Requirements

Degree Requirements

This major is available as a bachelor of arts degree only, as defined in the section on degree requirements for all majors in this catalog.

Major Requirements

40 credits

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Select 40 credits, including the following:		40
RELS 110	APPROACHES TO RELIGION
RELS 485	SENIOR SEMINAR
RELS 490	SENIOR THESIS
Total Credits		40

Ideally students should take APPROACHES TO RELIGION (RELS 110) sometime during their first two years. The courses SENIOR SEMINAR (RELS 485) and SENIOR THESIS (RELS 490) together constitute the Departmental capstone experience taken in Fall and Spring of the senior year. Other courses should be selected in consultation with a member of the Religious Studies faculty in order to fulfill all the goals of the major.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate critical thinking about religion, drawing upon various scholarly understandings of religion and its place in human life;
• Provide evidence of exposure to some of the historical and cultural diversity of global religious traditions;
• Show depth of study in either one religious tradition (at least) or the religions of one geographically, culturally or historically circumscribed area (for instance, Biblical studies, Buddhist studies, American religions, Asian religions, etc.);
• Engage, at least once, a “constructive” approach to the study of religion, such as religious ethics, practical theology or comparative philosophy of religions;
• Take opportunities (one or more) for personal growth and reflection through experiential learning.