Religious Studies Major

Religious Studies Major Requirements

The Religious Studies Major is a Bachelor of Arts Degree with the following requirements:

  • 42 credit hours of RST and Cognate courses
  • 32 credit hours of Liberal Arts requirements (may double count towards major)
  • 46 credit hours of General Electives
  • 120 credit hours total to graduate

Note: Due to the number of available of General Elective credits, Religious Studies Majors are encouraged to double-major or add a minor.

Required RST and Cognate Courses

  • 100-level RST course
    • Note: RST 102: Intro to Christian Theology or RST 103: Catholicism Today are recommended.
  • RST 302: Introduction to Hebrew Scriptures
  • RST 303: Introduction to Christian Scriptures or RST 319: Christology
  • RST 305: Theological Ethics
  • RST 314: World Religions
  • RST 480: Faith in Action
  • RST 495: Senior Seminar
  • 3 RST Electives

Cognate Requirements

  • PHI 201: Introduction to Philosophy
  • 1 PHI Elective
  • 6 credits of a World Language

Religious Studies Program Learning Outcomes

1. FOUNDATIONAL THEOLOGY

Demonstrate a mastery of fundamental issues, foundational concepts and technical vocabulary essential to theology and religious studies by using these accurately, with depth and nuance.

  • References appropriate theologians and theories
  • Uses theological vocabulary correctly
  • Avoids unnecessary jargon
  • Creates or points out connections between concepts

2. ETHICAL EXPLORATION

Explore ethical questions and evaluate responses to those questions in ways that demonstrate the tension between choosing what is apparently good and choosing what is actually good.

  • Examines problems from multiple perspectives
  • Considers both personal goods and the “Common Good”
  • Avoids relativistic stances
  • Shows the connection between values and decisions

3. SCRIPTURE STUDIES I

Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary approaches to biblical interpretation by applying genre and author’s historical context to one text with 80% accuracy.

  • Uses Scripture with an attention to the passage’s genre and the author’s historical context
  • Avoids proof-texting

4. SCRIPTURE STUDIES II

Describe how these methods enable scholars to bridge the distance between authors of the text and the lives of believers today with 80% accuracy.

  • Understands Scripture in relation to other sources of truth such as tradition and reason
  • Makes connections between biblical passages and the lives of Christians today

5. THEOLOGICAL METHOD

Identify important theological questions and explore them through scholarly research and argument development.

  • Distinguishes between catechesis, theology, and the study of religion
  • Utilizes scholarly theological sources
  • Expresses self clearly through writing and/or speaking
  • Develops an argument around a thesis statement

6. REFLECTIVE SKILLS

Articulate the links between theological inquiry, the spiritual life, daily life, and social justice.

  • Explores the role of mystery in human life
  • Articulates concern for injustices experienced by others
  • Avoids dividing life into sacred and secular domains
  • Directly links theological concepts to real world problems and experiences