BA in Religious Studies Susquehanna University

Religious studies major and minor

You’ll gain the religious literacy essential to comprehend and work in our increasingly globalized society. You’ll look at how people think about ultimate questions, whether or not you identify as religious.

Better understand humanity and yourself

Religion touches nearly every aspect of our world and society — literature, politics, current events, history, personal interactions, and more.

Contemplate the ultimate questions, think critically and creatively about world religions, and analyze religious texts from various perspectives. You’ll be challenged to become a more compassionate, empathetic, and self-aware global citizen.

Interdisciplinary approach

One of our most popular classes, Being Awesome at Life, examines the definition of a good life across cultures and throughout history. Science and Religion take a serious look at scientific and religious claims to find overlaps of agreement.

Other classes cover major world religions and how they relate to fields like ethics, archaeology, philosophy, and environmental studies. Adding one of our interdisciplinary minors, like leadership and diversity studies, helps you gain a better understanding of important topics in today’s world.

Your education won’t end in the classroom. Join one of our very active student-run religious life groups. Study abroad through our Global Opportunities program to get a firsthand look at the religions of the world in Europe, Asia, Africa or South America.

Broad-based skills

About a third of our students go on to seminary at schools like United Lutheran Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Yale Divinity School.

The rest acquire essential skills that translate into success in a variety of professions, including social work, non-governmental organizations, and writing. Our graduates know how to think critically across disciplines; write clearly and concisely; handle conflicts and disagreement with grace; and encourage productive dialogue.

Requirements for Major

When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor, consult with their advisor(s) and the Academic Planning Tool.

Double-counting restriction

Students majoring in religious studies may double-count a maximum of 12 semester hours toward another major.

Requirements for the Major in Religious Studies

Majors in religious studies complete at least 36 semester hours in the discipline with grades of C- or better. To ensure both breadth and depth of study, there is one compulsory course, and the remaining 32 semester hours must include at least one course from each of the four subject areas identified below. At least 20 of the 32 semester hours must be taken at the 200 level or higher. Topics courses and independent study courses may be given a subject area designation by the instructor in consultation with the department. The compulsory course does not count toward the subject area distribution requirement.

4 Compulsory Course for the Religious Studies Major:

• RELI-101 Introduction to Religious Studies

16 Subject Area Courses

• Must include at least one course from each of the four subject areas listed below: Primary Religious Texts, Ethics, Non-Western Religions, and Contemporary Issues in Religion

16 Elective Courses

Elective courses can be additional courses within the four subject areas or other courses identified below. At least 20 of the 32 semester hours taken to fulfill the subject area and elective requirements must be at the 200 level or above.

Primary Religious Texts

• RELI-103 The New Testament
• RELI-104 Ethics in Biblical Stories
• RELI-201 The Hebrew Bible
• RELI-203 The Historical Jesus
• RELI-207 Women in the Biblical Tradition
• RELI-300 The Book of Revelation and Zombie Apocalypses

Ethics

• RELI-102 Applied Biblical Ethics
• RELI-104 Ethics in Biblical Stories
• RELI-107 Faiths and Values
• RELI-115 Jewish Philosophy and Ethics
• RELI-117 Introduction to Asian Religions
• RELI-203 The Historical Jesus
• RELI-208 Buddhism
• RELI-235 Environmental Ethics
• RELI-315 Being Awesome at Life
• RELI-316 Daoism, Zen, and Authenticity
• RELI-318 Confucian Ethics

Non-Western Religions

• RELI-105 World Religions
• RELI-117 Introduction to Asian Religions
• RELI-120 Introduction to Islam
• RELI-208 Buddhism
• RELI-225 Women in Religion
• RELI-316 Daoism, Zen, and Authenticity
• RELI-318 Confucian Ethics

Contemporary Issues in Religion

• RELI-102 Applied Biblical Ethics
• RELI-107 Faiths and Values
• RELI-113 Introduction to Judaism
• RELI-208 Buddhism
• RELI-220 Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion
• RELI-225 Women in Religion
• RELI-235 Environmental Ethics
• RELI-305 when offered as ‘Fiction of C. S. Lewis
• RELI-350 Science and Religion
• RELI-360 Religious Fundamentalisms in the Modern World

Electives

• RELI-195 Intro to Awesomeness
• RELI-209 The Bible and Archaeology
• RELI-210 Philosophy of Religion
• RELI-215 Music in Christian Rituals
• RELI-309 Luther: Life and Thought
• RELI-312 Church History: Early and Medieval
• RELI-313 Church History: 1500 to the Present
• RELI-353 The Practice of Church Music
• RELI-500 Capstone

Double-counting restriction

Students majoring in religious studies may double-count a maximum of 12 semester hours toward another major.

Honors

The honors program in religious studies encourages and commends outstanding academic work. To graduate with departmental honors in religious studies, students must do the following:

• Complete requirements for the major,
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 overall and at least 3.50 in religious studies, and
• Perform outstanding academic work in religious studies capstone.

Capstone Requirement

Students majoring in religious studies are expected to take the senior capstone requirement in the appropriate subject. A student with a double major may fulfill the university capstone requirement in a major outside of this department. Any student who elects to fulfill the capstone requirement in this manner must complete the religious studies major by successful completion of an additional four-semester-hour course, or the equivalent, in the relevant subject. Any student wishing to qualify for religious studies departmental honors must fulfill the appropriate capstone as provided by the Religious Studies Department, in addition to any capstone requirements imposed in a second major.

The course description for the departmental capstone states that it is “to serve [students] as a culmination of all their studies, allowing them to address a particular topic, issue or thinker in religious studies through the lens of their total undergraduate education.” Religious studies majors are encouraged to develop capstone projects that also draw on knowledge and strengths they have acquired in declared minors. Primary oversight of such projects will rest with the appropriate faculty supervisor in religious studies, although students will also be expected to work with an appropriate adviser from their minor area(s) of study.

Requirements for Minor

When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor, consult with their advisor(s) and the Academic Planning Tool.

Minor in Religious Studies

Students minoring in religious studies complete 20 semester hours in the discipline with grades of C- or better. Students consult with an assigned minor adviser to select both upper- and lower-level courses. Of the five courses, at least two must be at the 200 level or above.

Courses Options

• RELI 101 Introduction to Religious Studies, Credits: 4
• RELI 102 Applied Biblical Ethics, Credits: 4
• RELI 103 The New Testament, Credits: 4
• RELI 104 Ethics in Biblical Stories, Credits: 4
• RELI 105 World Religions, Credits: 4
• RELI 107 Faiths and Values, Credits: 4
• RELI 113 Introduction to Judaism, Credits: 4
• RELI 115 Jewish Philosophy and Ethics, Credits: 4
• RELI 117 Introduction to Asian Religions, Credits: 4
• RELI 120 Introduction to Islam, Credits: 4
• RELI 150 Introduction to Contemplative Studies, Credits: 4
• RELI 195 Intro to Awesomeness, Credits: 4
• RELI 201 The Hebrew Bible, Credits: 4
• RELI 203 The Historical Jesus, Credits: 4
• RELI 207 Women in Biblical Tradition, Credits: 4
• RELI 208 Buddhism, Credits: 4
• RELI 209 The Bible and Archaeology, Credits: 4
• RELI 210 Philosophy of Religion, Credits: 4
• RELI 215 Music in Christian Rituals, Credits: 4
• RELI 220 Magic, Witchcraft & Religion, Credits: 4
• RELI 225 Women in Religion, Credits: 4
• RELI 235 Environmental Ethics, Credits: 4
• RELI 277 Philippines - Hist, Religion, & Culture, Credits: 2
• RELI 300 Book of Revelation/Zombie Apocalypses, Credits: 4
• RELI 305 Topics in Religion, Credits: 2–4
• RELI 309 Luther: Life and Thought, Credits: 4
• RELI 312 Church History: Early and Medieval, Credits: 4
• RELI 313 Church History 1500 - Present, Credits: 4
• RELI 315 Being Awesome At Life, Credits: 4
• RELI 316 Daoism, Zen, and Authenticity, Credits: 4
• RELI 318 Confucian Ethics, Credits: 4
• RELI 350 Science and Religion, Credits: 4
• RELI 353 The Practice of Church Music, Credits: 4
• RELI 360 Religious Fundamentalisms Modern World, Credits: 4
• RELI 400 Independent Study, Credits: 1–4
• RELI 500 Capstone, Credits: 2–4
• RELI 503 Internship, Credits: 1–4

The study of religion is fundamentally an interdisciplinary endeavor, involving a variety of intellectual approaches in the analysis of diverse expressions of religious phenomena and cultures around the world. Reflecting the methodological and substantive breadth of the field of religious studies, the religious studies major at Susquehanna University is designed to accomplish the following student learning goals:

Learning Goals

• To develop the ability to critically analyze primary religious texts.
• To use various interpretative perspectives (literary, historical, theological, ideological, etc.) in deriving meaning from religious texts.
• To engage with at least one non-Western religious tradition in historical and geographical context.
• To think critically and cross-culturally about ethical questions in relation to themselves, society, and/or the world.
• To engage critically with issues and problems in contemporary societies as they relate to religious thought and/or practice.
• To conduct substantive research (finding, consulting, and engaging both primary and secondary resources and making preliminary connections and conclusions from the same) and present this research in written form.
• To reflect upon and assess work in critical and constructive ways by applying concepts, theories, and methods within academic and professional contexts.

Our students go on to study at:

• Alvernia College
• Drew University
• Johns Hopkins University
• Kent State University
• Methodist Theological School in Ohio
• Ohio State University
• Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Princeton Theological Seminary
• Union Theological Seminary, New York
• United Lutheran Seminary
• University of Central Florida
• University of Kent (Fulbright scholarship)
• Yale Divinity School

Our students find jobs at:

• Coalition for Christian Outreach
• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• Corporation for National & Community Service (AmeriCorps)
• Department of Community and Economic Development
• Esperanza Academy (Lawrence, Mass.)
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes
• Holleran Center for Community Engagement
• Lutheran World Relief
• Teach for America
• United States Agency for International Development (USAID)