Religious Studies Major with Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education Major

Students majoring in religious studies complete 36 hours in courses in the department. The major program includes courses in cross-cultural and interfaith awareness, ethics and social justice, and spiritual wisdom and well-being.

The goal is for religious studies majors

to interpret religious and spiritual beliefs and practices as formed by diverse populations and cultures;
to make use of theories and concepts employed in the academic study of religion;
to acquire skills needed for research and critical thinking regarding religion;
to recognize the role of religion in creating and ameliorating social issues such as racism, sexism, and colonialism;
to demonstrate interfaith and intercultural competencies to build informed empathy with different perspectives and diverse populations;
to draw from contemplative practices to facilitate self-awareness and wellbeing in their individual and relational lives.

Students seeking initial certification at the early childhood and childhood levels may double major in Religious Studies and Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education. All Inclusive Early Childhood & Childhood Education students are required to have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher in order to advance into Junior-level education coursework.

Core Curriculum Requirements

All Nazareth students complete Core Curriculum coursework as part of their degree requirements. The Core provides a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences while guiding students to pose and explore their own intellectual questions. See Academic Policies and Procedures for specific core curriculum requirements.

Religious Studies Core

Students majoring in Religious Studies must complete 36 credits in courses in the department from the following areas.

Foundation Course

Students must take the following course:

RES.Q 101 - Exploring the World’s Religions Credits: 3

Cross-cultural and Interfaith Awareness

Students must take at least two courses in Cross-cultural and Interfaith Awareness from the following list.

RES 201G - Hinduism Practiced: Yoga, Devotion and Emotion Credits: 3
RES 210 - Judaism From Abraham to Afterlife Credits: 3
RES 250G - Islam & Global Issues Credits: 3
RES 306G - Women and Goddesses in India Credits: 3
RES 340 - Jesus Across Religions and Cultures Credits: 3
RES 345 - Global Catholicism: Pursuing Justice, Seeking Holiness, Building Community Credits: 3
RES 360 - Interfaith and Pluralism in America Theory and Practice Credits: 3
RES 367 - Globalization, Inclusivity and Dialogue: Experiential Learning Credits: 3
RES 377G - Mysticism and Spirits: Altered States Across Cultures Credits: 3

Ethics and Social Justice

Students must take at least two courses in Ethics and Social Justice from the following list:

RES 217 - Eyewitnesses to Genocide: Ethical Dilemmas and Religious Challenges Credits: 3
RES 347 - Women and Christianity Credits: 3
RES 351G - Qur’an and Social Justice Credits: 3
RES 381 - Peace and Justice Credits: 3
RES 382 - Living Well: Ethics in the World’s Religions Credits: 3
RES 383G - War and Peace in World Religions Credits: 3
RES 384 - Encountering Evil: Responses From World Religions Credits: 3
RES 385 - Liberation Movements: Empowerment, Solidarity, and Praxis Credits: 3
RES 386 - Malcolm and Martin: a Study of the American Civil Rights Movement Credits: 3
RES 387 - Auschwitz and After: Religious Questions and Ethical Dilemmas Credits: 3
RES 391 - Biomedical Ethics Credits: 3
RES 396 - Religion and Politics Credits: 3

Spiritual Wisdom and Well-being

Students must take at least two courses in Spiritual Wisdom and Well-being from the following list:

RES 230 - Meditation and Mindfulness: From Suffering to Freedom Credits: 3
RES 303G - Sacred Literature of India Credits: 3
RES 323G - Asian Ways of Self-Cultivation Credits: 3
RES 341 - Merton: Mystic and Prophet Credits: 3
RES 352G - Love and Beauty in Mystical Islam Credits: 3
RES 366 - Meaning of Death Credits: 3
RES 376 - Religion and Healing: A Global Perspective Credits: 3
RES 378 - Social Justice and Spirituality: Rising Voices from the Margins Credits: 3
RES 392 - Religion and Psychology Credits: 3
RES 395 - Religion, Magic and Science Credits: 3

Capstone Course

Students must take the following Capstone Course:

RES 498 - Social Justice, Self-Discovery, and the Ripple Effect Credits: 3

Additional Elective Courses and Opportunities

Students are required to complete up to 4 additional courses to complete a total of 36 credits in Religious Studies. Courses may come from any of the categories above or from these additional courses.

RES 393 - Philosophy of Religion Credits: 3 (cross-listed as PHL 224)
RES 401 - Special Topics in Religious Studies Credits: 1 to 3
RES 483 - Religious Studies Internship I Credits: 3
RES 484 - Religious Studies Internship II Credits: 3
RES 485 - Independent Study Credits: 1 to 3
RES 486 - Independent Study Credits: 1 to 3

Required Courses for Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education Majors

Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education Major Requirements

See Education: Education: Initial Teacher Certification in Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education for course requirements.
Note - Students who are planning to study abroad and complete the Early Childhood/Childhood Education program complete their study abroad semester during the sophomore year.

Sample Program for Religious Studies Major with Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education

FRESHMAN YEAR
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
ACS 101 Academic and College Success	1	ENGW 102 Argument and Research	3
RES.F 101 Exploring the World’s Religions First Year Seminar/FYS PEQ (1)	3	Foreign Language (2) with lab	4
Foreign Language (1) with lab	4	Religious Studies course (2)	3
ENGW 101 Exposition	3	PEQ (4)	3
PEQ (2)	3	PEQ (5)	3
PEQ (3)	3	EDIN 101 Developmental Learning in School: Early Childhood	1
Health and Wellness	0
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	17	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	17

SOPHOMORE YEAR
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
PEQ (6) - Science with lab	4	PEQ (8)	3
PEQ (7)	3	Religious Studies course (4)	3
Religious Studies course (3)	3	Religious Studies course (5)	3
EDIN 102 Developmental Learning in School: Childhood	1	EDIN 103 Developmental Learning in School: Adolescence	1
SPF 204 History and Philosophy of Education	3	EDIN 205 Foundations of Inclusive Education	3
Integrative Studies (IS) - 1 *must be Liberal Arts course	3	Integrative Studies (IS) - 2 *must be Liberal Arts course	3
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	17	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	16

JUNIOR YEAR
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
Religious Studies course (6)	3	INCH 380 Construction of Meaning in Mathematics And Science	3
EDIN 310 Inclusive Instructional Methods	3	INCH 390 Literacy, Language Arts, and Social Studies	3
INCH 320 Emergent Literacy and Language Development	3	Religious Studies course (9)	3
RES 498 Social Justice, Self-Discovery, and the Ripple Effect - Religious Studies course (7)	3	Religious Studies course (10)	3
Integrative Studies (IS) - 3 *students select a major course to fulfill the final IS course	-	Religious Studies course (11)	3
Religious Studies course (8)	3	EDU 485 Harassment, Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Discrimination in Schools: Prevention and Intervention (DASA Training)	0
EDU 475 Health Education, Child Abuse, and Violence Prevention Workshop	0	CME 050 Core Milestone Experience	0
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	15	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	15

SUMMER AFTER JUNIOR YEAR (Summer Tuition Required)
INCH 425 Designing and Implementing Positive Learning Communities	3	INCH 411 Field Work and Practicum in Inclusive Education Settings	3

SENIOR YEAR
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
EDIN 435 Assessment for Learning	3	Religious Studies course (12)	3
INCH 470 Reflective Seminar on Teaching, Collaboration and Building Collaborative Partnerships	3	INCH 490 Current Issues in Inclusive Education	3
INCH 480 Student Teaching	6	LST 301 Language, Literacy, and Culture (DEIB designated course)	3
		Liberal Arts Elective (Math)	3
		Liberal Arts Elective (Science)	3
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	12	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	15
*Notes* Students in Bachelor of Arts degree programs must complete 90 credits of liberal arts coursework. NYS certification standards require that students complete 6 credits in each of the following subject areas, with a minimum grade of “C” or higher in each course: English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Students may use a major course to fulfill one Integrative Studies (IS) course requirement. A minimum GPA of 2.7 is required before moving into INCH coursework (fall semester, junior year).