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Academic Catalog 2021-2022

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  • Religious Studies, BA

Religious Studies, BA

2021-2022 Edition

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        • Philosophy, BA
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        • Cultural Anthropology and Religious Studies, BA
        • English and Philosophy, BA
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        • History and Religious Studies, BA
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  • Plan of Study

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.
  • The half-major template in religious studies can be used by students to create their own combined majors.

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.

University-Wide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the University-Wide Requirements.

BA Language Requirements

All BA students are required to complete the BA language requirements.

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 1110Introduction to Religious Studies4
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 1295
Religious Perspectives on Health and Healing
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 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
Ethics: East and West
PHIL 1220
The Meaning of Death
PHIL 1271
Sex in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
PHIL 1275
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Beyond: Eastern Religions
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 in Western Religions
PHIL 1111
Introduction to World Religions
PHIL 1120
Understanding the Bible
PHIL 1130
Ethics: East and West
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: Eastern Religions
PHIL 1280
Islam: Rituals, Traditions, and Debates
PHIL 1285
Jewish Religion and Culture
PHIL 1290
Chinese Philosophy and Religion
PHIL 1295
Religious Perspectives on Health and Healing
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 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 undergraduate students in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities 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
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENGW 11114Open elective4Vacation0Vacation0
PHIL 11104Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 16 0 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Comparative elective4Co-op0Co-op0Elective4
Open elective4  Elective4
Lived elective4  Elective4
Elective4   
 16 0 0 12
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Advanced-level elective4Co-op0Co-op0Elective4
Open elective4  Elective4
Religious studies elective4  Elective4
Elective4   
 16 0 0 12
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Capstone4Open elective4Elective4Vacation0
Open elective4Elective4Elective4 
Religious studies elective4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 16 8 0
Total Hours: 128

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

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENGW 11114Open elective4Vacation0Vacation0
PHIL 11104Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 16 0 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Comparative elective4Co-op0Co-op0Elective4
Open elective4  Elective4
Lived elective4   
Elective4   
 16 0 0 8
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Advanced-level elective4Co-op0Co-op0Elective4
Open elective4  Elective4
Religious studies elective4   
Elective4   
 16 0 0 8
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Open elective4Co-opCo-opVacation0
Elective4   
Religious studies elective4   
Elective4   
 16 0 0 0
Year 5
FallHoursSpringHours  
Capstone4Elective4  
Religious studies elective4Religious studies elective4  
Open elective4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 16  
Total Hours: 128
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  • 2021-22 Undergraduate PDF

  • 2021-22 College of Professional Studies Undergraduate PDF

  • 2021-22 Graduate PDF

  • 2021-22 Course Descriptions PDF