The religion department curriculum embodies the balanced breadth and depth of a multidisciplinary liberal arts education. As such, the flexible pathways through the religion major complement well a variety of other disciplinary pursuits. The transferable skills and knowledge gained through the religion major prepare students for a range of career and educational pursuits, including law, medicine, environmental advocacy, and publishing industries.
In consultation with a major advisor and with approval from the department chair, up to two courses from outside the department may count toward the major.
Examples include courses engaging religion from other disciplinary perspectives, language courses related to study within the major, courses topically or methodologically related to study within the major, and study away courses.
Transfer of Credit Toward the Major
Students wishing to transfer credit toward the religion major are advised to provide the department with as much information about the transferred course as possible (including the syllabus, papers, and exams). The department will not normally count more than two full courses of transfer credit toward the major and does not normally accept transferred courses to satisfy distribution requirements in the major. Students should seek preapproval from the chair for coursework they intend to take elsewhere and transfer to Oberlin.
Courses within this category study religious traditions in relation to various media and performative traditions, past and present, including literature, the performing and visual arts, music, and film.
The exploration of religion(s) in relationship to broad and overlapping social issues including gender, race, health, the environment, and nationalism. This includes considerations of cultural, theological, and ethical values that help to shape societies, past and present.
Courses within this category study religious traditions past and present in relationship to their historical and cultural contexts. This includes critical analysis of material-cultural artifacts and religious texts as well as their reception over time and in different social contexts.
Majors must complete RELG 401 (offered every fall semester) and they may elect to continue their capstone project in RELG 402 (offered every spring semester).
