Religion
Guidelines for Students Pursuing Two Academic Majors—
- The faculty of the Religion Department has designed the major in Religion to reflect the interdisciplinary character of the contemporary academic study of religion. Toward that end, the Religion Department offers a curriculum that encourages students to develop their programs of study through majors in two academic departments with the major in Religion as either the primary or the secondary major field of study.
- A student who intends to complete requirements for two academic majors, with the major in religion as either the primary or the secondary major, should work with her or his faculty advisor, the Department Chair of Religion, and the Chair of the other academic department as the student develops a degree plan.
- Because the Religion Department cross-lists many of its courses in the curricula of several other academic departments, the potential exists for students to take courses that will fulfill requirements and count toward majors in both the Religion Department and some other academic departments. For this reason, students who also pursue another academic major, as well as the major in Religion, must complete at least six (6) courses from the curriculum of the Religion Department that do not also count toward curricular degree requirements for another major. Students should direct questions about how specific courses will count toward both academic majors to the Department Chair of the Religion Department early in their program of study.
Exploring the Major— Students who have interests in the academic study of Religion as a major should begin to explore the field of study through one of the several introductory courses that the Religion Department offers, but especially through REL 100: Religion in Global Context, which the department requires for all students who choose the major in Religion.
Admission to the Major— The Religion Department does not require any special curricular requirements of students who apply for admission to the major in Religion.
Course Sequencing Considerations (in order to complete degree requirements within eight terms)— Although the major in Religion does not require students to follow a mandatory sequence of courses in general, students who chose the major in Religion should complete REL 100: Religion in Global Context early in their studies since this course introduces students to categories and methods in the academic study of Religion that they will encounter and will employ in other courses. Students should take REL 480: Seminar in Religion (the capstone experience and essay/project) during their final year of study.
Proficiency Requirements for Retention in and Completion of the Major— In addition to successful completion of specific requirements for the major in Religion, each student must satisfy the Religion Department's standards for written and oral communication.