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Case Western Reserve
University
Department of Religion
Academic Programs
Updated: July 1, 2003
The academic study of religion at Case Western Reserve University is multicultural, non-sectarian, and both disciplinary and interdisciplinary. Students examine a range of past and present cultures and societies using methods and approaches drawn from the humanities, arts, social sciences, and sciences, all of which sharpen critical and evaluative skills. Religious beliefs, institutions, and practices are studied with emphasis placed on the critical problems and possibilities inherent in the theories, methods, and technologies employed. The academic study of religion, combined with appropriate courses in other fields, provides an excellent background for any professional career—including law, engineering, medicine and health care professions, journalism, social work, and others—and for graduate studies in a number of fields. A major in Religion provides a well-rounded liberal arts education or can be combined conveniently with a second major. Minors or sequences in Religion complement and broaden any field chosen as a major.
Students
interested in a Religion major, minor, or sequence should contact
Professor Peter Haas, Phone: 368-2741, E-Mail:
pjh7@cwru.edu
The Department of Religion offers a major and a minor in Religion, as well as a Departmental Honors Program, for students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree. Humanities and social science sequences are offered for B.S. degree students in Engineering. Religion courses often involve technological connections to the study of religion, with projects involving Internet research and building Web sites. Both the major and minor programs acquaint the student with the texts and traditions of the ancient Near East, Judaism, Christianity, and Asian religions, as well as cultural and social aspects of religion. Majors are encouraged to participate in study abroad programs. When appropriate, courses are designed to utilize Internet resources, cultural institutions in University Circle, and the cultural diversity of greater Cleveland. Several 300-level courses may be taken for graduate credit by fulfilling additional course requirements, and qualified students may pursue the M.A. degree under the Integrated Graduate Studies Program (IGS). The Department of Religion also contributes courses to and supports a number of the College's interdisciplinary programs such as Asian Studies, Women's Studies, Environmental Studies, and International Studies programs.
Please note that as of Fall 2000 there are major revisions to the Religion major, minor, and sequence. Students choosing a Religion major, minor, or sequence must fulfill requirements for the New Program if they entered CWRU in Fall 2000 or after. Students who entered CWRU prior to Fall 2000 may elect to fulfillment requirements for either the New Program or the Old Program. Students wishing to declare a major, minor, or sequence in Religion should contact Prof. Haas (e-mail: pjh7@cwru.edu; phone: 368-2741).
Students majoring in Religion must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of work in the Department. Courses required of all majors are RLGN 102: Introduction to the Study of Religion and at least three hours of RLGN 399/499: Majors/Minors Seminar (repeatable up to six hours). In addition, majors must complete three courses in one of the three areas described below, one course in each of the other two areas outside of the area of concentration, and three elective courses. A list of courses assigned to each area of concentration is available from the Department. Additionally, majors are encouraged to develop interdisciplinary competency by taking courses in other departments relevant to their area of concentration. Majors are urged to take a second language significant to their interests and concentration.
For a list of Religion courses by area of concentration, click here: Courses and Areas of Concentration
Area 1: Religious Texts and Traditions
Courses in Area 1 focus on the critical study of religious texts and traditions,
and their historical development. These courses encourage critical reflection
on the methods and theories employed to study them. Interpretive perspectives
include those drawn from the academic study of religion and other disciplines
in the arts and humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
Courses in Area 2 examine ways in which religious discourses and practices are
interwoven into larger webs of culture and are related to other elements within
those webs. Through analysis of a wide range of cultural productions, both ancient
and contemporary, from visual culture to popular media, these courses focus
on the complex ways in which religion takes form within particular cultural
contexts, and conversely, helps to form cultural artifacts.
Area 3: Religion in Society
Courses in Area 3 investigate the various ways that people practice their religious
beliefs within their own social groups and sustain their traditions within the
larger society. Within this area are courses on the tensions between religion
and science, ethics across religious boundaries and within religious traditions,
and how religious groups affect political, economic, and social issues within
local and world communities. Some courses in this area offer opportunities for
working with social service and advocacy agencies in the community.
Students minoring in Religion must complete 15 semester hours of work in the
Department. Courses required of all minors are RLGN 102: Introduction to the
Study of Religion and at three hours of RLGN 399/499: Majors/Minors Seminar.
Nine hours of coursework must be chosen in consultation with a departmental
advisor and demonstrate diversity in the study of religion.
Sequences normally include three courses that demonstrate diversity in the study of religion. Approval for sequences must be obtained from the departmental advisor. In selecting courses, attention will be given to religious pluralism and diversity of approaches to the academic study of religion.
RLGN 201 and 202 fulfill the "old" Western Reserve Core requirement in "History and Culture."
RLGN 102, 115, 120, 201, 202, 203, 204, 206, 207, 217, 223, 231, 254, 300, 301, 303, 306, 309, 314, 332, and 341 may be used to fulfill the History, Philosophy, and Religion portion of the GER.
RLGN 204, 217, 223, 254, 303, and 314 may be used to fulfill the Global and Cultural Diversity portion of the GER.
RLGN 206 and 240 may be used to fulfill the Science and Society portion of the GER.
These courses need not be taken in sequence.
Students who are majoring in religion and have an overall grade point average of 3.5 and also a grade point average of 3.5 in religion courses may apply for the honors program. Honors candidates enroll in RLGN 390 each semester during their senior year. A year-long honors project must be accepted by a member of the department faculty and formally approved by a majority of the full-time faculty members in the department. The approval must be granted not later than the end of the first semester. Departmental honors are awarded upon satisfactory completion, defense, and acceptance of the senior project by a faculty committee, provided that the required grade point averages are maintained.
Faculty members in the department are engaged in scholarly research, writing,
editorial projects, and leadership roles in professional societies.
Students majoring in religion must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of work in the department. Courses required of all majors are RLGN 201, 202, 203, and 204. In addition, every major is expected to complete six other three-semester-hour courses (18 hours). Majors are urged, but not required, to take two years of college-level work in one of the following languages: French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Arabic, Chinese, or Japanese.
Students minoring in religion must complete 15 semester hours, including at least three of the following: RLGN 201, 202, 203, and 204, and one or two other courses chosen in consultation with the departmental advisor, for a total of five courses.
Sequences normally include three of the following: RLGN 201, 202, 203, and 204, and one additional course offered by the department. Approval for sequences should be sought from the departmental advisor.
RLGN 201 and 202 fulfill the "old" Western Reserve Core requirement in "History and Culture."
RLGN 102, 115, 120, 201, 202, 203, 204, 206, 207, 217, 223, 231, 254, 300, 301, 303, 306, 309, 314, 332, and 341 may be used to fulfill the History, Philosophy, and Religion portion of the GER.
RLGN 204, 217, 223, 254, 303, and 314 may be used to fulfill the Global and Cultural Diversity portion of the GER.
RLGN 206 may be used to fulfill the Science and Society portion of the GER.
These courses need not be taken in sequence.
Students who are majoring in religion and who have an overall grade point average of 3.5 and also a grade point average of 3.5 in religion courses may apply for the honors program. Honors candidates enroll for RLGN 390 each semester during their senior year; a year-long honors project must be accepted by a member of the department faculty and the student's application must be approved by the department, upon demonstration of satisfactory progress, not later than the end of the first semester. Departmental honors are awarded upon satisfactory completion, defense, and acceptance of the senior project by a faculty committee, provided that the required grade point averages are maintained.
Faculty members in the department are engaged in scholarly research and writing, as well as editorial work, in such areas as transmission and interpretation of biblical literature; archaeology and the social world of the ancient Near East; history, literature, and the intellectual context of Judaism; and issues in the religions of China and Japan; as well as comparative ethics, religion and the environment, women and religion, and other related areas.
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