Religious Studies Major

The Religious Studies Program offers a major and a minor in religious studies.

The religious studies major is designed to provide students with depth and breadth in the study of religion as universal to human experience, fundamental to human efforts to find meaning in the universe, and central to cultures around the world, past and present. As an inherently interdisciplinary field, the study of religion incorporates a wide variety of approaches, including historical, psychological, sociological, anthropological, literary, and philosophical. In addition to being provided opportunities to reflect extensively on the big questions of human existence, students majoring in religious studies become familiar with many religious traditions, and are equipped with multiple ways of thinking about the nature of religion, its role in society, and its place in the lives of individuals. Religious studies majors may go on to careers in counseling, journalism, ministry, social work, or any number of other professions requiring strong critical thinking skills, good writing ability, and careful reading. Graduate school in a variety of fields is possible, and religious studies majors historically score very well on the LSAT for law school admission. As a minor, Religious Studies can very effectively supplement a number of majors, including, for example, literature, history, writing, psychology, or Philosophy, Political Science and Economics. Likewise, the philosophy minor not only provides a strong grounding in reasoning skills, but also background in the variety of ways human beings think about, and have thought in the past about, what matters and why.

Learning Outcomes for Religious Studies

Upon successful completion of major requirements students should be able to:

1. Articulate how religion has the power to shape individual lives and social values.
2. Critically read, evaluate, and write on the foundational texts and the significant ideas, concepts, and questions in the study of religion.
3. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of Christian traditions including critically reflecting on the Hebrew Bible, New Testament, and Christian history and theologies.
4. Show a basic understanding of a breadth of religious traditions including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Native American traditions.
5. Use library research tools specific to religious studies, and religious studies methodologies to construct papers, essays and class presentations.
6. Use these perspectives and skills to become a responsible citizen in a religiously plural world.
7. Identify, analyze, and compare understandings of the meaning of life, the human condition, and the nature of the good life in several religious traditions.