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Religious Studies

Director and Professor: Dr. Crockett (Philosophy and Religion), 450-5506
Professor: Dr. Barnes (History), Dr. Frontain (English), Dr. Harvey (Philosophy and Religion), Dr. Mehl (Philosophy and Religion)
Associate Professor: Dr. Brasovan (Philosophy and Religion), Dr. Deitrick (Philosophy and Religion), Dr. Duncan (Philosophy and Religion), Dr. Held (Philosophy and Religion), Dr. Lucas (History), Dr. Morales (Art)
Assistant Professor: Dr. Craun (History)
Senior Lecturer: Mr. Spivey (Philosophy and Religion)
Lecturer II: Dr. Novy (Philosophy and Religion)
Instructor: Dr. Winden Fey (Philosophy and Religion)

[1] Purposes

The goal of the interdisciplinary religious studies program is to educate the undergraduate student with an understanding of the methods and subject matter of the study of religion. Generally, the program will serve the interests of liberal education by developing in the student the skills of careful and critical reading, writing, thinking, and speaking. More specifically, the program will provide a comprehensive and clear exposure to the variety of religious expression world-wide, a critical understanding of personal, social, and cultural dimensions of religion, and a thorough preparation for students who intend to pursue graduate or professional study.

A student who majors in religious studies will have a general knowledge of the beliefs and practices of the major world religions and an in-depth knowledge of at least one major religious tradition, will be skilled in the critical analysis of religion as a cultural phenomenon and in the ability to draw connections among different historical and cultural contexts of religion, will have a general knowledge of two different methodological approaches to the study of religion and an in-depth knowledge of at least one of these approaches, and will be well-prepared for graduate or professional study.

[2] Baccalaureate Degree: Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science

The degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, with a major in religious studies, requires successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using major, minor, or elective courses (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) degree requirements for the BA or BS degree; (3) major requirements listed below; and (4) a minor as worked out with the student’s minor advisor. Majors and minors are encouraged to take RELG 1320 to satisfy a UCA Core requirement.

Abbreviation Key – UCA Core Program
LD = Lower Division
UD = Upper Division
C = Effective Communication
D = Diversity
I = Critical Inquiry
R = Responsible Living
Z = Capstone Experience

[2.1] Major in Religious Studies (33 hours)

Religious Studies majors are recommended to take courses in the major to satisfy their upper-division Core requirements. Students must take three hours in courses designated in each of the four Core competencies, Critical Inquiry (I), Communication (C), Diversity (D), and Responsible Living (R). However, if they so choose, students are free to fulfill their upper-division Core requirements with courses from other departments. Religious Studies majors are strongly encouraged to take their Capstone course (Z) from one of the courses designated (Z) within the Religious Studies program, but are able to fulfill their Capstone requirement from another program if necessary.

[2.1.1] Core requirements (18 hours):

Theory and Method:

RELG 3301 Theories and Methods in Religious Studies [UD UCA Core: I, C]

Asian Religious Traditions – one course from the following:

HIST 3303 Asian Civilization I
PHIL 3352 Asian Philosophy and Religion [UD UCA Core: D, C]
RELG 3325 Buddhism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
RELG 4305 Chinese Philosophy and Religion

Western Religious Traditions – one course from the following:

RELG 2300 Religion in the United States
RELG 3335 Judaism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
HIST 3320 History of Christianity I [UD UCA Core: R]
HIST 3321 History of Christianity II [UD UCA Core: R]
HIST 4387 The Islamic Middle East [UD UCA Core: D]

Sacred Art, Ritual, and Literature – one course from the following:

RELG 2332 Jewish Scriptures
RELG 2333 Christian Scriptures
ART 2325 Asian Art Survey
ENGL 3325 Readings: The Bible as Literature [UD UCA Core: D]
ENGL 4341 Milton

Religion, Culture, and Society – one course from the following:

RELG 3315 Topics in Religious Studies
RELG 3330 Religion and Gender [UD UCA Core: D, R]
RELG 3340 Religion, Science, and Technology [UD UCA Core: I, C]
RELG 3342 New and Alternative Religious Movements
SOC 4300 Sociology of Religion
ANTH 3310 Anthropology of Magic, Religion, and Witchcraft
HIST 4302 History of Witchcraft [UD UCA Core: I, C]

Religious Thought – one course from the following:

PHIL 3331 Philosophy of Religion
PHIL 4340 Meanings of Life [UD UCA Core: Z]
RELG 3320 Modern Religious Thought
RELG 3345 African American Religious Thought [UD UCA Core: D]
RELG 4320 Contemporary Religious Thought [UD UCA Core: Z]
RELG 4325 Postmodern Theology [UD UCA Core: Z]

[2.1.2] Electives (15 hours)

chosen from among all religious studies courses:

ANTH 3310 Anthropology of Magic, Religion, and Witchcraft
ANTH 3315 Native American Cultures
ART 2325 Asian Art Survey
ENGL 3325 Advanced Readings in World Literature [UD UCA Core: D]
ENGL 4341 Milton
HIST 3303 Asian Civilization I
HIST 3320 History of Christianity I [UD UCA Core: R]
HIST 3321 History of Christianity II [UD UCA Core: R]
HIST 4302 History of Witchcraft [UD UCA Core: I, C]
HIST 4387 The Islamic Middle East [UD UCA Core: D]
PHIL 2300 Existential Problems in Philosophy
PHIL 3301 Medieval Philosophy
PHIL 3303 Nineteenth-Century Philosophy
PHIL 3331 Philosophy of Religion
PHIL 3343 Philosophy of Sex and Love
PHIL 3352 Asian Philosophy and Religion [UD UCA Core: D, C]
PHIL 3370 Metaphysics
PHIL 4340 Meanings of Life [UD UCA Core: Z]
RELG 1320 World Religions or RELG 1330 Exploring Religion or PHIL 1330 World Philosophies
RELG 2300 Religion in the United States
RELG 2332 Jewish Scriptures
RELG 2333 Christian Scriptures
RELG 3315 Topics in Religious Studies
RELG 3320 Modern Religious Thought
RELG 3325 Buddhism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
RELG 3330 Religion and Gender [UD UCA Core: I, R]
RELG 3335 Judaism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
RELG 3340 Religion, Science and Technology [UD UCA Core: I, C]
RELG 3342 New and Alternative Religious Movements
RELG 3345 African American Religious Thought [UD UCA Core: D]
RELG 3380 Internship in Religious Studies
RELG 4305 Chinese Philosophy and Religion
RELG 4320 Contemporary Religious Thought [UD UCA Core: Z]
RELG 4325 Postmodern Theology [UD UCA Core: Z]
RELG 4330 Readings in Religious Studies
SOC 4300 Sociology of Religion

Courses taken as Religious Studies core requirements cannot satisfy elective requirements.

[2.2] The Undergraduate Scholars Program in Religious Studies

Students who major in religious studies and who demonstrate exceptional ability may be invited to enter the undergraduate scholars program. This program is designed to prepare the student for graduate work in religious studies. In addition to the courses required for a major in the area, the student must

  1. Complete RELG 4300 Religious Studies Honors Tutorial;
  2. Maintain a minimum 3.25 GPA overall and a 3.50 GPA in the major;
  3. Complete an honors thesis in conjunction with RELG 4300; and
  4. Pass an oral examination on the thesis conducted by three faculty members.

[2.3] Minor in Religious Studies (18 hours)

[2.3.1] Core requirements(18 hours):

Theory and Method:

RELG 3301 Theories and Methods in Religious Studies [UD UCA Core: I, C]

Asian Religious Traditions – one course from the following:

PHIL 3352 Asian Philosophy and Religion [UD UCA Core: D, C]
RELG 3325 Buddhism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
RELG 4305 Chinese Philosophy and Religion
HIST 3303 Asian Civilization I

Western Religious Traditions – one course from the following:

RELG 2300 Religion in the United States
RELG 3335 Judaism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
HIST 3320 History of Christianity I [UD UCA Core: R]
HIST 3321 History of Christianity II [UD UCA Core: R]
HIST 4387 The Islamic Middle East [UD UCA Core: D]

Sacred Art, Ritual, and Literature – one course from the following:

RELG 2332 Jewish Scriptures
RELG 2333 Christian Scriptures
ART 2325 Asian Art Survey
ENGL 3325 Readings: The Bible as Literature [UD UCA Core: D]
ENGL 4341 Milton

Religion, Culture, and Society – one course from the following:

RELG 3315 Topics in Religious Studies
RELG 3330 Religion and Gender [UD UCA Core: I, R]
RELG 3340 Religion, Science, and Technology [UD UCA Core: I, C]
RELG 3342 New and Alternative Religious Movements
SOC 4300 Sociology of Religion
ANTH 3310 Anthropology of Magic, Religion, and Witchcraft
HIST 4302 History of Witchcraft [UD UCA Core: I, C]

Religious Thought – one course from the following:

PHIL 3331 Philosophy of Religion
PHIL 4340 Meanings of Life [UD UCA Core: Z]
RELG 3320 Modern Religious Thought
RELG 3345 African American Religious Thought [UD UCA Core: D]
RELG 4320 Contemporary Religious Thought [UD UCA Core: Z]
RELG 4325 Postmodern Theology [UD UCA Core: Z]

[3]Course Links

[3.1] Courses in Religious Studies (RELG)

Follow this link for RELG course descriptions: course link.

[3.2] Other Courses in the Religious Studies Program

Follow this link for ANTH course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for ART course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for ENGL course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for HIST course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for PHIL course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for SOC course descriptions: course link.