What does it all mean?
In religious studies, you will study the religions and world views that are so powerful in our culture, as well as major religious traditions from across the globe. Religion is a wealth of intriguing phenomena, from U.S. politics to Hebrew singing in synagogues to the centuries of text editing by Confucian scholars. Underlying such phenomena are perennial big questions: What are the greatest powers in the world? What does life mean and what are people’s ultimate goals? How do we find reliable guidance in life? Human beings find themselves engaged by such “ultimate” questions; indeed, human life cannot be understood apart from them. Religious studies is dedicated to understanding human life—one’s own life included—in this light.
In a world of conflict where intercultural understanding is of ever-growing importance, religious studies offers profound encounters with other people’s ways of imagining, thinking, and living.
View the requirements:
- BA in philosophy and religious studies
- BS in philosophy and religious studies
- BA in religious studies and sociology/anthropology
- BS in religious studies and sociology/anthropology
- minor in religious studies
- minor in Jewish studies
- minor in Christian studies
- minor in interreligious encounters
Browse all religious studies courses.
A minor in Jewish studies is of great benefit if you are interested in ultimately working in a Jewish community, school, or one of the many closely aligned community organizations. Coursework will include required studies in world religions, Hebrew, and Judaism, along with electives in religious studies, history, or literature. The interreligious encounters minor is an excellent choice if your career will engage you in diverse cultures and environments. Coursework will include studies in a broad range of world religions, including Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam, and you will gain experience working with diverse groups in the community. If you are considering Christian seminary or want to work in a Christian environment or organization, you should consider a minor in Christian studies. Coursework will include required study in world religions, the New Testament, and Christian Thought, along with electives in religious studies and Greek.
