Major & Minors

Explore and Discover. The Department of Religious Studies approaches religion as a fundamentally human experience. Our courses investigate religious traditions through an array of disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, history, theology, literature, and art. Students studying religious studies gain a broad understanding of religions around the world, as well as deep knowledge of a single tradition, region, or theme.

The department offers a major in religious studies and three minors: religious studies, Islamic studies, and Arabic language.

Major | Minors | Major/Minor Declaration

Major in Religious Studies

The major in religious studies introduces students to the rich diversity of religious traditions of the world and builds depth of study in areas of specific interest to the student. Themes of concentration may include religion and public life, media, space, body, and experience. The department offers courses across a wide range of religious traditions, including:

Buddhism
Christianity
Daoism
Hinduism
Islam
Judaism
Native American religions

Majors are trained in a variety of approaches to religion, including textual and historical study, as well as anthropological analysis. Language courses may be a significant part of a major’s course of study.

Major Requirements

The major in religious studies requires 31 credit hours of coursework. Coursework is organized into the following four components, described below.

Use the religious studies worksheet tool to plan your courses.

Components

Breadth (9 credit hours)

Ensures a familiarity with the rich diversity of religious traditions in the world.

Breadth

RLST 1010: Encountering Religious Diversity (3 credit hours). An introduction to the field of religious studies and select traditions.
Introductory Course in African or Western Traditions (3 credit hours). Introductory course in a religious tradition originating in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Africa, or the Americas (including but not limited to Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Egyptian religions, traditions of Sub-Saharan Africa, Native American traditions).
- RLST 1100: Introduction to African American Religious Traditions
- RLST 1111: First Year Writing Seminar *
- RLST 1190W: Introduction to Southern Religion and Culture
- RLST 1200: Introduction to Judaism
- RLST 1208: Themes in the Hebrew Bible
- RLST 1309: Themes in the New Testament
- RLST 1500: Introduction to Islam

* With approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies

Introductory Course in Asian or Non-Western Traditions (3 credit hours). Introductory course in a religious tradition originating in Asia or the pacific (including but not limited to Hindu and Buddhist traditions and those traditions originating in East and South Asia).
- RLST 1111: First Year Writing Seminar*
- RLST 1630: Introduction to Hindu and Buddhist Traditions
- RLST 1637: Religions of Tibet and the Himalaya
- RLST 1700: Religions in China
- RLST 1710: Religions of Japan
- RLST 2644: Buddhist Traditions
- RLST 2664: Foundations of Hindu Traditions

* With approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Religious Studies.

Depth (9 credit hours)

Builds deep knowledge in areas of specific interest. Courses are organized into three tracks: traditions, geographies, and theories and themes. Credit hours must all be from the same track. All courses listed below are 3 credit hours.

Traditions

Geographies

Africa, West Asia, and the Mediterranean
- RLST 1208: Themes in the Hebrew Bible
- RLST 1330W: The Gnostic Gospels
- RLST 1500: Introduction to Islam
- RLST 2461: Islam in Africa
- RLST 2471: Religion in Africa
- RLST 2472: Religion, Ecology, and Power in Africa
- RLST 3312: The Pauline Interpretation of Christianity
- RLST 3890: Special Topics in Religious Studies
- ARA 3301: Arabic of Qur'an and Other Classical Texts
- HIST 1190: A History of Islam
- HIST 2190: Last Empire of Islam
The Americas
- RLST 1100: Introduction to African American Religious Traditions
- RLST 1190W: Introduction to Southern Religion and Culture
- RLST 2134: Asian and Asian-American Religions in the United States
- RLST 3119: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Social Roles of Religion
- RLST 3142: Slave Thought and Culture in the American South
- RLST 3178: Native American Religious Traditions
- RLST 3304: Evangelical Protestantism and the Culture Wars
- RLST 3304W: Evangelical Protestantism and the Culture Wars
- HIST 2530: African Religion in the Americas
East Asia
- RLST 1700: Religion in China
- RLST 1710: Religions of Japan
- RLST 3747: Daoist Traditions
- RLST 3749: Zen Buddhism
- RLST 3753: East Asian Buddhism
- RLST 3670W: Buddhism and the State
- RLST 3775: Chinese Religions through Stories
- RLST 4774: Japanese Mythology
- ASIA 3633: Self Cultivation in Ancient China
South/Southeast Asia
- RLST 1500: Introduction to Islam
- RLST 1637: Religions of Tibet and the Himalaya
- RLST 2644: Buddhist Traditions
- RLST 2664: Foundations of Hindu Traditions
- RLST 3561: Islam in South Asia
- RLST 3669: Sacred Space in the Tibetan World
- RLST 3670W: Buddhism and the State
- RLST 4665: Mythologies and Epics of South Asia
- RLST 4666: Devotional Traditions of South Asia; Hindu, Muslim, Sikh

Theories and Themes

Religion in the literary and visual arts
- RLST 2881: Myth and History in Religious Biography
- RLST 2940: Great Books of Literature and Religion
- RLST 3669: Sacred Space in the Tibetan World
- RLST 3775: Chinese Religion through Stories
- RLST 4665: Mythologies and Epics of South Asia
- RLST 4774: Japanese Mythology
- RLST 4939: Religious Autobiography
Theories of religion, science, and/or psychology
- RLST 1820: Religion, Sexuality, and Power
- RLST 2472: Religion, Ecology and Power in Africa
- RLST 3079: The Sacred and the Secular
- RLST 3940: The Nature of Evil
- RLST 3941: Religion, Science, and Evolution
- RLST 4834: Post-Freudian Theories and Religion
- RLST 4835: Freudian Theories and Religion
- RLST 4837: Psychology of Religious myth and Ritual
- JS 2330: Problem of Evil in Judaism
- ANTH 3141: Anthropology of Healing

Tools of the Discipline (4-6 credit hours)

Introduces the range of theories and methods in the academic study of religion.

Tools of the Discipline

Theory and Method
RLST 4960W: Approaches to the Academic Study of Religion (3 credit hours)

Majors Colloquium
RLST 4970: Majors Colloquium (1 credit hour, may be taken a total of three times)

Electives (9 credit hours)

Allows exploration of individual interests. May be drawn from any of the courses listed above in the Breadth, Depth, or Tools of the Discipline components.

Electives

Students may elect to deepen an area of study, or build additional breadth in other traditions, regions, or themes.
One relevant language course (3 credit hours) may count, with approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies.This course is not subject to the two-course limit (6 credit hours) on courses taken outside the department.

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Minor in Religious Studies

Students minoring in religious studies gain an understanding of religions around the world and explore a chosen religious tradition in depth.

Requirements

The minor in religious studies requires 18 hours of coursework. It introduces the rich diversity of religious traditions (Breadth component), initiates depth in at least one tradition (Depth component) and encourages further exploration of different perspectives or traditions through electives. A maximum of one course (3 credit hours) from outside the department may count if it is included in the Breadth, Depth, or Tools of the Discipline components required for the major. No course may be used to satisfy more than one of the three components of the minor.

Use the minor worksheet tool to plan your minor.

Components

Breadth (9 credit hours)

Ensures a familiarity with the rich diversity of religious traditions in the world.

Encountering Religious Diversity (3 credit hours). RLST 1010. An introduction to the field of religious studies and select traditions.
Introductory Course in African or Western Traditions (3 credit hours). Introductory course in a religious tradition originating in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Africa, or the Americas (including but not limited to Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Egyptian religions, traditions of Sub-Saharan Africa, Native American traditions).
Introductory Course in Asian or Non-Western Traditions (3 credit hours). Introductory course in a religious tradition originating in Asia or the pacific (including but not limited to Hindu and Buddhist traditions and those traditions originating in East and South Asia).

Depth (3 Credit Hours)

Builds deep knowledge in areas of specific interest. Courses are organized into three tracks: traditions, geographies, and theories and themes. Credit hours must all be from the same track.

Electives (6 Credit Hours)

Allows exploration of individual interests. May be drawn from any of the courses listed under the Breadth, Depth, or Tools of the Discipline component of the major. Students may elect to deepen an area of study, or they may build additional breadth in other traditions, regions, or themes. With approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies and a minimum 3.3 GPA in the minor, the student may take RLST 4970: Majors Colloquium.

Note: Students may elect to deepen an area of study, or they may build additional breadth in other traditions, regions, or themes.

Note: With approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies and a minimum 3.3 GPA in the minor, the student may take RLST 4970: Majors Colloquium.

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Minor in Islamic Studies

The minor in Islamic studies explores the texts, traditions, and practices of Islam.

Requirements

The minor requires 20 hours of coursework. The following courses are required:

RLST 1500: Introduction to Islam [3] or HIST 1190: A History of Islam [3]
RLST 4554: The Qur’an and Its Interpreters [3]
ARA 1102: Elementary Arabic [5]

Note: 15 hours of coursework must be counted solely for the minor (not applied to any other major or minor). Students may pursue both the minor in Islamic studies and the minor in Arabic language. In such a case, only ARA 1102 may be counted from among the Arabic courses toward the minor in Islamic studies. The maximum number of hours from Arabic language courses is nine. No hours will be counted for ARA 1101.

The remaining hours can be taken from among the following courses (all courses are 3 credit hours unless otherwise indicated):

Honors

HONS 1820W-33: The Golden Age of Islam

Religious Studies

RLST 1001: First Year Writing Seminar (where topic is appropriate)
RLST 1500: Introduction to Islam
RLST 4554: Qur'an & Its Interpreters
RLST 2461: Islam in Africa
RLST 2471: Religion in Africa
RLST 3561: Islam in South Asia
RLST 4551: Islamic Mysticism
RLST 4552: Islam in the Modern World
RLST 4666: Devotional Traditions of South Asia: Hindu, Muslim, Sikh
RLST 4592: Reading Seminar in Arabic Literature
RLST 4593: Reading Seminar in Islamic Tradition

Arabic

ARA 1101-1102: Elementary Arabic [5]
ARA 2201-2202: Intermediate Arabic [5]
ARA 3101-3102: Advanced Arabic
ARA 3201: Media Arabic
ARA 3301: Arabic of the Qur'an

Hindi/Urdu

HNUR 1101-1102: Elementary Hindi-Urdu [5]
HNUR 2201-2202: Intermediate Hindi-Urdu [5]

History

HIST 1111: First Year Writing Seminar (where topic is appropriate)
HIST 1160: Modern South Asia
HIST 1190: A History of Islam
HIST 1200: The Arab Spring and Its Contexts
HIST 1270: Sub-Saharan Africa: 1400–1800
HIST 1280: Africa Since 1800
HIST 2140: The Mughal World
HIST 2150: India and the Indian Ocean
HIST 2155: Muhammad and Early Islam
HIST 2160: Medicine in Islam
HIST 2170: Islam and the Crusades
HIST 2180: Islamic Narratives: Narratives of Islam
HIST 2190: Last Empire of Islam
HIST 2293: Muslims in Modern Europe
HIST 2530: African Religions in the Americas
HIST 3150: Cities of Europe and the Middle East
HIST 3209: Sex, Marriage, and the Body in Islamic Law
HIST 3210: Muslims, Christians and Jews in Medieval Spain
HIST 3220W: Images of India

Political Science

PSCI 1001 First Year Writing Seminar: (where topic is appropriate)
PSCI 2230: Middle East Politics
PSCI 3235: Political Islam
PSCI 3272W: The War in Iraq 2002-2011

Jewish Studies

JS 2600: Muslims and Jews
JS 2540: Power and Diplomacy in Modern Middle East

Philosophy

PHIL 2102: Medieval Philosophy
PHIL 3006: Islamic Philosophy

History or Art

HART 1220: History of Asian Art and Architecture
HART 2180: Art and Architecture of the Islamic World

Cinema and Media Arts

CMA 3892: Cinema and Islam

Classical Studies

CLAS 2180: The Mediterranean World from Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages
CLAS 3010: Ancient Origins of Religious Conflict in the Middle East

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Minor in Arabic Language

Students develop fluency in modern standard Arabic, dialect, and classical Arabic of the Qur’an. The program offers instruction in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA); that is, the Arabic of newspapers, magazines, media broadcasts, etc., at all levels, and is proficiency-based. Students develop skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, with special emphasis on speaking and reading. Sentence building and structure, as well as vocabulary retention, are central to class activities. Knowledge of Arabic culture is an important component of all courses. All courses are to be taken on a grade basis; audits are not allowed.

Requirements

Students complete a required minimum of 18 credit hours from the list below, following one of two tracks. No credit hours will be counted for Arabic 1101 or Arabic 1102.

Track A – Foundations and Literature. 9 credit hours from Category I: Grammar and Constructions, and 9 credit hours from Category II: Literature and Culture.
Track B – Full Proficiency. 12 credit hours from Category I: Grammar and Constructions, and 6 credit hours from Category II: Literature and Culture.

CATEGORY I: Grammar and Constructions

ARA 2201: Intermediate Arabic I [3]
ARA 2202: Intermediate Arabic II [3]
ARA 3101: Advanced Arabic I [3]
ARA 3102: Advanced Arabic II [3]

CATEGORY II: Literature and Culture

ARA 3201: Media Arabic [3]
ARA 3301: Arabic of the Qur’an and Other Classical Texts[3]
RLST 4592: Reading Seminar in Arabic Literature [3]
RLST 4593: Reading Seminar in Islamic Tradition [3]

Students may pursue both the minor in Islamic studies and the minor in Arabic language. Students are encouraged to explore summer programs within the U.S. and abroad. Note that transfer credits for all language courses are not automatic.We will be happy to advise students considering such programs.

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Declaring a Major or Minor

Students seeking to declare a major or minor in religious studies should:

Contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies to request a faculty adviser.
Complete Major/Minor Declaration form and have their adviser sign the form. Submit the form to the office of your home school (i.e. Arts & Science, Blair, Peabody, Engineering, etc.). For Arts & Science students, email the form to arts-sci-forms@vanderbilt.edu.
It is the student’s responsibility to contact their adviser to set up an orientation meeting.

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