Religious Studies

Religious Studies Certificate

The Religious Studies certificate program promotes the academic study of religion.  Recognizing the significance of religion within human culture, the program advocates constructive, critical analysis of religion, seeking to be as open-minded and pluralistic as possible.  It does not sanction any specific religion, but strives to treat religion like other social, political and cultural phenomena that are representative of the universal panorama of human culture.  The program focuses on certain crucial questions within the context of the various religious traditions:  What is the nature of the sacred?  What is the nature of the profane?  What is faith?  What is the nature of religious language?  What is the relationship between religion and gender? What is the nature of religious experience?  What constitutes religious knowledge? 

Any degree-student in good standing and anyone holding at least a bachelor’s degree may enroll in the certificate program.  Because it is interdisciplinary in orientation and scope, students are encouraged to take courses in several different departments.