Religious Studies (BA)

Description

The study of religion is an important branch of the humanities and an essential component in any well-grounded program of higher education. It is crucial for the understanding of any culture, and it deals with serious issues for the self-understanding of students of any age. Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ's Department of Religious Studies offers programs designed to explore the variety of religious thought and practices that human beings have expressed in the past as well as those that continue to be expressed in the present.

Because of its roots in the Catholic tradition, this department offers a wide variety of courses on Christian themes and developments, while also offering students broad exposure to other traditions, such as Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. Students may choose from three focus areas designed to highlight the role and function of religion in society. These focus areas are social justice, intercultural studies and comparative theology.

The curriculum for a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Religious Studies is designed to serve three purposes: (1) to provide introductory and survey courses in the study of religion that will be valuable for all undergraduates and available in all time slots; (2) to provide a major for students wishing to concentrate in the study of religion; and (3) to provide a program leading to the master's degree for students wishing to engage in advanced studies.

Students who want to deepen their knowledge but do not want to pursue a major in Religious Studies may want to consider an Islamic Studies minor, a Religious Studies minor or a certificate in Catholic Studies.

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    Degree Requirements - Bachelor of Arts with a major in Religious Studies (120 credits)

    To obtain this undergraduate degree, the student must fulfill the requirements of the University Core Curriculum, the requirements for the program major and complete a minimum of 120 credit hours.

    Religious Studies Major (30 credits)

    Religious Studies majors are required to earn 30 credit hours in the field. At least 15 credits (5 courses) must be earned in upper level courses (3000/4000 level).

    To provide a foundation for this major, all students must take RELS 2001 The Study of Religions (3 credits) and one course in each of the three focus areas below. The remaining 18 credits (6 courses) for this major allow the student flexibility to pursue one or more of these focus areas in greater depth.

    Near the end of their senior year, majors are also required to submit a portfolio of exams and papers which, in their judgment, give evidence of their knowledge of the field, their skills of research and expression and their personal appropriation of the materials they have covered. No additional grades are given for the portfolios. Their purpose is to assist the department in advising students and assessing the overall effectiveness of the program.

    Required Foundational Course

    • RELS 2001 The Study of Religions (3 credits)

    Social Justice (choose one)

    • RELS 2195 Geographies of Religion (3 credits)
    • RELS 2230 Prophets and Visionaries (3 credits)
    • RELS 2340 Introduction to Christian Ethics (3 credits)
    • RELS 2400 Social Ethics (3 credits)
    • RELS 2480 The Holocaust (3 credits)
    • RELS 2490 Violence, Nonviolence and Religion (3 credits)
    • RELS 3055 Islam in America (3 credits)
    • RELS 3240 Feminist Biblical Interpretation (3 credits)
    • RELS 3400 Class, Race, and Gender (3 credits)
    • RELS 3430 Ethics and Economic Theories (3 credits)
    • RELS 3470 Catholic Social Thought (3 credits)
    • RELS 3480 Justice: Contemporary Issues and Theories (3 credits)
    • RELS 3610 Religions and Sci-Fi (3 credits)
    • RELS 4132 Religions and Global Wellbeing (3 credits)
    • RELS 4140 Gender and Religion (3 credits)
    • RELS 4141 Gender in Asian Traditions (3 credits)
    • RELS 4340 Christian Ethics (3 credits)
    • RELS 4680 Catholic Health Care Ethics (3 credits)

    Intercultural Studies (choose one)

    Comparative Theology (choose one)

    • RELS 2000 Catholicism: Spirit and Methods (3 credits)
    • RELS 2150 The Rise of Christianity (3 credits)
    • RELS 2160 Reformation Era (3 credits)
    • RELS 2200 Introduction to the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) (3 credits)
    • RELS 2230 Prophets and Visionaries (3 credits)
    • RELS 2240 Jesus and Gospels (3 credits)
    • RELS 2245 Introduction to the New Testament (3 credits)
    • RELS 2290 The Bible as Religious Literature (3 credits)
    • RELS 2300 Catholic Theology Today (3 credits)
    • RELS 2310 Introduction to Theology (3 credits)
    • RELS 2420 Religion and Science in the West (3 credits)
    • RELS 2440 Love and Sexuality in Modern Christian Thought (3 credits)
    • RELS 2480 The Holocaust (3 credits)
    • RELS 2500 The Quest for God Today (3 credits)
    • RELS 2510 Theology and Literature (3 credits)
    • RELS 2550 Theology of Christian Marriage (3 credits)
    • RELS 2560 God and The Human Condition (3 credits)
    • RELS 2580 Issues in Christian Love (3 credits)
    • RELS 3000 Philosophy of Religion (3 credits)
    • RELS 3052 Modern Debates in Islam (3 credits)
    • RELS 3060 Buddhism (3 credits)
    • RELS 3220 Wisdom Literature (3 credits)
    • RELS 3310 The Christian God (3 credits)
    • RELS 3320 Modern Christian Theologians (3 credits)
    • RELS 3330 Theology of Karl Rahner (3 credits)
    • RELS 3340 Theology of Death and Resurrection (3 credits)
    • RELS 3370 Black Theologies (3 credits)
    • RELS 3500 Religion and Psychology (3 credits)
    • RELS 3530 Dynamics of Spiritual Growth (3 credits)
    • RELS 3550 Poets, Mystics and God (3 credits)
    • RELS 3570 Spiritual Autobiographies (3 credits)
    • RELS 3580 Theology of the Imagination (3 credits)
    • RELS 3590 Religion, Health and Healing (3 credits)
    • RELS 3755 On the Divine (3 credits)
    • RELS 3800 Sport and Spiritual Traditions (3 credits)
    • RELS 3810 The Soul of Sport: An Interdisciplinary Inquiry (3 credits) / CAS 3810 The Soul of Sport: An Interdisciplinary Inquiry (3 credits)
    • RELS 4100 Classical Islam (3 credits)
    • RELS 4130 Christianity and World Religions (3 credits)
    • RELS 4140 Gender and Religion (3 credits)
    • RELS 4141 Gender in Asian Traditions (3 credits)
    • RELS 4205 The Torah (3 credits)
    • RELS 4230 Prophets, Wisdom and Apocalyptic (3 credits)
    • RELS 4240 The Four Gospels (3 credits)
    • RELS 4310 Introduction to Theology (3 credits)
    • RELS 4320 Classical and Contemporary Catholicism (3 credits)
    • RELS 4440 Sexuality and Love in Contemporary Christian Thought (3 credits)
    • RELS 4510 Theology and Literature (3 credits)

    Program Electives - 6 courses (18 credits)

    Select an additional 18 credits (6 courses) from any of the focus areas above. PHL 3030 Philosophy of God (3 credits), PHL 3040 Aquinas: First University Masterpieces (3 credits) or any three-credit CAS 2000/3000-level course may also be used. At least 15 credits must be at the 3000/4000 level.

Program Contact Information

Todd Hibbard, Ph.D.
Professor
Department Chair
Department of Religious Studies
Briggs Building, Room 332
McNichols Campus

Email: hibbarja@udmercy.edu
Telephone: 313-993-1088
Fax: 313-993-1166

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Undergraduate Catalog
2024-2025