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 Asian Religions
- 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 Death and Eternal Life
- RELS 199 Intro to Political Theology
- 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 Contemplative Ethics
- RELS 299 Race, Theology, and Power
- RELS 299 Black Theology, Black Lives Matter
- 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 199 Intro to Political Theology
- RELS 206 Liberation Theology
- RELS 230 Theological Perspectives on Medical Ethics
- RELS 238 Christian Ethics and Mental Illness
- RELS 294 Sexual Justice: Social Ethics
- RELS 299 Religion, Prisons, & Racial Justice
- RELS 299-F07 Christian Critics
- 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.
