Religion Studies, leading to a B.A. degree

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Major Requirements (9 courses)

Breadth and Global Diversity (2 courses)

Students must take at least two courses intended to introduce the diversity of religious experience globally. To fulfill this requirement, students will choose one course from List A and one course from List B.

Areas of Thematic Concentration (5 courses)

Students have the option to choose any one of the following Areas of Thematic Concentration to study in depth. Students who prefer to design their own thematic concentration will work closely with their major advisor to select five courses that allow them to develop their academic and intellectual interests. All Religion Studies majors will be asked to reflect on the thematic concerns that connect their different courses as part of the CUE Seminar.

Religion, Power and Politics

REL 100, 101 - Religion and Popular Culture Course unit(s): 1
REL 144 - It’s The End of the World Course unit(s): 1
REL 235 - Gender and Sexuality in Buddhism Course unit(s): 1
REL 252 - Hebrew Bible Course unit(s): 1
REL 353, 354 - Gender and Sexuality in Judaism Course unit(s): 1
REL 355 - Power and Piety in Ancient Christianity Course unit(s): 1
REL 365 - Gender and Sexuality in Islam Course unit(s): 1

Ritual, Performance, and Storytelling

REL 117 - Animals and the Sacred Course unit(s): 1
REL 123, 124 - Sacred Stories Course unit(s): 1
REL 131 - Myth, Religion, and Creation Course unit(s): 1
REL 133, 134 - Pilgrimage: Rites of Way Course unit(s): 1
REL 237 - Reading the Rabbis Course unit(s): 1
REL 308 - Scrolls, Scribes, and Scriptures Course unit(s): 1
REL 314 - Death and Desire in Tibetan Buddhism Course unit(s): 1

Religion and Social Justice

REL 104, 105 - Gender and Sexuality in Religion Course unit(s): 1
REL 127 - Religious Migrations Course unit(s): 1
REL 137 - Speaking with the Divine Course unit(s): 1
REL 140 - Ecology and Religion Course unit(s): 1
REL 146 - Religions and their Monsters Course unit(s): 1
REL 215, 216 - New Religious Movements Course unit(s): 1
REL 270 - Conflict, Culture & Community Development in South Africa Course unit(s): 1
REL 330 - Ecology and Religion in Japan Course unit(s): 1

Self-Designed Concentration

If a student chooses not to study within a pre-designed Area of Thematic Concentration, then they will work closely with their major advisor to select five courses that allow them to develop their personal academic and intellectual interests.

Culminating Undergraduate Experience CUE (1 course):

All Religion Studies majors must complete a REL 450-469 CUE: Culminating Undergraduate Experience Seminars in the Study of Religion . All CUE Seminars will include opportunities for reflection on students’ thematic area of concentration.

Notes:

Religion Studies majors may count a maximum of three courses from either study abroad programs or cognate departments or programs, subject to approval from their major advisor and the department chair.

Students double majoring in Religion Studies and in a cognate department or program may double count a maximum of three courses in fulfillment of the Religion Studies major, subject to approval from their major advisor and the department chair.