Religious Studies

Professor Baker (chair); Associate Professor Melnick Dyer; Assistant Professors Attallah, Boomer (Art and Visual Culture, Classical and Medieval Studies, and Religious Studies); Instructor Moss.

Religious Studies is a humanistic and social-scientific discipline that explores the religious and spiritual practices of individuals and cultures worldwide.  In doing so, it employs multiple methods of study, including those associated with history, literature, ethnography, political science, anthropology, sociology, decolonial, gender, and critical race theories, philosophy, psychology, natural sciences, performing arts, archaeology, visual and material culture studies, and theology.. Majors and minors are encouraged to explore how their studies in other fields intersect with religious studies questions, concerns, and methods.

Religious studies majors work closely with members of the department in designing their program of study.  All majors a) take courses at the introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels; b) gain breadth and depth in their understanding of a variety of religious traditions and practices; and c) develop skills in a wide array of theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of religion. The Religious Studies Research Seminar, taken in the fall of one’s junior or senior year, is the only course required of every major. The department strongly encourages and supports completion of a thesis project, which is required for those whose sole major is Religious Studies. Completion of a thesis project is optional for those double majors who will complete their Bates W3 requirement in their other major. The department also strongly encourages study abroad, and students may petition to count up to two credits earned abroad toward the major or minor. 

More information is available on the Religious Studies department website.