Religious Studies Major Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete a major in Religious Studies should be able to:
- Recognize and identify similarities and differences among various historical religious cultures and communities and the meaning of those similarities and differences for the religious beliefs and practices of the members of the respective communities;
- Read and comprehend (in translation) religious literature of various sorts within the context of the historical religious culture which gave rise to that literature and has in turn been shaped by it;
- Engage in critical analysis of religious phenomena, beliefs, and practices on the one hand, and conflicting interpretations of them on the other, while also recognizing the validity and value of those phenomena, beliefs and practices for those who adhere to them;
- Appreciate the mutual influence of culture and historical context and a given religious tradition, and how each may affect the other at different times and in different places, while also recognizing the continuity of the faith tradition throughout history;
- Articulate their own thoughts effectively both orally and in writing, exhibiting command of the preceding abilities in terms appropriate to the academic study of religion.
The Religious Studies Major
Religious Studies majors are required to have a GPA of at least 2.0 in the major. No more than eight credits in Religious Studies may be taken Credit/No Credit; two of these credits must be RELST 600, which is only offered Credit/No Credit.
The major in Religious Studies leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree and requires the successful completion of 42 semester credit hours in Religious Studies.
Requirements:
Approaches:
A major program should include at least one course from each of the following approaches below. Specific courses may appear in multiple approaches, but double-counting courses for multiple approaches is not permitted.
Text:
RELST 115 - Religion in the Ancient Near East
RELST 130 - The New Testament
RELST 150 - Hinduism
RELST 160 - Buddhism
RELST 200 - Christian Ethics
RELST 222 - The Qur'an
RELST 229 - The Hebrew Bible
RELST 350 - Paul the Apostle
Context:
RELST 117 - Religion in the Ancient Greco-Roman World
RELST 120 - The Faith of Ancient Israel
RELST 140 - Islam: Faith, History, and Culture
RELST 144 - Modern Islamic Movements
RELST 146 - Islam in America
RELST 147 - Judaism
RELST 150 - Hinduism
RELST 160 - Buddhism
RELST 165 - Japanese Religions from A to Zen
RELST 170 - Religions of China
RELST 171 - Islam and Other Religions
RELST 180 - Religion in American Life
RELST 200 - Christian Ethics
RELST 250 - Medieval and Reformation Christianity
Methodical Analysis:
RELST 171 - Islam and Other Religions
RELST 175 - Contemporary Religious Thought
RELST 188 - Encountering the Other: Judaism's Relations with Christianity and Islam
RELST 204 - Introduction to Sociology of Religion
PHIL 212 - The Problem of the Self: East and West OR
RELST 212 - The Problem of the Self: East and West
RELST 215 - Marriage and Sexuality in Islam
PHIL 227 - Religion and the Challenge of Modernity OR
RELST 227 - Religion and the Challenge of Modernity
RELST 265 - Theory and Method in the Study of Religion
RELST 341 - Jewish Ethics
RELST 360 - Religion and Ecology
Traditions:
In addition to the Approaches requirement above, the major should also include courses in three of the five different religious traditions listed below. Specific courses may appear in multiple traditions, but double-counting courses for multiple traditions is not permitted. Courses that satisfy the approaches requirement can also satisfy the traditions requirement.
Judaism:
RELST 120 - The Faith of Ancient Israel
RELST 147 - Judaism
RELST 188 - Encountering the Other: Judaism's Relations with Christianity and Islam
RELST 229 - The Hebrew Bible
RELST 341 - Jewish Ethics
Christianity:
RELST 130 - The New Testament
RELST 200 - Christian Ethics
RELST 250 - Medieval and Reformation Christianity
RELST 350 - Paul the Apostle
Islam:
RELST 140 - Islam: Faith, History, and Culture
RELST 144 - Modern Islamic Movements
RELST 146 - Islam in America
RELST 171 - Islam and Other Religions
RELST 215 - Marriage and Sexuality in Islam
RELST 222 - The Qur'an
India/China/Japan:
RELST 150 - Hinduism
RELST 160 - Buddhism
RELST 165 - Japanese Religions from A to Zen
RELST 170 - Religions of China
PHIL 212 - The Problem of the Self: East and West OR
RELST 212 - The Problem of the Self: East and West
Ancient Mediterranean World:
RELST 115 - Religion in the Ancient Near East
RELST 117 - Religion in the Ancient Greco-Roman World
Advanced Course Requirement:
Note:
Majors in Religious Studies can take an approved cognate course from another discipline in fulfilling major requirements, which along with carefully chosen electives, can create an emphasis in a specific area of Religious Studies.