We may study religion to enrich ourselves but our study also helps us think critically about current events and the complexities of global diversity and the human situation.

Religious Studies Major Requirements

Required Religious Studies Courses

(11 courses)

  • RELS 106 Introduction to the Bible 
  • RELS 114 Introduction to Theology 
  • RELS 280 Introducing Christian Traditions 
  • RELS 290 Doing Theology Today 
  • RELS 328 The Hebrew Bible 
  • RELS 329 The New Testament 
  • RELS 433 Christian Ethics: Theology and Society 
  • RELS 460 Advanced Seminar

One course from each of the following three groups (only one may be a GS course)


1) Religious Diversity Component

  • RELS 318 Feminist Theology
  • RELS 331 Judaism and Christianity: The Holocaust 
  • RELS 340 World Religions: A Comparative Examination 
  • RELS 342 Asian Philosophy and Religion
  • RELS 350 Christianity and Cultural Diversity 
  • RELS 359 / WMGS 359 Women and Islam


2) Systematic Theology Component

  • RELS 316 Who is Jesus? 
  • RELS 325 Providence, Suffering and Freedom


3) Other Electives

  • RELS 200 / CLAS 200 Augustine and the Classical World 
  • RELS 242 Liturgy and the Sacraments 
  • RELS 255 / PHIL 250 Philosophy of Religion 
  • RELS 260 / CLAS 260 Early Christian Monasticism 
  • RELS 268 / WMGS 268 Sexuality, Intimacy and God 
  • RELS 310 Marriage and Family as Vocation 
  • RELS 312 Mission and Identity of the Church 
  • RELS 314 The Origins of Biblical Monotheism 
  • RELS 315 Mary through the Ages 
  • RELS 320 The Christian Tradition 
  • RELS 324 / WMGS 324 Women in the Bible 
  • RELS 327 Ancient Wisdom and the Modern Search for Meaning 
  • RELS 337 Character and the Moral Life 
  • RELS 360 The Essentials of Catholic Thought 
  • RELS 389 Special Topics 
  • *HUMA 337 Norbertine Origins and Christian Culture 
  • HIST 319 The Catholic Contribution to the United States

Religious Studies majors are not allowed to count any of the above courses as satisfying the GS 1 requirement.

*Religious Studies majors may not double count toward the GS 10 requirement unless double majoring.


Religious Studies Major with a Youth Ministry Emphasis

(13 courses)

  • RELS 106 Introduction to the Bible 
  • RELS 114 Introduction to Theology 
  • RELS 242 Liturgy and the Sacraments 
  • RELS 280 Introduction to Christian Traditions 
  • RELS 321 Topics in Scripture 
  • RELS 433 Christian Ethics 
  • RELS 460 Advanced Seminar 
  • RELS 494 Internship
  • Any other two RELS courses or HIST 319

Three of the following

  • SSCI 220 Lifespan Human Development 
  • SOCI 111 Cultural Anthropology 
  • COME 122 Principles of Interpersonal Communication 
  • WMGS 110 Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies 
  • PEAC 200 Introduction to Peace and Justice 
  • SOCI 378 / LEAD 378 Leadership and Society

A student may substitute one elective class with four credits of practical application courses offered off campus. Students should contact their adviser and the religious studies discipline coordinator for details.