Major/Minor Curriculum

For students first enrolled in or after Fall 2008

To ensure that students who major or minor in Religious Studies gain a well-rounded appreciation of the field of study, the Department requires that they take a certain number of credits in different subject areas. A major in Religious Studies leading toward the B.A. degree requires 30 credits in Religious Studies, passed with a grade of "C-" or higher. At least 15 credits must be earned in courses numbered 300 or above. Six credits must be taken in each of the three following subject areas: 1) Religious Texts; 2) Historical Traditions; 3) Contemporary Issues. A major must earn writing credit (W) in at least one course in the department and must take the majors/minors seminar, REL 499. An undergraduate minor requires 15 credits, passed with a grade of "C-" or higher. At least six credits must be earned in courses numbered 300 or above, and at least three credits must be taken in each of two of the three subject areas. Religious Studies 101 is required of all minors.

Transfer students who major in Religious Studies must complete at least 15 credits in departmental courses numbered 300 or above in residence at the Coral Gables Campus. Transfers who wish to minor in the department must complete at least 6 credits in the same manner.

Religious Literature or Texts

111 INTRO TO THE HEBREW BIBLE (OLD TESTAMENT)
121 INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT
311 PROPHECY AND PROPHETIC LITERATURE
312 FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
321 JESUS AND THE GOSPELS
322 ST PAUL : LETTERS AND CONTROVERSIES
510 SEMINAR IN HEBREW BIBLE
520 SEMINAR IN NEW TESTAMENT

Religious Traditions or Historical Traditions

131 RELIGION IN AMERICAN LIFE
171 INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM
231 JEWISH CIVILIZATION: SOCIETY, CULTURE, AND RELIGION
232 HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY
238 HOLY WAR AND TOLERATION IN WESTERN RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS
268 RELIGION IN MODERN ISRAEL
301 ANCIENT GREECE
302 HELLENISTIC AGE
303 THE ROMAN REPUBLIC
304 THE ROMAN EMPIRE
305 RELIGION AND CULTURE IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST
    (may count as area 1)
306 RELIGION AND CULTURE IN ANCIENT EGYPT
307 RELIGION AND CULTURE IN PRE-ISLAMIC ARABIA
314 RISE OF JUDAISM
315 JEWISH MYSTICISM
325 JESUS IN MYTH AND HISTORY
331 RELIGIONS OF ASIA
332 JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY, AND ISLAM
334 THE AMERICAN JEWISH EXPERIENCE: HOLLYWOOD & POPULAR CULTURE
    (may count as area 3)
336 AMERICAN ENCOUNTER WITH ASIAN RELIGIONS
338 LATIN AMERICAN LATINO/A RELIGION (may count as area 3)
341 MODERN RELIGIOUS THOUGHT I
342 MODERN RELIGIOUS THOUGHT II
343 CATHOLIC LIFE AND THOUGHT (may count as area 3)
345 RELIGION AND GENDER (may count as area 3)
348 REFORMATION EUROPE
380 ARCHEOLOGY OF PALESTINE FROM PRE-HISTORIC TO ISLAM
505 SEMINAR IN ANCIENT STUDIES
530 SEMINAR IN RELIGIOUS OR HISTORICAL TRADITIONS

Religious Issues and Problems

151 RELIGION AND MORAL CHOICES
252 RELIGION AND HUMAN SEXUALITY
350 CURRENT ISSUES IN RELIGION
351 RELIGIOUS ISSUES IN DEATH AND DYING
352 RELIGION AND SCIENCE
353 RELIGION AND AMERICAN POLITICS (may count as area 2)
354 RELIGION AND THE PROBLEM OF EVIL
355 RELIGION AND ITS INTERPRETERS (may count as area 2)
356 MYTH AND RELIGION (may count as area 2)
357 SEX, GENDER, AND POLITICS (may count as area 2)
360 RELIGION AND BIOETHICS
370 ISLAM IN MODERN TIMES
371 ISLAM AND GENDER (may count as area 2)
375 RELIGION AND DEMOCRACY IN ISRAEL (may count as area 2)
450 PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION
550 SEMINAR IN RELIGIOUS ETHICS
560 SEMINAR IN CONTEMPORARY RELISIOUS ISSUES

GENERAL AREA COURSES

101 INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION
401 SUPERVISED READING IN RELIGIOUS LITERATURE OR TEXTS
402 SUPERVISED READING IN RELIGIOUS OR HISTORICAL TRADITIONS
403 SUPERVISED READING IN RELIGIOUS ISSUES OR PROBLEMS
404 SPECIAL TOPICS IN RELIGIOUS LITERATURE OR TEXTS (area 1) *
405 SPECIAL TOPICS IN RELIGIOUS OR HISTORICAL TRADITIONS (area 2) *
406 SPECIAL TOPICS IN RELIGIOUS ISSUES OR PROBLEMS (area 3) *
407 SPECIAL PROJECTS IN RELIGIOUS LITERATURE OR TEXTS (area 1) *
408 SPECIAL PROJECTS IN RELIGIOUS OR HISTORICAL TRADITIONS (area 2)
409 SPECIAL PROJECTS IN RELIGIOUS ISSUES OR PROBLEMS (area 3) *
491 SR. HONORS THESIS I
492 SR. HONORS THESIS II
499 SENIOR SEMINAR

* These courses address specific topics or projects (appearing as a sub-titles) offered by different faculty.

HONORS COURSES AND GENERAL HONORS

The Department of Religious Studies participates in the University of Miami’s Honors Program and each semester offers two or more courses for Honors credit. These Honors courses, which may be taken by all students who are enrolled in the Honors Program, count toward the fulfillment of the requirements for graduation with “General Honors.” With the permission of departmental faculty, Honors students may also transform a regular course into an Honors course by doing specified additional work. This additional work is detailed on a so-called “pink sheet” that must be signed by the faculty member and submitted to the Honors Program Office by the student before the indicated deadline. For more precise information on the requirements for graduating with “General Honors” and on the regulations regarding “pink sheets,” please contact the Honors Program Office.

Religious Studies majors and minors may enroll in any course offered by the Department of Religious Studies, including Honors courses, provided that they have the necessary prerequisites or permission of the instructor.

DEPARTMENTAL HONORS IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

The Department of Religious Studies encourages its majors and minors to intensify and deepen their knowledge of religious texts, traditions, and issues through its Departmental Honors Program. The program is designed to give our students the opportunity to explore various topics and problems in religion that are of particular interest to them, to work more closely with faculty in the department, to develop skills in research and thesis preparation, and in some cases to prepare for graduate work in religious studies.

Minimal requirements for the program are as follows: 1) a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.30; 2) a cumulative grade point average in religious studies of at least 3.50; and 3) a thesis that is approved by departmental faculty.

For the determination of honors, cumulative grade point average means either the average of all grades earned at the University of Miami or the combined average of all graded work taken at the University of Miami and elsewhere (whether or not the transfer work is accepted toward a degree at the University of Miami), whichever is lower.

Students have three options for writing the thesis. First, they may take six credit hours of senior thesis (REL 491 and 492: Senior Honors Thesis I and II) with one or more departmental faculty. Second, they may take a three-credit course offered at the 300-level or above and three credits of senior thesis (REL 492). Third, in exceptional circumstances, a student’s thesis may be written as part of the requirements for earning six credits in religious studies courses at the 300-level or above. In all three cases, the thesis must be a single, coherent work of scholarship through which the student earns six credit hours in religious studies.

The deadline for the submission of the honors thesis is November 1 for the fall semester and April 1 for the spring semester. In addition to completing the written thesis, students must orally present the results of their work to faculty and students at a special honors colloquium to be held during the final four weeks of the semester.

 

GRADUATION HONORS:
MAGNA CUM LAUDE AND SUMMA CUM LAUDE

Qualified majors and minors in Religious Studies may seek to earn graduation honors at the same time as they seek departmental honors. The thesis written for Departmental Honors in Religious Studies may also be submitted for University graduation honors. To qualify for the latter, students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.75 for graduation magna cum laude and a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.90 for graduation summa cum laude. Students who plan to seek university graduation honors should notify the department at the outset of the project and must seek guidance from the Honors Program Office at the same time. Depending upon the project, the department may ask a qualified faculty member from another department to serve on the student’s thesis committee.

 

THETA ALPHA KAPPA –THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY FOR RELIGIOUS STUDIES AND THEOLOGY (TAK)

Since 1995 the Department of Religious Studies has been proud to house the Alpha Beta Upsilon chapter of Theta Alpha Kappa (TAK), the national honor society for religious studies and theology. Each spring the chapter inducts eligible faculty, students, and members of the community who have distinguished themselves in the academic study of religion. The chapter presents all student inductees with an honors cord that they may wear at the University’s Honors Convocation and Commencement.

To be eligible for induction into TAK as an undergraduate, students must have a cumulative grade point average in all academic subjects of at least 3.30 and earn an overall grade point average of 3.50 or higher in at least 12 academic credits in Religious Studies. Graduating seniors who are in the process of fulfilling the requisite 12 academic credits in Religious Studies will be considered for induction into the Society, provided that they meet the other criteria. Eligible students are reviewed by the faculty each spring. Those who are approved by the faculty are offered induction into TAK, which is one of the highest honors that the faculty can bestow on majors and minors.

TAK publishes the Journal of Theta Alpha Kappa, which each year features undergraduate papers in all fields of religious studies and theology. The best undergraduate paper is awarded a prize worth $200. For additional information on TAK and the paper competition, please contact Dr. David Kling.

Majors and minors who have achieved academic excellence and have completed 90 credits (12 credits in Religious Studies) are eligible to join TAK, the nationally recognized Honor Society in Religion. Each spring the chapter inducts eligible faculty, students, and members of the community who have distinguished themselves in the academic study of religion. The chapter presents all student inductees with an honors cord that they may wear at the University’s Honors Convocation and Commencement.

 

THE SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS AND CULTURES (SSRC)

The Society for the Study of Religions and Cultures is a student group whose mission is to increase students’ knowledge and understanding (beyond what they can gain in the classroom) of the world’s religions and the cultures in which they exist. This mission is supported by a senior staff and a faculty advisor from the Department of Religious Studies, as well as by input from other faculty members as desired. The society meets at least twice a month for various activities planned by the members, such as discussions, presentations by faculty members and visiting scholars, and field trips to area religious institutions. SSRC is open to all students, whether religious studies majors/minors or not, and everyone is encouraged to participate in both the society’s activities and their planning.

 

AWARDS FOR GRADUATING SENIORS

Because every significant field of study intersects at crucial points with aspects of religion, the discipline of religious studies is extremely broad. The Department of Religious Studies attempts to offer course work in as many areas as its faculty has expertise. To facilitate the goal of majors acquiring both breadth and depth in their knowledge of religion, the Department divides its courses into three areas: Religious Literature, Historical and Religious Traditions, and Religious Issues and Problems (Contemporary Issues ).

Each spring semester the Department of Religious Studies bestows five awards to graduating seniors. The two highest awards are presented at both the Honors Convocation and the TAK induction ceremony. The first is the Theta Alpha Kappa Award, typically given to the student who has excelled in all three areas of study offered by the Department. The second is the Honors Day Award, bestowed on the outstanding Religious Studies major, who usually will have excelled in at least two of the three areas of study.

Three additional awards are presented at the Theta Alpha Kappa induction ceremony that recognizes excellence in each of the three areas of study offered by the Department.