Religion is a collection of ideas, practices, and systems that are organized and shared.
It is most common for these ideas to refer to a belief and worship of an external
controlling force, such as a god or supernatural entity.
About This Program
The B.A. program in religion is designed to accommodate students who want to concentrate
in religion.
The program is designed to engage the student in an examination of the religious approaches
to life (including their historical, cultural, social, and practical imports); to
develop within the student an enlarged capacity for logical, reflective, and coherent
reasoning; and to encourage the student to work out a conceptual framework for their
life commitment.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Religion requires 120 semester hours to complete.
The program is preparatory for advanced training in other fields, such as law, education,
international relations, statecraft, intellectual history, religious studies, and
theology.
In addition to meeting the institutional undergraduate degree requirements, majors
in the program are required to earn a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of credit
in philosophy and religion courses.
The Religion B.A. Major Requires:
21 hours in religion and, nine (9) hours in philosophy. ; and
Twelve (12) hours in a foreign language (French or Spanish).
No grade below “C” will be accepted inanymajor course
Studying religion enhances cultural competency by providing insight into the diverse
beliefs and practices of different communities, both locally and globally.
What Is Religion?
Religion is a collection of ideas, practices, and systems that are organized and shared.
It is most common for these ideas to refer to a belief and worship of an external
controlling force, such as a god or supernatural entity.
A faith or belief system can usually be characterized by practices, sacred texts,
sermons, rituals, prayer, meditation, prophecies, and revelations, as well as holy
places, symbols, and feasts. In turn, these factors can significantly impact worldviews,
morals, and cultural norms and beliefs.
Students will study the origins, functions, techniques, and experience of religion
in a cross-cultural perspective.
The skills developed through studying religion, such as critical thinking, cultural
competency, ethical reasoning, and communication, are valuable in a wide range of
professions.
Religion Careers
When people ask, “what can you do with a philosophy or religion degree?”, they are
often surprised by the universe of career opportunities. In addition to the obvious
carer of philosophy professor, philosophy majors excel in the fields of
• Law • Business • Technology • Government • Public Policy • Teaching • Health Care • Social Work • Ministry • Non-Profits • And many more
In addition to coursework and research focus, factors such as specialization within
religious traditions, chosen career path, and institutional affiliations also influence
religion majors' career trajectories and opportunities.
Religion Employment Expectations
While philosophy and religion majors have long faced negative stereotypes about employment
opportunities, these are shattered by the facts:
The median wage for philosophy and religion majors is $60,000.
The employment rate for philosophy and religion majors is consistently high (for 2018–2019,
there was a 95.7% employment rate).
Given the range of careers open to philosophy and religion majors, employment opportunities
exist in all U.S. states and worldwide.
Studying religion provides insights into the beliefs, practices, and values of different
cultures and societies, fostering cross-cultural understanding and empathy. It helps
students appreciate the diversity of human experiences and perspectives, crucial for
navigating an increasingly globalized world.
Religion Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Qs)
Q: What can I do with a major in religion? A: Almost anything. The skills developed in the major are broadly applicable to a range
of careers, including serving as the foundation for graduate and professional programs. Q: Do I have to be religious or believe in a specific religion to be a religion major? A: No; while students are often drawn to the religion major because of their faith,
religion as an academic subject does not require being religious or believing in a
specific religion. Q: What benefits does studying religion provide? A: Many. These include intellectual skills such as critical thinking and logic, the
development of open-mindedness, and an enhanced perspective. In addition to the value
of these benefits in studying religion they are also traits employers seek.
Fall 2018 (and beyond) Requirements
The curriculum presents the requirements for students who first enrolled in Fall 2018
or later. In addition to the requirements specified below, these students must complete
the civics literacy requirement. Students who enrolled prior to Fall 2018 are under
the requirements in effect when they enrolled.
Fall 2018 (and beyond) Requirements
The curriculum presents the requirements for students who first enrolled in Fall 2018
or later. In addition to the requirements specified below, these students must complete
thecivics literacy requirement. Students who enrolled prior to Fall 2018 are under the requirements in effect when
they enrolled.
FRESHMAN YEAR 29 hours
Course Number & Name
Credit Hours
ENC 1101, ENC 1102 Freshman Communication Skills I & II*
6
Mathematics Courses (see GENED course list)
6
Religion Courses
6
Social Science Elective (see GENED course list)
3
SPN 1120 and 1121 Elementary Spanish (with labs) or
FRE 1120 and 1121 Elementary French (with labs)**
8
SOPHOMORE YEAR 31 hours
Course Number & Name
Credit Hours
Natural Science Course (see GENED course list)
3
Natural Science Course (see GENED course list)
3
Religion Courses
6
FRE or SPN 2220 Intermediate French or Spanish (with lab)**
4
AMH 2091 African American History or AFA course
3
Humanities Electives
6
GENED Electives (see GENED course list)
3
Social Science Elective (see GENED course list)
3
JUNIOR YEAR 30 hours
Course Number & Name
Credit Hours
Free Electives
12
Religion Courses
9
Courses in Minor
9
SENIOR YEAR 30 hours
Course Number & Name
Credit Hours
Philosophy Courses
9
Courses in Minor
9
Electives
12
*ENC 1121, ENC 1122 Honors Freshman Composition I & II can be substituted for these
classes.
** A student earning the Bachelor of Science degree replaces the language classes with
elective classes.
