Religion Degrees Online

Religious studies is concerned with the study of world religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Religions of Antiquity, Judaism, Christianity and Islam) in terms of their historical developments as well as in their present forms. Both historical-philological and contemporary-empirical approaches are employed.

Religious studies is concerned with the study of world religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Religions of Antiquity, Judaism, Christianity and Islam) in terms of their historical developments as well as in their present forms. Both historical-philological and contemporary-empirical approaches are employed.

Requirements for the Religion Major:
REL-200 Old Testament Life and Literature
REL-210 New Testament Life and Literature
REL-250 History of Christianity I: 30-1500
REL-260 History of Christianity II: 1500-present
REL-300 World Religions
REL-310 Christian Ethics
REL-340 Philosophy of Religion
Religion electives: Six hours

Requirements for the Religion Minor: 18 credit hours. Two courses from REL-200, 210, 230, 250, and
260; two courses from 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 390 and 410, and six additional credit hours of religion electives.

This 18 credit hour certificate program is an in-depth study of God’s Word. Electives allow flexibility, providing the learner with an opportunity to custom tailor the education specific to personal interests and talents.

Christian Worker Certificate
Program Requirements (18 credit hours)
BIB 109E Old Testament Survey 3 hours
BIB 209E New Testament Survey 3 hours
BIB 313E Romans 3 hours
CMI 122E Evangelism & Discipleship 3 hours
See below Biblical Studies electives 3 hours
See below Professional Studies electives 3 hours

Biblical Studies electives
BIB 216E Historical Books 3 hours
BIB 217E Genesis 3 hours
BIB 271E Inductive Study of the Bible 3 hours
BIB 320E The Pentateuch 3 hours
BIB 330E Acts & the Early Church 3 hours
BIB 331E Pauline Epistles 3 hours
BIB 332E Hebrews & General Epistles 3 hours
BIB 341E The Gospels 3 hours
BIB 350E Poetic & Wisdom Books 3 hours

Professional Studies electives
CED 219E Ministry to Children 3 hours
YMI 200E Ministry to Youth 3 hours
CED 223E Ministry to Adults 3 hours
CED 371E Leadership Development 3 hours
HIS 230E American Religious History 3 hours
PMI 251E Pastoral Theology 3 hours
PMI 361E Introduction to Preaching 3 hours
REL 227E Perspectives 3 hours
REL 324E World Religions 3 hours
REL 375E Cross-Cultural Evangelism 3 hours

The study of religion employs the methods and perspectives of philosophy, comparative literature, history and the social sciences to illuminate the beliefs and practices - myths, symbols, doctrines, rituals, morals, values - used by cultures to explain the ultimate nature of existence. The discipline therefore requires students to apply diverse methods of analysis and interpretation and teaches skills related to thinking, reading, and writing that are applicable to a variety of issues and tasks. A major or minor in religion enhances a student’s ability to study all subjects in the humanities and social sciences, including language, literature, cultural studies, and law. A major also prepares a student to pursue graduate or professional studies in religion.

Religion major (32 hours): Since there are a variety of courses offered in this discipline, students are encouraged to choose classes that best suit their interests, from the investigation of world religions to an emphasis on biblical studies. Majors are required to complete at least two 4-credit-hour courses at the 200 level and at least five courses at the 300 level or higher. The latter must include one course from the biblical field (REL 320 through REL 339), one from the historical field (REL 340 through REL 369), one from the theological field (REL 371 through REL 389), and one course in a non-Christian religious tradition (REL 293, 296, 309, 343, 354, 368, 393, 395, 396, or another course approved by the religion faculty). In addition to a minimum of eight courses, a non-credit senior project and presentation is also required. Supporting courses in philosophy, psychology, history and art are cross-listed with their respective departments providing a variety of options for personalized research. Prospective seminary students are advised concerning courses that will best prepare them for study at the professional level.

The Bachelor of Science in Religious Education is designed to qualify a person to teach secondary-school Bible and to pursue graduate study in such areas as school administration and religious education. Upon conferral of the degree, students may apply for the Seventh-day Adventist Basic Teaching Certificate: Religion, grades 7-12. Degree requirements are listed in the Department of Education section of the bulletin. Program Advisor: Department Chair.

General Education Requirements for Bachelor Degree General Education Requirements for Bachelor Degree Total 53-64 hours

Education Professional Studies Core Curriculum

ED 130 Orientation to Teaching 2 hours
ED 200 Educational Psychology 3 hours
ED 240 Principles of Teaching: P-12 2 hours
ED 254 History, Philosophy, and Foundations of Education 2 hours
ED 275 Instructional Technology 3 hours
ED 300 Classroom Organization and Management: P-12 3 hours
ED 350 Introduction to Special Education 3 hours
ED 370 Tests and Measurements 3 hours
ED 400 Praxis II Preparation 1 hour
ED 420 or 430 or 440 Internship 11-12 hours
FS 355 Human Development 3 hours
Subtotal 36-37 hours

Bachelor of Science in Religious Education Professional Studies

ED 331 Methods in Teaching Bible 2 hours
ED 340 Methods in Teaching Secondary Reading 3 hours
Subtotal 5 hours

Academic Major: Religious Education Requirements RB 211 The Biblical Jesus 3 hours
RB 311-312 New Testament I, II 3-3 hours
RB 411-412 Old Testament I, II 3-3 hours
RB 413 Studies in Daniel and Revelation 3 hours
RP 131 Spiritual Formation for Ministry 2 hours
RP 132 Introduction to Christian Ministry 2 hours
RP 351 Introduction to Religious Education 3 hours
RT 221 Biblical Hermeneutics 2 hours
RT 222 The Gift of Prophecy and Ellen White 2 hours
RT 321 Christian Ethics 3 hours
RT 322 World Religions 2 hours
RT 421 Christian Theology I 3 hours
RT 423 Seventh-day Adventist Theology 3 hours
HI 314 History of the Seventh-day Adventist Church** 3 hours
Subtotal 43 hours
Total for Degree 131-149 hours

Ph.D. program that takes full advantage of faculty strength within our department as well as ancillary fields of the humanities and social sciences. In the spirit of the inherently interdisciplinary character of religious studies, we train scholars both in the history of theory and method in religious studies and in important complementary approaches like ethnography, textual study, philosophy, historiography, and art history. Our exceptional faculty’s wide training and diverse interests provide a rich foundation for future scholarship and teaching in a field that demands deeply trained specialists who are nonetheless avidly engaged in broad methodological and theoretical conversations of interest to the whole discipline.

Graduate students take at least two years of course work, including seminars, tutorials, and independent studies.All students take a two-quarter sequence in theories and methods in the study of religion and at least one course in comparative study of religion. Examples include “Comparative Mysticism,” “Sainthood in World Religions,” “Religious Perspectives on the Body and Healing,” and “Religion and Globalization.”

In addition, all students expand their circles of mentors and colleagues by taking up to half their course work in other departments. Many students join an entering cohort in an affiliated department by participating in its standard first-year program, e.g. writing a first-year paper in History, taking the Introduction to Graduate Study in English, or taking the introductory seminars in cultural anthropology and anthropological research. But not all external coursework need be done in the same department. Rather, classes are chosen flexibly in consultation with the student’s adviser in order to take full advantage of faculty resources in the field. To guarantee appropriate cross training, each examining committee and dissertation committee includes at least one faculty member from outside the department.
The third year is devoted to written and oral qualifying exams, to the preparation of a prospectus, and to additional course work if desired; the fourth and fifth years are dedicated to dissertation research and writing. Most students complete the degree within five years, although dissertations that require extensive fieldwork or archival research might take longer; additional competitive funding is available for longer projects.

Religion is probably the most powerfully creative-and destructive-force in human culture. It is perhaps also the least understood, even among those who consider themselves religious.

Everyone knows that religious convictions are at stake when American politicians appeal to fundamentalist principles, when terrorists attack in New York or Northern Ireland, when tensions build in the Middle East, or when protesters picket a controversial film on a religious subject. Few people, however, have explored in any depth the roots or the implications of these religious convictions. The Department of Religion provides the opportunity to examine such questions.

The department’s courses focus mainly on Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism; classes are also offered in Hinduism, in American religions, and in the religions of Japan and China. Whether students do or do not belong to these traditions, courses in the department can challenge their assumptions and enrich their understanding of religion and the role it plays in human life. Study in the department does not require religious commitment, but neither does it undermine such commitment; the goal is simply to gain deeper understanding of religion as a human phenomenon. As the German scholar of religion, Max Müller, said many years ago, a person who knows only one religion in fact knows none: to understand how religion functions in human experience and culture, one must know something about similarities and differences in world religions.

Biblical Studies Major - Bachelor of Arts
The Biblical Studies major is designed to provide in-depth study and preparation in Bible and related areas and subjects. It is intended for students who wish to pursue graduate studies in preparation for teaching, for those who desire a solid preseminary program, or for persons who wish to gain a high proficiency in biblical studies. The degree is granted upon completion of 125 credits as specified on page 42 of the catalog (40 credits must be in 3000- or 4000-level courses).

Required Courses 21 cr
BIB4460 Studies in Biblical Theology 2
BIB4835 Seminar in Theological Method (OCE) 4
BIA3235 Second Temple Judaism 4
BIA3236 Bible Customs and Geography 3
BIA4837 Seminar in Exegetical Method (WCE) 4
HIS3125 History of the Christian Church from Apostolic Times to the Present 4

Courses selected from the following 17 cr
Courses with ACL, BIA, BIB or PHI prefixes*
ENG2226 Introduction to Linguistics 4
ICS2015 World Religions 4
ICS3215 Contemporary Religious Movements 2
LTH4155 Literary Theory 4
MIN1005 Introduction to Ministry 2
PAS4305 Homiletics 4

Foreign Language 8 cr
ACL2001 Elementary Greek I 4
ACL2002 Elementary Greek II 4

Religion courses
CED101 Introduction to Christian Ministry
CED210 Foundational Issues in Christian Education
CED214 Introduction to Adolescent Culture and Ministry
CED310 Leadership Development
CED315 Philosophy of Adolescent Ministry
CED320 Teaching and Learning Strategies
CED380 Narrative and Spiritual Formation
CED401 Integrated Field Experience I
CED402 Integrated Field Experience II
CED417 Internship
CED450 Special Topics
GRE101 Elementary Biblical Greek and Culture
GRE102 Elementary Biblical Greek and Culture
HEB101 Elementary Biblical Hebrew and Culture
HEB102 Elementary Biblical Hebrew and Culture
REL110 Introduction to Biblical Studies
REL210 Christian Spirituality
REL260 Christian Ethics
REL262 Introduction to Christian Theology
REL280 History of Christianity
REL290 Christian Witness
REL294 Introduction to Christian Missions
REL310 Christian Spirituality
REL317 Topics in Old Testament Studies
REL322 Topics in New Testament Studies
REL328 Biblical Interpretation and Theology
REL370 Calvin and Calvinism
REL375 Topics in Theology
REL382 Religion in America
REL384 Topics in the History of Christianity
REL385 Topics in Religion
REL390 World Religions
REL392 Topics in Missiology
REL398 Directed Study
REL417 Internship
REL472 Theology in Context Seminar
REL499 Honors Research

The Bible and religion provides education, a principal or secondary activity in the Bible and religion, a small in Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies and a certificate from the Ministry of Youth. The great strengths reflected in the Faculty study of Sacred Scripture, the emphasis on peace and justice in theology and ethics and the study of the rich traditions in Christian history.

One of the functions of religion is to make sense of their world and their life experience and understanding in the context of a final meaning and importance. Bethel liberal art offers thorough training in natural and social sciences and the humanities for students to establish links between these dimensions of life and religious issues and traditions. Students of religion are constantly study of ancient texts and contemporary, history, traditions, teaching and philosophy, on the ethical implications of social welfare and medical issues and research and artistic dimension of the dramatic religious subjects.

As a disciple of Bethel, the Bible and religion department, you will receive an introduction to the wide diversity of fields of religious studies (biblical studies, theology, ethics, world religions, philosophy, peace studies, practical ministry ) the effectiveness of mayor 32 hours. It is also a high degree of choice in major, you can emphasize a particular interest (eg, world religions, ethics or the Bible). Thickness of the Bethel Bible and religion is the emphasis on peace, justice and conflict as well as the research seminar in Jerusalem, of course, from all other years.