Religion Major

The major consists of a minimum of 9 full courses (or the equivalent).

Note: Students must earn minimum grades of C- or P for all courses that apply toward the major.

View the catalog page for the religion department.

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.

Summary of Requirements

Four Full 200-Level Religion Distribution Courses
One Full 300-Level Advanced Seminar Course
Three Full Religion Major Elective Courses
Capstone Requirement
One or Two Courses

Note(s) on Requirements

At least one elective course must be above the 100-level.
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.

Detailed Major Requirements

Religion Major Course Lists

200-Level Religion Distribution Courses

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Majors must complete at least one 200-level course from each of the three categories below, and at least two courses from one category.

Note: Courses cannot be counted toward multiple categories.

Arts, Literature, and Performance

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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.

Ethics and Society

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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.

Texts and Contexts

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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.

300-Level Advanced Seminar Courses

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Religion Major Elective Courses

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Note: At least one elective course must be above the 100-level.

Capstone Requirement

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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).