Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Religion | ||
| Problem of God | ||
| One God: Judaism, Christianity, Islam | ||
| One Goal: Transforming the Self in Asian Religions | ||
| Select a minimum of 18 elective credit hours in REL courses 1 | 18 | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Written Communication Skills: | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | 3 |
| or ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | |
| Quantitative Skills: | ||
| MTH 108 | Precalculus Mathematics II (This course fulfills the Quantitative Skills Requirement.) | 3 |
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts and Humanities Cognate | 9 | |
| People & Society Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| STEM Cognate | 9 | |
| Additional Required Courses | ||
| REL 399 | Method and Theory in the Study of Religion | 3 |
| UMX 100 | The University of Miami Experience | 0 |
| Language Requirement | 3-9 | |
| Minor or Additional Major Requirement | 15 | |
| Electives | 51 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- 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
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit 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 Hours | 15 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| 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 Hours | 17 | |
| 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 Hours | 16 | |
| 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 Hours | 12 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
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.
