At which campus can I study this program?
Program Description
The minor in Religious Studies requires 18 hours of course work in RLST. It:
- acquaints the student with the methods for studying religion (how one studies a religion),
- provides an elementary introduction to the world's main religious traditions (names, dates, ideas, similarities and differences), and
- offers the opportunity to investigate a particular topic or religion in greater detail.
Students are required to take one survey course (either RLST 1, RLST 3, or RLST 4), which provides a broad historical overview of several religions, from their foundation to the present day.
The interaction between religions and their cultural contexts is emphasized, as is the evolution of an individual religion. After this introduction, the student is free to choose from a broad array of courses on the psychological, sociological, historical, and textual aspects of religions, both living and dead, both familiar and foreign. For example, a student may study Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Norse religion, Greco-Roman religion, or the sociological aspects of religions. Reading skills and critical thinking skills are important and will be further developed in the courses.
The minor is excellent preparation for a career in the professions (law, medicine), and many students use this classical humanities topic to augment a major in the pure sciences.
What is Religious Studies?
Religious Studies focuses on providing an understanding of the world's diverse religions, their beliefs, and traditions. The relationship between religion and culture is closely examined to gain a better understanding of how religion affects politics, art, science, and other aspects of society. Research is done through multiple disciplines such as: philosophy, anthropology, sociology, history, and more.
You Might Like This Program If...
- You are interested in exploring the complexities of the diverse religions of the world.
- You hope to examine how religion has influenced local and global communities, from antiquity through present-day.
- You would like to pursue a career in the humanities and hope to use a minor in Religious Studies to broaden your knowledge of diverse cultures.
Program Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Requirements for the Minor | 18 |
Requirements for the Minor
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 3 credits of the following: | 3 | |
Introduction to World Religions  | ||
| Introduction to the Religions of the East | ||
| Jewish and Christian Foundations | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 15 credits (at least 6 credits at the 400-level) in Religious Studies | 15 | |
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Liberal Arts Academic Advising
814-865-2545
Use the Liberal Arts Meet the Academic Advisers web page to see the contact information for the specific adviser(s) of this program
Abington
Pierce Salguero
Associate Professor of Asian History and Religious Studies
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
215-881-7826
salguero@psu.edu
Career Paths
A minor in Religious Studies provides students with the tools necessary to pursue multiple career paths. Through this minor students improve their skills in critical thinking, writing clear and persuasive messages, and in-depth analysis of texts.
Careers
- Medicine
- Law
- Social Work
- Business
- Government
Contact
University Park
DEPARTMENT OF CLASSICS AND ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN STUDIES
108 Weaver Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-8851
lrd131@psu.edu
https://cams.la.psu.edu/degrees-and-certificates/undergraduate-degrees/
Abington
DIVISION OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
215-881-7826
salguero@psu.edu