Religious Studies Major
A student wishing to major in religious studies must complete 30 credit hours in religious studies: REL 200 (3 credits), three 300-level religious studies courses taken for major credit (9 credits); four REL 300 or 400 elective sources (12 credits); a REL 400-level course (3 credits); and the Religious Studies Colloquium (3 credits). The student must also complete foreign language study through the intermediate level.
Upon declaring a religious studies major, students will receive a copy of the departmental learning goals. Students and their advisors will use these goals as a guide iin selecting courses. Students will demonstrate progress toward the goals by compiling work drawn from each semester into a portfolio for review by members of the department. During the senior year, in the context of the Religious Studies Colloquium, students will reflect on that progress in a conculding assessment essay.
Core Requirements
|
Hours
|
| Philosophy |
9 |
| Religious Studies |
6 |
| Philoaophy or Religious Studies Seminar |
3 |
| English |
9 |
| History |
6 |
| English or History Seminar |
3 |
| Social Science (may be fulfilled by major requirements) |
3 |
| Natural Science (may be fulfilled by major requirements) |
3 |
| |
|
Major Requirements
|
|
REL 200 Religious Perspectives on the
Human Situation (1) |
3 |
| Three REL 300-level major courses |
9 |
| Four additional religious studies courses selected in consulation with advisor (2) |
12 |
| REL 400-level seminar (3) |
3 |
| REL 398-399; 498-499 Colloquium |
3 |
Major Support
|
|
| Foreign Language (4) |
6 |
(1) Fulfilled by core requirement. Because all majors must take REL 200, a major who is also an Integral Honors student will earn three elective hours in religious studies through completion of the Integral Honors humanities sequence (HON 101, HON 201, HON 202).
(2) REL 300-399 core requirements counts as one elective.
(3) This seminar is in addition to the 400-level core rerequirement for a seminar in REL or PHL.
(4) Chosen after consultation with the student's faculty advisor and department chair; intermediate level of competency required.
(5) Deadlines in this prospectus assuma a May graduation date; the chairperson of the religious studies department may revise them to accommodate other graduation dates.
Religious Studies Minor
A student wishing to minor in religious studies must complete 15 credit hours in religious studies.
Minor Requirements
|
Hours
|
REL 200 Religious Perspectives on the
Human Situation (1) |
3 |
| REL 300-399 (1) |
3 |
| Two religious studies electives |
9 |
| REL 400-level seminar (1) |
3 |
(1) Fulfilled by core requirement
Catholic Studies Minor
The interdisciplinary minor in Catholic studies offers an understanding of Catholicism and the role it has played throughout history in the formation of worldviews, economic systems and social arrangements in varioius cultures. Participants learn how Catholicism has contributed to and been shaped by historical and cultural events, particularly in the Western hemisphere. The minor requires the following courses in Catholic studies:
REL 332 Catholic Social Thought
REL 367 American Catholicism
REL 375 Catholic Social Teaching
In addition, the student must complete three courses from the following list:
ENG 413 Contemporary Catholic Fiction
HST 340 The Church in History
HST 343 History and Spirituality of the Jesuits
PHL 360 Questioning the Existence of God
PHL 361 Evil, Freedom and God
PSC 367 War, Peace and Violence
REL 369 Sociology of Religion
REL 376 Theological Method
REL 377 The Church: Community in Christ
REL 382 Buddhism and Catholicism in Dialogue
REL 408 Advanced Studies of American Catholicism: Historical and Social Scientific Perspectives and Application
Substitutions and/or waivers for courses can be requested from the director of the Sanzone Center for Catholic Studies and Theological Reflection.
Religion & Education Programs
The religious studies department in collaboration with the education department offers a major program for those who plan a career in teaching religion. The program consists of a major in religious studies with a minor in education. A student’s program is designed after consultation with the respective chairs of both departments.
Students who plan a career in elementary education, special education or teaching english as a second language, may receive New York state certification with a major in religious studies and a minor in education.
Typical Program: Religious Studies Major/Education Minor
First Semester
|
Hours
|
Second Semester
|
Hours
|
Freshman Year
|
|
|
|
| REL 200/PHL 101 |
3 |
REL 200/PHL 101 |
3 |
| EDU 105 |
3 |
PSY 101 |
3 |
| HST 101/103 |
3 |
HST 102/104 |
3 |
| Foreign Language |
3 |
Foreign Language |
3 |
| WRT 101 |
3 |
Mathematics |
3 |
| AVS 101 (not applicatble for transfer students) |
1 |
|
|
Sophomore Year
|
|
|
|
| EDU 205 |
3 |
EDU 225 |
3 |
| PHL 201 |
3 |
EHG 200 |
3 |
| REL 300-399 |
3 |
REL 300-level M |
3 |
| General Elective |
3 |
REL 300-level Elective |
3 |
| Natural Science |
3 |
General Elective |
3 |
Junior Year
|
|
|
|
| EDU 305 |
3 |
EDU 365 |
3 |
| EDU 315 |
3 |
EDU 375 |
3 |
| ENG 300 |
3 |
REL 300-level M |
3 |
| PHL 301-303 |
3 |
PHL/REL Seminar |
3 |
| REL 398 Colloquium |
1 |
REL 398 Colloquium |
1 |
| REL 300-level M |
3 |
|
|
Senior Year
|
|
|
|
| EDU 120 |
0 |
REL 400-level |
3 |
| EDU 405 |
3 |
ENG/HST Seminar |
3 |
| EDU 430 |
6 |
REL Elective |
3 |
| EDU 431 |
6 |
REL Elective |
3 |
| |
|
REL 398 Colloquium |
1 |
Typical Program: Religious Studies Minor/Business Major
Another possibility for pursuing an interest in the study of religion is to major in another academic major or pre-professional program and declare a minor in religious studies. The following schedule is an example of how one might combine a major in business administration with a minor in religious studies.
First Semester
|
Hours
|
Second Semester
|
Hours
|
Freshman Year
|
|
|
|
| ENG 102 |
3 |
PHL 101 |
3 |
| ECO 113 |
3 |
ECO 114 |
3 |
| HST 101 |
3 |
HST 102 |
3 |
| CSC 151 |
3 |
Natural Science |
3 |
| MTH 120 |
3 |
BUS 101 |
3 |
| AVS 101 (1st year students) |
1 |
|
|
Sophomore Year
|
|
|
|
| ACT 203 |
3 |
ACT 204 |
3 |
| STA 201 |
3 |
STA 202 |
3 |
| REL 200 |
3 |
PHL 201 |
3 |
| ENG 200 |
3 |
MIS 301 |
3 |
| Visual Arts |
3 |
LAW 200 |
3 |
Junior Year
|
|
|
|
| MGT 301 |
3 |
OPM 301 |
3 |
| LAW Elective |
3 |
FIN 301 |
3 |
| MKT 301 |
3 |
PHL 301/302/303 |
3 |
| REL 301/312 |
3 |
ENG 300 |
3 |
| REL Elective |
3 |
REL Elective |
3 |
Senior Year
|
|
|
|
| ENG/HST Seminar |
3 |
PHL/REL Seminar |
3 |
| ECO 355 |
3 |
MGT 470 |
3 |
| Concentration Course |
3 |
Concentration Course |
3 |
| Concentration Course |
3 |
Concentration Course |
3 |
| REL Elective |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
| |
|
|
|