BA in Religious Studies

Program Overview

The UCA Religious Studies Program exists to provide a diverse student population with comprehensive knowledge of a variety of global religious/spiritual traditions; critical understanding of the personal, social, and cultural dimensions of religion; and advanced preparation of students pursuing graduate and/or professional studies, transferable skills to enter the workforce and/or become civic members of the community.

Goal 1: Students will demonstrate critical inquiry and analysis, communication skills (including oral, written, and collaborative skills), ethical frameworks, and appreciation of cultural diversity as applied to a variety of religions understood as complex personal, social, and cultural phenomena.

Goal 2: Students will acquire foundational understanding as well as specific knowledge of major religious traditions, including: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Confucianism, and Islam.

Goal 3: Students will be encouraged to participate in experiential learning opportunities, including internships, study abroad, undergraduate research, and service learning. These practices are strengthened by interdisciplinary collaboration.

Goal 4: Students will gain transferable skills as valuable preparation for career readiness or entrance into graduate and/or professional studies.

Goal 5: Following the University Diversity Strategic Plan, the Religious Studies program will promote diversity in recruitment and retention, support, and knowledge.

The degree of Bachelor of Arts, with a major in religious studies, requires successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using major, minor, or elective courses (2) major and related requirements listed below; and (3) a minor as worked out with the student’s minor advisor.

Abbreviation Key – UCA Core Program

LD = Lower Division

UD = Upper Division

C = Effective Communication

D = Diversity

I = Critical Inquiry

R = Responsible Living

Z = Capstone Experience

Program Outline

Major in Religious Studies

Religious Studies majors are recommended to take courses in the major to satisfy their upper-division Core requirements. Students must take three hours in courses designated in each of the four Core competencies, Critical Inquiry (I), Communication (C), Diversity (D), and Responsible Living (R). However, if they so choose, students are free to fulfill their upper-division Core requirements with courses from other departments. Religious Studies majors are strongly encouraged to take their Capstone course (Z) from one of the courses designated (Z) within the Religious Studies program, but are able to fulfill their Capstone requirement from another program if necessary.

Mathematics Pathway: First-time, first-year students majoring in Religious Studies enter the Quantitative Literacy Mathematics Pathway and must enroll in MATH 1360 during their first year of study, unless they have been awarded credit that completes their 1000-level math requirements.

Majors are encouraged to chart their own pathway through the Religious Studies degree in their choice of electives. They may declare one of the three guided pathway concentrations—Religion in Self and Society, Religion and the Professions, or Religion and the Arts —or they may create their own by choosing from the list of electives.

Core requirements (12 hours)

Introductory Course – one course from the following:

• RELG 1320 World Religions
• RELG 1330 Exploring Religion

Theories and Methods:

• RELG 3301 Theories and Methods in Religious Studies [UD UCA Core: I, C]

Asian Religious Traditions – one course from the following:

• RELG 3325 Buddhism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3326 Asian Religions in American Society and Culture [UD UCA Core: I, D]
• RELG 4305 Chinese Philosophy and Religion
• HIST 2310 Introduction to Asian History
• PHIL 3352 Asian Philosophy and Religion [UD UCA Core: D, C]

Monotheistic Religious Traditions – one course from the following:

• RELG 3300 Religion in the United States [UD UCA Core: D]
• RELG 3335 Judaism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3332 Jewish Scriptures [UD UCA Core: D, I]
• RELG 3333 Christian Scriptures [UD UCA Core: I]
• RELG 3345 African American Religious Thought [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• HIST 3320 History of Christianity I [UD UCA Core: R]
• HIST 3321 History of Christianity II [UD UCA Core: R]

Related requirements (3–9 hours)

Religious Studies majors must complete a three-credit-hour foreign language course at the 2000-level or above as well as all course prerequisites. Students with prior experience in a language are strongly encouraged to take a placement exam before enrolling in their first course. Information about foreign language placement can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin, School of Language and Literature, § 3, Credit by Examination. Note: CSD 2303 Basic Sign Language, CSD 4303 Intermediate Sign Language, and transferred Guided/Extended Study (i.e., correspondence) courses will not be accepted in fulfillment of the foreign language requirement.

Electives (21 hours)

Electives may be chosen from among all religious studies courses not used to complete the Religious Studies core requirement .

• ANTH 3310 Anthropology of Magic, Religion, and Witchcraft
• ANTH 3315 Native American Cultures
• ANTH 4310 Myths and Moundbuilders
• ART 2325 Asian Art Survey
• ART 3307 Arts of Africa
• ENGL 4305 Medieval Literature and Culture
• ENGL 4341 Milton
• HIST 2310 Introduction to Asian History
• HIST 3320 History of Christianity I [UD UCA Core: R]
• HIST 3321 History of Christianity II [UD UCA Core: R]
• HIST 4302 History of Witchcraft [UD UCA Core: I, C]
• HIST 4374 History of Renaissance and Reformation Europe
• PHIL 3301 Medieval European and Islamic Philosophy
• PHIL 3303 Nineteenth-Century Philosophy
• PHIL 3331 Philosophy of Religion [UD UCA Core: I]
• PHIL 3343 Philosophy of Sex and Love
• PHIL 3352 Asian Philosophy and Religion [UD UCA Core: C, D]
• PHIL 3360 Philosophy of Art
• PHIL 3370 Theories of Reality
• PHIL 4320 Applied Ethics
• PHIL 4340 Meanings of Life [UD UCA Core: Z]
• RELG 1320 World Religions
• RELG 1330 Exploring Religion
• RELG 3300 Religion in the United States [UD UCA Core: D]
• RELG 3302 Religion and Social Justice [UD UCA Core: D, I]
• RELG 3315 Topics in Religious Studies
• RELG 3318 Religion, Pop Culture, and Film [UD UCA Core: I, R]
• RELG 3320 Modern Religious Thought
• RELG 3325 Buddhism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3326 Asian Religions in American Society and Culture [UD UCA Core: D, I]
• RELG 3330 Religion and Gender [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3332 Jewish Scriptures [UD UCA Core: D, I]
• RELG 3333 Christian Scriptures [UD UCA Core: I]
• RELG 3335 Judaism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3340 Religion, Science and Technology [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3345 African American Religious Thought [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3350 Religion and Psychology
• RELG 3380 Internship in Religious Studies [UD UCA Core: Z]
• RELG 4305 Chinese Philosophy and Religion
• RELG 4320 Contemporary Religious Thought [UD UCA Core: Z]
• RELG 4325 Postmodern Theology [UD UCA Core: Z]
• RELG 4330 Readings in Religious Studies
• SOC 4300 Sociology of Religion

Pathways in the Major

The Religious Studies major offers three distinct Pathways for students to concentrate their studies: (1) Religion in Self and Society, (2) Religion and the Professions, and (3) Religion and the Arts. Students may declare one of these Pathways or create their own with their choice of electives.

Religion in Self and Society

Religion in Self and Society illustrates how religion is entangled with all of our conceptions of who we are as a person and in terms of our society and culture. Students in this Pathway must complete 21 total hours of elective courses in Religious Studies, with at least 12 hours from the courses listed below. Students are strongly encouraged to take an Internship course that gives them experience in global engagement and/or social action.

Religion in Self and Society Courses

• ANTH 3310 Anthropology of Magic, Religion, and Witchcraft
• ANTH 3315 Native American Cultures
• ANTH 4310 Myths and Moundbuilders
• HIST 2310 Introduction to Asian History
• HIST 4302 History of Witchcraft [UD UCA Core: C, I]
• HIST 4374 History of Renaissance and Reformation Europe
• PHIL 3301 Medieval European and Islamic Philosophy
• PHIL 3303 Nineteenth-Century Philosophy
• PHIL 3331 Philosophy of Religion
• PHIL 3343 Philosophy of Sex and Love
• PHIL 3352 Asian Philosophy and Religion [UD UCA Core: C, D]
• PHIL 3370 Theories of Reality
• PHIL 4340 Meanings of Life [UD UCA Core: Z]
• RELG 3300 Religion in the United States [UD UCA Core: D]
• RELG 3302 Religion and Social Justice [UD UCA Core: D, I]
• RELG 3315 Topics in Religious Studies
• RELG 3318 Religion, Pop Culture, and Film [UD UCA Core: I, R]
• RELG 3325 Buddhism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3326 Asian Religions in American Society and Culture [UD UCA Core: D, I]
• RELG 3330 Religion and Gender [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3332 Jewish Scriptures [UD UCA Core: D, I]
• RELG 3333 Christian Scriptures [UD UCA Core: I]
• RELG 3335 Judaism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3340 Religion, Science, and Technology [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3350 Religion and Psychology
• RELG 3380 Internship in Religious Studies [UD UCA Core: Z]
• RELG 3345 African American Religious Thought [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 4305 Chinese Philosophies and Religions
• RELG 4320 Contemporary Religious Thought [UD UCA Core: Z]
• RELG 4325 Postmodern Theology [UD UCA Core: Z]
• RELG 4330 Readings in Religious Studies
• SOC 4300 Sociology of Religion

Religion and the Professions

Religion and the Professions emphasizes the vocational elements of a Religious Studies degree. Students in this Pathway must complete 21 total hours of elective courses in Religious Studies, with at least 12 hours from the courses listed below. Students are strongly encouraged to take an Internship course that gives them professional experience in an area into which they expect to embark.

Religion and the Professions Courses

• ANTH 3310 Anthropology of Magic, Religion, and Witchcraft
• ANTH 3315 Native American Cultures
• HIST 3320 History of Christianity I [UD UCA Core: R]
• HIST 3321 History of Christianity II [UD UCA Core: R]
• HIST 4302 History of Witchcraft [UD UCA Core: C, I]
• PHIL 3301 Medieval European and Islamic Philosophy
• PHIL 3303 Nineteenth-Century Philosophy
• PHIL 3331 Philosophy of Religion
• PHIL 3343 Philosophy of Sex and Love
• PHIL 3352 Asian Philosophy and Religion [UD UCA Core: C, D]
• PHIL 3370 Theories of Reality
• PHIL 4320 Applied Ethics
• PHIL 4340 Meanings of Life [UD UCA Core: Z]
• RELG 3300 Religion in the United States [UD UCA Core: D]
• RELG 3302 Religion and Social Justice [UD UCA Core: D, I]
• RELG 3315 Topics in Religious Studies
• RELG 3325 Buddhism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3326 Asian Religions in America [UD UCA Core: D, I]
• RELG 3330 Religion and Gender [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3332 Jewish Scriptures [UD UCA Core: D, I]
• RELG 3333 Christian Scriptures [UD UCA Core: I]
• RELG 3335 Judaism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3340 Religion, Science, and Technology [UD UCA Core: D, R
• RELG 3345 African American Religious Thought [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3350 Religion and Psychology
• RELG 3380 Internship in Religious Studies [UD UCA Core: Z]
• RELG 4305 Chinese Philosophies and Religions
• RELG 4320 Contemporary Religious Thought [UD UCA Core: Z]
• RELG 4325 Postmodern Theology [UCA UC Core: Z]
• RELG 4330 Readings in Religious Studies
• SOC 4300 Sociology of Religion

Religion and the Arts

Religion and the Arts offers students a way to engage and explore Religious Studies and the Arts, broadly defined, but including Art History, English, Anthropology, Philosophy, Popular Culture, Film, Music, and Theatre, including Sacred Art and Literature. Students in this Pathway must complete 21 total hours of elective courses in Religious Studies, with at least 12 hours from the courses listed below.

• ANTH 3310 Anthropology of Magic, Religion, and Witchcraft
• ANTH 3315 Native American Cultures
• ANTH 4310 Myths and Moundbuilders
• ART 2325 Asian Art Survey
• ART 3307 Arts of Africa [UD UCA Core: D]
• ENGL 4305 Medieval Literature and Culture
• ENGL 4341 Milton
• PHIL 3343 Philosophy of Sex and Love
• PHIL 3352 Asian Philosophy and Religion [UD UCA Core: C, D
• PHIL 3360 Philosophy of Art
• RELG 3315 Topics in Religious Studies
• RELG 3318 Religion, Pop Culture, and Film [UD UCA Core: I, R]
• RELG 3325 Buddhism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3326 Asian Religions in American Society and Culture [UD UCA Core: D, I]
• RELG 3332 Jewish Scriptures [UD UCA Core: D, I]
• RELG 3333 Christian Scriptures [UD UCA Core: I]
• RELG 3345 African American Religious Thought [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3380 Internship in Religious Studies [UD UCA Core: Z]
• RELG 4305 Chinese Philosophies and Religions
• RELG 4330 Readings in Religious Studies

Honors in the Majors: Religious Studies

Students who major in religious studies and who demonstrate exceptional ability may be invited to enter the Honors in the Majors program.

Minor in Religious Studies (18 hours)

Core requirements(12 hours):

Introductory Course – one course from the following

• RELG 1320 World Religions
• RELG 1330 Exploring Religion

Theories and Methods:

• RELG 3301 Theories and Methods in Religious Studies [UD UCA Core: C, I]

Asian Religious Traditions – one course from the following

• RELG 3325 Buddhism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3326 Asian Religions in American Society and Culture [UD UCA Core: D, I]
• RELG 4305 Chinese Philosophy and Religion
• HIST 2310 Introduction to Asian History
• PHIL 3352 Asian Philosophy and Religion [UD UCA Core: C, D]

Monotheistic Religious Traditions – one course from the following

• RELG 3300 Religion in the United States [UD UCA Core: D]
• RELG 3335 Judaism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3332 Jewish Scriptures [UD UCA Core: I, D]
• RELG 3333 Christian Scriptures [UD UCA Core: I]
• RELG 3345 African American Religious Thought [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• HIST 3320 History of Christianity I [UD UCA Core: R]
• HIST 3321 History of Christianity II [UD UCA Core: R]

Electives (6 hours)

Electives may be chosen from among all religious studies courses not used to complete the Religious Studies core requirement.

• ANTH 3310 Anthropology of Magic, Religion, and Witchcraft
• ANTH 3315 Native American Cultures
• ANTH 4310 Myths and Moundbuilders
• ART 2325 Asian Art Survey
• ART 3307 Arts of Africa
• ENGL 4305 Medieval Literature and Culture
• ENGL 4341 Milton
• HIST 2310 Introduction to Asian History
• HIST 3320 History of Christianity I [UD UCA Core: R]
• HIST 3321 History of Christianity II [UD UCA Core: R]
• HIST 4302 History of Witchcraft [UD UCA Core: C, I]
• HIST 4374 History of Renaissance and Reformation Europe
• PHIL 3301 Medieval European and Islamic Philosophy
• PHIL 3303 Nineteenth-Century Philosophy
• PHIL 3331 Philosophy of Religion [UD UCA Core: I]
• PHIL 3343 Philosophy of Sex and Love
• PHIL 3352 Asian Philosophy and Religion [UD UCA Core: C, D]
• PHIL 3360 Philosophy of Art
• PHIL 3370 Theories of Reality
• PHIL 4320 Applied Ethics
• PHIL 4340 Meanings of Life [UD UCA Core: Z]
• RELG 1320 World Religions
• RELG 1330 Exploring Religion
• RELG 3300 Religion in the United States [UD UCA Core: D]
• RELG 3302 Religion and Social Justice [UD UCA Core: D, I]
• RELG 3315 Topics in Religious Studies
• RELG 3318 Religion, Pop Culture and Film [UD UCA Core: I, R]
• RELG 3320 Modern Religious Thought
• RELG 3325 Buddhism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3326 Asian Religions in American Society and Culture [UD UCA Core: D, I]
• RELG 3330 Religion and Gender [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3332 Jewish Scriptures [UD UCA Core: D, I]
• RELG 3333 Christian Scriptures [UD UCA Core: I]
• RELG 3335 Judaism [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3340 Religion, Science and Technology [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3345 African American Religious Thought [UD UCA Core: D, R]
• RELG 3350 Religion and Psychology
• RELG 3380 Internship in Religious Studies [UD UCA Core: Z]
• RELG 4305 Chinese Philosophy and Religion
• RELG 4320 Contemporary Religious Thought [UD UCA Core: Z]
• RELG 4325 Postmodern Theology [UD UCA Core: Z]
• RELG 4330 Readings in Religious Studies
• SOC 4300 Sociology of Religion