B.A. in Religious Studies
All students majoring in Religious Studies must take a minimum of 31 hours in Religious Studies plus 18 hours of related courses. The course requirements for the major are as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| REL 2000 | Introduction To Religion | 3 |
| REL 3570 | Philosophy Of Religion | 3 |
| REL 3000 | Religious Studies Proseminar | 1 |
| Distribution Requirements | ||
| At least one course must be taken in each of the three areas listed below. At least one course must be taken at the 3000-4000 level. The student may petition their advisor to have other courses substituted for the list below in fulfillment of the distribution requirement. 1 | 9 | |
| Group One | ||
| Old Testament/Tanakh | ||
| New Testament History And Ideas | ||
| Bible And Church Authority | ||
| Introduction To Christian Thought | ||
| Christian Ethical Perspectives | ||
| Jewish Biblical Studies | ||
| Christian Worship And Ritual | ||
| Group Two | ||
| Understanding The Monotheistic Religions | ||
| Introduction To Islam | ||
| The Qur'an And Hadith | ||
| Contemporary Issues In Islam | ||
| Group Three | ||
| Eastern Thought | ||
| Electives | ||
| All majors take 15 hours of electives, i.e., any 2000-4000 level REL course not counted toward the above requirements. At least 6 hours of these 15 hourse must be taken at the 4000 level. Students may consider directing some of these hurs toward a concentration, toward a Religious Studies Intership REL 4940 taken concurrently or after the Proseminar, or toward a Senior Thesis for Honors REL 4960 if pursuing departmental honors. 2 | 15 | |
| Optional: Concentration Areas | ||
| Students may opt to dedicate 12 hours toward a concentration in one of the four sub-fields of religious studies below to receive a BA degree in religious studies with a concentration in this subfield. Students may also opt out of concentrating to received a BA in religious studies per se. Distribution courses, elective courses, courses in related fields an independent students that align with the concentration in question can all count toward a concentration with prior approval of the Advisor. 3 | ||
| Christian Studies | ||
Select 12 hours related to the study of Christianity, selected from courses including but not limited to: | ||
| Understanding The Monotheistic Religions | ||
| Old Testament/Tanakh | ||
| New Testament History And Ideas | ||
| Bible And Church Authority | ||
| Topics In Catholic Thought | ||
| Introduction To Christian Thought | ||
| Ancient And Medieval Philosophy | ||
| Christian Ethical Perspectives | ||
| Christian Worship And Ritual | ||
| Islamic Studies | ||
Select 12 hours related to the study of Islam, selected from courses including but not limited to: | ||
| Understanding The Monotheistic Religions | ||
| Introduction To Islam | ||
| Ancient And Medieval Philosophy | ||
| Islam | ||
| The Qur'an And Hadith | ||
| Contemporary Issues In Islam | ||
| History Of The Middle East From 600 - 1500 | ||
| Interreligious Studies | ||
Select 12 hours related to the study of interreligion, selected from courses including but not limited to: | ||
| Ancient And Medieval Philosophy | ||
| Comparative Religion: Living Non-Western Religions | ||
| Seminar In Religious Studies | ||
| Directed Readings In Religious Studies (interreligious focus) | ||
| Internship In Religious Studies (interreligious focus) | ||
3 interdisciplinary courses in interreligious studies selected in consultation with the advisor. | ||
| Philosophy of Religion | ||
Select 12 hours related to the study of philosophy of religion, selected from courses including but not limited to: | ||
| Introduction To Logic | ||
or PHIL 1020 | Critical Thinking | |
| Introduction To Philosophy | ||
| Symbolic Logic | ||
| Ancient And Medieval Philosophy | ||
| Modern Philosophy | ||
| Philosophy Of Religion | ||
4000-level seminars cross-listed in PHIL/REL | ||
| Directed Readings (Philosophy of religion focus) | ||
| Independent Study - Honors (Philosophy of religion focus) | ||
| Total Hours | 31 | |
Related Courses
As part of the general College of Arts and Letters requirements, students must take 18 hours of related courses outside the Religious Studies program that have been approved by the student’s advisor. A minimum of 9 of these hours must be taken at the 3000 level of above. A Minor or major in another department may be used to satisfy the related courses requirement.
Below is a sample plan of study. Consult your degree audit for your program requirements.
| First Term | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| AR 1000 | First Year Orientation | 1 |
| REL 1220 | World Religions | 3 |
| ENGL 1110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| Elementary Foreign Language I | 4 | |
| MATH 1180 | Reasoning With Mathematics | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Second Term | ||
| REL 2000 | Introduction To Religion | 3 |
| ENGL 1130 | College Composition II: Academic Disciplines And Discourse | 3 |
| Elementary Foreign Language II | 4 | |
| HIST 1010-1200 Arts/Humanities Core (History) | 3 | |
| Social Sciences Core | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Third Term | ||
| Select one course from Group 1: | 3 | |
| Old Testament/Tanakh | ||
| New Testament History And Ideas | ||
| Bible And Church Authority | ||
| Introduction To Christian Thought | ||
| Jewish Biblical Studies | ||
| Christian Ethical Perspectives | ||
| Christian Worship And Ritual | ||
| Selecte one course from Group 2: | 3 | |
| Understanding The Monotheistic Religions | ||
| Special Topics In Religious Studies (Intro to Islam) | ||
| The Qur'an And Hadith | ||
| Contemporary Issues In Islam | ||
| Intermediate Foreign Language I or approved culture course | 3 | |
| ENGL 2710-2800 Arts/Humanities Core (English Lit) | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences Core | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Term | ||
| REL 3570 | Philosophy Of Religion | 3 |
| Select one course from Group 3: | 3 | |
| Eastern Thought | ||
| Intermediate Foreign Language II or approved culture course | 3 | |
| Social Sciences Core | 3 | |
| Arts/Humanities Core (Fine Arts) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fifth Term | ||
| REL Major Elective | 6 | |
| Elective (WAC) | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences Core | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences Core (Lab) | 1 | |
| Related or Minor course | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Sixth Term | ||
| REL 3000 | Religious Studies Proseminar | 1 |
| REL Major Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Related or Minor course | 3 | |
| Social Sciences Core | 3 | |
| Diversity of US | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Seventh Term | ||
| REL 4XXX Major Elective, REL seminar, Internship, or Honors Thesis | 3 | |
| Related or Minor course | 3 | |
| Elective | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Eighth Term | ||
| REL 4XXXX Seminar, Internship, or Honors Thesis | 3 | |
| Related or Minor course 3000-4000 level | 6 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Honors in Religious Studies
Meet with the departmental major advisor to discuss the qualifications and to develop a plan to meet the honors requirements. May be combined with any concentration or not. Requires:
- A 3.0 cumulative GPA and junior or senior status in order to seek honors
- A 3.4 minimum cumulative GPA in REL courses. Transfer courses are not included
- Honors Thesis: REL 4960
- Paper from 4000-level Honors seminar course.
Methods: Students will identify and apply various methods used in the academic study of religion.
Breadth of Knowledge: Students will explain the fundamental worldview, practices, and history of at least three major religious traditions, including but not limited to Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Depth of Knowledge: Students will develop competence in a recognized area of concentration within the academic study of religion (e.g., Islamic Studies; Philosophy of Religion; Religion in the Public Sphere).
Critical Engagement: Students will explain and evaluate theories, concepts, and materials in relation to historical and cultural context in a non-dogmatic manner.
Analysis and Expression: Students will analyze and evaluate concepts and problems in religious thought in accordance with disciplinary norms of clarity, interpretation, and argumentation.
Application: Students will apply resources and methods of the academic study of religion to other academic disciplines or matters of public interest
Breadth of Knowledge: Students will explain the fundamental worldview, practices, and history of at least three major religious traditions, including but not limited to Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Depth of Knowledge: Students will develop competence in a recognized area of concentration within the academic study of religion (e.g., Islamic Studies; Philosophy of Religion; Religion in the Public Sphere).
Critical Engagement: Students will explain and evaluate theories, concepts, and materials in relation to historical and cultural context in a non-dogmatic manner.
Analysis and Expression: Students will analyze and evaluate concepts and problems in religious thought in accordance with disciplinary norms of clarity, interpretation, and argumentation.
Application: Students will apply resources and methods of the academic study of religion to other academic disciplines or matters of public interest