Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
MAJOR AND MINOR DESCRIPTIONS BY DEPARTMENT
RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Religion is one of the creative expressions of the human spirit. As such, it has shaped and, in turn, been shaped by virtually all historical traditions as well as by many other forms of human activity such as the arts, literature, political thinking, and social behavior. Therefore, the academic study of religion should be carried out through diverse scholarly methodologies, and it should treat experiences in a variety of cultural contexts in different periods. Students who wish to understand the manner in which religion, in its broadest terms, has contributed to the shaping of the human experience are encouraged to pursue a course of study that will expand their methodological skills as well as give them a firm command of a particular cultural or historical context. Courses in the study of religion tend to emphasize the human search for meaning and value in history; the manner in which particular religious traditions, practices, thoughts, and orientations have evolved over time; and the degree to which religious views have interacted creatively with other systems of thought and other meaningful expressions of human activity. In addition to courses in the Department of Religious Studies, other departments, such as anthropology, classics, history, philosophy, and sociology, offer related courses. For more information on the Department or Religious Studies and its programs, visit www.religiousstudies.pitt.edu.
Major Requirements
Students pursuing a major in Religious Studies are required to complete 10 courses, to include:
- Two designated introductory courses, "Religions of the West" and "Religions of Asia."
- Two courses acquainting the student with specific methodological approaches to the study of religions (one methods course reflecting historical approaches the other reflecting a philosophical, social scientific, or literary approach)
- Three courses at the 1000-level from each of three different categories reflecting different areas of the world and different historical periods (religions of the East, pre-modern religions in the West, and modern/contemporary religions in the West)
- Two additional courses in Religious Studies, at least one of which must be a 1000-level course
- A capstone seminar that satisfies the Arts and Sciences requirement for a writing course in the major
Majors must earn a grade of C or better in each departmental course taken. Courses required for the major must be taken on a letter-grade basis. Students should check with the departmental advisor for the credit by examination option.
The required A&S 12-credit related area may encompass study of literature, language, art, or history of a culture the student is seeking to understand or disciplines or processes that are related to religion, such as social change, mythology, symbolism, and literature. Students may use second languages as their related area, but those languages must show some relationship to the primary religion or cultural context within the major. Students planning to attend graduate school should know that competence in those languages related to the culture they will be studying is mandatory. The department strongly encourages development of language skills during undergraduate years.
Minor in Religious Studies
Students pursuing a minor in Religious Studies are required to take:
- Two courses from a list of survey and introductory courses
- One course at the 1000-level in western religion from a designated list
- One course at the 1000-level in eastern religion from a designated list
- One elective course at the 1000-level