Religious Studies (Minor)
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 University 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 Add a Minor 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: 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 double-count between major departmental requirements and courses counting toward the minor.
- A maximum of TWO (2) courses may double-count between courses counting toward this minor and additional minors.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| REL 230 | Asian Religions | 3 | |
| REL 317 | Christianity | 3 | |
| REL/HI 320 | Religion in American History | 3 | |
| REL 331 | The Hindu Tradition | 3 | |
| REL 332 | The Buddhist Traditions | 3 | |
| REL 333 | Chinese Religions | 3 | |
| REL 334 | Japanese Religions | 3 | |
| REL 340 | Islam | 3 | |
| REL 350 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| REL 311 | Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 | |
| REL 312 | Introduction to the New Testament | 3 | |
| REL 314 | Introduction to Intertestamental Literature | 3 | |
| REL 412 | Advanced Readings in the Christian Gospels | 3 | |
| REL 413 | The Life and Letters of the Apostle Paul | 3 |
Critical/Theoretical Methods Courses
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| REL 200 | Introduction to the Study of Religion | 3 | |
| REL 220 | Religion in the Contemporary World | 3 | |
| REL/SOC 309 | Religion and Society | 3 | |
| REL 323 | Religious Cults, Sects, and Minority Faiths in America | 3 | |
| REL 327 | Issues in Contemporary Religion | 3 | |
| REL 383 | Religion, Globalism, and Justice | 3 | |
| REL 423 | Religion and Politics in America | 3 | |
| REL 424 | Religion and Politics in Global Perspective | 3 | |
| REL/STS 471 | Darwinism and Christianity | 3 | |
| REL/WGS 472 | Women and Religion | 3 | |
| REL 473 | Religion, Gender, and Reproductive Technologies | 3 | |
| REL 482 | Religion and Conflict | 3 | |
| REL 489 | Interpretations of Religion | 3 |
Western Traditions
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| REL 311 | Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 | |
| REL 312 | Introduction to the New Testament | 3 | |
| REL 314 | Introduction to Intertestamental Literature | 3 | |
| REL 317 | Christianity | 3 | |
| REL/HI 320 | Religion in American History | 3 | |
| REL 323 | Religious Cults, Sects, and Minority Faiths in America | 3 | |
| REL 350 | Judaism | 3 | |
| REL/HI 402 | Early Christianity to the Time of Eusebius | 3 | |
| REL 412 | Advanced Readings in the Christian Gospels | 3 | |
| REL 413 | The Life and Letters of the Apostle Paul | 3 | |
| REL 423 | Religion and Politics in America | 3 |
Non-Western Traditions
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| REL 230 | Asian Religions | 3 | |
| REL 331 | The Hindu Tradition | 3 | |
| REL 332 | The Buddhist Traditions | 3 | |
| REL 333 | Chinese Religions | 3 | |
| REL 334 | Japanese Religions | 3 | |
| REL 340 | Islam | 3 | |
| REL/HI 407 | Islamic History to 1798 | 3 | |
| REL/HI 408 | Islam in the Modern World | 3 |