Undergraduate Degrees

Department Major Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts

The department major requires 28 upper division units. These shall include at least six upper division courses, with at least one course in three of the areas of religious studies:

Area one: Bible and ancient near eastern religions, REL 310, 312, 317, 320, 325, 394, 471, 473, 474, 494

Area two: Theology and philosophy of religion, REL 370, 440, 441, 455

Area three: Ethics, REL 319, 341, 364, 367, 371, 384, 460, 461, 465

Area four: World religions, REL 315, 330, 331, 420

Area five: Historical, literary and scientific studies of religions, REL 302, 311, 366, 430, 467, 468, 469, 480, 481

In addition, majors are required to take REL 399 Seminar in Religious Studies.

Combined Major Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts

A student may pursue the combined major by completing at least six upper division courses with at least one course in two of the areas of religious studies listed above.

Department Minor Requirements

At least four upper division courses with at least one course in two of the areas of religious studies listed are required.

Minor in Bioethics

Designed to inform students of the ethical and moral dimensions of health care issues. Coordinator: William W. May. See Minor in Bioethics for a full description.

Interdisciplinary Law and Society Minor

See Department of Political Science.

Judaic Studies

A Bachelor of Arts in Religion with an emphasis in Judaic Studies is offered cooperatively by 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:

Area One: Bible and ancient near eastern religions
JS 328Judaism and Christian Beginnings
REL 310Old Testament Literature and History

Area Two: Theology and philosophy of religion
JS 465Medieval Jewish Philosophy
JS 467Modern Jewish Thought

Area Four: World religions
JS 357Jerusalem: Jewish, Christian and Muslim Holy City

Area Five: Historical, literary and scientific studies of religions
JS 320Jews and the Making of the Modern World
JS 356Introduction to American Jewish Fiction
JS 425The American Jew: Changing Patterns of Identity

As a prerequisite for participation in the Judaic Studies emphasis, students must enroll in either JS 100 Introduction to Jewish History or JS 180 Introduction to Judaism. In addition, students who elect the Judaic Studies emphasis must fulfill the college's language requirement by successfully completing Hebrew 120, 150 and 220.

Students who enter the program with advanced knowledge of Hebrew may fulfill this requirement by successfully passing an examination offered by Hebrew Union College.

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Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995
Joye Day
day@mizar.usc.edu