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BA in Religious Studies
Curricula Goals & Student Outcomes
Careers for Religious Studies
Majors
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Curriculum
The academic curricula of the Department will focus on the acquisition and reinforcement of accepted College-wide tools, skills, and competencies needed to ensure that students can successfully undertake graduate studies, or enter a professional career. These accepted tools, skills, and competencies are: critical thinking and problem-solving skills; ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing; quantitative skills and technological proficiency; teamwork and leadership skills; as well as study/library research skills, and enhanced interpersonal skills for collaborative/cooperative learning activities.
The Department will also provide majors a broadened educational experience, using the twelve credit concentration to give depth and breadth to their perspective of religious studies as a social science. Moreover, the concentration will allow majors to cultivate an appreciation for the diverse issues that affect their educational experience and their daily lives, covering topics such as: (1) the history of religious thought, (2) religion and social justice, (3) practical theology, and (4) religious leadership. Reinforcing its mission, various community service activities are fully integrated into the core curricula, complemented with a senior project/thesis to culminate matriculation.
Goals and Coherence of the Curriculum
Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies – 120 Credit Program
- College-Wide Core Requirements - 49 credits
- Departmental Core Requirements - 63 credits
The departmental core requirements represent the basic knowledge, skills, and competencies needed by students to successfully matriculate through the degree program. The departmental core requirements are:
Lower Level Majors: 21 Credits
| REL 101 | Introduction to the Study of Religion | 3 |
| REL 102 | Survey of Religious Experience | 3 |
| ANTH 111 | Comparative World Religions I | 3 |
| ANTH 112 | Comparative World Religions II | 3 |
| ANTH 201 | Anthropology and Religion | 3 |
| HIST 211 | History of Religious Thought | 3 |
| PHIL 201 | Introduction to Ethics and Social Philosophy | 3 |
Upper Level Majors: 18 Credits
| ANTH 301 | Traditional African Religions | 3 |
| REL 351 | Religious Ethics | 3 |
| SSC 402 | Gender and Religion | 3 |
| SSC 421 | Research Methods in Religious Studies | 3 |
| REL 499 | Field Experience/Internship | 3 |
| REL 500 | Senior Seminar: Practicum in Religious Studies | 3 |
Concentrations: 12 Credits
To accomplish the departmental mission the degree requirements mandate that each student select an area of concentration. Each specialization is an opportunity for students to concentrate on an area of interest within the discipline of religious studies. In consultation with a faculty mentor, and with the approval of the chairperson, students will design a thirty-two (32) credit course track within the chosen field of study: twelve (12) credits as part of the department curriculum. The three (3) concentrations are:
- Philosophy and Religion
Students wishing to concentrate their studies in Philosophy and Religion must complete the following twelve (12) credits as part of the department curriculum:
| PHIL 330 | Philosophy of Religion | 3 |
| REL 321 | Buddhism and Hinduism in Eastern Thought | 3 |
| HIST 333 | History and Dialectics in Religious Thought | 3 |
| REL 322 | Contemporary Issues in Religious Thought | 3 |
- Religion and Social Justice
Students wishing to concentrate their studies in Religion and Social Justice must complete the following twelve (12) credits as part of the department curriculum:
| REL 333 | Peace Education in the Global Context | 3 |
| SOC 410 | The Role of the Church in the Black Community | 3 |
| REL 371 | Caribbean Religions and Social Justice Movements | 3 |
| REL 434 | Suffering and Social Identity | 3 |
- Leadership and Community Development
Students wishing to concentrate their studies in Leadership and Community Development must complete the following twelve (12) credits as part of the department curriculum:
| REL 331 | Leadership in the Urban Context | 3 |
| REL 390 | Theories of Leadership | 3 |
| REL 492 | Leadership and Accountability | 3 |
| ECON 302 | Urban Economics & Community Development | 3 |
Departmental Electives: 12 Credits
To accomplish the departmental mission the degree requirements mandate that each student select twelve (12) credits as electives to complement their studies within their chosen concentration. Students may choose from the following suggested electives:
| ANTH 302 | Societies and Cultures in Latin America | 3 |
| HIST 340 | History of the Interfaith Movement | 3 |
| PHIL 211 | Political Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 212 | Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| REL 311 | Religion and Civil Rights in the US | 3 |
| REL 341 | Abraham and the Foundations of Judaism | 3 |
| REL 342 | Mohammed and the Foundations of Islam | 3 |
| REL 343 | Jesus and the Foundations of Christianity | 3 |
| REL 490 | Islam: Post 9/11: Jihadists and the Clash of Civilizations | 3 |
Free Electives: 8 Credits
To accomplish the departmental mission the degree requirements mandate that each student select eight (8) credits from the College Catalogue as electives to complement their studies within their chosen concentration.
Faculty
The Faculty will include current full-time faculty in the School of Liberal Arts and Education, and adjuncts that possess appropriate degrees in the field. Additionally, the degree, as is the case in other related CUNY religious studies B.A. programs, draws heavily upon a multidisciplinary approach to the discipline.
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