The Religious Studies Major
The program in Religion offers students the opportunity to acquire an understanding of religious experience within its social, historical, literary, and political context. Students study specific religious traditions such as Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism and using a comparative approach they explore themes across faith traditions. Through the major, a student will have the opportunity to study a range of religions and a variety of methods of understanding the key dimensions of religious life.
Required Courses - One of the following:
PHLU606 Theory and Method in the Study of Religion,
PHLU904 Major Figures in Religion Studies, or
PHLU906 Topics in Religion
One course from each of the following five areas:
One course from the following group of Comparative Religion Courses:
PHLU130 Ethics East and West,
PHLU270 Western Religions,
PHLU272 Religious Ethics,
PHLU275 Eastern Religions,
PHLU300 Mysticism,
PHLU230 Sound, Religion and Music,
PHLU390 Cults and Sects
One course from the group below, traditions that emerge from the ancient Mediterranean and African worlds:
PHLU150 Understanding the Bible,
PHLU280 Islam,
PHLU285 Jewish Religion and Culture,
PHLU327 Medieval Western Philosophy: Judaism, Christianity and Islam,
PHLU314 Biblical Prophets, The Prophets and their Interpreters,
PHLU316 Interpreting the Bible,
PHLU390 Cults and Sects,
One course covering traditions that emerge from Asia:
PHLU272 Jainism,
PHLU276 Religions Traditions of India,
PHLU290 Chinese Philosophy and Religion,
PHLU393 Asian Religions in U.S.,
PHLU398 Religion and Society in Indian Cinema,
PHLU545 Religion and Politics in South Asi
One course in the area of Religion and Culture:
PHLU230 Sound, Music and Religion,
PHLU316 Interpreting the Bible,
PHLU398 Religion and Society in Indian Cinema,
PHLU103 Goddesses, Witches, Saints and Sinners: Introduction to Women in Western Religion
One course that focuses on Texts:
PHLU150 Understanding the Bible,
PHLU316 Interpreting the Bible,
PHLU314 Biblical Prophets,
PHLU395 Advanced Readings in Texts: Ramayana,
PHLU415 Apocalypticism
Three Electives (2 of which must be above the 300 level)
- The Minor in Religious Studies
Provides a short form of the religious studies major that can be accomplished while majoring in another field. The elective selection can be tailored to the needs of the student's major.
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