Religion, BA

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Program Description:

Religion is an essential dimension of human thought and experience. It shapes our history, culture, values, and beliefs. It influences debates on a diverse range of issues, including global terrorism and political ideologies, gender and racial equality, ethics and social justice.

The Religion Department offers courses in all the great world religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Chinese and Japanese Religions. We teach a variety of courses on Hebrew Bible, New Testament, and American Religious History. In addition, we offer cross-cultural and thematic courses that examine particular topics, including women and religion, religion and politics, human rights, ethics, religious pluralism, mythology, mysticism, and film.

Department faculty use an academic, non-confessional methodology in teaching religion. In our classes we analyze religious beliefs, practices, texts, and institutions both descriptively and critically as intellectual, historical, and cultural phenomena. We do not argue for the truth of one, all, or no religion.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Be effective writers
Acquire knowledge of diverse religious traditions
Acquire knowledge of diverse religious practices in historical context
Have strong critical thinking skills

Religion Minor

Because Religion is an integral part of human culture and society, a minor in Religion is a fitting complement to any Liberal Arts discipline. The Religion minor introduces students to the history and practices of the major world religions through a series of introductory courses. Elective coursework is flexible, allowing students to choose to concentrate advanced study in their areas of interest.

Religion Honors Program

Students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher in Religion may substitute an Honors project for the Senior Seminar. An Honors project involves independent study with a faculty mentor. It will usually extend over two consecutive terms and earn six hours of credit upon its successful completion. The project culminates in the writing of a major research paper (25-30 pages) during the second term and an oral defense of the project with the Department faculty.

Program Requirements:

I. Wright State Core: 38 Hours

Element 1: Communication: 6 Hours

Element 2: Mathematics: 3 Hours

Element 3: Global Traditions: 6 Hours

Element 4: Arts and Humanities: 3 Hours

Element 5: Social Sciences: 6 Hours

Element 6: Natural Sciences: 8 Hours

Additional Core Courses: 6 Hours

II. Departmental Requirements: 36 Hours

REL 2050 - What Is Religion? Credit Hour(s): 3
REL 2040 - Bible, Qur’an, and Western Culture Credit Hour(s): 3
REL 2320 - Nonwestern Religions Credit Hour(s): 3
REL 4930 - Seminar in Religion Credit Hour(s): 3

Five additional courses, one from each area: 15 Hours

American Religion
Biblical Studies
East Asian Religions
South Asian Religions
Western Religions

Religion electives (3 courses): 9 Hours

Note(s):

*At least 1 of the additional or elective courses must be at the 4000 level

III. Related Requirements

IV. College Requirements: 18 Hours

Foreign Language: 12 Hours

Through 2020 level (1010, 1020, 2010, 2020) of one language:
Spanish, French, German, Greek, Latin, Chinese, Russian, Italian, Japanese, American Sign Language or other.

Methods of Inquiry

PHL 3000 - Critical Thinking Credit Hour(s): 3
Research Methods - One course from approved list Credit Hour(s): 3

V. Electives: 32 Hours

Total: 124 Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.