Curriculum Requirements

Core Courses
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Religion
Problem of God
One God: Judaism, Christianity, Islam
Asian Religions: Transforming the Self
Select a minimum of 18 elective credit hours in REL courses 118
General Education Requirements
Written Communication Skills:
WRS 105First-Year Writing I3
WRS 106First-Year Writing II3
or ENG 106 Writing About Literature and Culture
Quantitative Skills:
MTH 108Precalculus Mathematics II (This course fulfills the Quantitative Skills Requirement.)3
Areas of Knowledge:
Arts and Humanities Cognate9
People & Society Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major)
STEM Cognate9
Additional Required Courses
REL 399Method and Theory in the Study of Religion3
UMX 100The University of Miami Experience0
Language Requirement3
Minor or Additional Major Requirement15
Electives51
Total Credit Hours120
1
  • A major in Religious Studies leading toward the B.A. degree requires 24 credit hours in Religious Studies, passed with a grade of C- or higher, and a GPA in the major of 2.0.
  • For a list of Religious Studies courses see this page.
  • Minimum of 12 credit hours in courses numbered 300 or above
  • Writing credit (W) in at least one course in the department
*

To ensure that majors devise a coherent plan of study, the department requires consultation with the department undergraduate advisor.

**

Transfer students who major in Religious Studies must complete at least 12 credits in department offered courses numbered 300 or above in residence at the Coral Gables Campus.

Suggested Plan of Study

This plan of study includes

  • A Secondary Major in Public Health
  • Cognates in Understanding Business and Earth Stars Wind and Water
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredit Hours
MTH 108 Precalculus Mathematics II 3
REL 101 Introduction to Religion 3
UMX 100 The University of Miami Experience 0
WRS 105 First-Year Writing I 3
Elective 3
Language Course 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
APY 101 Introduction to Anthropology 3
REL 121 Introduction to the New Testament 3
REL 151 Religion and Moral Choices 3
WRS 106 or ENG 106 First-Year Writing II
or Writing About Literature and Culture
3
Language Course 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Year
Fall
BIL 150 General Biology 4
BIL 151 General Biology Laboratory 1
BUS 200 Introduction to Business 3
BPH 206 Introduction to Public Health 3
POL 200 (EXP) course 3
Language Course 3
 Credit Hours17
Spring
BPH 208 Introductory Epidemiology 3
BPH 310 Global Health 3
BUS 206 Principles of International Business 3
CHM 111 Principles of Chemistry I 3
CHM 113 Chemistry Laboratory I 1
GSC 106 Geological Influences on Society 3
 Credit Hours16
Third Year
Fall
BPH 309 Health and Environment 3
FIN 300 Fundamentals of Finance for Non-Finance Majors 3
PHY 110 Descriptive Astronomy 3
REL 335 American Religion in Modern Film 3
 Credit Hours12
Spring
BPH 321 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 3
MSC 220 Climate and Global Change 3
PSY 110 Introduction to Psychology 3
REL 371 Women, Gender, and Islam 3
REL 384 Karma 3
 Credit Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall
BPH 322 Introduction to Health Policy 3
BPH 352 Biological Principles of Public Health 3
PSY 260 Personality Psychology 3
REL 351 Death and Dying 3
REL 499 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
BPH 465 Public Health Statistics and Data Management 3
BPH 490 Field Practicum in Community Health 3
GEG 241 Health and Medical Geography 3
PSY 240 Psychopathology 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours120

Mission

Religion is one fundamental way humans order and discern meaning and frame identity, both collective and individual. In the study of religion, students learn what religion is; how religion both shapes and reflects culture, society, politics, and individual experience; and the multiple ways religion matters and has mattered locally and globally, from antiquity to the present. Through the examination of varied disciplinary approaches and exposure to concrete diverse cultural expressions of religion, the department fosters students’ broad and deep apprehension of religion’s place(s) in human experience.

Goals

The department’s educational work aims to strengthen students’ capacities to read carefully, question critically, communicate knowledge effectively, and apply their learning in civic engagement.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will attain a grasp of the basic theories and methodologies of the discipline of religious studies.
  • Students will acquire broad knowledge of the role that religions play in human life and society as well as deeper knowledge in a specific area.
  • Students will develop the ability to communicate their understanding of the phenomenon of religion clearly in writing.