Program Information

Courses in Religious Studies are designed to enrich the student's education by presenting an opportunity to investigate this important aspect of human life and culture in an objective manner, utilizing standard disciplines of academic learning. The Religious Studies curriculum is designed to relate the phenomenon of religion to the totality of human existence. In our liberal arts context this means raising the consciousness of potentially every student to the pervasive and often hidden influence of religious ideas and value commitments in his or her personal life and cultural heritage. It also means fostering and developing those critical and reflective habits of mind which enable a person to deal with religious phenomena in a mature, intelligent, informed, sensitive, responsible, personally satisfying, and fulfilling way.

Requirements for the Religious Studies Major (8 Credits)

In addition to the Department Colloquia credit, four credits must be satisfied with courses at the 300 level or above (4).

Core courses

REL 385 (W) Theory and Method in Religious Studies (1)
REL 381 and 382 Department Colloquium (two semesters at .25 each)
REL 481 and 482 Department Colloquium (two semesters at .25 each)

Area A - Sources of the Western Tradition

Two credits from the following (2)

REL 113 (TH) Introduction to Old Testament/Hebrew Bible
REL 114 (IT) History and Literature of Early Christianity
REL 223 History and Literature of Early Judiasm
REL 227 (TH) Paganism: The Religions of Greece and Rome
REL 231 (TH) In Search of the Historical Jesus
REL 242 Hebrew Prophets
REL 331 The Gospel of John (.5)
REL 335 (IT, W) Paul of Tarsus
REL 340 (4th Sem Lang Req) Hebrew Torah/Pentateuch
REL 341 Religions of the Ancient World
REL 390 Independent Study (.5 or 1)

Area B - Development of the Western Tradition

Two credits from the following (2)

REL 110 History of Christianity I: 100 - 700 C.E.
REL 111 History of Christianity II: 700 - 1648 C.E.
REL 214 (TH) Religion in America
REL 230 Modern European Christian Thought
REL 244 Introduction to Judaism
REL 252 Soul Food: Eating and Drinking in Western Religion
REL 254 Three American Traditions of Spirituality
REL 320 Religion and Science
REL 333 Topics in Contemporary American Theology
REL 334 (AR) Liberation Theology and Social Change
REL 370 Ethics and Vocation
REL 390 Independent Study

Area C - Asian and Comparative Studies

Two credits from the following (2)

REL 115 (AR) Introduction to the Study of Religion
REL 116 (IT) Introduction to Major Religious Texts
REL 135 Religions of Asia
REL 233 (TH) History and Culture Along the Silk Road
REL 239 Introduction to Chinese Religions
REL 262 Japanese Religions
REL 336 Women in World Religions
REL 348 Buddhism
REL 352 (IT) Shamanism
REL 354 Topics in Asian Religion
REL 356 Taoism
REL 390 Independent Study (.5 or 1)

Senior Experience (1)

All majors in Religious Studies are expected to fulfill the Senior Experience by choosing one from the following options and participating in the Department Colloquium where they will share with peers and faculty in the department the results of the Senior Project.

REL 420 (IT) Bible in the American Tradition
REL 437 Archaeological Field Experience
REL 444 (W) Kant, Critique of the Power of Judgement
REL 496 (W) Directed Senior Thesis
REL 498 (W) Heidegger and Theology: Being and Time
HUM 497 (W) Humanities Senior Seminar

Requirements for the Religious Studies Minor (5 Credits)

REL 385 (W) Theory and Method in Religious Studies (1)
One credit in Sources of the Western Religious Tradition (1)
One credit in Development of the Western Religious Tradition (1)
One credit in Asian Comparative Religious Studies (1)
One additional credit from any of the above areas as a concentration, or participation in the Department Colloquium (1)