur'an
Asian Texts
Study in Religious Texts
Special Topics in Religious Texts

Approaches

Religion and Culture
Religion and Society
Feminist Views of Religion
Religious Experience
Myth, Meaning and Self
Philosophy of Religion
Psychology of Religion
Religion, Culture, and Society
Religion and Society

Issues

Religious Ethics
Death, Dying and Afterlife
Religion and Ethical Issues
Religion and Social Activism
Body and Soul
Women and Religion
The Holocaust: Religious Perspectives
Special Topics in Religious Issues
Spirituality and Mysticism
Religion and Peacemaking
Atheism
Jihad, Just War and the Prospect of Peace
Special Topics in Religious Issues

General Education Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.

A. New Student Seminar
Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar course.1
C. Communication
1. Writing 3
2. Literature3
3. Communication3
D. Fine and Performing Arts
Complete a 3 credit Fine and Performing Arts course.3
F. Humanities
1. Great Works and Their Influences3
2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives
Fulfilled in the major.
Religions of the World
Understanding Religion
Religious Ethics
Religion and Culture
G. Computer Science
Complete a 3 credit Computer Science course.3
H. Mathematics
Complete a 3 credit Mathematics course.3
I. Natural Science Laboratory
Complete a 4 credit Natural Science Laboratory course.4
J. Physical Education
Complete a 1 credit Physical Education course.1
K. Social Science
1. American and European History 3
2. Global Cultural Perspectives
May be fulfilled in the major. 10-3
3. Social Science Perspectives 3
L. Interdisciplinary Studies
Complete a 3 credit Interdisciplinary Studies course.3
Total Credits36-39
1

Requirement may be fulfilled by RELG 240, RELG 246, RELG 250, RELG 254, or RELG 256 in the major.

World Languages and Cultures Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill World Languages and Cultures categories.

World Languages
Based on placement exam complete one or two sequential courses in one language.3-6
World Cultures
Requirement may be fulfilled by RELG 240, RELG 246, RELG 250, RELG 254, or RELG 256 in the major.0-3
Total Credits3-9

Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion

This four-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years.  This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GENERAL EDUCATION: (A) New Student Seminar1GENERAL EDUCATION: (C2) Literature3
GENERAL EDUCATION: (C1) Writing3GENERAL EDUCATION: (G) Computer Science or GENERAL EDUCATION: (H) Mathematics 3
GENERAL EDUCATION: (H) Mathematics or GENERAL EDUCATION: (G) Computer Science 3GENERAL EDUCATION: (I) Natural Science Laboratory4
GENERAL EDUCATION: (J) Physical Education1GENERAL EDUCATION: (K2) Social Science – Global Cultural Perspectives or GENERAL EDUCATION: (K1) Social Science – American and European History 3
GENERAL EDUCATION: (K1) Social Science – American and European History or GENERAL EDUCATION: (K2) Social Science – Global Cultural Perspectives3RELG 101 or 1003
RELG 100 or 1013 
 14 16
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GENERAL EDUCATION: (C3) Communication or GENERAL EDUCATION: (K3) Social Science – Social Science Perspectives3GENERAL EDUCATION: (C3) Communication or GENERAL EDUCATION: (K3) Social Science – Social Science Perspectives3
GENERAL EDUCATION: (D) Fine and Performing Arts or Major Elective - Global3GENERAL EDUCATION: (D) Fine and Performing Arts or Major Elective - Global3
GENERAL EDUCATION: (F1) Humanities – Great Works and Their Influences or GENERAL EDUCATION: (L) Interdisciplinary Studies3GENERAL EDUCATION: (F1) Humanities – Great Works and Their Influences or GENERAL EDUCATION: (L) Interdisciplinary Studies3
World Language 13World Language 23
Major Elective - Texts3Major Elective - Texts3
 15 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Major Elective - Approaches or Issues3Major Elective - Approaches or Issues3
Major Elective - Issues or Approaches3Major Elective - Issues or Approaches3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
RELG 2753RELG 400 or 4053
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
 15 15
Total Credits 120