Degree Requirements

Religion Major (outgoing; limited to students in the classes of 2022 and 2023)

This track is valid until 2022-2023. A Religion major requires nine courses. It has the following components:

1. a set of five courses from which four are required;

   Course List

   Code	Title
   REL 201	The Reality of God
   REL 204	Rel Pluralism & Amer Identity
   REL 211	Introduction to the Bible
   REL 215	Hinduism
   REL 224	Religion and Social Ethics

2. a concentration of at least three courses in designated areas, designed in consultation with the student's Religion Department advisor;
3. a seminar for majors and minors only, designed around special topics that will be in a concentration area;
4. a comprehensive examination with take-home and in-class components.

Ordinarily, no more than one course at the 100-level may count. If a student has completed the common courses and fulfilled a concentration, one semester of a Senior Research Project may count toward the nine-course requirement.

Religion major (established 2020)

A new Religion major was approved by the Denison faculty in 2020. The new major curriculum is an option for students in the classes of 2022, and 2023.  All students majoring in Religion from the class of 2024 forward will follow the curriculum below. It has the following components:

Majors take at least one course whose intellectual center, and the majority of the content (75%), lie outside the Euro-American Christian historical and cultural tradition. The following courses will fulfill this requirement: 

Ordinarily, no more than one course at the 100-level may count. By the middle of the student’s junior year, each Religion major, in consultation with a member of the department, shall submit for departmental approval a proposal for a self-designed thematic concentration of 3-4 courses.

Religion Minor

Religion minor through 2023

This track is an option for students in the classes of 2022 and 2023. A Religion minor consists of:

a common set of five courses from which four are required;

an elective course;

a seminar for majors and minors only, designed around special topics; and 

an abbreviated comprehensive examination.

New Religion Minor

A new Religion minor was approved by the Denison faculty in 2020. The new minor curriculum is an option for students in the classes of 2022 and 2023.  All students minoring in Religion from the class of 2024 forward will follow the curriculum below. It has the following components: 

A minor requires 6 courses. 

Minors take REL 200 - Thinking about Religion before the senior year. 

Minors must elect at least one course at a 300 level.

No more than one 100-level course may be taken to fulfill the requirements. 

All minor students must take at least one course whose intellectual center, and the majority of the content (at least 75%), lie outside the Euro-American Christian historical and cultural tradition. The following courses will fulfill this requirement: 

Additional Points of Interest

Off Campus Study

Denison University works to make study abroad and other off-campus study possible for all students, typically during their junior year. Most students who major in Religion transfer one or two courses for the concentration within the Religion major, satisfy a GE requirement or two, and gain general credits towards graduation. Quite a few do independent research or internships as part of their study abroad experience. We encourage students to visit the Off-Campus Study office to explore options and to meet with a faculty advisor in the Religion Department to discuss how study abroad can best be integrated into the student's major.