Program Overview

B.A. in Religious Studies

Overview

The B.A. in Religious Studies is a comprehensive program that explores the fundamental ways humans order and discern meaning, frame identity, and understand the role of religion in culture, society, politics, and individual experience.

Curriculum Requirements

• Core Courses:
  • Select one of the following:
    • REL 101: Introduction to Religion
    • REL 102: Problem of God
    • REL 103: One God: Judaism, Christianity, Islam
    • REL 105: Asian Religions: Transforming the Self
• Elective Courses:
  • Select a minimum of 18 elective credit hours in REL courses
• General Education Requirements:
  • Written Communication Skills:
    • WRS 105: First-Year Writing I
    • WRS 106: First-Year Writing II
    • or ENG 106: Writing About Literature and Culture
  • Quantitative Skills:
    • MTH 108: Precalculus Mathematics II
  • Areas of Knowledge:
    • Arts and Humanities Cognate: 9 credits
    • People & Society Cognate: 9 credits (fulfilled through the major)
    • STEM Cognate: 9 credits
• Additional Required Courses:
  • REL 399: Method and Theory in the Study of Religion
  • UMX 100: The University of Miami Experience
  • Language Requirement: 3 credits
  • Minor or Additional Major Requirement: 15 credits
  • Electives: 51 credits
• Total Credit Hours: 120

Major Requirements

• A major in Religious Studies leading toward the B.A. degree requires 24 credit hours in Religious Studies, passed with a grade of C- or higher, and a GPA in the major of 2.0.
• Minimum of 12 credit hours in courses numbered 300 or above
• Writing credit (W) in at least one course in the department

Suggested Plan of Study

The suggested plan of study includes a secondary major in Public Health and cognates in Understanding Business and Earth Stars Wind and Water.

Plan of Study Grid

• First Year:
  • Fall:
    • MTH 108: Precalculus Mathematics II
    • REL 101: Introduction to Religion
    • UMX 100: The University of Miami Experience
    • WRS 105: First-Year Writing I
    • Elective
    • Language Course
  • Spring:
    • APY 101: Introduction to Anthropology
    • REL 121: Introduction to the New Testament
    • REL 151: Religion and Moral Choices
    • WRS 106 or ENG 106: First-Year Writing II or Writing About Literature and Culture
    • Language Course
• Second Year:
  • Fall:
    • BIL 150: General Biology
    • BIL 151: General Biology Laboratory
    • BUS 200: Introduction to Business
    • BPH 206: Introduction to Public Health
    • POL 200 (EXP) course
    • Language Course
  • Spring:
    • BPH 208: Introductory Epidemiology
    • BPH 310: Global Health
    • BUS 206: Principles of International Business
    • CHM 111: Principles of Chemistry I
    • CHM 113: Chemistry Laboratory I
    • GSC 106: Geological Influences on Society
• Third Year:
  • Fall:
    • BPH 309: Health and Environment
    • FIN 300: Fundamentals of Finance for Non-Finance Majors
    • PHY 110: Descriptive Astronomy
    • REL 335: American Religion in Modern Film
  • Spring:
    • BPH 321: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
    • MSC 220: Climate and Global Change
    • PSY 110: Introduction to Psychology
    • REL 371: Women, Gender, and Islam
    • REL 384: Karma
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall:
    • BPH 322: Introduction to Health Policy
    • BPH 352: Biological Principles of Public Health
    • PSY 260: Personality Psychology
    • REL 351: Death and Dying
    • REL 499
  • Spring:
    • BPH 465: Public Health Statistics and Data Management
    • BPH 490: Field Practicum in Community Health
    • GEG 241: Health and Medical Geography
    • PSY 240: Psychopathology
    • Elective

Mission

The study of religion explores the fundamental ways humans order and discern meaning, frame identity, and understand the role of religion in culture, society, politics, and individual experience.

Goals

The department's educational work aims to strengthen students' capacities to read carefully, question critically, communicate knowledge effectively, and apply their learning in civic engagement.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will attain a grasp of the basic theories and methodologies of the discipline of religious studies.
• Students will acquire broad knowledge of the role that religions play in human life and society as well as deeper knowledge in a specific area.
• Students will develop the ability to communicate their understanding of the phenomenon of religion clearly in writing.