Degree Requirements 2023-2024
Religion Major, BA
Courses offered toward a major in Religion highlight the theme of Religion in Public Life in four concentrations: 1) Culture and Society, 2) History and Theology, 3) Sacred Texts and Narratives, 4) Global Religions and Interfaith Studies. Students majoring in Religion may choose one of these areas as a concentration for their degree by completing four courses within the concentration out of the 8 total courses (32 credit hours) required for the major. Many students choose to add religion as a second major. Examples of double majors include students in biology, sociology, and history. The Religion major prepares students to think critically, read analytically, write clearly, and speak confidently—skills that make our graduates attractive to graduate schools and employers in any field.
Major/Concentration/Minor Requirements
Religion Major: 8 courses (beyond RLN 100/300; including RLN 209, RLN 400)
Concentration within the major: Minimum 4 courses in the concentration
Religion Minor: 4 courses (beyond RLN 100; can include RLN 209, RLN 400)
Concentrations
Students majoring in Religion can pursue one of the four concentrations listed below.
Culture and Society – Sixteen credits from:
- RLN 205: Exploring Topics in Religion (depending on topic)
- RLN 216: Religion and Science in Popular Culture
- RLN 222: Religion and Popular Culture
- RLN 230: Self, Sex & Sin: Human Person in Christian & Contemporary Thought
- RLN 251: The Bible and Its Afterlives
- RLN 257: Apocalypse Now and Then
- RLN 319: Religion at the Movies
- RLN 366: Sex, Gender, and the Bible
- RLN 380: Theology and Political Resistance
- RLN 392: Religion and Trauma
- RLN 409: Topics (depending on topic)
- RLN 441: Contemporary Theology
History and Theology – Sixteen credits from:
- RLN 205: Exploring Topics in Religion (depending on topic)
- RLN 214/MUS 234: Church Music and Worship
- RLN 216: Religion and Science in Popular Culture
- RLN 230: Self, Sex & Sin: Human Person in Christian & Contemporary Thought
- RLN 240: Religion and the Rise of Science
- RLN 243: Religion in America
- RLN 257: Apocalypse Now and Then
- RLN 319: Religion at the Movies
- RLN 330: Theology of Death and Dying
- RLN 342: Martin Luther and the Reformation
- RLN 340/HIS 378: The Medieval Church
- RLN 370: American Indian Spirituality and Philosophical Thought
- RLN 374: Ethics and World Religions
- RLN 380: Theology and Political Resistance
- RLN 409: Topics (depending on topic)
- RLN 441: Contemporary Theology
Sacred Texts and Narratives – Sixteen credits from
- RLN 205: Exploring Topics in Religion (depending on topic)
- RLN 251: The Bible and Its Afterlives
- RLN 256: Creation and Destruction in the Bible and Beyond
- RLN 257: Apocalypse Now and Then
- RLN 261: Jesus and His Interpreters
- RLN 366: Sex, Gender, and the Bible
- RLN 409: Topics (depending on topic)
Global Religions and Interfaith Studies – Sixteen credits from:
- RLN 205: Exploring Topics in Religion (depending on topic)
- RLN 248: Interfaith Eating and Ethics
- RLN 275: Judaism
- RLN 278: Asian Philosophies of Life, Death, and In-Between
- RLN 370: American Indian Spirituality and Philosophical Thought
- RLN 374: Ethics and World Religions
- RLN 407: Interfaith Scholars Seminar I (2 semester credits)
- RLN 408: Interfaith Scholars Seminar II (2 semester credits)
- RLN 409: Topics (depending on topic)