The Religion AOC encourages critical thinking about religious traditions, ideals, rituals, and practices. Students of Religion develop empathetic insight into the fundamental ideas and values of other peoples, times, and places, which is key to effective communication and collaboration.
About the Religion Area of Concentration
Former Secretary of State, John Kerry, writes that “One of the most interesting challenges we face in global diplomacy today is the need to fully understand and engage the great impact that a wide range of religious traditions have on foreign affairs. […] if I headed back to college today, I would major in comparative religions rather than political science.”
In light of the pivotal role religion has played in shaping selves, societies, and cultures from ancient times to the present, the Religion program provides the beginning student with an understanding of the complexity of religious phenomena and offers the advanced student a variety of methods appropriate to such study.
The mission of the religion program is to encourage critical thinking about religious traditions, ideals, rituals, and practices; to develop empathetic insight into the fundamental ideas and values of other peoples, times, and places, and to foster critical self-consciousness about the values and commitments of one’s own age and society. Through these studies, students reflect upon the historically developed content of their own culture as well as that of others.
Religion AOC Course Requirements
Courses that introduce students to the academic study of religion, its key questions, and global diversity. They provide foundational methods and frameworks for analyzing religious life, texts, and practices.
Examples: RELI 2100 – Introduction to the Study of Religion; RELI 2110 – Introduction to World Religions.
Courses that explore theoretical and comparative perspectives on religion—how scholars conceptualize belief, ritual, myth, and the sacred. These classes encourage reflection on what “religion” means across cultures and historical contexts.
Examples: RELI 2120 – Religion and Popular Culture; RELI 2400 – Ritual Theory; RELI 3300 – God(s).
Courses focusing on sacred texts from major religious traditions, examining their composition, interpretation, and role in shaping communities, ethics, and theological ideas.
Examples: RELI 2290 – Introduction to the Qur’an; RELI 3200 – Christian Scriptures; RELI 3440 – Jewish Scriptures.
Courses that investigate the interaction between religion and social life, including politics, identity, ethics, and culture. They consider how religious movements both shape and are shaped by historical and contemporary societies.
Examples: RELI 2115 – Religion and Politics in America; RELI 3280 – Islamic History (570–1500): Politics, Society, and Culture.
Courses devoted to the study of particular religious traditions, allowing students to gain depth in one area and comparative insight through the study of another.
Examples: RELI 2700 – Buddhism for Beginners; RELI 2270 – Introduction to Islam; RELI 2320 – Varieties of Judaism in the Modern World; RELI 2370 – The Many Gods of Hinduism; RELI 3250 – Chinese Religions: From Confucius to Mao.
Featured Course
RELI 2110
Introduction to World Religions
From ancient temples and desert prophets to modern movements and global pilgrimages, this course invites students on a journey through the world’s major religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Taoism, and Indigenous traditions. Together we will explore how people across cultures have sought meaning through myth, ritual, art, and sacred story.
Through close reading of primary texts and discussion of contemporary issues, students will learn to compare theological and cosmological ideas, trace shared ethical questions, and appreciate the diverse ways religion shapes individual lives and collective identities. By the end of the course, you’ll have a working familiarity with key world traditions and a deeper understanding of how faith, culture, and history intertwine across civilizations.
Recent courses
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Career Pathways
An AOCin Religion cultivates critical thinking, ethical reasoning, cross-cultural literacy, and the ability to interpret complex ideas, all skills highly valued across professions. Graduates often pursue careers in law, where moral reasoning and analytical precision are essential; in education, as teachers, professors, or student affairs professionals; and as religious professionals, including clergy, chaplains, or leaders of nonprofit and interfaith organizations.
Religion majors also thrive in public policy, journalism, counseling, arts and media, business, and international service, where their ability to understand diverse perspectives and articulate complex ethical positions sets them apart. The study of religion cultivates leaders who can think deeply, communicate clearly, and act ethically in an interconnected world.
Notable Religion Majors:
Many influential leaders and innovators began as religion majors, drawing on their studies to shape careers across fields:
- Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) – Musician; B.A. in Religious Studies, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.
- Maggie Gyllenhaal – Award-winning actor and filmmaker; Religion major at Columbia University.
- David Souter – Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice; studied Philosophy and Religion at Harvard.
- Herb Sendek – NCAA basketball coach; Religion major at Carnegie Mellon University.
- Martha Minow – Former Dean of Harvard Law School; undergraduate major in Religion, known for her work on law and ethics.
- Robert McDonald – Former CEO of Procter & Gamble and U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Religion major at West Point.
- Wes Craven – Acclaimed filmmaker (Scream, Nightmare on Elm Street); earned a degree in English and Religion before turning to cinema.
- Eboo Patel – Founder and president of Interfaith America; a national leader in interfaith dialogue and civic engagement.
- Rashida Jones – Actor and writer; degree in Religion and Philosophy, Harvard University.
- Shane Battier – Former NBA player; degree in Comparative Religions, Duke University.
Transferable Skills from Religious Studies
| Skill Set | Core Academic Discipline | Professional Application in Public Life |
|---|---|---|
| Ethical Reasoning | Theology, Moral Philosophy | Judicial decision-making, corporate governance, and political policy development. |
| Cultural Literacy | Comparative Religion, World Religions | Global business operations, cross-cultural communication, creative narrative design (e.g., Maggie Gyllenhaal), international relations, sports leadership (e.g., Shane Battier). |
| Complex Analysis (Hermeneutics) | Critical Textual Interpretation, Canonical Studies | Investigative journalism, legal case preparation, strategic business analysis. |
| Public Communication and Rhetoric | Public Theology, Textual Exposition | Public speaking, political advocacy, media engagement, and ethical leadership. |
Contact Us
Humanities Division
Phone Number
Email Address
Location
Ace Academic Center 116
Religion Faculty
David Edwards Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion
Douglas Estes Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Religion
Manuel Lopez Ph.D.
Associate Provost
Associate Professor of Religion and Buddhist Studies
Nassima Neggaz Ph.D.
Associate Professor of History and Religion
Gordon Michalson Jr., Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Humanities
John Newman Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of Religion