Religious Studies (Minor)
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Students who take the minor program in Religious Studies are required to complete, with a grade of C or better, fifteen (15) hours of courses in selected fields of Religious Studies. In order to ensure a wide study of the field, students are required to select at least one course in each of the following categories: Historical Methods, Textual Methods, and Critical/Theoretical Methods. As part of these requirements, it is expected that at least one of these classes focus on Western religious traditions and at least one on non-Western traditions. Electives may be filled from any of these courses or from other Religious Studies course offerings. No courses for the minor may be taken for S/U credit.
Admissions and Certification of Minor
The minor must be completed no later than the semester in which the student expects to graduate from his or her degree program. Paperwork for certification should be completed no later than during the registration period for the student’s final semester at NC State. To be admitted to the program, a student must have a GPA of at least 2.0. Application for admission to any ¸£Àû±ÆÕ¾ minor program is now available via MyPack Portal. Admission will be based upon the student’s academic record, and in most cases no longer requires departmental review. Go to the page to apply.
Contact Persons
Dr. Jason C. Bivins
Withers Hall 447
919.515.6102
jcbivins@ncsu.edu
Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies
Withers Hall 340
919.515.6100
philos_relstuds@ncsu.edu
SIS Code: Â 16RSM
Plan Requirements
- 15 hours (5 courses) of course work is required to complete the minor in Religious Studies.
- Students are required to select at least 1 course in Western Religious Traditions and at least 1 course in non-Western religious traditions.
- A minimum grade of ‘C-‘ is needed in all courses taken toward the minor.
- A maximum of two (2) courses may be used (double-counted) towards departmental major requirements and/or requirements for additional minor(s).
Required Courses
The department will determine whether courses which have been transferred from other institutions qualify for the minor. No more than two courses from other institutions may count toward the minor. Students must select at least one course in each of the following categories: Textual Methods, Historical Methods and Critical/Theoretical methods.
Historical Methods Courses
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý230 | Asian Religions | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý317 | Christianity | 3 | |
| REL/HI 320 | Religion in American History | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý331 | The Hindu Tradition | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý332 | The Buddhist Traditions | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý333 | Chinese Religions | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý334 | Japanese Religions | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý340 | Islam | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý350 | Judaism | 3 | |
| REL/HI 402 | Early Christianity to the Time of Eusebius | 3 | |
| REL/HI 407 | Islamic History to 1798 | 3 | |
| REL/HI 408 | Islam in the Modern World | 3 |
Textual Methods Courses
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý311 | Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý312 | Introduction to the New Testament | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý314 | Introduction to Intertestamental Literature | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý412 | Advanced Readings in the Christian Gospels | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý413 | The Life and Letters of the Apostle Paul | 3 |
Critical/Theoretical Methods Courses
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý200 | Introduction to the Study of Religion | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý220 | Religion in the Contemporary World | 3 | |
| REL/SOC 309 | Religion and Society | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý323 | Religious Cults, Sects, and Minority Faiths in America | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý327 | Issues in Contemporary Religion | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý383 | Religion, Globalism, and Justice | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý423 | Religion and Politics in America | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý424 | Religion and Politics in Global Perspective | 3 | |
| REL/STS 471 | Darwinism and Christianity | 3 | |
| REL/WGS 472 | Women and Religion | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý473 | Religion, Gender, and Reproductive Technologies | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý482 | Religion and Conflict | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý489 | Interpretations of Religion | 3 |
Western Traditions
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý311 | Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý312 | Introduction to the New Testament | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý314 | Introduction to Intertestamental Literature | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý317 | Christianity | 3 | |
| REL/HI 320 | Religion in American History | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý323 | Religious Cults, Sects, and Minority Faiths in America | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý350 | Judaism | 3 | |
| REL/HI 402 | Early Christianity to the Time of Eusebius | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý412 | Advanced Readings in the Christian Gospels | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý413 | The Life and Letters of the Apostle Paul | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý423 | Religion and Politics in America | 3 |
Non-Western Traditions
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý230 | Asian Religions | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý331 | The Hindu Tradition | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý332 | The Buddhist Traditions | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý333 | Chinese Religions | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý334 | Japanese Religions | 3 | |
| ¸é·¡³¢Ìý340 | Islam | 3 | |
| REL/HI 407 | Islamic History to 1798 | 3 | |
| REL/HI 408 | Islam in the Modern World | 3 |