PDF version of this chapterUndergraduate Degrees
Major Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Religion
The department major requires REL 301 The Spiritual Quest: Introduction to Religious Studies (preferably taken at the beginning of the student's major courses) and REL 399 Seminar in Religious Studies. In addition, students will select 6 upper division courses for a total of 24 units from the areas listed below. Students may select up to six upper division courses from a single area. The total unit requirement for the major will be 32 upper-division units.Area I: Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Religions, CLAS 323; JS 361; REL 311, REL 312, REL 317, REL 325, REL 394, REL 471, REL 473, REL 474, REL 494, REL 495.
Area II: Religion in World Societies, EALC 355, EALC 365; REL 315, REL 330, REL 331, REL 430, REL 480.
Area III: Western Theology and Ethics, JS 311, JS 321, JS 465, JS 467; REL 319, REL 335, REL 340, REL 341, REL 360, REL 364, REL 375, REL 440, REL 441, REL 442, REL 455, REL 460, REL 461, REL 465.
Area IV: Religion and Modern Culture, COMM 425; HIST 482; JS 322, JS 382; REL 333, REL 334, REL 336, REL 366, REL 462, REL 468, REL 469, REL 481.
Students who intend to do graduate work in some area of religious studies are encouraged to concentrate their course selections in the area of their preference and to begin learning the languages that are essential for study in that area. This includes modern languages such as French or German and perhaps an ancient language.
Religion Major with Honors
Majors who wish to graduate from the university with honors in religion must achieve a minimum 3.5 grade point average in the major at the time of graduation. In addition to completing the required 32 units listed above, candidates for honors must register for REL 490x Directed Research, in which they must complete an acceptable senior honors thesis in religion.Honor Society
Theta Alpha Kappa is a national honor society for those involved in the study of religion at the undergraduate and graduate level. It is open to declared majors who have completed at least three semesters of college and at least 12 units of religion courses. Students must have a GPA of at least 3.5 in major courses and an overall GPA of at least 3.0.Judaic Studies Emphasis Major
A Bachelor of Arts in Religion with an emphasis in Judaic Studies is offered cooperatively with the School of Religion and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Students will complete all requirements for the bachelor of arts in religion, including the school's area distribution requirements. In fulfilling these requirements, students who choose the Judaic Studies emphasis will select any three of the following courses: REL 312; JS 311, JS 321, JS 322, JS 361, JS 382, JS 465, JS 467.As a prerequisite for participation in the Judaic Studies emphasis, students must enroll in either JS 100 Jewish History or JS 180 Introduction to Judaism. In addition, students who elect the Judaic Studies emphasis must complete HEBR 120, HEBR 150, and HEBR 220, which may be used to fulfill the college's language requirement.
Religion Minor
Requirements for the minor are four 4-unit upper division courses selected from the four areas of concentration listed under the requirements for the major and REL 301 The Spiritual Quest: Introduction to Religious Studies. Students can elect to explore religious studies broadly by selecting courses from three or four areas, or focus their studies in one or two areas. Possible focused concentrations include Christian studies, biblical studies, religion in America, ethics and theology. The minor can be constructed by individual students to pursue their own interests in a variety of themes. Students who wish to focus their minor in Jewish studies must minor in Judaic Studies.Ancient Religion and Classical Languages Minor
This minor is offered collaboratively by the Classics Department and the School of Religion. It is designed for students who want exposure to Greek or Latin and are interested in the broader ancient Mediterranean world. Students are encouraged to investigate ancient studies through archaeology, Greek and Roman culture, politics, religion, mythology, literature, and biblical studies in accord with their individual interests.Students in good standing may apply for admission to the program. Application forms may be obtained from the School of Religion, Room 328, Taper Hall of Humanities.
The ancient religion and classical languages minor requires three classics courses (including two semesters of Greek or Latin) and three religion area I courses (Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Religions). Four upper division courses (16 units) are required. Normally students will take two upper division courses in classics and two upper division courses in religion area I. An exception to this may occur when a student's two language courses are both taken at the lower division level. In that case, three upper division religion area I courses may count toward the degree.
Total: 6 courses.