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. Unless they are college transfer students with at least 24 hours of credit, prospective students must send ACT or SAT scores 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 Office of International Student and Scholar 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 Admissions website.
Admission to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Admission to the College is a different process from admission to a major field. Some CLAS departments have admission requirements. See individual department/program sections for departmental admission requirements.
Admission to the Major
Application Term
Semester in which major admission criteria will be completed, normally no later than 60 hours, or for transfer students, during the initial term at KU. Application to this major after completion of 60 hours, or the initial KU term for transfer students, will likely delay graduation.
Courses Required
- Composition. Satisfied by ENGL 101 (unless the student has received a waiver or, for transfer students, an equivalent course).
- Critical Reading and Writing. Satisfied by ENGL 102 or ENGL 105 (unless the student has received a waiver or, for transfer students, an equivalent course).
- Introduction to Religion. Satisfied by REL 104.
- Additional Religious Studies Course (Elective or Requirement). Satisfied by any course with REL prefix.
Grade-Point Average Requirements
Satisfied by a 2.30 minimum GPA in required admission courses designated above. University Course Repeat Policy will apply.
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. 15 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
| Religious Studies Core Knowledge and Skills (3) | ||
| Majors must complete a course in each of the following areas: | ||
| Introduction to Religion. Satisfied by: | ||
| REL 104 | Introduction to Religious Studies | 3 |
| or REL 105 | Introduction to Religious Studies, Honors | |
| Specific Religious Traditions (3) | 3 | |
| Satisfied by 1 course (3 hours) chosen from the following: | ||
| Jews, Christians, Muslims | ||
| Jews, Christians, Muslims, Honors | ||
| Understanding the Bible | ||
| Understanding the Bible, Honors | ||
| Religion of Ancient Israel | ||
| Introduction to Judaism | ||
| The Talmud: Its Origins, Nature, and Evolution | ||
| Native American Religions | ||
| Native American Religions, Honors | ||
| Christianity | ||
| Islam | ||
| The Buddhist Tradition in Asia | ||
| Hinduism | ||
| Studies in Early Christian Literature and History | ||
| The Dead Sea Scrolls | ||
| Ancient Egyptian Culture and Religion | ||
| Jews and Christians | ||
| Christian Origins: from the Beginnings to Augustine | ||
| Hindu Epics, Past and Present | ||
| Modern Islamic Reform Movements | ||
| Modern Jewish Thought | ||
| Religion in Specific Regions (3) | 3 | |
| Satisfied by 1 course (3 hours) chosen from the following: | ||
| Asian Religions | ||
| Asian Religions, Honors | ||
| Religion in American Society | ||
| Religion in American Society, Honors | ||
| History of Religion in America | ||
| Religion in India | ||
| Religion in China | ||
| Religion in Japan | ||
| Religion in Korea | ||
| Gods and Goddesses of South Asia | ||
| Buddhists and Buddhism in China | ||
| Religion in Kansas | ||
| New Religious Movements (Western) | ||
| New Religious Movements (Nonwestern) | ||
| Thematic Approaches to Religion (3) | 3 | |
| Satisfied by 1 course (3 hours) chosen from the following: | ||
| Religious Zionisms | ||
| Mysticism | ||
| Women and Gender in Islam | ||
| Religion and Society in Tension | ||
| The Supreme Court and Religious Issues in the United States | ||
| Religious Perspectives on Selfhood and Sexuality | ||
| The Supreme Court and Religious Issues in the United States, Honors | ||
| Religious Ethics and Moral Decisions | ||
| Religion and Moral Decisions, Honors | ||
| Reading Asian Religious Classics | ||
| Religion and Film | ||
| Visions in Art and Literature | ||
| Gender and Religion | ||
| Studies in Ritual: _____ | ||
| Yoga in Theory, Practice, and History | ||
| Judaism and Political Theology | ||
| Judaism and Sexuality | ||
| Religious Studies Required Electives (9) | 9 | |
| Satisfied by 3 courses (9 hours) within, or cross-listed with, the Religious Studies Department course offerings. | ||
| Capstone Experience (3) | 3 | |
| Satisfied by: | ||
| Senior Seminar in Theories and Methods | ||
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 15 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.
Departmental Honors
To be eligible for honors in religious studies, an undergraduate student must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.25 overall and 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.