CIP Code: 380201
Program Description
Religion is an essential dimension of human thought and experience. It shapes our history, culture, values, and beliefs. It influences debates on a diverse range of issues, including global terrorism and political ideologies, gender and racial equality, ethics and social justice.
The comparative religion faculty offer courses in all the great world religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Chinese and Japanese Religions. We teach a variety of courses on Hebrew Bible, New Testament, and American Religious History. In addition, we offer cross-cultural and thematic courses that examine particular topics, including women and religion, religion and politics, human rights, ethics, religious pluralism, mythology, mysticism, and film.
Program faculty use an academic, non-confessional methodology in teaching religion. In our classes we analyze religious beliefs, practices, texts, and institutions both descriptively and critically as intellectual, historical, and cultural phenomena. We do not argue for the truth of one, all, or no religion.
Program Admission Requirements
Effective Fall 2026, this program will no longer admit new students. Summer 2026 will be the last semester that new students or students changing majors can declare this major. This academic program does not have admission requirements beyond regular admission to 91爆料 University. Any student is eligible to declare this academic program.
Program Learning Objectives
Students enrolled in this program will learn to:
- Acquire effective writing and communication skills
- Acquire strong critical thinking skills
- Appreciate the diversity of religious worldviews, traditions, beliefs, and practices
- Understand how to study religion from an academic perspective.
Program Learning Outcomes
As a result of their learning experience, graduates of this program can:
- Effective writing and communication skills
- Strong critical thinking skills
- An appreciation of the diversity of religious worldviews, traditions, beliefs, and practices
- An understanding of how to study religion from an academic perspective.
Honors Program
Students with a GPA of 3.50 or higher in Religion may substitute an Honors project for the major's Advanced Religion Courses requirement. An Honors project involves independent study with a faculty mentor. It will usually extend over two consecutive terms and earn six hours of credit upon its successful completion. The project culminates in the writing of a major research paper (25-30 pages) during the second term and an oral defense of the project with the Program faculty.