Religious Studies Majors & Minor
For a description of courses, visit Class Search.
In addition to studying significant historical religions, Religion and combined majors learn about Native American, African, and Afro-Caribbean beliefs; the intersection of religion with politics, gender, war, and science; influential religious writers and thinkers; and more.
Advising Blueprint for career development
NOTE: Degree requirements for incoming students may not reflect the actual degree requirements of current students.
Religious Studies Major
Majors must fulfill each of the following seven requirements:
Traditions (6 credit hours)
- TI250-RL, Religions of the World
- RL347, History of Christianity
- RL350, Topics in Judaism
- RL353, Buddhism, Past and Present
- RL354, Islam: Religion, Culture, Society
- RL358, Hinduism, Past and Present
- RL366, Topics in Jewish and Christian Traditions
- RL369, Topics in Religious Studies
Religion and Society (3 credit hours)
- SW260-RL, Religion, ‘Cults,’ and (In)Tolerance in America
- RL310, Religion and Globalization
- RL340, Islam in America
- RL341, Islam, Gender, and Sexuality
- RL348, Religion, Politics, and the Marketplace
- RL363, Religion, Politics and Conflict in South Asia
- RL368, Topics in Religion & Society
- RL377, Hinduism, Gender, and the Goddess
- RL382, Christian Liberation Theologies
Texts and Textual Interpretation (3 credit hours)
- TI251-RL, The Bible
- PCA263-RL, The Bible and Music
- RL307, Historical Jesus
- RL308, Paul and the Early Church
- RL309, Gospel of John
- RL335, The Bible, Society, and Politics
- RL344, The Quran: Text and Context
- RL346, Heresy in Early Christianity
- RL375, Topics in Texts/Textual Interpretation
Religious Thought (3 credit hours)
- PL342, Philosophy of Religion
- RL365, Topics in Religious Ethics
- RL378, Religion and Science Fiction
- RL379, Christian Concepts of God
- RL383, Christian Approaches to Religios Diversity
- RL384, Ecotheology
- RL387, Evil in Christian and Jewish Thought
- RL388, Topics in Religious Thought
Individual Required Courses (9 credit hours)
- RL381-W, Theory and Method (WAC)
- RL381/RL382 Seminar on Religion and Global Affairs (ICR optional)
- RL405, Internship
Total Hours/Upper-Level Hours: Majors must take a total of at least 33 total hours in the major, at least 27 hours of which must be at the 300 level or higher.
Oral Presentation – All majors will also give an oral presentation of some kind in their junior or senior year (e.g., URC, BSI, or a specially organized departmental presentation, or by taking RL301-SAC). Ask departmental faculty for details.
Note: Up to six credit hours of second year (or higher) pre-modern languages of religious significance may be counted toward the major. Languages offered at Butler (i.e., Greek or Latin) will be automatically counted. Credits from courses taken in other languages of religious significance (e.g., Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Hebrew, German, Sanskrit, Chinese, Farsi, Punjabi) may be counted by petition to the chair of the department.
Religious Studies Major – Religious Leadership Sub-Plan
Foundational Requirements (18 hours)
- 3 hours (one course from the following two) on religious diversity
– TI 250-RL – Religions of the World OR
– SW 260-RL – Religions, ‘Cults,’ and (In)Tolerance in America
- 6 hours of RL 405/RL 406 – Internship – to be fulfilled in a role related to religious leadership (including practical training in a religious community)
- 3 hours (RL 381) – Theory and Method in the Study of Religion (or approved alternative capstone course or independent study)
- 3 hours (RL 403) – Independent Study – guided study on vocational discernment and reflection
- 3 additional hours in Religion at the 300 level or above
Focus Areas (at least 15 hours)
In addition to completing the sub-plan’s core requirements, students must complete at least 15 hours in the following specialization areas. Students may count no more than 3 courses in any one specialization area towards the minimum of 15 hours. Note: Some courses on the list below have prerequisites. Religion majors on the Religious Leadership sub-plan will not receive special exemption from these prerequisites (though they may request exemption like any other student).
Non-Profit Management and Finance
- AA 301 – Principles and Practices of Arts Administration
- EI 201 – Real Business Experience
- EI 315 – Creativity and Innovation
- EI 325 – Social Entrepreneurship
- EI 346 – Entrepreneurial Finance (Note: This one has a particularly high number of prerequisites)
- EI 470 – Entrepreneurial Consulting
- EI 480 – Corporate Entrepreneurship
- EI 485 – Entrepreneurial Accelerator
Communication
- COM 101 – Public Speaking
- ORG 253 – Interpersonal Communication
- ORG 351 – Small Group Communication
- ORG 362 – Leadership and Communication
- ORG 453 – Relational Communication
- ORG 454 – Persuasion, Compliance, & Social Influence
- ORG 462 – Advanced Leadership
- ORG 470 – Advanced Organizational Communication
- CCM 398 – Argumentation and Advocacy
- CCM 482 – Voices of Dissent & Social Change
- STR 128 – Promotional Writing
- STR 222 – Principles of Strategic Communication
Interreligious Engagement
- RL 340 – Islam in America
- RL 347 – History of Christianity
- RL 350 – Topics in Judaism
- RL 353 – Buddhism, Past and Present
- RL 354 – Islam: Religion, Culture, Society
- RL 358 – Hinduism, Past and Present
- RL 363 – Religion, Politics, and Conflict in South Asia
- RL 372 – Mysticism
- RL 377 – Hinduism, Gender, and the Goddess
- RL 383 – Christian Approaches to Religious Diversity
- RL 391/RL 392 – Seminar on Religion and Global Affairs
Counselling/Psychology
- SW 250 – Psychological Inquiry
- PS 320 – Lifespan Development
- PS 350 – Social Psychology
- PS 360 – Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Select courses at Christian Theological Seminary
Social Work
- SO 353 – Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
- SO 347 – Urban Community
- SO 323 – Racial and Ethnic Relations
- SO 381 – Social Work and Social Policy
- SO 383 – Social Work Methods
- SO 385 – Practice Skills in Social Work
Music
- AM 125 – Guitar
- AM 127 – Voice
- Or any other music course approved by the student’s official advisor in the Religion program and relevant to the student’s leadership goals
Language (at second-year level with reading relevant to religion and/or ministry)
- Greek
- Latin
- Other languages offered at Butler (such as Spanish) as well as others not offered here but which might be taken elsewhere over the summer or through an independent study (such as Hebrew, Arabic, or Sanskrit) may also be counted, if an explanation is provided of how they relate to one’s faith tradition or ministry goals.
Creative Writing
- EN 203 – Intro to Professional Writing
- EN219 – Intro to Creative Writing: Prose
- EN386 – Studies in Rhetoric
Journalism
- JR 112 – Introduction to News Writing and Reporting
- JR 113 – Introduction to Broadcast Journalism
- JR 210 – Reporting and Writing
- JR 213 – Broadcast Journalism
- JR 312 – Multimedia Journalism
- JR 313 – Advanced Broadcast Journalism
- JR 325 – Gender and News: Global Views
- JR 409 – Media Economics and Regulation
- JR 412 – In-depth Journalism
- JR 414 – Media Law
- JR 417 – Global Media
- JR 420 – Media Ethics
Study Abroad: Coursework or research related to religion or religious leadership in study abroad programs may be counted towards the required Focus Area hours so long as the student goes through the usual process of having study abroad courses approved for transfer by the department chair (and allocated a relevant course number).
***Religion majors have the options to complete the degree in three years. More information can be found here.
Requirements for the Major (42 hours)*
As a combined major, you’ll ground yourself in both disciplines, exploring the relation between philosophical and religious conceptions of knowledge, self, community and world.
1. Two History of Philosophy courses from the following list (6 credits):
- PL 311 – History of Ancient Philosophy
- PL 313 – History of Modern Philosophy
- PL 300-level courses surveying 19th-20th c. philosophy
2. One Value Theory course from the following list (3 credits):
- PL 345 – Contemporary Social and Political Philosophy
- PL 348 – Philosophy of Feminism
- PL 360 – Ethics
- PL 363 – Biomedical Ethics
- PL 380 – Topics in Ethics
3. TI 250-RL – Religions of the World (3 credits)
4. RL 381 – Theory and Method (3 credits)
5. PL 410 – Seminar in Philosophy (3 credits)
6. Courses at the intersection of philosophy & religion from the following list (12 credits):
- PL 342 – Philosophy of Religion
- PL 343 – Philosophy of Science
- PL 346 – Philosophy of Mind
- PL 347 – Existentialism
- RL 348 – Religion, Politics, and the Marketplace
- RL 370 – Modern Religious Thought
- RL 372 – Mysticism
- RL 378 – Religion and Science Fiction
- RL 379 – Christian Concepts of God
- RL 382 – Christian Liberation Theologies
- RL 384 – Ecotheology
- RL 387 – Evil in Christian and Jewish Thought
7. Additional PL and RL electives (12 credits)**
*In consultation with advisors, majors will attempt to roughly balance the number of RL and PL courses, taking a minimum of 18 credit hours in each.
**No more than 6 of these 12 credits may be satisfied with courses below the 300 level.
Description:
The Anthropology and Religious Studies major includes courses from both disciplines that focus, descriptively, on the world’s various religions, and on the methods that professionals use to observe and describe them – essentially making this is an anthropology OF religious studies major. The required courses from Religious Studies are those that either privilege the descriptive method as applied to the study of religion (e.g., Religions of the World, and several upper-level courses) or directly teach descriptive methodologies (e.g., Theory and Method). On the Anthropology side, the required courses are those that do the same. The major is more heavily weighted on theory than either Anthropology or Religious Studies alone.
Requirements #8 and #9 are designed to allow students to have some exposure to methodologies other than the descriptive (e.g., textual methodologies), but also provide flexibility to take applicable courses that are offered less frequently (e.g., Topics courses in either Anthropology or Religious Studies, depending on their focus, or Religion’s “Seminar on Religion and Global Affairs,” in certain iterations). Requirement #10 enhances the major’s emphasis on direct experiential learning through additional opportunities for rich, challenging and meaningful experiences.
Students capable of double majoring in both Anthropology and Religious Studies are encouraged to do so. For some who can’t, a major in one and a minor in the other might be a desirable route. But for others, the combined major described here may be the most appropriate. Please discuss your options with faculty in either Anthropology or Religious Studies.
Requirements:
1. TI250-RL, Religions of the World (3 credit hours)
2. SW215-AN, Introductory Anthropology (3 credit hours)
3. AN101, Being Human (3 credit hours)
4. Three from among the following five (9 credits):
RL353, Buddhism: Past and Present
RL358, Hinduism: Past and Present
RL377, Hinduism, Gender, and the Goddess
RL354, Islam: Religion, Culture, Society
RL363, Religion, Politics, and Conflict in South Asia
Any similar course approved by the chair of Philosophy, Religion, and Classics
5. RL381, Theory and Method (3 credit hours)
6. AN390, Development of Anthropological Thought (3 credit hours)
7. AN352, Anthropological Methods (3 credit hours)
8. 6 additional credit hours in Religion (under close supervision of the student’s RL or AN advisor)
9. 12 additional credit hours in AN, 300-level and above (under close supervision of RL or AN advisor)
10. At least two of the following (either covering or in addition to the requirements above):
Honors thesis
Capstone
Field school/study abroad of at least 3 credits
Internship
45 total credit hours—comprised of 24 credit hours in AN and 21 credit hours in RL
Description:
With a combined degree in International Studies and Religious Studies (ISRS), students learn about the economic, political, and cultural systems that drive our world. However, whereas in the regular International Studies major religion is but one of many aspects of culture explored, in the combined ISRS degree religion takes center stage. The combined degree is therefore particularly appropriate for those interested in global religious diversity and in how religion affects global politics, trade, and international relations. It focuses on key issues in the interaction of peoples and governments around the world (e.g., religious freedom and the rise of religious nationalisms) while considering diverse religious approaches to climate change (and other ecological issues), human rights, diversity, war, immigration, etc. Note that the academic study of religion—a key element in most human cultures—is not only for the religious. Understanding religious human traditions is of great value in and of itself, and particularly in the context of international relations.
With this broad range of knowledge and skills, our graduates will find professional success in government, international organizations, journalism, international consulting, international business, education, community development, and human rights work with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), particularly those demanding specialized knowledge about religion and global religious diversity. The degree can also be your foundation for graduate studies in law; religious studies, international relations; social sciences such as anthropology, history, political science, and sociology; public policy and public administration; and more.
Requirements – 45 total credit hours are required, including:
- Introductory Courses (6 credit hours; both of the following required):
- IS101, Introduction to International Studies OR SW270-IS, Understanding Global Issues (3)
- TI250-RL, Religions of the World (3)
- Lived Religion (3 credit hours; one of the following required):
- AN368, Coming of Age in the Middle East (3)
- AN380/HST305, Special Topics: Witchcraft, Shamanism, and the Paranormal (3)
- AN380, The Super Natural & the Sacred (3)
- Religious Traditions (6 credit hours; two of the following required):
- RL341, Islam, Gender, and Sexuality (3)
- RL347, History of Christianity (3)
- RL353, Buddhism: Past and Present (3)
- RL354, Islam: Religion, Culture, Society (3)
- RL377, Hinduism: Past and Present
- RL373, Mysticism (3)
- Religion & Politics (3 credit hours; one of the following required):
- RL335, Bible, Politics, and Society (3)
- RL363, Religion,Politics, and Conflict in South Asia (3)
- RL377, Hinduism, Gender and the Goddess (3)
- RL382, Liberation Theologies (3)
- IS370, North Africa and the Middle East in Film (3)
- IS370, Islam and Human Rights (3)
- IS390, United Nations (3 credit hours)
- Capstones/Upper-Level (6 credit hours; both of the following required):
- RL381, Theory and Method in the Study of Religion (3)
- IS410/RL310, Global Studies/Religion and Globalization (3)
- Additional courses from among those that count for any IS requirement (12 credit hours)
- Additional Religious Studies Electives (6 credit hours)
- Students must also complete one of the following (may double count for other requirements):
- RL499 or IS499, Honors thesis in Religious Studies or International Studies
- RL401, RL402, RL403, IS401, IS402, or IS403, Independent Study
- Field school/study abroad
- RL405, RL406, RL411, RL412, IS404, or IS405, Internship
A minor in religious studies consists of 18 hours in religion, 12 of which must be on the 300- or 400-level, and 3 of which must be RL381W (Theory and Method in the Study of Religion). Minors should create a suitable package of courses in consultation with a Religion professor appointed by the chair.
A significant number of students choose philosophy or religious studies in conjunction with another major. If the primary major (i.e., the major in the department where one’s advisor resides) is outside of philosophy and religious studies, the student should seek an informal advisor in the philosophy and religious studies department to make sure that he or she satisfies the departmental requirements. The departmental advisor will also work with the student to find a selection of courses which complements the work in their other majors.
Honors in Religious Studies requires:
- A 3.6 cumulative GPA in all courses taken in Religious Studies or counted towards the Religious Studies major
- No grade below a C- on any of the same courses
High Honors in Religious Studies requires:
- A 3.7 cumulative GPA in all courses taken in Religious Studies or counted towards the Religious Studies major
- No grade below a C- on any of the same courses
- Either a completed thesis or a passing grade on the department’s comprehensive exam
- The recommendation of the department
Highest Honors in Religious Studies requires:
- A 3.8 cumulative GPA in all courses taken in Religious Studies or counted towards the Religious Studies major
- No grade below a C- on any of the same courses
- A completed thesis and a passing grade on the department’s comprehensive exam
- The recommendation of the department
Current students should consult their own academic advisement report in my.butler.edu to see their individual requirements and progress toward degree completion.