Religious Studies Major/Minor
Requirements for major:
Students may complete
a major in religious studies with nine courses, including Introduction
to Religious Studies, four courses including at least one with a
primary emphasis on issues in the study of sacred TEXTS, another
with a primary emphasis on description and interpretation of existing
religious TRADITIONS, a third with a primary
emphasis on COMPARISONS of different religious traditions, and a
fourth with a primaryemphasis on developing and criticizing ARGUMENTS
on religious issues (see designations below, under course descriptions,
for how courses ordinarily count); and Religious Studies Seminar
(Religious Studies 4900 is required of seniors and 3900 is recommended
for juniors). One Core topics course taught by a member of the Religious
Studies department or Heritage of the West in World Perspective
taken for a full year may be counted as one course toward the religious
studies major. At least five courses in the major must be taken
at Millsaps. A grade of C or better is required for courses to count
towards a major.
Requirements for minor:
Students may elect
a minor in religious studies with any four courses from the Department
of Religious Studies, including Introduction to Religious Studies
and Religious Studies Seminar.
Philosophy–Religious Studies Major
Requirements for major:
Students may complete
a major in philosophy–religious studies with Philosophy of
Religion, five additional courses in philosophy and five additional
courses in religious studies. The philosophy courses must include
Philosophy 3010, 3020, and 3310. The Religious Studies courses must
include at least two courses representing primary emphasis on TRADITIONS, COMPARISONS, and ARGUMENTS (see designations below,
under course descriptions, for how courses ordinarily count) and
the Religious Studies Seminar (3900 or 4900). Students pursuing
this major will be given a specially adapted comprehensive examination
by a committee of faculty from the two departments. Each student
will choose to follow either the philosophy major or the religious
studies major format for comprehensive examinations; when the philosophy
format is chosen, Philosophy 4900 must be taken. Neither Heritage
nor Core topics courses count toward the combined major.
Religious Studies–Sociology-Anthropology
Major
Requirements for major:
Students may complete
a major in religious studies–sociology-anthropology with Religion,
Society, and Culture (SOAN 3200 / RLST 3170), five additional courses
in religious studies, and five additional courses in sociology-anthropology.
The religious studies courses must include Introduction to Religious
Studies (RLST 2000), two courses representing the areas of TRADITIONS
and COMPARISONS (see designations under religious studies course
descriptions for how courses ordinarily count), and the Religious
Studies Seminar (RLST 3900 or 4900); the sociology-anthropology
courses must include an introductory level class (SOAN 1000, 1100,
1110), Social/Cultural Theory (SOAN 4200), Senior Seminar in either
sociology or anthropology (SOAN 4900 or 4910), and two elective
courses in sociology-anthropology above the introductory level.
Students pursuing this major will be given a specially adapted comprehensive
examination by a committee of
faculty from the two departments. Neither Heritage nor Core topics
courses count toward the combined major.
Preministerial Studies
Students who wish to prepare for a Christian ministerial
career are advised to take Introduction to Religious Studies (RLST
2000), a biblical studies course (RLST 2210 or 2220), a course in
Christian thought (RLST 3110 or 3120), a church internship (RLST
4850), and one other course to be recommended by the Department
of Religious Studies in accordance with thestudent’s interests.
Jewish Studies
Students with a substantial interest in Judaism are
advised to take Introduction to Religious Studies (RLST 2000), Introduction
to Hebrew Bible (RLST 2210), Introduction to Jewish Studies (RLST
2750), an internship at a Jewish institution (RLST 4850), and one
other course to be recommended by the Department of Religious Studies
in accordance with the student’s
interests. Students are encouraged to take relevant courses offered
by other departments such as The Twice Promised Land (HIST 3410).
Students who wish to prepare for leadership in another
religious community or who have a particular interest in studying
another tradition should consult with the Department of Religious
Studies faculty about appropriate courses to take.
Concentration in Christian Education
An interdisciplinary area of concentration in Christian education
is available to students. For specific requirements, see Interdisciplinary
Studies.
