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.

Minor Requirements

Analytic Frameworks and Tools (AFT): Approaches to the Study of Religion

AFT courses provide an introduction to the analytic frameworks and tools used in the academic study of religion.

Complete one 100-level Religious Studies course.

Seminar

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 AFT courses.

Complete one course from the following:

• Any 300-level Religious Studies course, excluding REL 312 and 314
• REL 450 Religious Studies Research Seminar

Areas of Study

Complete four additional courses in Religious Studies, across at least two Areas of Study:

• (REL: Judaism & Christianity)
• (REL: Islam)
• (REL: Asian Religions)
• (REL: Religion in America)

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.

Declaration Restrictions

Students who have declared the Religious Studies minor may not declare the following:

• Religious Studies major
• Religious Studies (C001) concentration

Other Considerations

None.