Religious Studies

Department: Religious Studies

Requirements
  • The Religion POE will consist of 50 credit hours and the senior thesis. At least 20 of these credit hours must be at the 300 or 400 level, otherwise called upper division levels. 4 of the upper division credit hours are the senior thesis.
  • All students must take our three introductory courses offered at least once a year:

RL-110  What Is Religion

This course serves as an introduction to religious studies. It engages some of the most important questions which preoccupy students of world religions. How do religions work? What kinds of issues does religion address?

4 CreditsH,CW 


RL-120  World Religions

An introduction to most of the major religious traditions of the world (Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam) and a few of the smaller religious traditions (such as Zoroastrianism and Sikhism). This course also examines how our own beliefs and attitudes affect our understandings of religion.

3 CreditsH,I 


RL-131  Old Testament As History and Literature

An introduction to the historical-critical reading of the Old Testament against the background of the history, politics, religion, literature, and culture of the ancient Middle East. This course studies how these Israelites texts were written and how their literary qualities shape their religious meanings.

4 CreditsH,I 

--OR--

RL-132  New Testament As History and Literature

An introduction to the historical-critical reading of the New Testament against the background of the history, politics, religion, literature, and culture of the ancient Mediterranean world. This course studies how these early Christian texts were written and how their literary qualities shape their religious meanings.

4 CreditsH 


  • All students must complete a 4 credit hour senior thesis under the guidance of the designated instructor for the year of their graduation.
  • The remainder of the POE (35 credit hours) must be distributed accordingly from the selection below:
  • Take 26 credit hours of course work of your choosing; of these, at least 16 have to be at the 300 or 400 level.
  • Take 1 of the following Philosophy Courses:

PL-255  Philosophy of Religion

A critical investigation of some of the main concepts of religion and theology. The course focuses on problems in the definition of religion, the idea of God, the nature of religious experience, the relation of faith and reason and the meaning of religious language.

3 CreditsH 


PL-304  Existentialism

Philosophers such as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger and Sartre are studied as an introduction to existentialist thought. Theistic and atheistic types are considered, as is significance of existentialism as a contemporary philosophy. 

4 CreditsH,CW,WK-HTPrerequisite: FYC-101 or EN-110 or EN-109


Take 2 of the following History courses:

HS-104 Medieval Europe

This course will examine the history of Western Europe from the Roman Empire to approximately 1450. This 1000-year period was the setting for both large and small changes in the way people inEurope thought about themselves, governed each other, and lived everyday lives. During the course, we will follow a chronological timeline, but we will frequently stop, look, and enjoy thescenery. (Formerly titled: European History to 1550)

4 CreditsH, I, WK-HTPre- or Co-Req: FYC-101 or EN-110 orEN-109


HS-109 China and Japan to 1800

Introduces students to the major themes in the histories of China and Japan from antiquity to about 1800. Special emphasis will be paid to the religious and philosophical foundations of Confucian civilization. $110 course fee for overnight trip to New York City, Washington, DC or Philadelphia for visit to a major art museum. Trip fee includes Asian dinner, transportation & accommodations.

4 CreditsH, I 


HS-152 World Civilizations From 1500

This course will trace the development of world civilizations from the 16th century to the present.

4 CreditsH, I 


All students must complete one year of college level foreign language study. No limits are placed which language is chosen or how the student meets this requirement.

Religion Secondary Emphasis
  • 20 credit hours
  • Must complete RL 110, RL 120, either RL 131 or RL 132
  • 9 credit hours of the student's choosing with at least 6 credit hours at the 300 or 400 level