Religious Studies - Major

Students majoring in Religious Studies complete 36 hours in courses in the department.  The major program includes courses in world religious traditions, theology and spirituality, sacred texts, ethics, and comparative studies.

The goal for our majors is that they develop mastery in the field of Religious Studies.  We understand mastery to mean the acquisition, synthesis, and communication (oral and written) of knowledge about religion in general as well as specific religious traditions (hereafter indicated as “religion(s)”).

The more specific objectives for any student who graduates with a major in Religious Studies are that s/he should be able to:

• demonstrate fundamental factual and theoretical knowledge in required areas of study in the major: world religions, theology and spirituality, sacred texts, ethics, and comparative studies;

• acquire factual knowledge about religion(s) and understand that this must be a continual process in a career in Religious Studies;

• read and understand scholarly literature in the field of Religious Studies;

• communicate concepts and ideas of and about religion(s) in written form;

• communicate concepts and ideas of and about religion(s) orally;

• use computer technology to acquire and communicate knowledge about religion(s);

• observe accurately and analyze plausibly religious phenomena;

• understand and apply a taxonomy of “characteristics” of religion;

• understand and appreciate the perspectives of a variety of academic disciplines upon religion(s);

• appreciate the history of, and major debates within, the field of Religious Studies;

• appreciate the fact and value of religious diversity;

• apply his/her understandings of religion(s) to issues of social concern and human welfare.

Students seeking to enter the Inclusive Education (Quadruple Certification Grades 1-9) program may major in Religious Studies.