Religious Studies Major

Major requirements differ depending on students' academic catalog.

For students under the 2024 - 2026 and later catalogs, undergraduate courses in Religious Studies are divided into the following three tracks:

Track I: Comparative Religious Studies

This track is designed to give students a comprehensive training in the discipline of Religious Studies. It is intended for students who would plan to pursue career options in Religious Studies, including graduate programs in the study of religion and/or in a theological or seminary setting.

Course reqs: 30 hours total

R S 310- Introduction to the Study of Religion
R S 320- Introduction to Research Methods in the Study of Religion
R S 375S- Advanced Seminar in Religious Studies. This course is a discussion and research-based study of topics in religious studies. It includes theoretical approaches to the study of religion
6 hours of Religions of Asia, Europe, the Middle East, or the Mediterranean World
6 hours of Religions of Africa, African Diaspora, or the Americas
6 hours of Comparative Themes
3 hours Religious Studies

Track II: Global Interreligious Dynamics

This track is designed for students interested in the human encounters and exchanges within and across global religious traditions. It is intended for students who wish to gain in-depth knowledge of the ways diverse religious practices and ideas impact global politics and civic life, in order to develop skills applicable to careers that address conflict resolution and cultural pluralism.

Course reqs: 30 hours total

R S 310- Introduction to the Study of Religion
R S 307- Introduction to Interreligious Dynamics
R S 320- Introduction to Research Methods in the Study of Religion
R S 375S- Advanced Seminar in Religious Studies. This course is a discussion and research-based study of topics in religious studies. It includes theoretical approaches to the study of religion
9 hours of Contemporary Interreligious Dynamics
9 hours of Historical Interreligious Dynamics

Track III: Religion, Ethics, and Social Justice

This track is designed to train students in applied methods for the study of religion in everyday life, including secular spaces and popular cultures that often fall outside conventional understandings of religious traditions and the study of religion. This track emphasizes concerns of ethics and justice in society. It is intended for pre-professional students interested in careers in medicine, law, social work, non-profits, community engagement, workplace equity, human rights, and democratic engagement.

Course reqs: 30 hours total

R S 310- Introduction to the Study of Religion
R S 320- Introduction to Research Methods in the Study of Religion
R S 375S- Advanced Seminar in Religious Studies. This course is a discussion and research-based study of topics in religious studies. It includes theoretical approaches to the study of religion
9 hours of Religous Ethics and Moral Traditions
9 hours of Human Rights and Social Justice
3 hours Religious Studies

Check out the Degree Plans below for a visual!

Degree Plans:

2024 - 2026

2022 - 2024

For students under the 2020 - 2022 and earlier catalogs, undergraduate courses in Religious Studies are divided into four areas based on their geographic focus and subject area:

Area I: Religions of Asia
Area II: Religions of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
Area III: Religions of the Americas
Area IV: Approaches to the Study of Religion and Comparative Studies of Religion

The major is 30 hours in total. 18 of those 30 hours must be UD. Students will take 1 course for each of the 4 areas. After which they will choose a Primary Area to take 6 more hours in that area. Students will also take a R S 375S- Advanced Seminar Religious Studies course. This course is a discussion and research-based study of topics in religious studies. It includes theoretical approaches to the study of religion. Lastly, students will take 9 additional hours of Religious Studies.