Comparative 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 comparative religion faculty offer 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.

Program 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.

Admissions Requirements

The Comparative Religion Major accepts all students having a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students in the Comparative Religion, BA program will:

• Acquire effective writing and communication skills
• Acquire strong critical thinking skills
• Appreciate the diversity of religious worldviews, traditions, beliefs, and practices
• Understand how to study religion from an academic perspective.

Comparative Religion Honors Program

Students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher in Religion may substitute an Honors project for the major’s Advanced Religion Courses requirement. 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 Program faculty.

For More Information

• Comparative Religion, BA
• School of Humanities and Cultural Studies
• College of Liberal Arts

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. Major Requirements: 36 Hours

INTRODUCTORY RELIGION COURSES: 6 HOURS

Students must take two 2000-level Religion courses

UPPER-LEVEL RELIGION ELECTIVES: 27 HOURS

Students must take nine 3000-4000 level Religion electives. A minimum of two courses must be taken in each of the following areas:

• Asian Religions Area Courses: 6 hours minimum
  • REL 3400, 3410, 3420, 3430, 3440, 3450, 3460, 3470, 3480, 3490, 3510, 3530, 3540, 3550, 3810
• Western Religions Area Courses: 6 hours minimum
  • REL 3100, 3110, 3120, 3200, 3210, 3300, 3310, 3320, 3520, 3600, 3610, 3620, 3640, 3700, 3720, 3730, 3740, 3750, 3760, 3770, 3780, 3790, 3820, 3900, 3930, 3940, 4100, 4500

NOTE: Students may substitute on 3-credit upper-level CLS or PHL course for one 3000-level REL elective.

ASIAN RELIGION AREA COURSES

• REL 3400 - Topics in Asian Religion Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3410 - Chinese Religions Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3420 - Japanese Religions Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3430 - Buddhism Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3440 - Hinduism Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3450 - Daoism Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3460 - Confucianism Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3470 - Zen Buddhism Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3480 - Hindu Mythology Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3490 - Hindu Goddesses Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3510 - Comparative Asian Mysticism Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3530 - Asian Religious Ethics Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3550 - Human Rights in China Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3810 - Anthropology of Religion Credit Hour(s): 3

WESTERN RELIGION AREA COURSES

• REL 3100 - Topics in Judaism Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3110 - Judaism: Faith and People Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3120 - Modern Jewish Thought Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3200 - Topics in Christianity Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3210 - Christianity Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3300 - Topics in Islam Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3310 - Introduction to Islam Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3320 - Islam in the Modern World Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3520 - Western Mysticisms Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3600 - Topics in American Religion Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3610 - Religion in America Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3620 - New Religious Movements in America Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3630 - Women and Religion in America Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3640 - Religion and Politics in America Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3700 - Topics in Biblical Literature Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3720 - Pentateuch Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3730 - Genesis Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3740 - Prophets and History Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3750 - Introduction to New Testament Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3760 - The Four Gospels Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3770 - The Letters of Paul Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3780 - Apocalypse of John Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3790 - Topics in Greco-Roman Religions Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3820 - Sociology of Religion Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3900 - Topics in Philosophy of Religion Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3930 - Faith and Reason Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 3940 - Existentialism Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 4100 - Seminar on Judaism Credit Hour(s): 3
• REL 4500 - Seminar on American Religion Credit Hour(s): 3

ADVANCED RELIGION COURSES: 3 HOURS

Students must take one 4000-level Religion course. 

NOTE: Students cannot use REL 4810 Independent Study to fulfill this requirement.

TOTAL NUMBER OF CREDITS: 36 HOURS

III. Related Requirements

IV. College Requirements: 18-22 Hours

FOREIGN LANGUAGE: 12-16 HOURS

Through 2020 level (1010, 1020, 2010, 2020) of one language:

Arabic, Spanish, French, German, Greek, Latin, Chinese, 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: 24-28 Hours

Total: 120 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.

• Comparative Religion, BA (GPS) 
• Comparative Religion (3yr) (GPS)