Religion, Study of

[ Faculty] [ Courses]

Office: Literature Building, First Floor, Room 146
(858) 534-8849
E-mail: religion@ucsd.edu
http://religion.ucsd.edu/
Program Director: Richard S. Cohen

Program Description

The program engages in the academic study of religious phenomena in many regions of the world and within many different religious cultures and traditions; and it studies literature, history, and society in relation to religion. Faculty and students associated with the program give primacy to humanistic and social scientific methods of study that have become established in the academic community during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

The location of the program in the Division of Arts and Humanities and its use of courses from a variety of departments and divisions imply that neither the study of religion nor its data are the privileged possession of a single discipline. The hallmark of the program is its interdisciplinary and interdepartmental structure. At UCSD, faculty from the Departments of Anthropology, History, Literature, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, and Visual Arts provide students with the opportunity to examine religious artifacts, texts, institutions, and communities within a particular cultural and historical context and in the context of comparable manifestations within the general history of religions.

A concentration in the Study of Religion aims at fostering a student’s understanding of religion as one of the primary expressions of the human condition and as an historically powerful force in the shaping of human cultures; and it aims to foster an understanding of multiple religious traditions. It seeks to develop a student’s appreciation of the difficulties and possibilities inherent in undertaking a critical, disciplined, cross-cultural study of religion.

Since the program endorses an interdisciplinary and comparative approach to the study of religion, lower-division preparation should be wide and varied. Lower-division courses in which religion figures prominently (e.g., Introduction to Religion, The Making of the Modern World, or the Revelle College Humanities Program), as well as courses which focus on textual and contextual analysis and employ the analytical tools and conceptual categories of the human sciences, would all be useful in preparing the student for a major in the Study of Religion. The program strongly encourages foreign language study. The ability to read the languages of original sources and of modern scholarship is highly recommended, especially for students planning to attend graduate school in religion.

Major

The major in the Study of Religion consists of twelve upper-division courses; achieving a balance between courses which focus on a single religious tradition or issue and those which explore various traditions and methodologies. These courses should include the following:

Double Major

Students may choose to pursue the Study of Religion as their second major. In such cases, it may be possible for up to two courses to overlap with the other major. Students should consult the program coordinator for further information.

Honors in the Study of Religion

The program for the Study of Religion offers an Honors Program for students who demonstrate excellence in the major. The minimum eligibility requirements for the Honors Program are stated below. In most cases students are completing their last two quarters (winter and spring) when they enroll in the honors program.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

Students interested in the Honors Program should consult with the program coordinator for a detailed list of requirements and an application. Participation in the Honors Program is contingent upon the prior approval of the Honors Thesis research topic by the director. Honors proposals are due at the program office by the tenth week of the quarter (usually fall quarter of the senior year) prior to being enrolled. Final approval must take place before the first day of the quarter in which the student plans to enroll in RELI 196H. The notations “distinction,” “high distinction,” and “highest distinction” will be determined on the following basis: major GPA, the grade for the research paper, and the grade for the public presentation.

Minor

The minor in the Study of Religion consists of seven courses, of which five must be upper-division. These seven courses must include two required courses in the Study of Religion as delineated under the major:

  1. RELI 110A or 110B, and
  2. RELI 111 or 112 or 113.

Some students may apply two lower-division college requirements to the minor (e.g., Revelle students may apply HUM 1 and HUM 2, and ERC students may apply MMW 2 and MMW 3).

Student Advising

All students are assigned a faculty advisor and are encouraged to meet with their advisor at least once a quarter to develop their course of study. Additional advising information may be obtained from the program coordinator, Literature Building, First Floor, Room 146.

Study Abroad

Students are encouraged to investigate the University of California Education Abroad Program (EAP) and other options for foreign study through the Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP). By petition, credits earned through EAP/OAP can fulfill major and minor requirements. More information about studying abroad can be obtained in the Education Abroad section of the catalog.

Career Opportunities and Preparation for Graduate Study

Among its many aims, the major in the Study of Religion is designed to develop fundamental skills in critical thinking, comparative analysis, research, and written expression. As such, the B.A. degree is appropriate for careers in education, government, business, and non-profit agencies. It is also an excellent preparation for graduate study in a variety of fields and disciplines.

Students interested in earning a California teaching credential from UCSD should contact the Teacher Education Program for further information.

Students are encouraged to consult the program director for further information about career opportunities and graduate study. Information is also available on the program’s Web site.