Religious Studies B.A.
Religious Studies Major
The B.A. Religious Studies major requires a minimum of 120 total hours to graduate. This total includes UNIFI/General Education requirements, 30 hours of coursework in the major, plus electives to complete the minimum of 120 hours.
The Religious Studies major emphasizes multiple ways that religions shape and reflect the world around us. The major is flexible, so that students can tailor their coursework to suit their interests and career pathways. The Religious Studies major is organized around three programmatic learning outcomes and practical skills students can transfer across fields and industries, like oral and written communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, ethical responsibility, and working on teams.
| Required: | ||
| Religious Studies Core Course | 3 | |
One course from the following: | ||
| Religions of the World | ||
| The Power of Myth: (Topic) | ||
| American Religious Diversity | ||
| Applied Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Professional Development Seminar | ||
| Electives: | 24 | |
| Students can choose from courses not used above or from the following courses in Religious Studies. All RELS courses (including any RELS 3159 course) that do not already fulfill other requirements for the major are considered Electives: | ||
| Religion, Ethics, and Film | ||
| Old Testament and Other Hebrew Scriptures | ||
| New Testament and Early Christian Writings | ||
| Hinduism and Buddhism | ||
| Confucianism, Daoism, and Zen | ||
| Judaism and Islam | ||
| Christianity | ||
| Philosophy of Religion | ||
| Faith and Reason: Philosophy in the Middle Ages | ||
| Religion and the Public Schools | ||
| Individual Readings in Religion | ||
| Perspectives on Death and Dying | ||
| Women and Christianity | ||
| Religion and Politics: (Topics) | ||
| Religion and Law | ||
| Bible and Ethics | ||
| Religion and Race | ||
| Religion and Ethics | ||
| Ethics, Responsible AI, and Business | ||
| Religion in America | ||
| Studies in Religion | ||
| Internship in Religion | ||
and not more than two courses from: | ||
| Ethics for Professional Life | ||
| Ethics in Business | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Good Sex: The Ethics of Human Sexuality | ||
| Bio-Medical Ethics | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Four-Year Plan
Religious Studies, B.A.
This is a sample plan of study with a suggested sequencing of classes for the major. University electives may be applied to earn additional academic majors, minors, or certificates. Students should regularly meet with their academic advisor to plan their specific semester schedule to include UNIFI/General Education program and/or university elective hours required.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hour | |
| RELS 1020 | Religions of the World (or RELS 1040 or RELS 1060) | 3 |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 12 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| RELS 2120 | Judaism and Islam (or RELS 2130 Christianity) | 3 |
| One RELS course in Textual & Analytical Explorations | 3 | |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| RELS 2100 | Hinduism and Buddhism (or RELS 2110 Confucianism, Daoism and Zen) | 3 |
| One RELS course in Religion & Culture | 3 | |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| One RELS Course in Interactions/Traditions | 3 | |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 12 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| RELS 4490 | Professional Development Seminar (If Even Fall) | 3 |
| Two RELS Courses | 6 | |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Two RELS Courses | 6 | |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| RELS 4490 | Professional Development Seminar (IF Even Fall) | 3 |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 12 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| One RELS Course | 3 | |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 12 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Learning Outcomes
Religious Studies, B.A.
GOAL #1: Majors in the Religious Studies reflect critically and empathetically on the subject.
- To demonstrate that they have fulfilled this goal they are able to: differentiate between devotional practices and the academic study of religion, examine the meanings and functions of religion in human life and/or think critically about themselves and their place in the world.
GOAL #2: Majors in the Religious Studies have knowledge of the practices, beliefs, values, and worldviews of major religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
- To demonstrate that they have fulfilled this goal they are able to: describe similarities and differences among traditions, explain diverse religious viewpoints within each tradition, identify the impact of religions on a local, national, and/or global scale, and/or describe examples of important religious disagreements, controversies, or issues.
GOAL #3: Majors in the Religious Studies have skills that are highly valued by employers; they are able to relate their major to their career and to their future goals.
- To demonstrate that they have fulfilled this goal they are able to: explain and interpret a variety of texts, produce professional-quality documents for a variety of audiences, identify and use quality resources to conduct research on religion, competently and comfortably present research or ideas orally, and/or work effectively in teams. They can also persuasively explain to prospective employers outside the field of religion how what they have learned in the study of religion will enable them to be excellent employees who can do a variety of different tasks competently.