Religion Major

PEAKS | HFA

Major Requirements:

Consists of 32 credits (excluding foreign language credits), and must include the following elements.:

Foundations

• Three credits general religious studies chosen from:
  • REL-100 Introduction to Religious Studies (3 cr)
  • Additional courses as approved by the program supervisor.
• Six credits from the Christian tradition, to be chosen from:
  • REL-111 Old Testament Introduction (3 cr)
  • REL-112 New Testament Introduction (3 cr)
  • REL-201 Jesus & the Gospels (3 cr)
  • REL-202 Christianity (3 cr)
  • REL-315 Christian Theology (3 cr)
  • HIS-346 Reformation of the 16th Century (3 cr)
  • HIS-363 The Rise of Christianity (3 cr)
  • HIS-378 Liberation Theology (3 cr)
• Six credits from beyond the Christian tradition, to be chosen from:
  • REL-115 Introduction to Buddhist Studies (3 cr)
  • REL-303 Islam: History, Practices, Beliefs (3 cr)
  • HIS-343 Religion& the State in Late Imperial China (3 cr)
  • HIS-368 Jewish History (3 cr)
  • ATH-302 Ritual, Myth, & World View (3 cr)
• Twelve additional credits in Religion or approved History and Anthropology courses.

Breadth

• Fine Arts: Course(s) in Art, Music, Theatre and/or Creative Writing, approved by the student's Religion advisor. (3 cr)
• Foreign Language: May be met by satisfactorily completing the first year of language study at the college level in either a modern or ancient foreign language, or by passing a first-year equivalency test. (0-7 cr)

Depth

• REL-498 Religious Studies Seminar (1 cr)
• REL-499 Senior Thesis (1 cr): Honors or independent study project during the senior year in which a major paper is produced.

Some courses may count toward more than one element; courses used as part of the Religion Major may not also be used for any other major or minor

Student Learning Outcomes

• distinguish between devotional and academic approaches to Religion, and to read and write critically about Religion in accordance with the latter;
• gain a critical framework within which to encounter, analyze and understand religious phenomena in both Western and Asian contexts, in conversation with other available models, and to become conversant with the major issues and problems in interpreting religion;
• attain a substantive understanding of Christianity and of at least one other religious tradition, and of the diversity within each;
• be critically aware of, and self-reflective on, their own ultimate values and commitments, the relationships of those values and commitments to those of others, and to be able to communicate and support those views in a coherent, understandable way;
• formulate and conduct independent research in Religion, and present the results both orally and in writing in a clear, thoughtful, and carefully defended way;
• possess adequate depth and breadth of religious knowledge and sophistication to be prepared for graduate work in religious studies or professional ministerial training.