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Religious Studies

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The Religious Studies major (27 credits) and minor (15 credits) offer Iowa State University students the opportunity to expand their knowledge about diverse religions in the United States and the world. The major and minor allow students to design their own unique program of study by taking courses that spark their interest. Religious Studies teaches students to explore religion objectively, critically, and empathetically. It equips students to apply academic theories and methods to understand how religions shape and are shaped by history, politics, culture, society, and human psychology. As their religious literacy increases, students will develop their own ideas about the nature of religion, life’s big questions, and the wide range of human ideas, practices, and motivations.

The major in Religious Studies provides both breadth and depth. The program’s 2000-level courses introduce students to the academic study of religion, providing a foundation that students build on throughout their undergraduate career. In 3000-level courses, students closely investigate particular traditions, topics, or themes. Throughout their undergraduate career, students have opportunities to connect their program of study to their own professional and personal goals.

The Religious Studies program provides students skills relevant to building a career based on their interests and passions. Contrary to popular myths, employers in today’s modern workplace value college graduates with liberal arts degrees. In Religious Studies, these include the “hard skills” of writing, reading, and conducting organized research. Students also gain so-called “soft skills.” These include communication strategies, learning to adapt to new environments, and the capacity to work with and understand people from diverse backgrounds. The flexibility of these skills opens up a wide range of career paths. Religious Studies graduates pursue careers in non-profits, community organizations, and people-focused industries. They apply to graduate and professional schools in areas such as law, education, and ministry. A Religious Studies degree doesn’t just help students get a job. It helps them advance and grow, both professionally and personally, well into their lives.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, students should be able to:

  1. Describe religious diversity in the United States and around the world, including diversity within traditions.
  2. Identify key beliefs, doctrines, practices, and expressions of multiple religions.
  3. Explain how religion has shaped and been shaped by human history, culture, and society, drawing on historical, cultural, and textual analyses.
  4. Distinguish between confessional and academic understandings of religion.
  5. Assess data produced by and about religious communities in an objective, critical, and empathetic manner.
  6. Create and convey original insights using effective reading, research, writing, and conversation skills.