BA in Religious Studies

Below is a sample 4-year plan for students pursuing the BA in Religious Studies. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill KU Core Goals, please visit the KU Core website.

Freshman
FallHoursSpringHours
REL 104 (Goal 3 Arts and Humanities)3REL 100+ Specific Religious Traditions (Major Requirements)
ENGL 101 (Goal 2.1 Written Communication/BA Writing I)13ENGL 102 (Goal 2.1 Written Communication/BA Writing II)3
1st Semester Language (BA Second Language)52nd Semester Language (BA Second Language)5
First Year Seminar (Goal 1.1 Critical Thinking)3Goal 2.2 Communication3
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours43Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours43
 17 14
Sophomore
FallHoursSpringHours
REL Elective 100+ Religion in Specific Regions(Major Requirement)3REL 300+ Elective 1 of 4 (Major Requirement)3
3rd Semester Language (BA Second Language)34th Semester Language, or 1st semester of Another Language (BA Second Language)33
Goal 3 Social Science3Goal 3 Natural Science3
Goal 1.2 Quantitative Literacy3BA Laboratory/Field Experience (LFE)1
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours43BA Quantitative Reasoning (QR)23
 Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours43
 15 16
Junior
FallHoursSpringHours
REL 100+ Thematic Approaches to Religion (Major Requirement)3REL 300+ Elective 3 of 4 (Major Requirement)3
REL 300+ Elective 2 of 4 (Major Requirement)3REL 300+ Elective 4 of 4 (Major Requirement)
Goal 4.1 US Diversity3Goal 5 Social Responsibility & Ethics 3
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours43Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours43
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours43Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours43
 Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours43
 15 15
Senior
FallHoursSpringHours
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours43REL 490 (Goal 6 Integration & Creativity, Major Requirement)3
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours43Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours43
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours43Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours43
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours43Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours43
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours43Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours41
 15 13
Total Hours 120
1

The BA requires completion of two courses of collegiate-level writing instruction. Students who test out of Composition will still need to complete ENGL 102 (or equivalent) and one additional Goal 2.1 course. 

2

Visit this website for a list of courses that fulfill the BA Quantitative Reasoning requirement. 

3

For students completing the language requirement via the 3+1 language option, note that many first semester languages are 5 credit hours.

4

Hour requirements (incl. 45 jr/sr hrs) are typically met through KU core, degree, major, second area of study and/or elective hours.  Students completing the BGS with a major must choose a secondary area of study.  Individual degree mapping is done in partnership with your advisor.

Please note:

All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to complete 120 total hours of which 45 hours must be at the Jr/Sr (300+) level.

The same course cannot be used to fulfill more than one KU Core Goal. However, overlap of a KU Core course with a major or degree-specific requirement is allowed. Overlapping is recommended to allow more opportunities to explore other majors and/or minors.