Bachelor of Arts
Religion majors explore the riches of the world's religions and study faith seriously as a universal quality. They also examine how faith motivates people for good, and sometimes for evil, and have the opportunity to appreciate the history and scriptures of Christianity, the world's largest religion.
Other topics include the study of Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and other religions. Because people of different faiths have lived alongside each other for centuries, the major problems of religious faith in the contemporary world are addressed. Religion students also grapple with age-old issues such as the problem that suffering raises for any belief in divine goodness. The major involves research¬ing the relationship of religion to the hard and soft sciences as well as developing a sound methodological grasp of the subject of religion.
Emphasis is placed on developing critical thinking and the creative imagina¬tion, understanding diversity, and making links between different subject areas. It is for this reason the religion is an ideal second major for students. It is also why religion students find themselves working for multinational firms or in the caring professions. Many students majoring in religion do very well in graduate school because of the interdisciplinary skills they have already learned.
Required Courses: 16 semester hours
| REL2060 | Exploring Religion (4) |
| REL2200 | The Shaping of Christian Identity (4) |
| REL3400 | Love the Stranger: the History and Significance of Interfaith Dialogue (4) |
| REL4990 | Seminar in Religious Studies (4) |
Selected Courses: Choose 15 semester hours, of which at least 7 hours must be at 3000 level
| REL1050 | An Introduction to World Religions (4) |
| REL1100 | The Christian Bible (4) |
| REL1400 | Spirituality for Today's World (4) |
| REL2310 | The Faiths of Abraham (4) |
| REL2320 | The Faiths of India (4) |
| REL/HIS2750 | Topics in Religious History (4) |
| REL/HIS2760 | Religion in America (4) |
| REL/PHL3100 | Philosophy of Religion (3) |
| REL3350 | Jesus (4) |
| REL3360 | Jewish and Christian Responses to the Holocaust (4) |
| REL/HIS3800 | Reformation Europe (4) |
