The undergraduate degree in the Department of Religious Studies is a research, analysis, and writing intensive program that features close work with faculty in small classroom settings. It seeks to develop a foundational knowledge of the world’s diversity of religious cultures and critical awareness of the ways in which religion shapes how we see and act toward ourselves, others, and the environment around us. Through the study of specific religious traditions and settings, students come away with a background that is invaluable to understanding and working with people of other cultures, whether in international business or simply as an informed global citizen.
Career Opportunities
Religious studies majors and minors develop expertise and skills that serve them well wherever life takes them. Our graduates have been successful in many different areas. Studying religion provides a solid foundation for work in fields as diverse as journalism, law, politics, nongovernmental organizations, ministry, and education. No matter what their intended careers, students benefit from the critical reading, writing, and analytical skills that the academic study of religion instills.
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of the University Registrar website.
Admission to the Major
There are no departmental prerequisites for admission to the major. However, once the major is declared, careful attention should be paid to the requirements of the major itself.
Religious Studies Program
The Religious Studies major consists of required courses, distribution requirements, and electives. The required introductory course and capstone seminar focus on theoretical and methodological issues in the study of religion. Distribution requirements encourage students to approach the study of religion from a variety of angles, from a focus on individual religions to the interaction between religions in specific regions to the exploration of comparative issues and themes. Electives allow students to tailor their course of study to their specific interests and pursue a depth of knowledge in particular aspects of the study of religion.
Requirements for the B.A. or B.G.S. Major
The major consists of at least 27 hours in religious studies. 18 hours must be in courses numbered 300 and above, and 8 of these junior/senior hours must be completed in residence at KU. The 27 hours may include no more than 12 transfer hours, no more than 12 hours from study abroad, and no more than 15 hours in combination of the two.
Religious Studies Major Course Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| |
| |
| REL 104 | Introduction to Religious Studies | 3 |
| |
| Jews, Christians, Muslims | |
| Understanding the Bible | |
| Understanding the Bible, Honors | |
| Introduction to Judaism | |
| The Talmud: Its Origins, Nature, and Evolution | |
| Native American Religions | |
| Christianity | |
| Islam | |
| The Buddhist Tradition in Asia | |
| Hinduism | |
| Jews and Christians | |
| Magic and Myth in Ancient Egypt | |
| |
| Asian Religions | |
| Religion in American Society | |
| Religion in Japan | |
| Religion in Korea | |
| Religion in India | |
| History of Religion in America | |
| Religion in Japan | |
| |
| Introduction to Religious Ethics | |
| Religious Ethics and Moral Decisions | |
| Religion and Moral Decisions, Honors | |
| Religious Zionisms | |
| Studies in Ritual: _____ | |
| Mysticism | |
| Women and Gender in Islam | |
| Judaism and Sexuality | |
| Religious Perspectives on Selfhood and Sexuality | |
| Prophets and Profits | |
| Religions, Epidemics, & Pandemics | |
| Gender and Religion | |
| Judaism and Political Theology | |
| |
| REL 490 | Capstone in Religious Studies: _____ | 3 |
| Total Hours | 27 |
Religious Studies Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses (above), majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours
Satisfied by 27 hours of major courses.
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major, of which 9 must be at the junior/senior level (300+).
Major Junior/Senior (300+) Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 18 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
A sample 4-year plan for the BA degree in Religious Studies can be found here: Religious Studies, or by using the left-side navigation.
A sample 4-year plan for the BGS degree in Religious Studies can be found here: Religious Studies, or by using the left-side navigation.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- show a foundational knowledge of major religious traditions and cultures that populate the world today.
- have familiarity with the formative, trans-disciplinary methodologies particular to the academic study of religion.
- critically apply methodologies to case-specific religious phenomena, traditions, and events, as demonstrated through oral communication and written research papers that analyze the role of religion in the lives of individuals.
- engage with others who share interest in the subject matter but who may formulate differing views on it. By reflecting upon and discussing the critical study of religion as carried out in outcomes 2 and 3, students can form collegial relationships with their fellow students, faculty, and members of the wider public for whom the subject of religion is an integral part of their self-understanding.
Departmental Honors
To be eligible for honors in religious studies, an undergraduate student must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 in the department. The student must also complete and defend an individual research project, as evidenced by completion of at least 3 hours of REL 499 Undergraduate Honors Research with a grade of B or better. Interested students should contact the Undergraduate Director for more information.
