The purpose of the academic study of religion is to examine and analyze religious beliefs and practices within their cultural, political, and historical contexts. As such, religious studies is interdisciplinary at its core. Moreover, a firm grasp of religion as it is expressed through and in various cultural artifacts in different times and places is crucial to an overall understanding of human beings and human societies in the past, present, and future.
The Religious Studies minor emerged out of conversations with faculty in several departments who felt that this minor could be supported with existing courses and would be of value to students attaining it. In particular, the minor will of great use to students going into non-profit jobs, ministry, politics, and global business to name a few.
It will be an interdisciplinary minor housed in the Philosophy department with participation from departments across the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. A total of 18 credits at a miniumum are necessary for graduating with a minor in Religious Studies.
9 of the 18 credits must be upper-level courses (3000 and higher), and there is one required course (PHIL 1100) that is strongly recommended to be taken early in the student’s coursework. The remainder may be chosen from the following list of approved courses for the minor. And no more than 12 credit hours (excluding the required course) may be taken with only one department.
All LAS minors require a minimum GPA of 2.0 or better to earn the minor.
*Other courses may apply. A petition to the director of the minor is required and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for applicability to the minor.
