OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-25
Religious Studies Major (B.A.) |
Major code BA5218*
College of Arts and Sciences
Classics and Religious Studies
Ellis 201B
Phone: 740.597.2100
classics@ohio.edu
https://www.ohio.edu/cas/classics/undergraduate/religious-studies-major
Brian Collins, contact person
collinb1@ohio.edu
Program Overview
Religious texts, beliefs, and practices are central to being human, as is conflict over religion. Religious Studies majors acquire both a theoretical knowledge of the components and dynamics of religions and a specific knowledge of religious ideas and pratices. Our courses cover Judaism, early Christianity, Greek and Roman religions, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. Each student chooses an area of specialization, and learns a foreign language connected with that specialization. Students in the Religious Studies major have also majored in English, history, and sociology. Religious Studies majors with a GPA of 3.5 or higher can complete a departmental honors thesis in one or two terms for 3-6 credit hours in addition to the regular requirements for the major. Preapproved application and interview required.
*This program was previously BA5215 - World Religions. Students entering either under either name/code in the 2024-25 catalog year will have the same requirements, which are listed below.
Admissions Information
Freshman/First-Year Admission
No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Change of Program Policy
No selective or limited admission requirements.
External Transfer Admission
No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Opportunities Upon Graduation
The demand for people knowledgeable in the religions of this increasingly smaller globe is growing, and the United States is also becoming increasingly diverse religiously. Expertise in the study of a number of religious traditions benefits students preparing for careers in journalism, politics, and business. It can also be part of one’s preparation for leadership in religious communities. Often pre-professionals are encouraged to pursue a broad liberal arts education in which religious studies may be a significant component. Courses in religious studies are also of interest to many graduate programs. Our graduates have gone on to further study in religious studies and theology graduate programs. Outside academia, Religious Studies graduates have gone on to work abroad in the Peace Corps and for NGOs; others have become counselors and therapists; others have entered into business careers and work in government.
Students can also browse through dozens of internship opportunities and full-time job postings for Ohio University students and alumni on Handshake , OHIO’s key resource for researching jobs, employers, and workshops and events for professional development.
Requirements
University-wide Graduation Requirements
Ohio University requires the completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for the conferral of a bachelor’s degree. This program can be completed within that 120-hour requirement. For more information on the minimum hours requirement and other university-wide requirements, please review the Graduation Requirements – University-wide page.
Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirement
View the College and Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirements .
Religious Studies Hours Requirement
Complete 33 credit hours of classics and religious studies coursework, including all the requirements below.
Foundations: Major Traditions
Complete three of the following courses (9 credit hours total):
- CARS 2400 - Introduction to the Study of Religion Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 2600 - Hinduism Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 2610 - Buddhism Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3000 - The Hebrew Bible (Christian Old Testament, Jewish Tanakh) Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3010 - New Testament Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3020 - Introduction to Islam Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3400 - Greek and Roman Religions and Society Credit Hours: 3
- JS 1000 - Introduction to Jewish Studies Credit Hours: 3
Religious Studies Electives (21 credit hours)
Complete 9 credit hours from the Class I Electives list and 6 credit hours from the Class II Electives list. The remaining 6 credits can come from any CARS or JS class or any approved affiliate class. Courses used to fulfill the Foundations requirement cannot be used to fulfill the Electives requirement.
Class I Electives
- CARS 2140 - Human Aspirations Among the Greeks and Romans Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 2180 - Ancient Near Eastern Art and Architecture Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 2300 - Heroes in Classical Literature Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 2310 - Classical Mythology Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 2400 - Introduction to the Study of Religion Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 2410 - The Global Occult: Ghosts, Demonology, and the Paranormal in World Religions Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 2430 - The History of Yoga: From Ancient Discipline to Modern Movement Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 2440 - Paganism, Judaism, and Christianity in the Roman Empire Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 2500 - Difficult Dialogues: Religious Beliefs Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 2510 - Difficult Dialogues: Religion, Gender and Sexuality Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 2520 - What is Evil? Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 2530 - Difficult Dialogues: Science and Religion Credit Hours: 4
- CARS 2600 - Hinduism Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 2610 - Buddhism Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3000 - The Hebrew Bible (Christian Old Testament, Jewish Tanakh) Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3010 - New Testament Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3020 - Introduction to Islam Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3400 - Greek and Roman Religions and Society Credit Hours: 3
Class II Electives
- CARS 2030 - Archaeology of the Ancient Near East Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 2050 - Archaeology and the Bible Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 2120 - Ancient Jerusalem: From Solomon to Suleiman Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3030 - Political Islam Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3040 - Sufism-Mysticism and Asceticism in Islam Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3120 - Gandhi and the Gita: The Religious Roots of Nonviolent Resistance in Colonial India Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3130 - Indian Epic: Mahabharata and Ramayana Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3200 - Self-denial and Religion: Virgins, Monks, Hermits and other Ascetics Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3210 - Religion and Violence Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3220 - Thinking About Death: Belief and Practice Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3240 - Theories of Religion Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3250 - Contemporary Religious Thought Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3260 - Myth, Ritual, and Symbolism Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3290 - Women and Religion Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3440 - Love in Antiquity Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3450 - Wisdom in Antiquity Credit Hours: 3
- CARS 3470 - Sex and the Bible Credit Hours: 3
- GK 3110 - Archaic Greek Poetry Credit Hours: 3
- GK 3120 - Greek Drama Credit Hours: 3
- GK 3130 - Greek Sophists and Philosophers Credit Hours: 3
- GK 3140 - Greek Historians Credit Hours: 3
- GK 3160 - The Greek New Testament and the Milieu of Early Christianity Credit Hours: 3
- GK 4900 - Special Topics in Greek Literature Credit Hours: 3
- GK 4930 - Independent Study in Greek Credit Hours: 1 - 3
- LAT 3110 - Latin Prose and Poetry I Credit Hours: 3
- LAT 3120 - Latin Prose and Poetry II Credit Hours: 3
- LAT 4110 - Advanced Latin Literature I Credit Hours: 3
- LAT 4120 - Advanced Latin Literature II Credit Hours: 3
- LAT 4900 - Special Topics in Latin Literature Credit Hours: 3
- LAT 4930 - Independent Study in Latin Credit Hours: 1 - 3
Approved Affiliate Courses
- ANTH 3570 - Anthropology of Religion Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3220 - Geography of Religious Space and Place Credit Hours: 3
- HIST 3463 - History of China from Antiquity to the Early Modern Era Credit Hours: 3
- HIST 3540 - History of Early Christianity Credit Hours: 3
- HIST 4536 - Eternal Rome: Piety and Power Credit Hours: 3
- PHIL 2600 - Philosophy of Religion Credit Hours: 3