Religious Studies

Minor

Students pursuing a minor in religious studies are encouraged to design individualized programs of study that draw from an array of varied topics and disciplinary approaches.

Courses in the Religious Studies Program consider the critical role religion plays in human life by:

• Exploring major religious traditions as global phenomena,
• charting the intersections of religion with cultural expressions of literature, film, media, music, and art,
• probing political, philosophical, and psychological implications of religious thought and experience,
• tracing the historical development of religious institutions, practices, and beliefs,
• examining the origins and ongoing influences of religious scriptures.

With cross-listing in departments and programs of History, Philosophy, Psychology, Political Science and International Relations, English, American Studies, Asian Studies, and Film Studies, courses in Religious Studies draw on a wide variety of scholarly disciplines and methodologies.

Given the importance of religion to understanding the modern world we live in, taking courses or pursuing a minor in religious studies is an excellent complement to any major. Students completing a minor will learn to analyze the role of religion in human societies of both ancient and modern worlds; trace the historical development of religious traditions; engage respectfully and critically with the religious backgrounds and assumptions of others as well as their own; and apply key terms and concepts common to the academic study of religion.

The Program
Requirements for the minor in religious studies include five credits in courses ranging from an introductory survey course to advanced work in the field, as well as three electives chosen from a wide variety of courses.

Resources
Seymour Library and Special Collections & Archives offer a wide range of resources for students in religious studies. The program is also supported by the Nixon Fund for Religious Life, which funds speakers; the Glossberg Visiting Israeli Scholar Program, which funds one scholar each year to teach a course in Jewish Studies; and the Barash and Rudman Funds for Judaic Studies, which support both student and faculty research.