The Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies
Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units
See Bachelor's Degree Requirements in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. You can view MAPs on the Degree MAPs page in the University Catalog or you can request a plan from your major advisor.
General Education Pathway Requirements: 48 units
See General Education in the University Catalog and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Pathway Requirements and course offerings.
Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
See Diversity Requirements in the University Catalog. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education .
Literacy Requirement:
See Mathematics and Writing Requirements in the University Catalog. Writing proficiency in the major is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a course in your major which has been designated as the Writing Proficiency (WP) course for the semester in which you take the course. Students who earn below a C- are required to repeat the course and earn a C- or higher to receive WP credit. See the Class Schedule for the designated WP courses for each semester. You must pass ENGL 130I or JOUR 130I (or equivalent) with a C- or higher before you may register for a WP course.
Course Requirements for the Major: 37 units
Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree.
Major Core Program: 16 units
6 courses required:
SUBJ NUM | Title | Sustainable | Units | Semester Offered | Course Flags |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
RELS 100 | Judaism, Christianity, Islam | 3.0 | FS | GE | |
RELS 110 | Asian Religions | 3.0 | FS | GE GC | |
RELS 180 | Introduction to Religion | 3.0 | FS | GE | |
RELS 281 | Library Research Methods in Religious Studies | 1.0 | SP | ||
RELS 322 | Religion in America | 3.0 | FA | ||
RELS 480 | Theories and Criticisms of Religion | 3.0 | SP | ||
Prerequisites: RELS 100 or RELS 110 or faculty permission. |
Writing Proficiency Course: 3 units
1 course selected from:
SUBJ NUM | Title | Sustainable | Units | Semester Offered | Course Flags |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
RELS 482 | Seminar in Religious Studies | 3.0 | FS | GW | |
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 or JOUR 130 (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher; concurrent enrollment or prior completion of RELS 281 and RELS 480. | |||||
RELS 497 | Tutorial in Religious Studies | 3.0 | FS | GW | |
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 or JOUR 130 (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, faculty permission. |
SUBJ NUM | Title | Sustainable | Units | Semester Offered | Course Flags |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
RELS 499H | Senior Honors Research Paper | 3.0 | FS | GW | |
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 or JOUR 130 (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, RELS 480 (may be taken concurrently). |
World Traditions: 6 units
1 course selected from:
Western Traditions:
SUBJ NUM | Title | Sustainable | Units | Semester Offered | Course Flags |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
RELS 107 | Bible Controversies | 3.0 | FS | ||
RELS 202 | Islam and the World | 3.0 | FS | GE GC | |
This course is also offered as
HIST 261,
MEST 261. | |||||
RELS 204I | Judaism and the Minority Experience | 3.0 | FS | GE USD WI | |
This course is also offered as
MJIS 204I. | |||||
RELS 205 | Jews, Muslims, and the West | 3.0 | FA | GE USD | |
This course is also offered as
MJIS 205. | |||||
RELS 207 | Christianity | 3.0 | FS | ||
RELS 301 | Greek Myth and Ritual | 3.0 | INQ | ||
RELS 302 | Muhammad and the Qur'an | 3.0 | INQ | ||
This course is also offered as
MEST 302. | |||||
RELS 303 | Hebrew Bible | 3.0 | INQ | ||
This course is also offered as
MJIS 303. | |||||
RELS 305 | Rabbinic Judaism: Talmud/Midrash | 3.0 | SP | ||
This course is also offered as
MJIS 305. | |||||
RELS 307 | New Testament | 3.0 | INQ | ||
RELS 407 | History of Christian Thought | 3.0 | INQ | ||
1 course selected from:
Asian Traditions:
SUBJ NUM | Title | Sustainable | Units | Semester Offered | Course Flags |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
RELS 212 | Religions of India | 3.0 | FA | GE GC | |
RELS 310 | Chinese Religions | 3.0 | INQ | ||
RELS 313 | Buddhism | 3.0 | FS | GC | |
Religion, Society, and Culture: 6 units
6 units selected from:
SUBJ NUM | Title | Sustainable | Units | Semester Offered | Course Flags |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
RELS 224 | Religion and America's Ethnic Minorities | 3.0 | FS | GE USD | |
This course is also offered as
MCGS 224. | |||||
RELS 247 | Religion, Ethics, and Ecology | 3.0 | FS | GE | |
RELS 264I | Dying, Death, and Afterlife | 3.0 | FS | GE GC WI | |
RELS 265 | CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien | 3.0 | INQ | ||
RELS 275I | Women and Religion | 3.0 | FS | GE GC WI | |
This course is also offered as
WMST 275I. | |||||
RELS 304 | Judaism in America | 3.0 | INQ | ||
This course is also offered as
MJIS 304. | |||||
RELS 325 | Worldviews of American Indians | 3.0 | INQ | USD | |
This course is also offered as
AIST 325. | |||||
RELS 331 | Center for Applied and Professional Ethics (CAPE) Forum | 1.0 | FS | ||
This course is also offered as
PHIL 331. | |||||
RELS 332 | World Religions and Global Issues | 3.0 | FS | GE GC | |
RELS 343 | Wealth, Power, and Justice | 3.0 | SP | ||
RELS 346 | Ethical Conflicts and Religious Values | 3.0 | FS | ||
RELS 348 | Jesus, Buddha, and Marx: A Study in Comparative Ethics | 3.0 | FA | ||
RELS 357I | End of the World | 3.0 | FS | GE WI | |
RELS 358 | Religion in American Public Schools | 3.0 | FS | ||
RELS 365 | Religion and Film | 3.0 | SP | ||
RELS 366 | Mysticism: East and West | 3.0 | SP | ||
RELS 369 | Religion and Sexuality | 3.0 | FS | ||
RELS 381 | Sociology of Religion | 3.0 | INQ | ||
This course is also offered as
SOCI 327. | |||||
RELS 392 | Contemporary Religious Thought | 3.0 | INQ | ||
RELS 475 | Feminist Theology | 3.0 | INQ | ||
Prerequisites: RELS 375 or WMST 375. This course is also offered as WMST 475. | |||||
RELS 491 | Contemporary Religious Thought | 3.0 | INQ | ||
Note: A maximum of 3 units of any modern foreign language study at the third-semester college level or beyond, or any 3 units of college-level ancient or classical language study, will be credited toward the 6-unit requirement for this category.
Electives: 6 units
6 units selected from:
Choose 6 units from any Religious Studies (RELS) courses listed above or from the following electives.
SUBJ NUM | Title | Sustainable | Units | Semester Offered | Course Flags |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANTH 377I | Anthropology of the Islamic World | 3.0 | FS |
GE
GC
WI
C | |
PHIL 204 | Science and Religion | 3.0 | FS | GE | |
This course is also offered as
RELS 241. | |||||
RELS 198 | Special Topics | 1.0 -3.0 | INQ | ||
RELS 241 | Science and Religion | 3.0 | FS | GE | |
This course is also offered as
PHIL 204. | |||||
RELS 398 | Special Topics | 1.0 -3.0 | INQ | ||
RELS 489 | Internship in Religious Stud | 1.0 -3.0 | FS | ||
Prerequisites: Faculty permission. | |||||
RELS 498 | Special Topics | 1.0 -3.0 | INQ | ||
Supervision Courses
All supervision courses require faculty permission.
A maximum of 3 units of the supervision courses may be counted toward the major, though it is not necessary to take any. Additional units must be requested by petition. (If RELS 497 is taken to fulfill the writing proficiency requirement, a maximum of 6 units of supervision courses will be counted toward the major.)
SUBJ NUM | Title | Sustainable | Units | Semester Offered | Course Flags |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
RELS 391 | Reading in Religious Studies | 1.0 -3.0 | FS | ||
Prerequisites: Faculty permission. | |||||
RELS 497 | Tutorial in Religious Studies | 3.0 | FS | GW | |
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 or JOUR 130 (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, faculty permission. | |||||
RELS 499H | Senior Honors Research Paper | 3.0 | FS | GW | |
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 or JOUR 130 (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, RELS 480 (may be taken concurrently). |
Electives Requirement:
To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.
Grading Requirement:
All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.
Advising Requirement:
Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program. Consult your undergraduate advisor for specific information.
Honors in the Major:
Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It requires 6 units of honors course work completed over two semesters.
The Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the University for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or academic competition. Such experience is valuable for graduate school and professional life. Your honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair.
Some common features of Honors in the Major program are:
- You must take 6 units of Honors in the Major course work. All 6 units are honors classes (marked by a suffix of H), and at least 3 of these units are independent study (399H, 499H, 599H) as specified by your department. You must complete each class with a minimum grade of B.
- You must have completed 9 units of upper-division course work or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements for your major carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
- Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
- Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
- Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the 6 units of course work over the two semesters of their senior year.
- Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.
While Honors in the Major is part of the Honors Program, each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major advisor to apply.