Religious Studies Major
Program Requirements
- Total Units Required: 30; 24 must be at the 3000 level or higher
- Grade Requirement: C- or better; Pass/No Pass grades do not count for the major.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REST 1501 | Thinking About Religion | 3 |
| REST 3635 | Theories and Methods in the Study of Religion | 3 |
| Total Units | 6 | |
Senior Capstone Experience
During their senior year, Religious Studies majors are required to take REST 4801 Senior Seminar in Religious Studies (3 units), or in years where the Senior Seminar is not offered, another 4000-level course in Religious Studies for 3 units chosen in consultation with the Program director. Alternatively, students can fulfill the capstone requirement by writing a Senior Honors thesis.
Elective Courses
Majors complete 21 units of electives in Religious Studies courses; 18 units must be at the 3000-level or higher. Electives are generally courses offered in the College of Arts and Sciences, either by the Religious Studies Program directly or by departments that offer courses related to the study of religion (e.g., Anthropology; Classics; Comparative Literature and Thought; East Asian Languages and Cultures; English; History; Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies; Music; Philosophy; Political Science; Religion and Politics; Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies). Majors choose electives based on their individual interests in consultation with their major advisor. The elective courses must also fulfill the following requirements:
- Broad coverage of religious traditions: Majors explore various religions by taking at least one course in four different traditions (e.g., Buddhism, Christianity, Greco-Roman Religions, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Native-American Religions).
- Course concentrations: Majors focus their interests on a single religious tradition or a theme (e.g., ecology, music, politics, sexuality) by creating two series of courses: a three-course series and a two-course series.
Note: An elective course can count toward the fulfillment of both A and B.
Additional Information
Senior Honors
Qualified majors are encouraged to apply for Senior Honors. Applications are available on the Religious Studies website and are due prior to the end of the junior year. Students wishing to pursue this option need to meet the minimum honors requirements stated in this Bulletin and to satisfactorily complete REST 4990 Independent Work for Senior Honors I and REST 4997 Independent Work for Senior Honors II during their last two semesters. Full guidelines are available on the Religious Studies website.
Transfer Credit
A maximum of 6 units of coursework completed elsewhere — whether at another college or university or through a Washington University-approved study abroad program — may be applied toward the major. Credit will be awarded only for those courses that have been approved by the Religious Studies program.
Contact Info
| Contact: | Tia Crook |
| Phone: | 314-935-8677 |
| Email: | religiousstudies@wustl.edu |
| Website: | http://religiousstudies.wustl.edu |