Religious Studies, BA

The program in religious studies offers the opportunity to acquire an understanding of religion within various cultural, historical, and political contexts through comparative approaches and an engagement with religion in everyday life. The major in religious studies is designed to enable students to not only gain a breadth of knowledge across a variety of religious traditions but also to pursue in-depth mastery of particular traditions in their practical and cultural dimensions, including the various normative and ideological issues that arise out the manifestation of religion in human affairs. In addition to the study of particular religious traditions, religious studies majors will be expected to gain a general knowledge of the theoretical and methodological approaches employed in the academic study of religion. Through the major, a student will enhance the ability to think, interpret, and write critically about a range of religious traditions through diverse methodological approaches.

• The standard religion major offers students a maximum number of electives so they may choose in accordance with their own backgrounds and interests.
• Combined majors are offered in Jewish studies and religion, history and religious studies, religious studies and African American studies, and international affairs and religious studies.

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• Concentrations and course offerings may vary by campus and/or by program modality.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for the course availability each term at your campus or within your program modality. 
• Certain options within the program may be required at certain campuses or for certain program modalities.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for requirements at your campus or for your program modality. 

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Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

Universitywide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.

BA Language Requirements

All BA students are required to complete the BA degree language requirements, for a total of 12 semester hours of language study or demonstrated equivalent proficiency, as described in Additional Requirements for BA students. Successful demonstration of proficiency does not reduce total minimum semester hours of study required to earn the BA degree.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

Religious Studies Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Foundational Course
PHIL 1110	Introduction to Religious Studies	4
Lived Religion Elective
Complete one of the following that is not used to satisfy another requirement:		4
PHIL 1133	Selling Spirituality
PHIL 1220	The Meaning of Death
PHIL 1260	Apocalypticism in Film
PHIL 1271	Sex in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
PHIL 1280	Islam: Rituals, Traditions, and Debates
PHIL 1667	Science Fiction and Film: Moral Dilemmas and Ethical Analysis
PHIL 2230	Music and Religion
PHIL 2390	Cults and Sects
PHIL 2410	Possession, Sacrifice, and Divination in African Diasporic Religions
PHIL 2619	Race and Religion in Film
PHIL 3100	The Religious Worlds of Boston: Faith and Devotion in Urban Life
Comparative Religion
Complete one of the following that is not used to satisfy another requirement:		4
PHIL 1111	Introduction to World Religions
PHIL 1130	Comparative Ethics
PHIL 1220	The Meaning of Death
PHIL 1271	Sex in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
PHIL 1275	Hinduism, Buddhism, and Beyond
PHIL 1290	Chinese Philosophy and Religion
PHIL 1667	Science Fiction and Film: Moral Dilemmas and Ethical Analysis
PHIL 2395	Japanese Buddhism
PHIL 3100	The Religious Worlds of Boston: Faith and Devotion in Urban Life
Electives
Complete five of the following, one of which must be 2000-level or above and another one of which must be 3000-level or above, that is not used to satisfy another requirement:		20
PHIL 1104	Goddesses, Witches, Saints, and Sinners: Women and Religion
PHIL 1111	Introduction to World Religions
PHIL 1130	Comparative Ethics
PHIL 1133	Selling Spirituality
PHIL 1220	The Meaning of Death
PHIL 1260	Apocalypticism in Film
PHIL 1271	Sex in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
PHIL 1275	Hinduism, Buddhism, and Beyond
PHIL 1280	Islam: Rituals, Traditions, and Debates
PHIL 1285	Jewish Religion and Culture
PHIL 1290	Chinese Philosophy and Religion
PHIL 1666	The Problem of Evil in Film
PHIL 1667	Science Fiction and Film: Moral Dilemmas and Ethical Analysis
PHIL 2230	Music and Religion
PHIL 2301	Philosophical Problems of Law and Justice
PHIL 2390	Cults and Sects
PHIL 2395	Japanese Buddhism
PHIL 2619	Race and Religion in Film
PHIL 3100	The Religious Worlds of Boston: Faith and Devotion in Urban Life
PHIL 4903	Seminar in Religion
Capstone
Complete the following that is not used to satisfy another requirement:		4
PHIL 4903	Seminar in Religion

Religious Studies Major Credit Requirement

Complete 36 semester hours in the major.

Experiential Liberal Arts

All students in this College of Social Sciences and Humanities program are required to complete the Experiential Liberal Arts Requirement.

Program Requirement

128 total semester hours required

Four Years, Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1

Year 1
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer 1	Hours	Summer 2	Hours
ENGW 1111	4	Elective	4	Vacation	0	Vacation	0
PHIL 1110	4	Elective	4
Elective	4	Elective	4
Elective	4	Open elective	4
	16		16		0		0
Year 2
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer 1	Hours	Summer 2	Hours
Comparative elective	4	Co-op	0	Co-op	0	Elective	4
Lived elective	4					Elective	4
Elective	4					Elective	4
Open elective	4
	16		0		0		12
Year 3
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer 1	Hours	Summer 2	Hours
Advanced-level elective	4	Co-op	0	Co-op	0	Elective	4
Religious studies elective	4					Elective	4
Elective	4					Elective	4
Open elective	4
	16		0		0		12
Year 4
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer 1	Hours	Summer 2	Hours
Capstone	4	Elective	4	Elective	4	Vacation	0
Religious studies elective	4	Elective	4	Elective	4
Elective	4	Elective	4
Open elective	4	Open elective	4
	16		16		8		0
Total Hours: 128

Five Years, Three Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1

Year 1
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer 1	Hours	Summer 2	Hours
ENGW 1111	4	Elective	4	Vacation	0	Vacation	0
PHIL 1110	4	Elective	4
Elective	4	Elective	4
Elective	4	Open elective	4
	16		16		0		0
Year 2
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer 1	Hours	Summer 2	Hours
Comparative elective	4	Co-op	0	Co-op	0	Elective	4
Lived elective	4					Elective	4
Elective	4
Open elective	4
	16		0		0		8
Year 3
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer 1	Hours	Summer 2	Hours
Advanced-level elective	4	Co-op	0	Co-op	0	Elective	4
Religious studies elective	4					Elective	4
Elective	4
Open elective	4
	16		0		0		8
Year 4
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer 1	Hours	Summer 2	Hours
Religious studies elective	4	Co-op		Co-op		Vacation	0
Elective	4
Elective	4
Open elective	4
	16		0		0		0
Year 5
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
Capstone	4	Religious studies elective	4
Religious studies elective	4	Elective	4
Elective	4	Elective	4
Open elective	4	Elective	4
	16		16
Total Hours: 128