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.
Components
Breadth (9 credit hours)
Ensures a familiarity with the rich diversity of religious traditions in the world.
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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.
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Tools of the Discipline (4-6 credit hours)
Introduces the range of theories and methods in the academic study of religion.
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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.
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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.
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):
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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.
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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.
Declaring a Major or Minor
Students who wish to declare a major or minor in anthropology need to complete the Major/Minor Declaration/Change form. See the Major/Minor Declaration User Guide for more information.
Once the form is submitted, the Director of Undergraduate Studies will approve the declaration and assign an adviser to the student. If a specific adviser is desired, please contact the DUS directly, explaining why this adviser is requested. Requests will be considered but are not guaranteed.
The student will receive email notification of the approval or denial with the adviser’s contact information. It is the student’s responsibility to contact their adviser in order to set up an orientation meeting, which allows the student to gain information on a variety of topics, including major/minor requirements. Please be aware that there is generally a moratorium on approval of new declarations during spring and fall registration periods.
Please contact Dr. Issam Eido, director of undergraduate studies, with any questions.