12 semester courses are required. Courses counting toward the major may not be taken S/U.

BREADTH (Courses 1-4)
A student will normally take four 200-level courses in the Religion Department choosing one each from four of the following six categories: (i) Biblical Literature; (ii) Jewish Traditions; (iii) Christian Traditions; (iv) Islamic Traditions; (v) Buddhist Traditions; (vi) South Asian Traditions. In fulfilling this requirement, a student may not count more than two courses in Biblical Literature, Jewish Traditions, and Christian Traditions. A student may also count one of the broad-based departmental introductory courses (e.g., REL 105, REL 108) in place of one of these four courses.

COLLOQUIUM (Course 5)
A student will take Approaches to the Study of Religion (REL 200).

SEMINAR (Course 6)
A student will take a seminar in the Religion Department.

DEPTH (Courses 7-8 or 7-9)
A student will take three related courses, defined by religious tradition, geographical area, discipline, or theme. Examples of possible concentrations are Bible and its subsequent interpretations, philosophy of religion, women and gender, religion and politics, religion and the arts, ritual studies, and religion in America. In most cases, this will involve adding two more courses to one already counted, though in some cases, it may involve three courses independent of those counted above. In short, no more than one course from courses 1-6 can be counted toward this requirement. A student will define her concentration in consultation with her adviser, and then submit it to the departmental curriculum committee. A student may count any departmental course toward this requirement, but no more than one 100-level course. A student may also count one course taken outside the department toward this requirement.

ELECTIVES (Courses 9-12 or 10-12)
A student will take three or four additional Religion courses to complete the twelve courses for the major. If no course outside the Religion department has been used to count toward the depth requirement, a student may take two relevant courses outside the department as electives. If one outside course has been used to count toward the depth requirement, only one outside course may be taken as an elective. These courses are to be determined in consultation with the student’s adviser. Students should check current offerings by other programs and departments. Examples include:

ARH 101 Buddhist Art
ARH 220 Relics and Reliquaries
CLS 227 Classical Mythology
HST 224 Early Medieval World 300-1050
GOV 224 Islam and Politics in the Middle East
JUD 284 The Jews of Eastern Europe
MUS 220 Topics in World Music – Popular Music in the Islamic World
PHI 124 History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
PHI 126 History of Medieval Philosophy
PHI 252 Buddhist Philosophy
Language courses related to concentration

DOWNLOAD the Major Requirements Worksheet

Honors

Director: Jamie Hubbard

430d Thesis
8 Credits
Full-year course; offered each year

431 Thesis
8 Credits
Offered each Fall

The Religion Department encourages majors to apply to the departmental Honors Program and engage in a significant research project of their own design. Students in the Honors Program develop, research, write, and defend a thesis in close consultation with a faculty mentor. For further details please contact the Director of Honors.