Religion

Rebecca Alpert, Chair
ralpert@temple.edu
215-204-7973

Vasiliki Limberis, Undergraduate Chair and Faculty Advisor
Anderson 631
limberis@temple.edu.
215-204-8756

Anderson Hall, Room 615
215-204–7973
www.temple.edu/religion

Religion and Public Life
Religions in a Global Context

Religion is a pervasive, powerful, multifaceted, and enduring dimension of human experience.  Religions have shaped complex cultures and countless individual lives.  They are influential in the world today and will continue to be so in the future.  The academic study of religion is multidisciplinary, drawing upon approaches from history, literary studies, philosophy, and the social sciences.  It is multicultural, exploring the beliefs, practices, and development of particular religious communities in many different cultures.

The concentrations within the major differ only in emphasis.  Religion and Public Life prepares students for careers in law, public policy, human and social services, medicine, and healthcare.  Religions in a Global Context is of special value to those looking toward careers in the international area or involving religious diversity.  Both concentrations are also excellent preparation for graduate work in religious studies, law, medicine, the humanities, and the social sciences.

B.A. Requirements Required of All Majors and Minors:

*Restricted to Religion majors only and minors with permission of instructor.  Students must have completed at least five courses in the major prior to taking the capstone prerequisite.  It will be offered only in Spring Semester, so students should plan accordingly.

All Religion majors must select one of the two options for concentration.

Transfer students: No more than five religion courses taken at other institutions may be accepted for the major. The Director of Undergraduate Studies must determine that these meet the standards of the Religion major.

Religion and Public Life

Concentration I: Religion and Public Life: Provides opportunities to explore and examine in depth the various dimensions and issues of public life that stem from religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutional legacies.  By investigating the religious dimensions of a range of challenging issues, the student gains an awareness of the dilemmas and prospects religion offers to contemporary society.

Required: Seven of the following courses. No more than two numbered below 0100.

Note:

● Courses numbered 0100-0199 deal with African and Asian religions.

● Courses numbered 0200-0299 deal with Western religions.

● Courses numbered 0300-0399 deal with religion and contemporary issues.

Religions in a Global Context

Concentration II:  Religions in a Global Context: Provides opportunities to explore and examine in depth a variety of religious traditions.  While investigating the philosophies, practices, history, and cultural implications of those traditions, the student gains insight into religion as a cross-cultural dimension of human experience.

Required: Seven of the following courses. No more than two numbered below 0100.

Note:

● Courses numbered 0100-0199 deal with African and Asian religions.

● Courses numbered 0200-0299 deal with Western religions.

● Courses numbered 0300-0399 deal with religion and contemporary issues.

Minor Requirements

A minor in Religion has the same objectives and offers the same kinds of opportunities for learning as the major, in a program designed for students concentrating in another academic field.  It consists of:

Note: While a concentration is not required for the minor, students may choose to concentrate in "Religion and Public Life" by taking Religion C052 and C053 and at least three upper-level Religion courses in that concentration, or in "Religions in the Global Context" by taking Religion C050 and C051 and at least three upper-level Religion courses in that concentration.

Distinction in Major in Religion: 

For graduation with Distinction in Major, an overall GPA of 3.25 is required with 3.5 in Religion courses.