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Philosophy

Minor in Religious Studies

There are many reasons, both personal and professional, why one might want to take courses in the Religious Studies program. Here are four of the most often cited reasons.

  • Cultural Appreciation: The term ‘religious studies’ refers to the scholarly neutral and non-advocative study of multiple religious traditions. Thus Religious Studies promotes the awareness and understanding of other cultures. In fact, it is difficult to see how any field of study that ignores religious issues can understand other cultures, for such an approach would ignore the deepest and most adamantly held beliefs of those cultures.
  • Ethical Awareness: Since, for many, religious beliefs form the basis for ethical and moral convictions, any approach to ethics would, hopefully, incorporate the kind of examination of various religious convictions that Religious Studies makes possible.
  • Interdisciplinary Studies: Since Religious Studies is an area rather than a single field, it utilizes the methodologies, procedures, and content of many different disciplines (such as Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, History, and Philosophy).
  • Critical Thinking: Religious Studies helps students distinguish between arguments and convictions, and between statements of fact and statements of belief. Religious Studies also helps the student assess claims of truth, value, revelation, and morality.

Course Requirements

Foundation:  1 course, 3 hours Required
2305 Religious World Views

Major Religious Traditions:  1 course, 3 hours Required
3320 Christianity
3336 Islam
3350 Eastern Thought
3370 Judaism
4385 Topics in Major Religions

Electives:  4 courses from any unused courses above and any of the following:
2333 Introduction to Religious Studies
3330 Religious Countercultures
3333 Reading Sacred Texts
3338 Religion & Modern S. Asia
3340 Meditation Techniques
3360 Philosophy of Religion
3363 Psychology of Religion
4321 Religion, Society & Culture
4380 Topics in Religion

Note: 6 hours must be upper-level courses. A course chosen to fulfill the area requirement cannot also serve as an elective course.

Updated 7.21.2008