At a Glance
I鈥檓 interested in this field of study. Can you tell me more about it?
Religious studies examines the major religions of the world from a nonsectarian and academic perspective. We emphasize how the beliefs and practices of these religions influence society, government, economics, and more.
The Department of Religious Studies at 五月天视频is simultaneously an independent department with a robust number of majors and minors and an intercollegiate program. That means that Scripps鈥� religious studies majors get the personalized attention of a small department while also enjoying extensive course offerings from multiple professors across The Claremont Colleges. During any given semester, you can pick from over thirty courses in religious studies!
The intercollegiate program in religious studies particularly excels in the study of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism, and some of the most common concentrations include revolutionary movements, economics, politics, and gender, women, and sexuality.
What are some courses appropriate for first year students interested in exploring this field of study?
We recommend that you take some of the following courses during your first year at Scripps:
- Feminist Interpretations of the Bible
- God on Trial: Free Will and Evil
- Jesus, Paul, and Early Christian Sexualities
- Queer African Christianities
- Christianity, Capital, and Communism
- Introduction to Early Christianities
- New Testament and Christian Origins
If I decide to major or minor in this field, are there certain courses that need to be taken in a specific sequence?
No. The major has only three required courses: RLST 180, RLST 190, and RLST 191.
RLST 180 is an introduction to the academic study of religion that should ideally be taken in the first two years of study. It is offered every spring.
RLST 190 and RLST 191 are the senior seminar and senior thesis, which are completed in sequence during students’ senior year.
Can students who major or minor in this field complete a second major or minor (as a double major or a major/minor combination)? If so, what are some common pairings?
Religious studies allows double majors, and we encourage them! We also routinely have students minoring in religious studies, which requires RLST 180 and five more courses. The most popular pairings are with psychology, philosophy, politics, economics, anthropology, and English.
What other useful information should I know about this field of study?
Religious studies has the lowest unemployment rate, not just in the humanities, but among all disciplines within six months of graduation. It鈥檚 an excellent major for students preparing for law school, medical school, business school, or graduate school in other fields.
Students of religious studies are in high demand in many areas beyond what one might expect (such as religious leadership or teaching) because they are outstanding in developing creative solutions to complex problems.
Religious studies also has a strong tradition of critical鈥揳nalytical thought, empowering and leading social change, and a firm commitment to social justice and empathetic advocacy for the oppressed. The major will help you fine-tune excellent communication skills and become a close reader of extremely complex ideas.
About Religious Studies at Scripps
Religious studies offers聽the opportunity for more specialized work at the intermediate and advanced levels in particular historic religious traditions, geographical areas, philosophical and critical approaches, and thematic and comparative studies.
The Department of Religious Studies recognizes the importance and legitimacy of personal involvement in the study of religion, but it does not represent or advocate any particular religion as normative. Rather, the aim is to make possible an informed knowledge and awareness of the fundamental importance of the religious dimension in all human societies鈥攇lobally and historically. We strongly encourage language study appropriate to the specialized field and a period of study abroad when possible!
In addition to preparing students for graduate study in religion, the multidisciplinary nature of the major affords students intellectual training to enter a variety of fields and careers.聽The major consists of 10 courses, including four courses in a specialized field, two integrative courses, three elective courses outside the specialized field, and a senior thesis.
Specialized fields may consist of religious traditions (Asian, Western, Judaism), themes (philosophy of religion and ethics, gender and women’s studies), a historical period (e.g., religion in the contemporary period), and geographical area (e.g., Middle Eastern Studies, religion in the Americas).