Getting Started
Undergraduate Programs (Major or Minor in Religious Studies)
- Apply to the College of Charleston!
- Once you receive your acceptance letter, register for your required Orientation session.
- Will you be a RELS major, minor or undecided?
Required Courses
Complete three credit hours selected from:
- RELS 101 Approaches to Religion (3)
- RELS 103 Death and the Afterlife (3)
- RELS 105 Introduction to World Religions (3)
- RELS 106 Religion and Violence (3)
- RELS 115 Religion and Society (3)
- RELS 117 Premodern History of Religions (3)
- RELS 118 Modern History of Religions (3)
- RELS 120 Religion, Art, and Culture (3)
- RELS 185 Women and Religion (3)
Complete three additional credit hours at the 200-level or above:
- JWST 225 The Jewish Tradition (3)
- PHIL 255 Philosophy of Religion (3)
- RELS 201 The Hebrew Bible: History and Interpretation (3)
- RELS 202 The New Testament: History and Interpretation (3)
- RELS 205 Sacred Texts of the East (3)
- RELS 215 Religion and Globalization (3)
- RELS 220 Comparative Religious Ethics (3)
- RELS 223 Religions of the Ancient Near East (3)
- RELS 225 The Jewish Tradition (3)
- RELS 230 The Christian Tradition (3)
- RELS 235 The Islamic Tradition (3)
- RELS 240 The Buddhist Tradition (3)
- RELS 245 The Hindu Tradition (3)
- RELS 247 The Daoist Tradition (3)
- RELS 248 Religious Traditions of China and Japan (3)
- RELS 250 Religion in America (3)
- RELS 253 Religions of Charleston (3)
- RELS 255 Philosophy of Religion (3)
- RELS 260 Native American Religions (3)
- RELS 270 African-American Religions (3)
- RELS 275 Religious Tradition and Scientific Inquiry (3)
- RELS 276 Religion and the Environment (3)
- RELS 280 Religion and Film (3)
- RELS 285 Religion and Feminism (3)
- RELS 298 Special Topics in Religious Studies (3)
- RELS 301 Mysticism and Religious Experiences (3)
- RELS 305 Topics in Indigenous Religions (3)
- RELS 310 Sacred Texts (3)
- RELS 315 New Religious Movements (3)
- RELS 335 Western Esotericism (3)
- RELS 340 Advanced Topics in Asian Religions (3)
- RELS 348 Asian Religions in America (3)
- RELS 350 Phenomenology of Religion (3)
- RELS 360 Myth, Ritual, and Symbol (3)
- RELS 365 Religion and Psychology (3)
- RELS 370 Advanced Topics in American Religions (3)
- RELS 375 Topics in the History of Religions (3)
- RELS 381 Religious Studies Internship (1-4)
- RELS 382 Teaching Apprenticeship (3)
- RELS 399 Tutorial (3)
- RELS 405 Advanced Studies in Religion (3)
- RELS 499A Bachelor’s Essay (3)
- RELS 499B Bachelor’s Essay (3)
Complete six additional credit hours at the 300-level or above (excluding RELS 381 and RELS 382):
- RELS 301 Mysticism and Religious Experiences (3)
- RELS 305 Topics in Indigenous Religions (3)
- RELS 310 Sacred Texts (3)
- RELS 315 New Religious Movements (3)
- RELS 335 Western Esotericism (3)
- RELS 340 Advanced Topics in Asian Religions (3)
- RELS 348 Asian Religions in America (3)
- RELS 350 Phenomenology of Religion (3)
- RELS 360 Myth, Ritual, and Symbol (3)
- RELS 365 Religion and Psychology (3)
- RELS 370 Advanced Topics in American Religions (3)
- RELS 375 Topics in the History of Religions (3)
- RELS 399 Tutorial (3)
- RELS 405 Advanced Studies in Religion (3)
- RELS 499A Bachelor’s Essay (3)
- RELS 499B Bachelor’s Essay (3)
Complete three additional credit hours from any religious studies course (RELS 100-level or higher)
With the approval of the department chair of religious studies, one course (200-level or above) in a related discipline may be substituted for one of the additional course requirements.
Notes:
- No more than 9 credit hours from RELS 298 may be applied towards the program requirements.
- No more than 6 credit hours from RELS 310 may be applied towards the program requirements.
- No more than 6 credit hours from RELS 340 may be applied towards the program requirements.
- No more than 6 credit hours from RELS 350 may be applied towards the program requirements.
- No more than 6 credit hours from RELS 375 may be applied towards the program requirements.
- No more than 6 credit hours from RELS 381 may be applied towards the program requirements.
- No more than 12 credit hours from RELS 399 may be applied towards the program requirements.
- No more than 6 credit hours from RELS 405 may be applied towards the program requirements.
Religious Studies Minor
The minor in religious studies can be effectively combined with a complementary major in another field. For example, combining the minor with history or political science allows for deeper insight into the profound historical connections between events and religious motivations, or between political ideologies and religious discourse. Students majoring in literature, art, or philosophy learn to recognize the symbols and ideas arising from the classical religious traditions. Students in the social sciences, especially in psychology, sociology, and anthropology, will find that the religious studies minor complements and focuses their major course work.
Minor Requirements
Credit Hours: 18+
In addition to completing the requirements for this minor, students must also complete the minor requirements specified in the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.
Complete three credit hours selected from:
- RELS 101 Approaches to Religion (3)
- RELS 103 Death and the Afterlife (3)
- RELS 105 Introduction to World Religions (3)
- RELS 106 Religion and Violence (3)
- RELS 115 Religion and Society (3)
- RELS 117 Premodern History of Religions (3)
- RELS 118 Modern History of Religions (3)
- RELS 120 Religion, Art, and Culture (3)
- RELS 185 Women and Religion (3)
Complete three additional credit hours from the following religious tradition courses:
- JWST 225 The Jewish Tradition (3)
- RELS 223 Religions of the Ancient Near East (3)
- RELS 225 The Jewish Tradition (3)
- RELS 230 The Christian Tradition (3)
- RELS 235 The Islamic Tradition (3)
- RELS 240 The Buddhist Tradition (3)
- RELS 245 The Hindu Tradition (3)
- RELS 247 The Daoist Tradition (3)
- RELS 248 Religious Traditions of China and Japan (3)
- RELS 250 Religion in America (3)
- RELS 253 Religions of Charleston (3)
- RELS 260 Native American Religions (3)
- RELS 270 African-American Religions (3)
Complete six additional credit hours in religious studies
With the approval of the chair of religious studies, one course (200 level or above) in a related discipline may be substituted for one of these religious studies courses. See course listings for a complete list of courses offered.
Notes:
- No more than 9 credit hours from RELS 298 may be applied towards the program requirements.
- No more than 6 credit hours from RELS 310 may be applied towards the program requirements.
- No more than 6 credit hours from RELS 340 may be applied towards the program requirements.
- No more than 6 credit hours from RELS 350 may be applied towards the program requirements.
- No more than 6 credit hours from RELS 375 may be applied towards the program requirements.
- No more than 6 credit hours from RELS 381 may be applied towards the program requirements.
- No more than 12 credit hours from RELS 399 may be applied towards the program requirements.
- No more than 6 credit hours from RELS 405 may be applied towards the program requirements.
Thanks go to the Communication Department at CofC for the concept behind this page.