Program Overview

Religious Studies, B.A.

The Religious Studies, B.A. program at Wake Forest University requires a minimum of 28 hours, of which 18 must be in courses above the 100-level.

Requirements

• Select courses above the 100-level: 18 hours
• REL 200: Approaches to the Study of Religion: 3 hours
• Select one course from each of the following groups: 9 hours
  • I. Biblical Studies
  • II. Religion, History and Society
  • III. World Religions
• REL 399: Senior Colloquy (senior year): 1 hour

A minimum GPA of 2.0 in all courses completed in religious studies at Wake Forest is required for graduation with the major. Up to 9 hours of coursework completed outside the department may be counted toward the major, and no more than 6 hours of directed reading may be counted toward the major.

Concentration in Religion and Public Engagement

A concentration in religion and public engagement for declared majors and minors in religious studies requires 15 hours and provides an opportunity for students to undertake a community-based study of educational, economic, cultural, and political development strategies and action.

• REL 332: Religion and Public Engagement: 3 hours
• Select one of the following: 3 hours
  • REL 200: Approaches to the Study of Religion
  • REL 305: Ethnography of Religion
  • REL 336: Religious Traditions and Human Rights
  • REL 338: Religion, Ethics, and Politics
• REL 288: Field Program in Religion and Public Engagement (an internship): 3 hours
• Select two Elective Courses related to the community partner's context, history, and values

Course Offerings

I: Biblical Studies

• REL 261: Foundations of Traditional Judaism: 1.5 hours
• REL 308: Sacred Scripture in the Traditions of Abraham: 3 hours
• REL 310: The Prophetic Literature: 3 hours
• REL 312: The Critical Study of the Pentateuch: 3 hours
• REL 313: Near Eastern Archeology: 3 hours
• REL 315: Field Research in Biblical Archeology: 3 hours
• REL 316: Field Research in Biblical Archeology: 3 hours
• REL 317: Wisdom Literature: 3 hours
• REL 318: Feminist and Contemporary Interpretations of the New Testament: 3 hours
• REL 320: The Search for Jesus: 3 hours
• REL 323: Jesus Traditions: 3 hours
• REL 324: Early Christian Literature: 3 hours
• REL 328: Jewish-Christian Relations and the New Testament: 3 hours

II: Religion, History, and Society

• REL 210: Jerusalem in History and Tradition: 3 hours
• REL 230: Religion and the U.S. Constitution: 3 hours
• REL 242: Sex, Death and Salvation: 3 hours
• REL 244: Religion, Terrorism, and Violence: 3 hours
• REL 246: Religion and Race: 3 hours
• REL 266: Religious Sects and Cults: 3 hours
• REL 267: Religion and Popular Culture: 3 hours
• REL 330: Pope, Jefferson and Imam: A Study in Comparative Ethics: 3 hours
• REL 331: Religion and Law: 3 hours
• REL 332: Religion and Public Engagement: 3 hours
• REL 335: Religious Ethics and the Problem of War: 3 hours
• REL 336: Religious Traditions and Human Rights: 3 hours
• REL 338: Religion, Ethics, and Politics: 3 hours
• REL 341: Religion and Ecology: 3 hours
• REL 342: Religious Intolerance in the U.S.: 3 hours
• REL 344: Religion, Poverty, and Social Entrepreneurship: 3 hours
• REL 345: The African-American Religious Experience: 3 hours
• REL 346: Religious Utopias and the American Experience: 3 hours
• REL 348: Race, Memory, and Identity: 3 hours
• REL 355: Jewish Identities: Religion, Race, and Rights: 3 hours
• REL 356: Modern Jewish Movements: 3 hours
• REL 357: Jews in the United States: 3 hours
• REL 365: History of Religions in America: 3 hours
• REL 367: Christian Mysticism: 3 hours
• REL 368: Protestant and Catholic Reformations: 3 hours
• REL 369: Radical Christian Movements: 3 hours
• REL 372: History of Christian Thought: 3 hours
• REL 373: Special Topics in African-American Religious Traditions: 3 hours
• REL 374: Black Messiahs and Uncle Toms: 3 hours
• REL 375: Race, Myth, and the American Imagination: 3 hours
• REL 376: Race, Religion, and Film: 3 hours

III: World Religions

• REL 265: Culture and Religion in Contemporary Native America: 3 hours
• REL 280: God, Gods, and the Ultimate: 3 hours
• REL 329: Chinese Medicine: 3 hours
• REL 339: Religion, Power, and Society in Modern Africa: 3 hours
• REL 343: Religion, Culture, and the Body: 3 hours
• REL 349: Asian Meditation Practices: 3 hours
• REL 359: Hinduism in America: 3 hours
• REL 361: Topics in Buddhism: 3 hours
• REL 362: Topics in Islam: 3 hours
• REL 363: The Religions of Japan: 3 hours
• REL 381: Zen Buddhism: 3 hours
• REL 382: Religion and Culture in China: 3 hours
• REL 383: The Quran and the Prophet: 3 hours
• REL 384: Islam and Law: Varieties in Interpretation and Expression: 3 hours
• REL 385: Topics in South Asian Religions: 3 hours
• REL 386: Indian Epics: 3 hours
• REL 387: Priests, Warriors and Ascetics in Ancient India: 3 hours
• REL 388: South Asian Women: Religion, Culture and Politics: 3 hours
• REL 389: Islam in the West: Changes and Challenges: 3 hours
• REL 391: Topics in East Asian Religions: 3 hours
• REL 392: Topics in First Peoples' Traditions: 3 hours
• REL 393: Topics in Religions of Africa: 3 hours

Honors Program

Highly qualified majors are encouraged to apply for admission to the honors program. Students who wish to pursue this option should refer to the honors guidelines for an overview of requirements and procedures. Upon completion of all requirements, a recommendation of honors at graduation will be made by the department based upon the student's overall academic record and the quality of the final project.