Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Major in Interdepartmental Studies
Manfred O. Meitzen, Director
Nature of Program
The program of religious studies in its courses offers instruction in the field of human experience concerning God, the transcendent, or ultimate concern. Such studies include intellectural examinations and discussions about this experience and about the resultant practices of ethics and ritual as well as the history of various religious traditions. The curriculum studies the world's great scriptures, the history of religions, contemporary religious through, and the interrelation of theology and culture. Attention is given to the relevance of the subject mater to the lives of the student. Religious studies courses may be taken for University LSP credit(except RELG290 and 491) or for elective credit. They enrich the global, liberal arts education of the student. Also, an interdepartmental major in religious studies maybe undertaken. (see below).
Admission Requirements
Admission to the interdepartmental degree program in religious studies requires a cumulative average (GPA) of at least 2.0.
Degree Requirements
If admitted to the interdepartmental degree program in religious studies,the student will be required to satisfactorily complete 42 hours of course work. Of these 42 hours, 21 are in religious studies; six in Biblical studies, six in the history of religious, six in contemporary religious thought, and a three-hour seminar on a selected topic. The other 21 hours fulfill requirements outside the program in religious studies. The following three hour courses are specifically required: SOC 5, 136, HIST 101, 103, AND PHIL 123. Also six hours of American and/or English Literature are required. Students must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA in the required course work in order to retain status as an interdepartmental major in religious studies.
Purposes and Options of the Degree
The interdepartmental degree in religious studies offers a basic general liberal arts education for students entering such professions as law, medicine, and business, if electives are carefully chosen. Of course, this major is useful to anyone seeking a professional career in religion, such a ministry, academic study of theology or Biblical studies, religious journalism, or teaching.
Minor in Religious Studies
Any student working toward an Arts and Sciences degree may undertake a minor in religious studies. Fifteen hours of course work offered by the program in religious studies must be completed with a GPA of at least 2.0 in order to fulfill the requirements of this minor. Specifically, the course requirements for the minor in religious studies are a follows: one course in each of the three groups below; two courses in one of these groups to be selected by the student; a seminar on a selected topic in religious studies to be fulfilled by taking either Religious Studies 290 or in some cases, by taking Religious Studies 197, The Honors Course in religious studies. Group 2. Historical critical study of the Bible: RELG 100, 101, 102, 103, 105. Group 3. Studies of contemporary religious thought: RELG 110, 111, 112, 150. It is the responsibility of students minoring in religious studies to maintain close contact with the office of the program of religious studies concerning the projected scheduling of the above courses.
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