Religious studies is a discipline that explores the spiritual and religious practices of individuals and cultures around the world.
The Department of Religious Studies offers powerful opportunities for developing a student’s ability to analyze, communicate, collaborate, and continue to learn over the course of a lifetime. Students work closely with faculty to design their program of study, and all students in the major take classes across introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels, providing them with a wide breadth of knowledge on the topic.
Jeanne Beliveau, Academic Administrative Assistant
7 Andrews Road
Hedge Hall
Phone: 207-786-8204
jbelive2@bates.edu
Students leave the religious studies department with a deep cultural understanding and analytical skills that help them excel in a variety of fields, including medicine, law, business, the arts, teaching, social work, nonprofit administration, and beyond. Recent graduates have gone on to successful careers as research fellows, financial managers, and more.
of 2020-2024 Bates graduates are employed and/or attending graduate school — settled into their next opportunity within 6 months of graduation.
“Religious studies taught me that … you can have faith and question it at the same time. The community engagement projects I worked on as part of my courses were so meaningful that I knew I had to have a service component to my work post-Bates.”
— Phoebe Uricchio ’10
Religion is everywhere, from cosmic life-and-death questions to the halls of power, and our program gives students the opportunity to examine religion and spirituality from every angle. We cross-list with a greater variety of departments and programs than any other department at Bates, allowing students to intersect with multiple fields, including the humanities, social sciences, neuroscience, and art, providing them with a truly integrated liberal arts experience. Study abroad is strongly encouraged, giving students a fresh, hands-on look at how religious and spiritual practices function in other countries.
My time at Bates really fueled my passion for social justice. My original plan was to major in Psychology, but I took a religion course in my sophomore year and decided to major in religion. My religion courses taught me to think broadly and critically, and further developed my writing and research skills. I use these skills daily in my work at the Massachusetts Trial Court, where I develop grant proposals for initiatives that prioritize equitable access to justice.
Marisa (Razey) Turillo ‘00
The faculty, made up of scholars, thinkers, and writers with expertise across a diverse group of topics, works on an individual level with students to shape a program of study geared toward their interests and passions. Professors include experts in Qur’an and early Islamic history, nationalism in the formative periods of Judaism and Christianity, and the history of Tibetan and Chinese Buddhism.
As Bates softball celebrates its 50th anniversary, the program is moving forward with a significant transformation of its home facility at Lafayette Street Field — marking a major investment in the future of softball at Bates.
Sixteen current and former Bates students have been offered Fulbright Student international exchange awards for 2026–2027.
More than 60 performers participated in this year’s cultural showcase which highlights and celebrates — through performance — diverse cultures of the Caribbean and Latin American students at Bates. This year’s showcase on April 17 was entitled “Here to Stay: Rhythms that Raised Us,” which points to both the past and future cultural influence of Latine and Caribbean cultures in the United States and at Bates.
