Two majors are available in the department of Religious Studies: Biblical Studies and Religious Studies.
Biblical Studies is designed to give students the opportunity to study the Christian Bible literarily, historically, and theologically. Study of biblical languages is a requirement of the Biblical Studies major. The second-temple period will also be a subject of study for this major, since knowledge of this period is important for understanding the New Testament.
Religious Studies covers the phenomenon of Christianity from various perspectives including its origins, its historical manifestations, and its philosophical assertions. Students of Religious Studies will also be able to compare and contrast the Christian faith to other religions and to explore the various social scientific connections to acting religiously.
Through lively classroom discussions and in-depth personal study, religious studies students gain a fresh perspective on their faith that will serve them well throughout life and may lead to additional study in seminary or graduate school.
The second digit in the Religious Studies courses indicates the general content of the course. Courses with second digits at or below three indicate a course with biblical focus or orientation. Those courses with second digits at or above 8 reflect a broader religious focus. Those courses with second digits between 4 and 7 have a focus on Christian studies.
