The academic study of religion provides the student with the methodological orientation necessary to comprehend the central beliefs, ethical practices, ritual systems, and social institutions of diverse religious traditions in their historic, contemporary and global contexts. Study in this field is multicultural and comparative, examining the patterns of life and moral worlds of societies past and present, our own as well as others. The student learns to probe for the structure, function and meaning of religion through those rites of passage, sacred narratives, faith communities, and codes of behavior that give meaning to human existence.

Major and Minor Requirements in Religion

The major in religious studies requires a minimum of 31 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. At least 16 hours must be in courses numbered 300 or above, with at least 4 hours at the 400-level. A minor or second major is required.

The minor in religious studies requires a minimum of 24 hours. At least 12 hours must be taken in courses numbered 300 or above.

Major	Minor
For students entering prior to fall 2014, see iCap for requirements	For students entering prior to fall 2014, see iCap for requirements
I. Explorations (3 hours)	I. Explorations (6 hours)
RELS 100: The New Testament	RELS 100: The New Testament
OR	OR
RELS 101: The Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures	RELS 101: The Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures
AND	AND
RELS 102: Introduction to Religion	RELS 102: Introduction to Religion
II. Religious Traditions (9 hours; at least one course	II. Religious Traditions (9 hours; at least one course
from each category)	from each category)
Category A:	Category A:
RELS 302: Buddhism	RELS 302: Buddhism
RELS 303: Hinduism	RELS 303: Hinduism
RELS 317: Confucianism	RELS 317: Confucianism
RELS 318: Daoism	RELS 318: Daoism
Category B:	Category B:
RELS 304: Judaism	RELS 304: Judaism
RELS 305: Christianity	RELS 305: Christianity
RELS 306: Islam	RELS 306: Islam
III. Senior Seminar (1 hour)
RELS 496: Senior Seminar
IV. Electives (15 hours; at least 9 hours must be in RELS	III. Electives (9 hours; at least 6 hours must be in RELS
courses) **	courses) **
Any RELS course or	Any RELS course or
ANTH 446: Anthropology of Religion	ANTH 446: Anthropology of Religion
ART 316: Medieval Art and Architecture	ART 316: Medieval Art and Architecture
ART 407: Islamic Art and Architecture	ART 407: Islamic Art and Architecture
ENG 396: Mythology	ENG 396: Mythology
ENG 487: Dante	ENG 487: Dante
HIST 318: Age of the Reformation	HIST 318: Age of the Reformation
HIST 407: The Crusades: West Meets East	HIST 407: The Crusades: West Meets East
PHIL 310: Science, Religion and Contemporary Life	PHIL 310: Science, Religion and Contemporary Life
PHIL 329: Concepts of God, Good and Evil	PHIL 329: Concepts of God, Good and Evil
PSY 485: Psychology of Religion	PSY 485: Psychology of Religion
RELS: Any Course	RELS: Any Course
SOCL 322: Religion in Society	SOCL 322: Religion in Society

* The major in religious studies is reference #769; the minor in religious studies is reference #447.
** Electives may be selected from among the total offerings in RELS. Electives also may be selected from the following pre-approved list (or other courses approved by the Department Head) as well as from departmentally-approved language and study abroad courses.

Advisement

Eric Bain-Selbo
Cherry Hall 300
(270) 745-5744
E-Mail: Eric.Bain-Selbo@wku.edu

Note: documents in Portable Document Format (PDF) require Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher to view,
download Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Note: documents in Excel format (XLS) require Microsoft Viewer,
download excel.

Note: documents in Word format (DOC) require Microsoft Viewer,
download word.

Note: documents in Powerpoint format (PPT) require Microsoft Viewer,
download powerpoint.

Note: documents in Quicktime Movie format [MOV] require Apple Quicktime,
download quicktime.

Religious Studies

Major and Minor Requirements in Religion

Major

Minor