[ Religious Studies ]

Major in Religious Studies

A bachelor’s degree in religious studies can lead to a career in ministry or serve as a complementary program for work in another field. Students who pursue ministerial work will be well prepared to enter a seminary or other graduate school. Along with core courses and departmental electives, students have opportunities to study abroad, live and study at a Chicago-area seminary, and test their knowledge in a senior seminar.

The Department of Religious Studies encourages all of its majors, both traditional and adult students, to work toward a double major, or at least a minor, in a second area of interest.

Requirements for the Major
Students who major in religious studies must take a minimum of eight and one-half courses comprising the core curriculum (five courses), departmental electives (three courses), and a one-half credit senior independent study typically taken during the last term of the senior year.

Core courses for a major in religious studies are:

REL 200 Biblical Studies and Contemporary Issues
REL 230 Christian Ethics in Modern Society
REL 240 World Religions: General Introduction
REL 320 The Emergence of Christian Thought
REL 321 Modern and Contemporary Christian Thought

Students who major in religious studies may select their elective courses, in concert with their academic adviser, from the department's regular course offerings, international study, January Term courses (no more than two), independent study courses, or the Collegiate Seminarians Program.