Religious Studies, B.A.
Religious Studies includes a comparative focus on world religions, emphasizing broad cultural understanding, exposure to global philosophies, and clear written expression. Religious Studies graduates bring these skills, along with cultural fluency, and greater comfort with complexity, to their next phase of life.
Many Religious Studies students combine religious studies with other majors and minors including English, art, philosophy, biology, mathematics, business administration, history, political science, sociology, and psychology. These combinations provide a unique educational experience in the liberal arts that opens doors for many vocational paths.
Religious Studies students may focus on various areas that reflect their interests, such as World Religions, Judaism/Christianity/Islam, Jainism and South Asia, and Religion and Environment. Students are encouraged to speak with the director of the Religious Studies program to explore these options.
All students must meet the University Requirements.
All students must meet the School Requirements.
Requirements for the Major
| A. Complete: | |
| REL STD 5A/HISTORY 16A | World Religions I |
| REL STD 5B/HISTORY 16B | World Religions II |
| REL STD 5C/HISTORY 16C | Religious Dialogue |
| REL STD 110W | Thinking about Religion: Theories and Methodologies |
| B. Select eight upper-division electives from the following, when topics are appropriate, with at least three in each of the following categories: 1 | |
| 1. World Religious Traditions | |
| 2. Thematic Approaches to Religion | |
Electives
| ANTHRO/REL STD 60 | Global Themes in Sikh Studies |
| ANTHRO 125Z/ASIANAM 142 | Arabs and Muslims in the US |
| ANTHRO 129 | Special Topics: Social and Economic Anthropology |
| ANTHRO 139 | Special Topics in Cultural and Psychological Anthropology |
| ANTHRO 149 | Special Topics in Archaeology |
| ANTHRO 165A | Modern Iran: Cinema and the City |
| ANTHRO 169 | Special Topics in Area Studies |
| ART HIS 40A | Ancient Greek and Roman Art, and Architecture |
| ART HIS 40B | Arts of Europe: Medieval and Renaissance |
| ART HIS 42D | History of Asian Art: Arts of Islam |
| ART HIS 100 | Studies in Ancient Art |
| ART HIS 114 | Studies in Western Medieval Art |
| ART HIS 125 | Studies in Southern Baroque Art |
| ART HIS 150 | Studies in Asian Art |
| ART HIS 155A/HISTORY 170A/REL STD 122 | Ancient India |
| ART HIS 155B/HISTORY 170B/REL STD 123 | Medieval India |
| ART HIS 155D | Topics in the Art and Architecture of India |
| ART HIS 198 | Advanced Seminar: Topics in Art History |
| ASIANAM 150 | Special Topics in Asian American Studies |
| CLASSIC 45A | Classical Mythology: The Gods |
| CLASSIC 45C | Classical Mythology: Ancient and Modern Perspectives of Classical Mythology |
| CLASSIC 150 | Classical Mythology |
| CLASSIC 45A | Classical Mythology: The Gods |
| CLASSIC 45C | Classical Mythology: Ancient and Modern Perspectives of Classical Mythology |
| CLASSIC 150 | Classical Mythology |
| CLASSIC 176 | International Studies and the Classics |
| COM LIT 100A | Nations, Regions, and Beyond |
| COM LIT 105 | Topics in Comparative Multiculturalism |
| EAS 55 | Introduction to East Asian Cultures |
| EAS 116 | Topics in East Asian Religions |
| EAS 150 | Topics in East Asian Literature in Translation |
| EAS 190 | Junior-Senior Colloquium |
| ECON/REL STD 17 | An Economic Approach to Religion |
| ENGLISH 10 | Topics in English and American Literature |
| ENGLISH 101W | Undergraduate Seminar in Critical Writing: Topics in Literary History |
| ENGLISH 102A | Topics in Medieval and Renaissance Literature |
| ENGLISH 106 | Advanced Seminar: Topics in English Literature |
| EURO ST 103 | Topics in Modern European History and Culture: Post-1789 |
| FLM&MDA 160 | National/Regional Cinemas and Media |
| FRENCH 171 | Politics and Literature |
| GEN&SEX 60C/REL STD 61 | Gender and Religion |
| GERMAN 150 | German Literature and Culture in Translation |
| HISTORY 10 | The Holocaust |
| HISTORY 12 | Introductory Topics in History |
| HISTORY 18A | Major Jewish Texts |
| HISTORY 70B | Problems in History: Europe |
| HISTORY 70E | Problems in History: Middle East and Africa |
| HISTORY 100W | Writing About History |
| HISTORY 114 | Topics in Modern European History |
| HISTORY 130C | Topics in the Jewish History |
| HISTORY/REL STD 130D | History of Antisemitism |
| HISTORY 130F/POL SCI 154J/REL STD 130F | Jews and Power |
| HISTORY/REL STD 131A | History of Zoroastrianism |
| HISTORY 131B | Ancient Persia |
| HISTORY 131C | Medieval Persia |
| HISTORY 132D | Armenians and Armenia in Ancient to Early Modern World History |
| HISTORY 169 | Topics in Latin American History |
| HISTORY 174G | Topics in the History of South Asia |
| HISTORY 190 | Colloquium |
| INTL ST 151B/POL SCI 146B/REL STD 115 | Religion and World Politics |
| INTL ST 161A/SOC SCI 188K | Political Islam |
| INTL ST 179 | Special Topics: Geographic Focus in International Studies |
| ITALIAN 150 | Topics in Italian Literature and Culture |
| PHILOS/REL STD 21 | Philosophy and Religion |
| PHILOS/LPS 113 | Topics in Modern Philosophy |
| PHILOS 117 | Topics in Asian Philosophy |
| PHILOS 123 | Topics in Philosophy of Religion |
| PHILOS 130 | Topics in Moral Philosophy |
| PHILOS 131A | Applied Ethics |
| PHILOS 131C | Medical Ethics |
| PHILOS/LPS 140 | Topics in Philosophy of Science |
| POL SCI 159 | Special Topics in Comparative Politics |
| REL STD 100 | Topics in the Study of Religion |
| REL STD 103 | Topics in the Philosophy of Religion |
| REL STD 120 | Topics in Asian Religious Traditions |
| REL STD 124 | Topics in Modern Indian Religion |
| REL STD 125 | Jain History, Culture, and Ethics |
| REL STD 126 | Topics in Jain Studies |
| REL STD 130 | Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Religious Traditions |
| REL STD 140 | Early Western Religious Traditions |
| REL STD 150 | Religion in the Americas |
| REL STD 170 | Topics in Comparative Studies in Religion |
| SOC SCI 189 | Special Topics in Social Sciences |
| SOCIOL 56 | Religion and Society |
| SOCIOL 150 | Sociological Lens on Religion |
| SOCIOL 179 | Special Topics: Societies and Social Inequality |
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With the approval of the Director, other relevant courses may satisfy the requirements for the major. One relevant lower-division course may be substituted for an upper-division course, with prior approval.
Studying Abroad: Students are encouraged to study abroad and may be able to satisfy a significant portion of their requirements abroad. Courses taken abroad must be approved by the Director of Religious Studies in order to be applied toward major requirements.
Residence Requirement for the Major: A minimum of five upper-division courses required for the major must be completed successfully at UCI.
Majoring in Religious Studies provides an excellent preparation for living and working in multicultural communities, including nonprofit leadership, mediation, counseling, education, journalism, technology, business, or graduate study in law, medicine, public health, diplomacy, and more. Check out the Religious Studies website for additional information.
The UCI Division of Career Pathways provides services to students and alumni including career counseling, information about job opportunities, a career library, and workshops on resume preparation, job search, and interview techniques. See the UCI Division of Career Pathways website for additional information.