Religious Studies, BA

Program Requirements

The Religious Studies major is an interdisciplinary humanities program that focuses on the academic study of the world’s religious traditions and how they are related to various aspects of human existence (psychology, sociology, ethics, philosophy, language, economics, politics, science, etc.) The BA in Religious Studies provides grounding in the histories, scriptures, rituals, mythologies, ethics, and beliefs of religious communities as they have been situated in specific geo-political contexts throughout the past three millennia. It should be emphasized that the program is not intended to indoctrinate students into one particular religion or to teach them to become religious, but is focused rather on studying how religion both historically and theoretically motivates, provides meaning for, and helps to organize human life. The program trains students to be global thinkers with a deeper understanding of the world’s cultural, political, and social differences. Historically, Religious Studies majors have gone on to pursue graduate work and employment in a number of fields, including law, medicine, ministry, non-profit and service related industries, in addition to numerous others.

In addition to completing the General Education curriculum, the Religious Studies major must meet the requirements of the School of Humanities; complete HIST 1720  and HIST 1730 ; and complete six hours of 3000-4000 level coursework in Philosophy. Students are encouraged to substitute a double-major for their minor and should speak with their advisor early during their academic tenure at Clemson to ensure that both majors are completed within four years.

All majors must take REL 1020 , REL 3000 , REL 3990 , and REL 4900 . They must also take one course each in Judaism (REL 3010  or REL 3060 ), Christianity (REL 3020  or REL 3070 ), and Islam (REL 3030  or REL 3150 ), as well as 12 additional credits in Religious Studies at the 3000- 4000 level. Students may also take ENGL 4140 , HIST 3960 , HIST 4720 , PHIL 3030 , POSC 4070 , POSC 4080 , POSC 4390 , and SOC 4320  for this last requirement. PHIL 3030  may only be used to satisfy one major requirement.

Total Semester Hours: 121

¹ Students must complete through 2020 in any modern language. See Modern Languages Requirement  at Clemson University statement.

² See General Education Requirements .

³ See major requirements in program description above.

⁴ See Minors . Students who want to minor in philosophy must complete the requisite coursework above and beyond the two required philosophy courses for the major. Students who want to double major in philosophy, on the other hand, may count these hours towards a double major.

⁵ Any 3000- or 4000-level PHIL course.