Religious Studies, B.A.

Major Requirements

Credit Hours: 34+

In addition to completing the requirements for this major, students must also complete the degree requirements specified in the Academic Regulations  section of this catalog.

Courses within this major may also satisfy general education requirements. Please consult the Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Requirements  for more information.

Required Courses

• RELS 210 Theories in the Study of Religions (3)
• RELS 450 Senior Seminar in Religious Studies (3)
• RELS 451 Capstone Colloquium (1)

Complete three credit hours selected from:

• RELS 101 Approaches to Religion (3)
• RELS 103 Death and the Afterlife (3)
• RELS 105 Introduction to World Religions (3)
• RELS 106 Religion and Violence (3)
• RELS 115 Religion and Society (3)
• RELS 117 Premodern History of Religions (3)
• RELS 118 Modern History of Religions (3)
• RELS 120 Religion, Art, and Culture (3)
• RELS 185 Women and Religion (3)

Complete three additional credit hours from the following methodology courses:

• RELS 201 The Hebrew Bible: History and Interpretation (3)
• RELS 202 The New Testament: History and Interpretation (3)
• RELS 205 Sacred Texts of the East (3)
• RELS 253 Religions of Charleston (3)
• RELS 270 African-American Religions (3)
• RELS 280 Religion and Film (3)
• RELS 310 Sacred Texts (3)

Complete three additional credit hours from each of the following three groups:

Complete three additional credit hours at the 200-level or above:

• JWST 225 The Jewish Tradition (3)
• PHIL 255 Philosophy of Religion (3)
• RELS 201 The Hebrew Bible: History and Interpretation (3)
• RELS 202 The New Testament: History and Interpretation (3)
• RELS 205 Sacred Texts of the East (3)
• RELS 215 Religion and Globalization (3)
• RELS 220 Comparative Religious Ethics (3)
• RELS 223 Religions of the Ancient Near East (3)
• RELS 225 The Jewish Tradition (3)
• RELS 230 The Christian Tradition (3)
• RELS 235 The Islamic Tradition (3)
• RELS 240 The Buddhist Tradition (3)
• RELS 245 The Hindu Tradition (3)
• RELS 247 The Daoist Tradition (3)
• RELS 248 Religious Traditions of China and Japan (3)
• RELS 250 Religion in America (3)
• RELS 253 Religions of Charleston (3)
• RELS 255 Philosophy of Religion (3)
• RELS 260 Native American Religions (3)
• RELS 270 African-American Religions (3)
• RELS 275 Religious Tradition and Scientific Inquiry (3)
• RELS 276 Religion and the Environment (3)
• RELS 280 Religion and Film (3)
• RELS 285 Religion and Feminism (3)
• RELS 298 Special Topics in Religious Studies (3)
• RELS 301 Mysticism and Religious Experiences (3)
• RELS 305 Topics in Indigenous Religions (3)
• RELS 310 Sacred Texts (3)
• RELS 315 New Religious Movements (3)
• RELS 335 Western Esotericism (3)
• RELS 340 Advanced Topics in Asian Religions (3)
• RELS 348 Asian Religions in America (3)
• RELS 350 Phenomenology of Religion (3)
• RELS 360 Myth, Ritual, and Symbol (3)
• RELS 365 Religion and Psychology (3)
• RELS 370 Advanced Topics in American Religions (3)
• RELS 375 Topics in the History of Religions (3)
• RELS 381 Religious Studies Internship (1-4)
• RELS 382 Teaching Apprenticeship (3)
• RELS 399 Tutorial (3)
• RELS 405 Advanced Studies in Religion (3)
• RELS 499A Bachelor’s Essay (3)
• RELS 499B Bachelor’s Essay (3)

Complete six additional credit hours at the 300-level or above (excluding RELS 381 and RELS 382):

• RELS 301 Mysticism and Religious Experiences (3)
• RELS 305 Topics in Indigenous Religions (3)
• RELS 310 Sacred Texts (3)
• RELS 315 New Religious Movements (3)
• RELS 335 Western Esotericism (3)
• RELS 340 Advanced Topics in Asian Religions (3)
• RELS 348 Asian Religions in America (3)
• RELS 350 Phenomenology of Religion (3)
• RELS 360 Myth, Ritual, and Symbol (3)
• RELS 365 Religion and Psychology (3)
• RELS 370 Advanced Topics in American Religions (3)
• RELS 375 Topics in the History of Religions (3)
• RELS 399 Tutorial (3)
• RELS 405 Advanced Studies in Religion (3)
• RELS 499A Bachelor’s Essay (3)
• RELS 499B Bachelor’s Essay (3)

Complete three additional credit hours from any religious studies course (RELS 100-level or higher)

With the approval of the department chair of religious studies, one course (200-level or above) in a related discipline may be substituted for one of the additional course requirements.

Notes:

• No more than 9 credit hours from RELS 298  may be applied towards the program requirements.
• No more than 6 credit hours from RELS 310  may be applied towards the program requirements.
• No more than 6 credit hours from RELS 340  may be applied towards the program requirements.
• No more than 6 credit hours from RELS 350  may be applied towards the program requirements.
• No more than 6 credit hours from RELS 375  may be applied towards the program requirements.
• No more than 6 credit hours from RELS 381  may be applied towards the program requirements.
• No more than 12 credit hours from RELS 399  may be applied towards the program requirements.
• No more than 6 credit hours from RELS 405  may be applied towards the program requirements.

Coursework Meeting Major Requirements Excluded from the Major GPA Calculation

None.  All courses that may apply toward completion of course requirements within the major apply toward the major GPA calculation.