Religion Degrees Online

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA
Applicants for admission to the Master of Arts program in Religion must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited college or university.

Full Admission may be granted to applicants who satisfy all of the academic standards and prerequisites listed below and receive the endorsement of the Program Director.

Provisional Admission may be granted to applicants who satisfy any two of the three academic standards listed below plus all of the listed prerequisites and receive the endorsement of the Program Director. NOTE: Students granted Provisional Admission must maintain a 3.00 GPA during their first 12 hours of graduate work to be eligible to receive Full Admission and continue their graduate study.

The required endorsement may be granted following a review of all relevant factors, including – but not limited to – the level of performance in any previous graduate course work and the dates of completion of previous academic work, when in the judgement of the Program Director there is sufficient evidence to clearly suggest the potential for success in a graduate level program. An interview may be required at the discretion of the Program Director.

Courses & Requirements

The Department of Religion allows students to become acquainted with the major world religions and with various approaches to religious topics and questions. In addition to the traditions of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, the department has special strengths in the areas of American Religion, Sacred Texts (including Biblical Hebrew in the Department of Classics), and Ethics. Members of the department also have close ties to environmental studies, women’s & gender studies, classical studies, and international studies; they are available to work with students pursuing majors in these programs.

Requirements for the major
Students must take a minimum of eleven fall or spring courses. The major is designed to provide depth and breadth in, as well as systematic reflection upon, the study of religion. To facilitate this, religion courses are required from three Categories: A.) Western traditions (i.e., Judaism, Christianity, and Islam); B.) Asian traditions (e.g., Buddhism and Taoism); and C.) Areas (i.e., American religion, Ethics, and the study of Sacred Texts). Note that although some courses could fall into two categories, no single course will fulfill more than one requirement for a particular student. Courses are keyed as follows:

AR = American Religions
AT = Asian Traditions
ET = Ethics
ST = Sacred Texts
WT = Western Traditions

Requirements for the major may be calculated following the simple formula: 5-4-3-2-1.

5. To provide depth to their study in religion, students will have a major concentration of five courses in one of the Categories listed above. This concentration will include at least one 300-level seminar and a senior Project (RELI 0601). A student may choose to develop the senior project into a year-long senior thesis (RELI 0700) in consultation with his or her advisor. Note: Students fulfilling their major concentration in an Area listed in Category C must take all five courses within that specific area (i.e., five courses either in American Religion, in Ethics, or in the study of Sacred Texts).

4. To provide sustained, systematic reflection on the academic study of religion, students will take RELI 0400 , preferably during their junior year.

3. To provide breadth and depth, students will have a minor concentration of three courses in a second of the Categories listed above. Note: Students fulfilling their minor concentration in an Area listed in Category C must take all three courses within that specific area (i.e., three courses in American Religion, or in Ethics, or in the study of Sacred Texts).

2. To provide breadth, students will take two courses in the third Category (i.e., the Category not fulfilling either #5 or #3).

1. Students must take at least one 100-level introductory course in an Asian and one in a Western tradition. These courses may also fulfill the other major requirements outlined above.

The Chair of the Department, in consultation with the student’s advisor, will determine how transfer credits and courses taken during study abroad will be applied toward Departmental requirements.

Joint major
For the Religion component of a joint major, students will complete seven Religion courses plus a senior project (RELI 0601) which utilizes the training and content of both fields. These seven courses include: 4. RELI 0400. 3. A concentration of three courses in one of the Categories (including at least one 0300-level seminar). Note: Students fulfilling this concentration in an Area must take all three courses within that specific area (e.g., in American Religion, or in Ethics or in the study of Sacred Texts). 2. A minor concentration of two courses in a second category. 1. An elective of one course in the third and last category.

Religion Minor
The religion minor consists of at least five courses. Students should have a concentration of three courses (including at least one 0300-level seminar) in one of the categories listed above. Students concentrating their minor in an Area must take all three courses within that specific area (e.g., Ethics).

The Minor in Jewish Studies
This program offers a minor in Jewish Studies to students who complete the following requirements:

(1) One of the following courses that offer a broad introduction to the study of Judaism:

RELI 0160 The Jewish Tradition
RELI/CLAS 0162 The Formation of Judaism in Antiquity

(2) Three additional courses pertinent to Jewish Studies from among the following:
HEBM 0201 Modern Hebrew Culture in Translation
HIST 0257 The Holocaust
HIST 0424 Readings in Modern European History: The Nazis and the Jews
INTL 0343 State and Society in Contemporary Israel
RELI 0260 Classical Jewish Texts
RELI 0180 Biblical Literature
RELI 0280 Hebrew Bible / Old Testament

Up to two courses in Hebrew language or texts (HEBR 0201 and higher) may count toward the requirements for the minor

(3) A 0300-level seminar in Jewish Studies;
RELI 0360 Seminar in Jewish Thought
RELI 0380 Seminar in Biblical Studies
RELI 0365 The German Jews

Other appropriate courses may be substituted for courses in categories (2) or (3) with the approval of the program director.

Departmental Honors
Graduation with departmental honors requires at least a B+ on the senior project and a B+ average in courses counted toward the major. Only students who have completed a thesis are eligible for highest honors, which requires an A on the thesis and at least a B+ average in other courses counted toward the major.

General Requirements:
Students of each school of the College must complete nine credits in Religious Studies, including RELS 110 in freshman year and two three-credit elective courses in the following years. Students elect one course from Group A (The Religious Traditions) and one from Group B (Religion and Contemporary Thought).

Requirements for a Major in Religious Studies:
Students majoring in Religious Studies must complete at least RELS 110 and twenty-seven credits in courses numbered 300 and above, including two major seminars (RELS 470). These courses are selected in consultation with the Department Chairperson. The elective courses will ordinarily include at least one course from each of the following areas of study: biblical studies, Christian theology, ethics, and world religious traditions. For serious reason the majors’ seminar requirement may be waived by the Chairperson and another acceptable course will be substituted. A minimum grade of C is required for credit toward the major. Please note: Students intending to major should register with the Department Chair.

Requirements for a Minor in Religious Studies:
Students minoring in Religious Studies must complete at least RELS 110 and twelve credits in departmental courses numbered 300 and above, including one majors’ seminar. A minimum grade of C is required for credit toward the minor. Please note: Students intending to minor should register with the Department Chair.

Religious Studies Honors Thesis:
Both majors and those completing a minor with a 3.5 or greater cumulative index are eligible to develop an independent research project (RELS 480) under the supervision of a major reader and a second reader in the fall semester. In the spring, the student will present a completed and revised honors thesis (RELS 481) to the readers. Upon the successful completion of this process, the Religious Studies Department will award the student with honors recognition.

Concentration in Catholic Studies:
A student who majors or minors in Religious Studies may choose to concentrate on the Catholic tradition. This concentration focuses on Catholic beliefs, religious practices, moral teachings, and attitudes to other religious traditions, both in terms of the historical development of Catholicism and as subjects of contemporary discussion and debate. An academic and critical program, the Concentration in Catholic Studies aims at providing the interested student with an understanding of the diversity and richness of the Catholic tradition.

Those majoring in Religious Studies who wish to pursue the Concentration in Catholic Studies must complete RELS 110, a biblical course, two majors’ seminars, and eighteen credits from the following: RELS 311, 313, 317, 325, 326, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 404, 405, 414, 426, 430, 432, 433, 435, 436 and 440.

Those minoring in Religious Studies who wish to pursue the Concentration in Catholic Studies must complete RELS 110, a biblical course or RELS 311, a majors’ seminar and six credits from the courses listed above.