Dec 26, 2024

2023-2024 General Catalog

2023-2024 General Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.

Religious Studies - BA, BS

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of History

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For more information about Religious Studies, see the Religious Studies website.
Following is a sample four-year plan. Please note that student-specific plans may differ.
Admitted students must meet with an academic advisor. Current students should also meet with an academic advisor and log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.

Program Director: Patrick Mason
Location: Main 321U
Phone: (435) 797-1291
FAX: (435) 797-3899
TTY: (435) 797-1290
E-mail: patrick.mason@usu.edu
www.religiousstudies.usu.edu

College of CHaSS Advising Center: Carson Tatton
Location: MAIN 106
Phone: (435) 797-3883
E-mail: carson.tatton@usu.edu

Utah State University, 0107 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-0107
www.chassadvising.usu.edu

Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Minimum GPA for Admission: 2.5, USU; 2.0, Career

Minimum GPA for Graduation: 2.5, Major; 2.0, Cumulative

Minimum Grade Accepted: C in all major requirements

Students must complete at least 36 credits in interdisciplinary coursework. A grade of C or better must be earned in all classes used for the major. Major requirements may not be taken for a pass/fail grade.

Bachelor of Science Degree

Students desiring a (BS) Bachelor of Science degree must complete all of the requirements listed in the sample four-year plan below.

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Students desiring a (BA) Bachelor of Arts degree must complete the language proficiency requirements in one of the following ways:

Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language by successful completion of one course at the 2020-level or higher (or its equivalent) OR
Demonstration of proficiency in American Sign Language by successful completion of American Sign Language IV (COMD 4920 ) and Socio-Cultural Aspects of Deafness (COMD 4780 ), and bypassing an exit interview OR
Demonstration of proficiency in two foreign languages by successful completion of the 1020 course level in one language and the 2010 course level in the second language (or its equivalent) OR
Completion of an upper-division (3000-level or higher) foreign language grammar or literature course requiring the 2020 course level (or its equivalent) as a prerequisite. Conversation courses cannot be considered for satisfying this requirement.

For nonnative English-speaking students only, the following options are available:

Successful completion of the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) program for international students OR
TOEFL, Michigan, or IELI placement scores high enough to meet the University admission criteria.

Minimum University Requirements
Total Credits	120	Grade Point Average (most majors require higher GPA)	2.00 GPA
Credits of C- or better	100	Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above)	40
Total USU Credits	30	Upper-division USU Credits	20
USU Credits within the Major	10	Credits in Minor (if required)	12
Credits in Major	see below	Credits in American Institutions	3
General Education Requirements	see link	University Studies Depth Requirements	see link
NOTES: The highest math requirement for this degree is the Quantitative Literacy (QL) and Quantitative Intensive (QI) of the student’s choice.

Admissions Requirements for this Program
First Year Students	Admitted to USU in Good Standing			Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU	2.5 GPA

First Year
_{Fall Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}	_{Spring Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}
ENGL 1010: Introduction to Writing: Academic Prose (CL1)	3		RELS Traditions Course (1 of 4)	3
RELS 1010: Introduction to Religious Studies (BHU)	3		Breadth Creative Arts (BCA)	3
Quantitative Literacy (QL) Course	3 or 5 or 3 or 4	STAT 1040 , STAT 1045 , MATH 1030 , or MATH 1050 are recommended	Breadth Life Sciences (BLS)	3
Breadth Social Sciences (BSS)	3		Elective Course	3
Elective Course	3		Integrated Studies Breadth Course	3
Total Credits:	15-17		Total Credits:	15
Comments			Comments

Second Year
_{Fall Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}		_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}
ENGL 2010: Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode (CL2)	3		RELS Traditions Course (3 of 4)	3
RELS Traditions Course (2 of 4)	3		Language or BS Requirement	3-4
Breadth Physical Sciences (BPS)	3		Breadth American Institutions (BAI)	3
Language or BS Requirement	3-4		Religious Studies Elective Course	3
Elective Course	3		Elective Course	3
Total Credits:	15-16		Total Credits:	15-16
Comments			Comments

Third Year
_{Fall Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}	_{Spring Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}
RELS 3990: Theory and Method in Religious Studies (CI)	3		RELS Traditions Course (4 of 4)	3
RELS Elective Course	3		RELS Elective Course	3
Language or BS Requirement	3-4		Language or BS Requirement	3-4
Depth Social Sciences (DSS)	3		Depth Life and Physical Sciences (DSC)	3
Communications Intensive (CI)	3		Quantitative Intensive (QI)	3
Total Credits:	15-16		Total Credits:	15-16
Comments By the end of the junior year, students should have identified a Religious Studies faculty member to work with on the capstone.			Comments

Fourth Year
_{Fall Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}	_{Spring Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}
BS Requirement Course	3		RELS 4990: Undergraduate Research Capstone	3
RELS Elective Course	3		RELS Elective Course	3
Communications Intensive (CI)	3		Elective Course	3
Elective Course	3		Elective Course	3
Elective Course	3		Elective Course	3
Total Credits:	15		Total Credits:	15
Comments			Comments

Required Courses in Major (36 credits)

To earn the BS or BA in Religious Studies, students must successfully complete 36 credits (12 courses), as follows:

Core Courses (9 credits)

Students must take all three core Religious Studies courses, preferably in sequence:

RELS 1010 - Introduction to Religious Studies (BHU) 3 credit(s)
RELS 3990 - Theory and Method in Religious Studies (CI) 3 credit(s)
RELS 4990 - Undergraduate Research Capstone 3 credit(s)

Traditions Courses (12 credits)

Students must take courses focusing on at least four different religious traditions, with at least one course from both of the following groups:

Group A

Group B

Christianity

RELS 3050 - Introduction to Christianity (DHA) 3 credit(s)
RELS 3290 - Studying the New Testament 3 credit(s)
RELS 4230 - The History of Christianity in the West (CI/DHA) 3 credit(s) or
HIST 4230 - The History of Christianity in the West (CI/DHA) 3 credit(s)

Islam

RELS 3030 - Introduction to Islam (DHA) 3 credit(s) or
HIST 3030 - Introduction to Islam (DHA) 3 credit(s) or
ARBC 3030 - Introduction to Islam (DHA) 3 credit(s)
RELS 4560 - Women in Islam (DHA) 3 credit(s) or
HIST 4560 - Women in Islam (DHA) 3 credit(s)
RELS 4565 - Medieval Islam (DHA) 3 credit(s) or
HIST 4565 - Medieval Islam (DHA) 3 credit(s)
RELS 4566 - Global Faces of Islam (DHA) 3 credit(s) or
HIST 4566 - Global Faces of Islam (DHA) 3 credit(s)

Judaism

RELS 3060 - Introduction to Judaism (DHA) 3 credit(s) or
HIST 3060 - Introduction to Judaism (DHA) 3 credit(s)
RELS 3190 - The Old Testament: The Hebrew Bible in Context 3 credit(s)

Mormonism

RELS 3080 - Mormonism and the American Religious Experience (DHA) 3 credit(s) or
HIST 3080 - Mormonism and the American Religious Experience (DHA) 3 credit(s)

Religious Studies Elective Courses (15 credits)

Students may choose any of the courses listed above (not already taken), or any of the courses listed below. Courses are subject to change, and students should consult with their academic advisor when selecting courses.

RELS 1070 - Religion, Violence, and Peace (BHU) 3 credit(s)
RELS 1090 - Introduction to Interfaith Leadership (BHU) 3 credit(s) or
ANTH 1090 - Introduction to Interfaith Leadership (BHU) 3 credit(s)
RELS 2050 - The Historical Jesus in a First Century Jewish Context 3 credit(s)
RELS 3125 - Religion & Science: Examining a Complex History of Interaction 3 credit(s)
RELS 3160 - Anthropology of Religion (DSS) 3 credit(s) or
ANTH 3160 - Anthropology of Religion (DSS) 3 credit(s)
RELS 3165 - Bridging Religious Difference in Theory and Practice: an Introduction to Interfaith Leadership 3 credit(s) or
ANTH 3165 - Bridging Religious Difference in Theory and Practice: an Introduction to Interfaith Leadership 3 credit(s)
RELS 3170 - Descent and Return: Ancient Views of Hades and the Afterlife 3 credit(s) or
HIST 3170 - Descent and Return: Ancient Views of Hades and the Afterlife 3 credit(s) or
CLAS 3170 - Descent and Return: Ancient Views of Hades and the Afterlife 3 credit(s)
RELS 3210 - Classical Mythology 3 credit(s) or
HIST 3210 - Classical Mythology 3 credit(s)
RELS 3220 - Medieval European Civilization, 500-1500 (CI/DHA) 3 credit(s) or
HIST 3220 - Medieval European Civilization, 500-1500 (CI/DHA) 3 credit(s)
RELS 3270 - The Crusades (DHA) 3 credit(s) or
HIST 3270 - The Crusades (DHA) 3 credit(s)
RELS 3410 - The Modern Middle East 3 credit(s) or
HIST 3410 - The Modern Middle East 3 credit(s)
RELS 3430 - History of Ancient Religions 3 credit(s)
RELS 3456 - History of South Asia (DHA) 3 credit(s)
RELS 3470 - Religion and Politics in South Asia 3 credit(s) or
HIST 3470 - Religion and Politics in South Asia 3 credit(s)
RELS 3510 - Islamic Visual Cultures (CI/DHA) 3 credit(s) or
ARTH 3510 - Islamic Visual Cultures (CI/DHA) 3 credit(s)
RELS 3830 - The History of Yoga 3 credit(s) or
HIST 3830 - The History of Yoga 3 credit(s)
RELS 4350 - Greek Intellectual History 3 credit(s) or
HIST 4350 - Greek Intellectual History 3 credit(s)
RELS 4520 - Religious Studies Editing Internship 1-3 credit(s)
RELS 4730 - History of Black America (CI) 3 credit(s) or
HIST 4730 - History of Black America (CI) 3 credit(s)
RELS 4790 - American Religious History 3 credit(s) or
HIST 4790 - American Religious History 3 credit(s)
RELS 4825 - Historical Roots of the War on Terror (DHA) 3 credit(s) or
HIST 4825 - Historical Roots of the War on Terror (DHA) 3 credit(s)
RELS 4910 - Special Topics in Religious Studies 1-3 credit(s)
RELS 4930 - Directed Readings 1-3 credit(s) (This course may only be taken once to fulfill major requirements unless special permission is obtained.)
RELS 5195 - Interfaith Leadership Practicum Experience 3 credit(s)
RELS 5740 - Art and Religion: Topics in Sacred Art 3 credit(s) or
ARTH 5740 - Art and Religion: Topics in Sacred Art 3 credit(s)
ANTH 4160 - Evolution of Religion: The Cognitive Science of Religion and Faith 3 credit(s)
ARTH 2710 - Survey of Western Art: Prehistoric to Medieval (BHU) 3 credit(s)
ARTH 3620 - Early Christian and Byzantine Art (DHA) 3 credit(s)
ARTH 3630 - Medieval Art (CI/DHA) 3 credit(s)
HIST 3150 - Roman History (CI) 3 credit(s)
HIST 3230 - Early Modern Europe (DHA) 3 credit(s)
HIST 3850 - History of Utah (CI/DHA) 3 credit(s)
HIST 4250 - The Reformation in Britain: 1450-1688 3 credit(s)
HIST 4710 - American Indian History 3 credit(s)
HIST 4711 - Northern Ute History (DHA) 3 credit(s)
LING 2500 - Language & Religion 3 credit(s)
PHIL 1320 - The Good Life (BHU) 3 credit(s)
PHIL 2600 - Introduction to Philosophy of Religions (BHU) 3 credit(s)
PHIL 3010 - Survey of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy (CI) 3 credit(s)
PHIL 3600 - Philosophy of Religion (DHA) 3 credit(s)
PHIL 4250 - Tolkien and Lewis on Myth and Truth 3 credit(s)

Religious Studies - BA, BS

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of History

Navigation Help:

Bachelor of Science Degree

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Minimum University Requirements

Admissions Requirements for this Program

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year