Religious Studies Major
Major Requirements
Theoretical and Comparative Studies
Two courses in theoretical and/or comparative studies of religion, which should be taken before the senior year. The courses that satisfy this requirement provide an introduction to the study of religion within a particular disciplinary context (e.g., philosophy of religion, psychology of religion, sociology of religion, anthropological approaches to the study of religion), or provide comparative studies of multiple religious traditions and/or multiple approaches to the study of a single tradition.
Complete at least two courses from the following:
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Any 100-level Religious Studies course | |
| REL 207 | Eve, Adam, and the Serpent |
| REL 218 | Greek and Roman Myths |
| REL 220 | The Medieval Year |
| REL 223 | Conflict and Community in Medieval Spain |
| REL 225 | Rituals, Sentiments, and Gods: Religion in Ancient Greece |
| REL 231 | Sociology of Religion |
| REL 233 | Literary Representations of the Africana Religions |
| REL 244 | Heroes, Martyrs, and Saints in the Greco-Roman Mediterranean |
| AVC 252 | Art of the Middle Ages |
| REL 253 | Medieval Architecture |
| REL 254 | Sacred Travel/Shrines/Souvenirs |
| REL 260 | Philosophy of Religion |
| REL 266 | Magic and the Supernatural in the Middle Ages |
| REL 292 | The Dawn of the Middle Ages |
| REL 295 | Montezuma's Mexico: Aztecs and their World |
| REL 312 | Psychology of Religion |
Areas of Study
One course from each of four Areas of Study (for a total of four courses; courses that are listed in more than one area cannot be counted twice). By taking courses in a variety of religious traditions, time periods, and geographic locations, students begin to develop cultural literacy across a wide range of world religions, even as they hone their understanding of the methodologies and theories common to religious studies. Each faculty member highlights different methods and theories in the courses they offer; by studying with different faculty in the department, students develop breadth in their working knowledge of the field, as a whole, and intersectional understandings that complicate conventional definitions of "religion" and "religious" identities.
Complete at least one course from each of the four Areas below:
Judaism and Christianity
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| REL 207 | Eve, Adam, and the Serpent |
| REL 235 | Introduction to the Hebrew Bible |
| REL 236 | Introduction to the New Testament |
| REL 313 | Human Suffering: Job, Genesis, and Revelation |
| REL 314 | The Spanish Inquisition |
| REL S21 | Representations of Jesus in Film |
Courses in this area explore Jewish and/or Christian traditions within one or more historical contexts. Some courses are scripture-focused, such as Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and New Testament; others are more wide-ranging and/or thematic.
Islam
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| REL 112 | Introduction to Islam: Religion, Practice, and Culture |
| REL 241 | The Art of Islam |
| REL 264 | Islamic Civilization: Politics, History, Arts |
| REL 272 | Islam in the Americas |
| REL 274 | Quran: Text, Culture, Arts |
| REL 318 | Sex, Gender, Islam, Power |
Courses in this area explore the history, social practices, texts and beliefs found among Muslim communities around the world. Many focus entirely on Islam, while others intersect substantially with the study of Islam and Islamic cultures.
Asian Religions
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| AVC 243 | Buddhist Arts and Visual Cultures |
| AVC 247 | The Art of Zen Buddhism |
| PHIL 310 | Buddhist Philosophy |
| REL 155 | Introduction to Asian Religions |
| REL 208 | Religions in China |
| REL 250 | Buddhist Traditions |
| REL 251 | Religions of Tibet |
| REL 308 | Buddhist Texts in Translation |
| REL 311 | Buddhism and Gender |
| REL 348 | Epics of Asia: Myth and Religion |
| REL S26 | The Buddhist Himalaya: Religion in Ladakh |
Courses in this area explore religious traditions that originally developed in Asia, including Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Hinduism, Jainism, Shinto, Sikhism, and others. These traditions are examined through their lived components, material culture, sacred texts, and doctrinal systems, both contemporary and historical. Some courses trace the historical developments of religious communities from their inception to the present day, including in global contexts.
American Religions/Religion in the Americas
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| REL 216 | American Religious History, 1550-1840 |
| REL 217 | American Religious History, 1840-Present |
| REL 247 | City upon the Hill |
| REL 255 | African American Religious Traditions |
| REL 272 | Islam in the Americas |
| REL 295 | Montezuma's Mexico: Aztecs and their World |
| REL 306B | Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays |
Courses in this area do one or both of the following:
- examine the wide range of specific religious traditions practiced in the United States of America (Indigenous, Protestantism, Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and a host of new religious movements such as the Shakers, Mormons, Christian Scientists, Nation of Islam, Transcendental Meditation, and Scientology, to name just a few) and/or
- explore the social, political, and cultural factors, conditions, events, debates, and controversies that shape and influence the formation, practice, and experience of religion in American contexts.
Seminars
300-Level Seminars
Complete at least two 300-level Religious Studies courses taught by Religious Studies department faculty (not including REL 312 or REL 314).
Religious Studies seminars are limited-enrollment, discussion and/or research-based courses that enable students to explore religion with greater depth and nuance than is often possible in lecture-format or introductory courses. Courses that satisfy this requirement include all 300-level religious studies courses taught by Religious Studies department faculty.
Religious Studies Research Seminar
Complete the following course:
- REL 450 Religious Studies Research Seminar
The Religious Studies Research Seminar serves as a culminating course for students majoring in Religious Studies. It provides a small group setting in which students write and discuss a series of essays on a topic of their choice as a way of reviewing various methods, theories and approaches to the study of religion that they have learned over the course of their major. Through weekly meetings, discussions, written peer reviews of one another’s research, bibliographical work and writing, the seminar enables students to recognize themselves and each other as emerging scholars within the field of religious studies.
Senior Thesis*
*Optional for double majors completing their [W3] in their other major.
Complete one of the following:
Senior Thesis (One Semester)
Complete at least one course from the following:
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| REL 457 | Senior Thesis |
| REL 458 | Senior Thesis |
Honors Thesis (Two Semesters)
Complete the following courses:
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| REL 457 | Senior Thesis |
| REL 458 | Senior Thesis |
The thesis represents a capstone academic experience in a religious studies major’s scholarly career at Bates. In close consultation with one or more members of the religious studies faculty, each student develops a thesis topic, determines the method(s) by which to explore their topic, and chooses a format for their project (e.g., multi-chapter academic essay, scientific/social scientific report, long-form popular journal essay, performance piece, etc). Religious Studies values collaboration and interdisciplinarity; we welcome and actively support double majors seeking to complete a combined thesis or other complementary capstone project. Further information about the religious studies thesis requirement may be found under the “Thesis” menu on the Religious Studies homepage.
Courses Taken Outside of Bates
The department strongly encourages study abroad, and students may petition to count up to two credits earned abroad toward the major.
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail grading may not be elected for courses applied toward the major.
Restricted Declarations
Students who have declared the Religious Studies major may not declare the following:
- Religious Studies minor
- Religious Studies (C001) GEC
Other Considerations
Completion of a Religious Studies thesis is optional for double majors completing their [W3] in their other major.