Department of Religious Studies

Nancy M. Martin, Ph.D., Chair

Professors: Harran, Martin;
Associate Professors: Bidmead, Luevano.

The Department of Religious Studies offers a major and minor designed to address some of the most compelling questions and concerns in human life and to explore the power and impact of religion in our world. The department fosters global citizenship by introducing students to diverse cultures and spiritual traditions, past and present, and engaging students in dialogue about the core values of the world’s religions and their understandings of life’s meaning and purpose. Using an interdisciplinary approach, courses in religious studies explore such topics as the nature of reality and the self; suffering and the problem of evil; human rights and responsibilities; racial, gender and economic justice; environmental sustainability; health and medical ethics; globalization and identity politics; and the relationship of science, religion and the arts.

One of the advantages of the major in religious studies is its flexibility. Students are encouraged to develop a program that meets their own personal and professional goals and to pursue areas of particular interest in a more concentrated way. The major is also streamlined to facilitate double-majoring. Graduates embark on a wide range of careers in healthcare, psychology and social work, law and business, music and film, and journalism and education, as well as religious, non-profit and government service and leadership. The department can advise students concerning preparation for graduate work in religion and other fields.

For the Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies, a minimum of 21 credits must be upper-division. All courses in the major and the minor in religious studies must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of “C” or higher.

Departmental Honors
The faculty of the Department of Religious Studies awards departmental honors to graduating seniors who have demonstrated outstanding academic work in religious studies. To be considered for departmental honors, students must maintain a grade point average of 3.500 in the major, complete a senior capstone project of significance and be nominated by a faculty member in the department.

Degrees

Bachelor of Arts

Religious Studies, B.A.

Minor

Religious Studies, Minor

Courses

Religious Studies