Religious Studies Minor
Minor Requirements
The minor in Religious Studies consists of 6 courses, which must normally be specified prior to the start of a student’s senior year. These courses are to be selected according to the following guidelines and in consultation with a member of the department faculty who is chosen or appointed as the student’s departmental minor advisor:
Theoretical and Comparative Studies
Complete at least one course from the following:
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Any 100-level Religious Studies course | |
| AVC 252 | Art of the Middle Ages |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Seminar
Complete at least one 300-level Religious Studies course or REL 450 Religious Studies Research Seminar, not including REL 312 or REL 314.
Additional Courses
Complete at least four courses across at least two Areas of Study 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 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.
Courses Taken Outside of Bates
The department strongly encourages study abroad, and students may petition to count up to two credits earned toward the minor.
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail grading may be elected for only one course applied toward the minor.
Restricted Declarations
Students who have declared the Religious Studies minor may not declare the following:
- Religious Studies major
- Religious Studies (C001) GEC
Other Considerations
None.