Religion
Concentration
Core Requirements
GREL
101. Religions of the World
One philosophy course
(GPHIL
101. Introduction to Philosophy
recommended; cross-listed courses do not satisfy this
requirement)
One course in western religious
traditions
One course in eastern religious
traditions
One of the following:
REL
218. Philosophy of
Religion
REL
270. Religious Ethics
REL
313. Hindu Ethics
REL/SOCI
322. Sociology of
Religion
REL
360. History of Western Religious
Thought
PHIL 330. Moral Theory
Capstone (choose one of the
following):
REL
420. Cross-Cultural Philosophy of
Religion
REL
450. Religion and Society
REL
460. Topics in Ancient Jewish and
Early Christian Literature
REL
475. Inter-Religious
Dialogue
Electives (choose five; see
description below)
Electives
The electives requirement allows students to design a course of
studies that develop their special interests beyond the core
requirements for the major and that advances their professional
goals.
The three options of specialization are: Western Traditions,
Eastern Traditions and Comparative Studies (electives selected from
any course in the religion program). Thus a student may focus upon
a particular religious tradition or configuration of traditions
(for example, Hinduism and Buddhism; Islam and Judaism) or upon a
particular topic area (for example, biblical studies, ethics or
religious thought), or a student may maximize breadth by choosing
and five courses of interest. Religious studies majors are
encouraged to consult their adviser to ensure that their course
selections correspond to a coherently designed program of
specialization.
Courses
Eastern
Traditions
REL
310. Hindu Traditions
REL
312. Religions of East
Asia
REL
313. Hindu Ethics
REL
314. Gandhi, Nonviolent and Global
Transformation
REL
316. Topics in Hinduism
REL
317. Exploring Gandhian Philosophy of Nonviolence
REL
318. Exploring Contemporary
India
REL/PHIL
385.Buddhist Thought
Western
Traditions
REL/HEBR 131-132. Elementary
Biblical Hebrew
REL/HEBR 231-232. Intermediate
Biblical Hebrew
REL
201.Introduction to Hebrew Bible/Old
Testament
REL
202.Introduction to New
Testament
REL
240. Jesus and the Moral
Life
REL
305. Islamic Religious
Traditions
REL
320. Judaism
REL
325.Catholicism in the Modern
World
REL
330. African and African-American
Religion
REL
342. Historical Jesus and the Roman
Imperial World
REL
344.Christianity in the Roman
Empire
REL
346. Religions of Greece and
Rome
REL
360. History of Western Religious
Thought
REL/PHIL
375. The 19th Century: Age of
Ideology
REL
380.Contemporary
Theologies
REL
450. Religion and Society
REL
460. Topics in Ancient Jewish and
Early Christian Literature
Comparative and Issues
Oriented Courses
REL
200. Exploring Religion
REL/PHIL
218.Philosophy of
Religion
REL
220. Religion: Conflict and
Peace
REL
270. Religious Ethics
REL
280. Religion and Science
REL
315. Women and Religion
REL/SOCI
322.Sociology of Religion
REL
370. Mysticism
REL
420.Cross-Cultural Philosophy of
Religion
REL
475.Inter-Religious
Dialogue
REL
490. Directed Studies in
Religion
Interdisciplinary Religion
Concentration
This option is designed for
students who want to concentrate in religion but also integrate
their work in religion with work in another, complementary
disciplinary area. A student electing this option will fulfill the
requirements for the regular concentration in religion, with one
change: nine credits from one or more disciplinary areas outside of
religion (must be chosen in consultation with the adviser) will
substitute for six of the religion electives credits required for
the concentration in religion. Accordingly, the total required
elective credits for the interdisciplinary concentration will be 18
(nine religion elective credits, nine interdisciplinary elective
credits), giving a total of 36 credit hours to complete the
program.
Core Requirements
GREL
101. Religions of the World
One philosophy course
(GPHIL
101.Introduction to Philosophy
recommended; cross-listed courses do not satisfy this
requirement)
One course in western religious
traditions
One course in eastern religious
traditions
One of the following:
REL
218. Philosophy of
Religion
REL
270. Religious Ethics
REL
313. Hindu Ethics
REL/SOCI
322. Sociology of
Religion
REL
360. History of Western Religious
Thought
PHIL 330. Moral Theory
Capstone (choose one of the
following)
REL
420. Cross-Cultural Philosophy of
Religion
REL
450. Religion and Society
REL
460. Topics in Ancient Jewish and
Early Christian Literature
REL 475. Inter-Religious Dialogue
Electives
6 three-credit courses= 18
credits
Electives
These elective requirements allow
students to design a course of studies that permits integration of
their interdisciplinary interests with additional course selections
in religion. The three options for specialization are western
traditions, eastern traditions and comparative studies (electives
selected from any courses in the religion program). Thus a student
may focus upon a particular religious tradition or configuration of
traditions (for example, Hinduism and Buddhism; Islam and Judaism)
or upon a particular topic area (for example, biblical studies,
ethics or religious thought), or a student may maximize breadth by
choosing any six courses of interest. Religious studies majors are
encouraged to consult with their adviser for approval of the
interdisciplinary course selection and to ensure that course
selections correspond to a coherently designed program of
specialization.
Recommended Schedule for
Majors
The following outline is a sample
four year program. The actual courses and sequence a student takes
may vary.
First Year
Credit Hours
Introductory courses in major
6
Foreign language courses1
6-8
General Education
courses1
6-18
Second Year
Credit Hours
Required courses in major
6
Choose from the following:
6
Foreign language courses
Electives
General Education courses
18
Third Year
Credit Hours
Requirements and electives in
philosophy or religion
12
Electives (may be outside of major)
12
General Education courses
6
Fourth Year
Credit Hours
Requirements and electives in
philosophy or religion
12
Electives (may be outside of major)
18
1 Students are advised to adjust
General Education load to foreign language load to achieve 30 hours
total.
