Religious Studies
Our approach to the study of religion affirms that enduring commitments to faith — while always in need of study and discernment — are reasonable, responsible and essential to human flourishing.
Areas of Study
- World Religions
- Theology
- Sacred Texts
- Religious Ethics
Requirements
Because the field of religious studies is multidimensional, our program acquaints students with the diverse aspects of the phenomenon of religion. It also enables students to pursue in-depth the particular area of their own interest.
Major Requirements
A major is required to take a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 14 courses in the department.
These must include one from each of the following areas: sacred text, theology, ethics and world religions.
They must include two intensive courses (seminars or tutorials) in one of the department areas (sacred text, theology, ethics or world religions).
The remaining courses (to reach a minimum of 10) can be electives from any of the courses offered in the department.
A major is required to take a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 14 courses in the department.
These must include one from each of the following areas: sacred text, theology, ethics and world religions.
They must include two intensive courses (seminars or tutorials) in one of the department areas (sacred text, theology, ethics or world religions).
They must include at least two religious traditions covered by the Department (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism).
The remaining courses (to reach a minimum of 10) can be electives from any of the courses offered in the department.
Minor Requirements
Students wishing to minor in Religious Studies either out of general interest in the subject of religion and theology or in order to complement their major in another field are required to take a minimum of six courses in the department. These six courses must meet the following requirements:
- A minimum of two courses must be taken at the 200-level or above, at least one of which must be a seminar.
- They must include at least two religious traditions covered by the Department (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism).
- They must draw from three of the following four areas: ethics, sacred text, theology and world religions.
Subject Areas
RELS 118 New Testament
RELS 126 Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
RELS 139 Understanding Jesus
RELS 190 History of the Early Church
RELS 216 Readings: Asian Sacred Texts
RELS 221 Women In Early Christianity
RELS 229 Walking With Paul
RELS 233 Households & Early Christianity
RELS 242 Sex, Gender & the Hebrew Bible
RELS 270 The Quran
RELS 284 Sex, Money, Power & the Bible
RELS 241 Scripture and Script: The Bible and Contemporary Art, Media and Literature
RELS 304 Land and Creation
RELS 395 Nature and Animals in the Bible
RELS 101 Intro to the Comparative Study of Religion
RELS 106 Buddhism
RELS 107 Islam
RELS 108 Hinduism
RELS 116 Catholicism (for all minors; for majors classes ’28 and later)
RELS 117 History Of Christianity 1 (for all minors; for majors classes ’28 and later)
RELS 119 History Of Christianity 2 (for all minors; for majors classes ’28 and later)
RELS 120 Comparative Religions/World View
RELS 121 Saints and Sinners
RELS 147 Judaism
RELS 149 Judaism in the Time of Jesus
RELS 165 Ancient and Medieval Hinduism
RELS 179 Global Catholicism
RELS 199-S07 Religion in East Asia
RELS 216 Readings: Asian Sacred Texts
RELS 255 Ecology & Religion
RELS 260 Comparative Mysticism & Human Ecology
RELS 270 The Quran
RELS 276 Comparative Catholicisms
RELS 277 Modern Religious Movements
RELS 279 Religion and Violence
RELS 299-S05 - (De)Colonial Catholicisms in Latin America
RELS 299-S06 - Who is my neighbor? Catholicism, Genocide & Rwanda
RELS 299-S10 Deaf Catholicism: History, Theology, and Liturgy
RELS 311 Zen Buddhism
RELS 312 Theravada Buddhism
RELS 315 Islamic Philosophy & Theology
RELS 327 Holocaust: Confronting Evil
RELS 329 Messiahs and Worlds to Come
RELS 340 Gardens & World Religions
RELS 102 Mary in Christian Theology
RELS 103 Race and Religion
RELS 112 Christian Martyrdom
RELS 114 Introduction To Theology
RELS 115 Angels and Demons
RELS 116 Catholicism
RELS 117 History Of Christianity 1
RELS 119 History Of Christianity 2
RELS 121 Saints and Sinners
RELS 133 Contemp Catholic Spirituality
RELS 139 Understanding Jesus
RELS 170 The Worlds of C. S. Lewis
RELS 179 Global Catholicism
RELS 184 Theology & Art
RELS 199-S06 The Catholic Intellectual Tradition
RELS 204 Early Christian Monasticism
RELS 205 God: A Love Story
RELS 206 Liberation Theology
RELS 215 Defense Against the Dark Arts
RELS 217 Eucharist/History & Theology
RELS 218 Christian Sacraments
RELS 219 Christian Prayer in Theory and Practice
RELS 225 Love, Friendship and Catholicism
RELS 234 Conflicts in the Church
RELS 243 Theology Of The New Testament
RELS 260 Comparative Mysticism & Human Ecology
RELS 285 Jesuit Spirituality
RELS 287 - Early Christian Preaching
RELS 290 Teología Andina
RELS 292 Medieval Christianity
RELS 295 Un tal Jesus
RELS 299-F07-01 Political Theology
RELS 299-S01 Christian Autobiography
RELS 299-S05 (De)Colonial Catholicisms in Latin America
RELS 299-S06 Who is my neighbor? Catholicism, Genocide & Rwanda
RELS 299-S08 Black Feminist & Womanist Theology
RELS 299-S09 Prisons, Policing & Providence
RELS 299-S10 Deaf Catholicism: History, Theology, and Liturgy
RELS 299-S11 Theology of Religions – A Fresh Start for Christianity?
RELS 315 Islamic Philosophy & Theology
RELS 333 Comparative Theology
RELS 357 Modern Catholic Theology
RELS 360 Theology of Thomas Aquinas
RELS 327 Holocaust: Confronting Evil
RELS 141 Contemporary Christian Morality
RELS 143 Social Ethics
RELS 299-F07 Christian Critics
RELS 230 Theological Perspectives on Medical Ethics
RELS 238 Christian Ethics and Mental Illness
RELS 280 Liberation Theology
RELS 294 Sexual Justice: Social Ethics
RELS 299-S09 Prisons, Policing & Providence
RELS 300 Ethics of Work & Family
RELS 302 The Challenge of Happiness
RELS 313 HIV/AIDS and Ethics
RELS 314 Everyday Ethics
RELS 106 Buddhism
RELS 107 Islam
RELS 108 Hinduism
RELS 147 Judaism
RELS 149 Judaism in the Time of Jesus
RELS 165 Ancient and Medieval Hinduism
RELS 199-S07 Religion in East Asia
RELS 270 The Quran
RELS 311 Zen Buddhism
RELS 312 Theravada Buddhism
RELS 315 Islamic Philosophy & Theology
RELS 327 Holocaust: Confronting Evil
RELS 329 Messiahs and Worlds to Come
Meet Your Department Chair
Opportunities
The program offers many opportunities for students to further their learning and demonstrate their proficiency in the field.
Theta Alpha Kappa Honor Society
Theta Alpha Kappa is the national honor society for religious studies and theology. Theta Alpha Kappa seeks to further the study of religion and theology by honoring outstanding graduate and undergraduate students, publishing a quarterly journal, and providing various forums for scholarly discussion. Each spring, religious studies majors who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement are invited to join.
The Rev. William F. Hartigan Medal
The Hartigan Medal is awarded each year to a graduating senior for the best essay on a subject in religion. The Department of Religious Studies encourages students who write an outstanding essay or paper for a course in the religious studies department, or even for another department (provided the subject of the paper concerns religion), to submit a copy of that paper for consideration for this award. Students may also write a paper specifically for this competition.
The Dr. Vincent J. Forde Memorial Award
The Vin Forde Memorial Award in Religious Studies is granted annually to the graduating religious studies major who, in the view of the faculty of the Department of Religious Studies, best exemplifies the values of Vincent J. Forde, a former professor in the department, whose dedication to the academic study of religion alongside a consistent commitment to both the Catholic and civic communities are represented in the student’s service to the College, Church, and broader community. The award carries a cash prize of $200 and a certificate.
