Religion Degrees Online

There is no area of human thought or action that falls outside the concern of religious thinkers. All religious traditions teach about ultimate values and their relationship to our worldly lives. Some of the traditions are the oldest extant bodies of thought. The religions of the world are an ancient and living source for values.

The courses in Religious Studies are divided into three groups. The function of these courses is the study of the sources, history, nature, and relevance of religion.

Religious Studies majors are required to have a GPA of at least 2.0 in Religious Studies at graduation. All department courses taken at Allegheny on a letter-grade basis are included in that calculation, with the exception of repeated courses for which only the most recent grade counts. No more than two Religious Studies courses may be taken Credit/No Credit; one of these must be RS 600, which is only offered Credit/No Credit.

The major in Religious Studies leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree and requires the successful completion of 38 semester credit hours in Religious Studies. A major program should include at least one course from each of the following groups:

The Judeo-Christian Tradition
(Religious Studies 120, 130, 145, 147, 180, 230, 240, 250, 260);

History of Religions
(Religious Studies 115, 117, 140, 150, 160, 165, 170, 270, 280*-*-);

Religious Thought, Action and Phenomena
(Religious Studies 175, 200, 225, 227, 340, 345, 440, 475);
and Religious Studies 580, 600 and 610.

Religious Studies

There is no area of human thought or action that falls outside the concern of religious thinkers. All religious traditions teach about ultimate values and their relationship to our worldly lives. Some of the traditions are the oldest extant bodies of thought. The religions of the world are an ancient and living source for values.
The courses in Religious Studies are divided into three groups. The function of these courses is the study of the sources, history, nature, and relevance of religion.

We seek to expose, challenge, and equip students to mature in their critical thinking skills and the application of a biblical worldview to their intended field of study and to study and mature in their faith and commitment to Jesus Christ.

We are committed to exploring the relationship between faith and learning as well as the relevance of the Christian faith for all disciplines of study. We want to provide you with a rich liberal arts experience and a solid foundation for a wide range of occupations or further graduate studies.

We will equip you to work with children, youth, and families in a variety of organizations such as churches, community social programs, schools, and parachurch organizations both in the United States and into to other cultures.

You can combine this major with any number of minors to facilitate the development of a degree to meet your particular needs and interests.

Religious Studies

Students who major in Religious Studies study the meaning and relevance of Christian belief and gain an understanding of the essential nature of the religious dimensions of life; they also acquire a knowledge and appreciation of the variety and richness of religious beliefs throughout our world, in particular the special concern for justice, compassion, and community common to them all.

Admission requirements
The candidate must hold a master’s degree or equivalent in religious sciences, obtained with an average of at least 3.2 to 4.3 or equivalent, or hold the bachelor and possess the required knowledge and appropriate training.

The candidate must also submit and have approved the outline of a research project in one or another university, depending on the chosen field and accept that a professor or a researcher of one of the two institutions moving in his research work. He must also undergo an interview before the subcommittee for admission the ability to judge the applicant’s research.

The candidate must also have sufficient knowledge of English and other language specific to the primary sources of the thesis.

Sleeps
The program is not quotas.
Methods and selection criteria
Guest, in order of importance, by:
. the quality of academic record;
. relevance and coherence of the thesis project in light of the objectives of the program;
. letters of recommendation;
. acceptance of the direction of the thesis by a professor in the department.

An interview with the subcommittee for admission and evaluation is required particularly in the case where the outline of the research project submitted by the candidate has little relevance to the Program guidelines.

Scheme of studies and duration of studies
Full-time: four years
Part-time: six years.

Dogmatic Theology
The research and teaching conducted in this discipline aim to critically impart the Christian belief with relevant trends of modern and contemporary thinking. Research and thinking relate to special contents of Christian faith, as well as to the fundamental hermeneutical and methodological questions of systematic theology. Of particular interest are the theology and philosophy of the 19th century, the classical and contemporary forms of transcendental philosophy, as well as the fundamental discussions in contemporary systematic theology, philosophy of religion and cultural sciences. The research project “hermeneutics of faith in the context of the modern debate of subject and freedom”, which is planned as a long-term project, is orientated methodologically at the concept of “analysis of modes of thought”. This will include different efforts to reformulate essential contents of Christian belief and central problems of theology (theology, Christology, theology of history, eschatology, anthropology) within the framework of a transcendental thinking of freedom and by this simultaneously test its relevance for a systematic explication of the truth of faith and a theory of practical implementation.

A minor in Ethics and Public Interest enables students to integrate foundational courses in ethical theory and policy studies with courses of relevance to their specific fields of study. With this minor, students will be able to connect theoretical knowledge of ethical reasoning and decision-making with a concrete understanding of the pressing ethical and policy issues in their chosen disciplines or areas of interest. Students who complete this minor will develop their ability to be informed and active participants in public discourse and policy-making in their future professional lives, and more broadly, in their lives as actively engaged citizens.

The course requirements are designed to be both flexible and comprehensive, making this an attractive choice for students in our pre-professional programs as well as students focusing through their majors on the liberal arts.

Religion Major

A concentration in religion consists of 10 courses, a minimum of eight of which must be departmental courses. Normally no more than three of these courses may be at the 200 level. Only one of the total number of courses may be an independent study. Required core courses cannot be counted toward religion requirements.

All concentrators in religion are required to take RELG 202, Introduction to the Study of Religion, and RELG 352, Theory and Method in the Study of Religion. At least one 400-level seminar is also required of all concentrators. In consultation with the student’s adviser and the department chair, a student may elect to count up to two Colgate courses from outside the program in religion for religion concentration credit. These courses may be in the study of a language, provided that the student has planned these courses in advance and in consultation with his or her adviser and the department chair.

In cases where a language is not taught at Colgate (e.g., Biblical Hebrew, Hindi, Sanskrit), but its relevance to a particular student’s program of study in religion can be demonstrated, the chair has the option of petitioning the registrar for a transfer of credit that can count toward the concentration.

The religious studies program at Saint Michael’s serves as excellent preparation for graduate studies, careers in teaching and Christian ministries and any number of career choices built on a solid liberal arts foundation.

In keeping with the mission of Saint Michael’s as a Catholic liberal arts college, we approach religious studies by examining the foundations, development, meaning, and cultural relevance of the Christian tradition. We also encourage you to explore other religious traditions, such as Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism.

Ultimately, these studies contribute to our graduates’ understanding of humanity and of themselves, and help to develop the skills of critical thinking and analysis that are essential to successful careers, further study and lives of service.