Religion Division

Bachelor of Arts in Religion

The Religion Division features a major which requires core courses fundamental to understanding religious studies as well as choices which enable a degree of specialization. The major prepares students for ministries in religious bodies, service and voluntary organizations, and graduate studies in religion.

A student who completes the Religion major should be able to:

• Summarize the major and distinctive tenets of the historic Christian faith identifying core beliefs and practices and how these compare with other major world religions.
• Interpret biblical texts critically competently in order to explain the relationship of a given text to the broader biblical canon.
• Describe the major contours of the historical developments of Christianity especially – but not solely – in the West.
• Illustrate the primary critical approaches for analyzing religious topics historically, theologically, and pastorally.
• Explain principal ways in which a religion -- especially Christianity -- interacts with human cultures in diverse global settings.
• Communicate effectively in written and oral form on matters of Religion – especially the Christian faith – and ways in which Religion relates to his or her life experiences and personal values.

Core Requirements: All emphases include the following requirements:

REL 101 The History and Religion of Israel (3)*
REL 102 The History and Religion of Early Christianity (3)*
REL 301 Religion and Culture (3)*

REL 302 Introduction to Biblical Interpretation (4)**
REL 330 History of Christianity (4)
REL 346 The Task of Ministry (4)
REL 520 The Christian Faith (4)

Choose one course in Old Testament (4)
Choose one course in New Testament (4)
Choose any two additional religion courses (8)

Recommended: REL 526 Religions of the World

*Three-course sequence satisfies general education requirement.

** Pre-requisite for upper level Religion Courses

A minimum of 41 units must be taken in the Religion Division, including 24 upper-division units. All majors are encouraged to take as much biblical language as possible. GRE 320, Intermediate Greek, and HEB 502, Intermediate Biblical Hebrew, satisfy the general education foreign language requirement.

Freshman-Year Program

As part of the general education program listed in the catalog, religion majors should take REL 101 and REL 102 during their freshman year.