Religion

Religion Requirements

Requirements for the major (11 courses): The Religion major allows students to concentrate in a variety of sub-fields within the larger field of the study of religion. These sub-fields can be based on traditions, geographical areas, or themes.

While the plausibility of concentrating in a given sub-field depends on the availability of expert faculty members therein, the department currently offers the following concentrations: traditions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism.; geographical areas, such as South Asia, East Asia, and the Americas; and themes, such as mysticism, ethics, and sacred texts. Students are encouraged to consult with faculty members to explore other options or combinations thereof.

     The major will consist of at least eleven courses, including no more than one winter term course, distributed as follows:

A primary concentration of five courses: a four course concentration in a specific sub-field plus a senior project or thesis, RELI 0700, RELI 0701, related to that sub-field. The courses must include a 0100 level course and a 0300 level seminar that focus in that concentration.
RELI 0400, Seminar on the Study of Religion
A distribution of five other courses elected by the student in close consultation with his/her adviser, subject to the following provisions:

(1) Majors must make sure that they have had exposure to a variety of different religious traditions (for example, Asian and Western) as well as a variety of methodological approaches to the study of religion (for example, historical, sociological, anthropological, or philosophical).

(2) Majors must take at least one 0300 seminar outside their primary sub-field of concentration within the religion department.
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Important note: Students should consult closely with faculty advisors to determine which courses in the department satisfy a given concentration hreshold and receive an A- or A on their senior project will be awarded...