Undergraduate: Home | Prospective | Current | Research | Contact Us
Religious Studies
108 Weaver Building
814-865-3403
Visit Us
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Religious Studies is a flexible major focusing on the exploration of religious outlooks, texts, institutions, and practices, and their relationship to other aspects of culture. The program offers courses in Asian and Western religious traditions, and uses the scholarly techniques of the humanities and social sciences to study the variety of human religious experiences. Religion is approached in two ways: through the study of religions themselves and through the study of the religious dimensions of culture and society.
Religious Studies may be pursued as a primary or concurrent major. In the latter case it functions as a natural complement to majors in anthropology, classics, English, history, philosophy, psychology, and sociology. Since a number of courses in these disciplines count toward the Religious Studies major, pursuing a double major (e.g., religious studies and history, religious studies and philosophy) is both an attractive and a very achievable option for students who want a thorough grounding in the liberal arts.
The Religious Studies program offers a minor for students enrolled in other academic majors.
RELATED EXPERIENCES
A variety of opportunities exist for independent study with faculty members and for internships on and off campus.
CAREER DIRECTIONS
Most students pursue a Religious Studies major because they are fascinated by religious beliefs and practices, by the popularity and influence of sacred scriptures, by the kinds of experiences described by religious data, and by the religious orientations of other cultures . Some students in the major will become members of the clergy. Others choose to focus on Religious Studies because of their involvement in religious activities, or because they are interested in teaching careers in fields related to religion, such as social studies. Many pursue a Religious Studies degree because of their interest in religion's theological and ethical implications, providing a foundation for personal moral and ethical decisions.
An understanding of the variety of religious traditions can provide an important foundation for professionals in a number of fields. Anyone who chooses a career in religion usually pursues further study in a theological or graduate school. Positions held by recent graduates of the Religious Studies program include attorney, advertising representative, market researcher, personnel administrator, public relations specialist, museum curator, camp director, social worker, psychological counselor, clergyperson, missionary, and director of religious education.