Department of Religious Studies

The overarching purpose of the religious studies department is to introduce students to the academic study of religion using a variety of methodological and theoretical approaches. The department educates students to be responsible global citizens by emphasizing the key role religion plays in history, politics, culture, and the human search for ultimate meaning and values. On occasion or by arrangement, the department also offers interested students the opportunity to study Greek, Hebrew and Tamil, but these are not part of the major or minor.

Aims of the Department

The department's specific aims are:

1. To encourage an interdisciplinary perspective to analyze religion's complexity
2. To train students in the application of the key interpretative approaches in religious studies
3. To provide a broad understanding of religion as a human phenomenon
4. To comprehend the interaction of religion with society and culture
5. To promote independent study and research to prepare students who are interested in continuing in the field of religion.

To accomplish these goals the department offers introductory courses in the study of religion as well as several upper division courses that cover a wide range of religious traditions (course listing). These include topical and comparative courses that use a variety of analytical tools. In addition, majors are required to take a capstone seminar that allows them to apply their methodological tools to the traditions they have learned.

The department's faculty uses lectures, seminar discussions and independent study as teaching methods. Class size is 25 or fewer, allowing mutual exchange of ideas among students.