Program: Religious Studies - Davidson College

Cultural Diversity Requirement

REL 137,173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 180, 244, 261, 270, 271, 272, 273, 277, 278, 279, 280, 282, 283, 288, 346, 370, 371, 378, 382, and 474 are options for satisfying the cultural diversity requirement.

Major Requirements (A.B. Degree)

Nine courses in Religious Studies. To complete the major, students must take nine courses in Religious Studies. Eligible students who elect to write an honors thesis in the senior year must take REL 498 in the spring of the senior year as a tenth course for the major.

The courses for the major must be selected to meet all of the following requirements:

Diversity requirement: Three courses related to three different religious traditions – two courses focused on non-Abrahamic traditions (e.g., Buddhism, Hinduism, East Asian religions, Chinese religions) and one course focused on Abrahamic traditions (e.g., Christianity, Islam, Judaism).
Field requirement: Three courses, one drawn from each of the following areas of inquiry (some courses may count for both Field and Diversity requirements):

Traditions in Context
Religious Thoughts and Ethics
Scriptures and Text

REL 301: Thinking About Religion
REL 401: Doing Religious Studies
Two 300-level Seminars, not counting REL 301

Diversity

Buddhism – REL 271, 282, 283, 382

Christianity* – REL 108, 130, 133, 137, 140, 141, 144, 145, 150, 155, 161, 166, 230, 231, 234, 247, 250, 252, 253, 257, 261, 273, 345, 347, 354, 357, 360, 366, 452

East Asian Religions (incl. Chinese Religions) – REL 180, 280, 288

Hinduism – REL 270, 370, 371, 471

Islam* – REL 165, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 272, 277, 278, 279, 378, 379

Judaism* – REL 223, 224, 244, 320, 321, 346

(*denotes monotheistic tradition)

Fields

TRADITIONS: REL 130, 133, 141, 144, 155, 173, 178, 180, 230, 231, 253, 257, 261, 270, 271, 275, 277, 280, 282, 345, 347, 360, 366, 371, 378, 382, 452, 471
ETHICS, THEOLOGY, POLITICS, SOCIETY: REL 108, 143, 150, 161, 165, 166, 174, 177, 250, 251, 252, 253, 259, 262, 265, 273, 276, 279, 283, 288, 346, 354, 357, 365, 369
TEXTS, MEDIA, INTERPRETATION: REL 137, 140, 162, 163, 175, 176, 223, 224, 232, 234, 244, 266, 272, 278, 320, 321, 370, 377, 379

Minor Requirements

To complete the minor, a student must take FIVE courses and meet the following requirements:
• REL 301: Thinking About Religion
• One 300-level REL seminar, excluding 301
• Three REL Electives

Note: Depending on the course, some Fields courses may also count toward the Diversity requirement, and vice versa. Also, some 300-level Seminars (but not REL 301) may also count toward Fields requirement and/or the Diversity requirement.

Honors Requirements

A minimum of 3.2 GPA overall, and 3.5 in the department; completion of senior capstone project (=REL 498) of honors quality, with oral examination; and the recommendation of the department. For admission into the honors program, consult with the chair of the department. The department does not award high honors.

Rationale for Course Numbering

Courses at the 100-level are designed primarily for first and second year students; registration for these courses is generally closed to juniors and seniors until the Drop/Add period.

Registration for courses at the 200-level is open to all students. Like 100-level courses, 200-levels are introductory in nature, but focus on specific topics or themes.

Courses at the 300-level are also open to all students regardless of background. They may include more specialized reading material, involve more student research, and require somewhat more writing than courses at the 100- and 200-levels.

Except for 401, courses numbered in the 400s are called seminars. Seminars are designed primarily for majors and minors, although others are welcome and encouraged to apply if space allows.

Seminars numbered 410-19 deal with theory and method in study of religion; 420-39 comprise Biblical Studies; 440-59 treat theology and ethics; 460-89 focus on non-Western religious traditions. Seminar topics vary from year to year.

Religious Studies