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 global religious traditions, spirituality in practice and reflection, sacred words and images, religion and society, and interfaith studies, dialogue and experience.

The goal is for religious studies majors to develop mastery in the field of religious studies. “Mastery” is understood to mean the acquisition, synthesis, and communication (oral and written) of knowledge about religion in general as well as about specific religious traditions (hereafter indicated as “religion(s)”).

Specific objectives for students who graduate with a major in religious studies:

Students will be able to identify and interpret religious and spiritual beliefs and practices as formed by diverse populations and cultures over time.
Students will be able to identify and make use of major interdisciplinary theories, methods and concepts employed in the academic study of religion.
Students will acquire skills needed for research, data interpretation, analysis of problems, critical thinking and communication regarding religion.
Students will be able to analyze the role of religion in creating and ameliorating power dynamics intrinsic to social issues such as racism, sexism, economic disparity, and environmental destruction .
Students will be able to demonstrate interfaith and intercultural competencies that enable informed empathy with different perspectives and diverse populations globally and locally.

Students seeking initial certification at the early childhood and childhood levels may double major in Religious Studies and Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education. Students in this double major are required to have a minimum overall GPA of 2.7 before moving into INCH coursework which typically begins fall semester of the junior year.

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 Religion Credits: 3

Global Traditions

Students must take three courses in Global Traditions from the following list.

RES 201G - Hinduism Practiced: Yoga, Devotion and Emotion Credits: 3
RES 210 - Judaism From Abraham to Afterlife Credits: 3
RES 230G - Meditation and Mindfulness: From Suffering to Freedom Credits: 3
RES 250G - Islam & Global Issues Credits: 3
RES 306G - Women and Goddesses in India Credits: 3
RES 345 - Global Catholicism: Pursuing Justice, Seeking Holiness, Building Community Credits: 3

Spirituality in Practice and Reflection

Students must take one course in Spirituality in Practice and Reflection from the following list:

RES 340 - Jesus Across Religions and Cultures Credits: 3
RES 341 - Merton: Mystic and Prophet Credits: 3
RES 347 - Women and Christianity Credits: 3
RES 352G - Love and Beauty in Mystical Islam Credits: 3
RES 366 - Meaning of Death Credits: 3
RES 378 - Social Justice and Spirituality: Rising Voices from the Margins Credits: 3
RES 392 - Religion and Psychology Credits: 3

Sacred Words and Images

Students must take one course in Sacred Words and Images from the following list:

RES 303G - Sacred Literature of India Credits: 3
RES 323G - Wisdom for Living from India and China Credits: 3
RES 351G - Qur’an and Social Justice Credits: 3
RES 371 - Introducing the Bible Credits: 3

Religion and Society

Students must take one course in Religion and Society from the following list:

RES 217 - Accounting for Genocide: Religious Dilemmas and Ethical Questions Credits: 3
RES 381 - Peace and Justice 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 389 - The Holocaust in Italy and France: Fascism, Resistance and Rescue Credits: 3
RES 391 - Biomedical Ethics Credits: 3
RES 394 - Sociology of Religion Credits: 3 (cross-listed as SOC 343)
RES 395 - Religion and Science Credits: 3
RES 396 - Religion and Politics Credits: 3

Interfaith Studies, Dialogue and Experience

Students must take one course in Interfaith Studies, Dialogue and Experience from the following list:

RES 307G - Religious Pluralism in Practice: Kerala, India Credits: 3
RES 360 - Interfaith and Pluralism in America Theory and Practice Credits: 3
RES 363 - Religion in America Credits: 3
RES 367 - Globalization, Inclusivity and Dialogue: Experiential Learning Credits: 3
RES 376 - Religion and Healing: a Global Perspective Credits: 3
RES 377G - Mysticism and Spirits: Altered States Across Cultures Credits: 3
RES 382 - Living Well: Ethics in the World’s Religions Credits: 3
RES 384 - Encountering Evil: Responses From World Religions Credits: 3
RES 482 - Interfaith Internship Credits: 3

Junior - Senior Seminar

Students must take the following Junior - Senior Seminar:

RES 399 - Junior-Senior Seminar in Religious Studies Credits: 3

Additional Elective Courses and Opportunities

Students are required to complete 1-3 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: 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: 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.

Religious Studies Senior Experience

Students must complete the following Senior Experience:

RES 499 - Religious Studies Comprehensive Credits: 0

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 Religion 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
Health and Wellness	0
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	17	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	16

SOPHOMORE YEAR
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
PEQ (6) - Science with lab	4	PEQ (8)	3
PEQ (7)	3	SPF 204 History and Philosophy of Education	3
Religious Studies course (3)	3	Religious Studies course (5)	3
Religious Studies course (4)	3	Religious Studies course (6)	3
Integrative Studies (IS) - 1 *must be Liberal Arts course	3	Integrative Studies (IS) - 2 *must be Liberal Arts course	3
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	16	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	15

JUNIOR YEAR
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
RES 399 Junior-Senior Seminar in Religious Studies (7)	3	INCH 380 Construction of Meaning in Mathematics And Science	3
INCH 310 Differentiated Planning and Assessment For Diverse Learners	3	INCH 390 Literacy, Language Arts, and Social Studies	3
INCH 320 Emergent Literacy and Language Development	3	Religious Studies course (9)	3
Religious Studies course (8)	3	Religious Studies course (10)	3
Integrative Studies (IS) - 3 *must be Liberal Arts course	3	Religious Studies course (11)	3
EDU 475 Health Education, Child Abuse, and Violence Prevention Workshop	0	EDU 485 Harassment, Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Discrimination in Schools: Prevention and Intervention (DASA Training)	0
		CME 050 Core Milestone Experience	0
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	15	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	13

SUMMER AFTER JUNIOR YEAR (Summer Tuition Required)
INCH 410 Diversity and Inclusion for Inclusive Early Childhood and Childhood Classrooms	3	INCH 411 Field Work and Practicum in Inclusive Education Settings	3

SENIOR YEAR
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
INCH 425 Designing and Implementing Positive Learning Communities	3	Religious Studies course (12)	3
INCH 435 Assessment for Learning	3	INCH 490 Current Issues in Inclusive Education	3
INCH 470 Reflective Seminar on Teaching, Collaboration and Building Collaborative Partnerships	3	INCH 499 Inclusive Education Portfolio Presentation	3
INCH 480 Student Teaching	6	RES 499 Religious Studies Comprehensive	0
		Math or Science Elective	3
		Liberal Arts Elective	3
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	15	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	15
*Notes* Students in Bachelor of Arts degree programs must complete 90 credits of liberal arts coursework. Students in the Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education major must complete 10 credits of math and science coursework. 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).