Program

Religion Major Requirements

(for Catalog year 2012-2013)

A major in Religion consists of 10 courses, including:

  1. Two courses in comparative religions—
    • Introduction to World Religions
      • plus one of the following:
    • After Death and Dying
    • Judaic Studies: From the Exodus to the Romans
    • Islam
    • Asian Religions
    • Topics in Comparative Religion
    • The Rise of Islam (HIST 232)
  2. Two courses in analysis of scriptures—
    • Old Testament Faith and History
      • or
    • New Testament Faith and History,
      • plus one of the following:
    • Old Testament Women
    • Biblical Topics
    • The Sayings of Jesus
  3. One theology/ethics course selected from the following:
    • Judaic Studies: Talmud to Today
    • Protestantism in the Modern World
    • Psychology of Religion
    • Christian Social Ethics
    • Religion & Reason (PHIL 227)
    • Philosophy and the Environment (PHIL 228)
    • Medieval Philosophy (PHIL 302)
  4. Two Religion courses numbered 320 or above (Refer to the college catalog for course numbers)
  5. No more than four 100-level courses may be applied toward the major
  6. At least seven courses must be taken in the department. Up to three of the following courses may be counted toward fulfilling the major requirements:
    • GRK 221 Readings in the Synoptic Gospels
    • GRK 222 Readings in the Pauline Epistles
    • HEBR 221 Readings in Old Testament Narrative
    • HEBR 222 Readings in the Prophetic Books and Wisdom Literature
    • HIST 232 The Rise of Islam
    • PHIL 227 Religion and Reason
    • PHIL 228 Philosophy and the Environment
    • PHIL 302 Medieval Philosophy
  7. Capstone Experience: Seniors must:
    1. select, expand upon, and submit for department review a significant paper, written in an upper-level course, that concerns theology or ethics, analysis of scriptures, or the compartive study of religion; and
    2. submit a portfolio of writing during the first month of their final semester. The portfolio must include four major papers from Religion courses and an essay in self-understanding; and
    3. arrange an oral defense with the department faculty, consisting of an assessment interview occurring during the last two months of the final semester.

Religion Minor Requirements

A minor in Religion consists of one course from the following selections:

  1. Introduction to World Religions
    • Old Testament Faith and History
    • or
    • New Testament Faith and History
  2. Four Religion courses numbered 200 or above (Refer to the college catalog for course numbers)
  3. At least one course must be taken from the following selections:
    • Introduction to World Religions
    • Judaic Studies: From the Exodus to the Romans
    • Judaic Studies: Talmud to Today
    • Islam
    • Asian Religions
    • Topics in Comparative Religion

Biblical Languages Minor Requirements

An interdisciplinary minor in Biblical Languages requires the completion of

  • Biblical Greek Grammar and Readings I & II
  • Biblical Hebrew Grammar and Readings I & II

and two from

  • Readings in the Synoptic Gospels
  • Readings in the Pauline Epistles
  • Readings in Old Testament Narrative
  • Readings in the Prophetic Books and Wisdom Literature

Additional Curriculum Information

  • Death and Dying is strongly recommended for pre-ministerial students after their first year, regardless of their major.

  • The following courses satisfy the cultural diversity requirement:

    • Introduction to World Religions
    • Judaic Studies: From the Exodus to the Romans
    • Judaic Studies: Talmud to Today
    • Islam
    • Asian Religions
    • Biblical Archaeology
    • Topics in Comparative Religion
    • The Hellenistic-Roman Cultural World
    • History and Culture of the Ancient Near East
    • Old Testament Women

  • The following courses, when scheduled as W courses, count toward the writing intensive requirement:

    • Psychology of Religion
    • The Hellenistic-Roman Cultural World
    • Christian Social Ethics
    • Old Testament Women
    • Biblical Topics
    • The Sayings of Jesus