9. Religious Studies
Concordia’s Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies program introduces students to the critical study of major world religions while developing their reasoning and communication skills. Religious Studies takes a deeper look at history, foundational texts, and competing views on the human condition and the meaning of life through the lens of diverse eras and societies. It also examines the cultural impacts of the various sacred traditions. Students gain an appreciation of the transformative power and importance of religion from multifaceted angles, and also grasp their deep historical roots and the ways in which religious studies intersect with other disciplines.
A. General Academic Requirements
- 27–33 credits required, to include:
- Foundation Courses:
- Sacred Texts & Traditions:
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- 3 credits chosen from
- 3 credits chosen from
- REL 232 (Indigenous Spiritualities) (3 Cr.),
- REL 233 (Hinduism) (3 Cr.),
- REL 234 (Sikhism) (3 Cr.),
- REL 235 (Cults and New Religious Movements) (3 Cr.),
- REL 303 (Sacred Texts of the East) (3 Cr.),
- REL 321 (The Historical Literature of the Old Testament) (3 Cr.),
- REL 323 (The Poetic Literature of the Old Testament) (3 Cr.),
- REL 337 (Ancient Near Eastern Religions) (3 Cr.),
- REL 362 (Life & Teachings of Jesus in the Gospels) (3 Cr.),
- REL 367 (Studies in the Pauline Literature) (3 Cr.)
- Culture, Society & Religion:
-
- 6 credits chosen from
- REL 224 (Mental Health & Religion) (3 Cr.),
- REL 248 (Christianity and Culture from the Classical Mediterranean to the Modern World) (3 Cr.),
- REL 274 (Violence & Religion) (3 Cr.),
- REL 302 (Greek and Roman Religions) (3 Cr.),
- REL 339 (Biblical Archaeology) (3 Cr.),
- REL 340 (The Rise of Western Christendom) (3 Cr.),
- REL 359 (Theology of Luther) (3 Cr.),
- REL 369 (Women in the Bible and Early Christianity) (3 Cr.),
- REL 399 (Work Integrated Learning in Religious Studies) (3 Cr.)
- 6 credits chosen from
- Meaning & Religion:
-
- 6 credits chosen from
- REL 209 (Death & Afterlife) (3 Cr.),
- REL 275 (Science and Religion) (3 Cr.),
- REL 290 (Faith and Reason) (3 Cr.),
- REL 291 (Religion and the Paranormal) (3 Cr.),
- REL 305 (Special Topics in World Religions: Sacred Space and Pilgrimage) (3 Cr.),
- REL 306 (Special Topics in World Religions: Ethics in World Religions) (3 Cr.),
- REL 307 (Mysticism and Meditation in World Religions) (3 Cr.),
- REL 312 (Magic and the Occult) (3 Cr.),
- REL 373 (Contemporary Issues in Religious Ethics) (3 Cr.)
- 6 credits chosen from
- Senior Seminar
- Unspecified:
-
- 0–6 credits chosen from
- unspecified POPC courses,
- unspecified senior-level REL courses
- 0–6 credits chosen from
- In addition to the above, students must complete:
-
- 6 credits of courses offered by the Departments of Social Sciences and/or Psychology (CNST, ECO, HIS, INDG, POEC, PSCI, PSY, SOC).
- 6 credits of courses in the Faculty of Science
- In addition to the above, students must present:
- Permissible minors:
- All minors listed in section 10.6 except Religious Studies.
A minimum of 6 credits English, 6 credits Philosophy, 3 credits Fine Arts, and 3 credits Classics are recommended.