Wimberly School of Religion
& Graduate Theological Center

RELIGION MAJOR

To major in religion at the undergraduate level has meaning and value for anyone who wants to understand religion in its several dimensions. It is particularly useful for persons planning to enter the Christian ministry, Christian education, or other church-related vocations. Studies in the major field, along with courses in English, history, philosophy, the social sciences, and various electives will give the student an excellent background for entrance into a theological seminary or for various service opportunities in the church and society.

A student majoring in religion may have no more than 36 hours in the major field, not counting the six hours under Values and Culture in the General Education curriculum and the two hours of internship. Six hours of New Testament Greek or Biblical Hebrew may be counted as either elective or major credits.

The Internship in Religion course should be taken by all junior or senior religion majors who are employed in a ministry setting.

Religion (B.A.) Major Requirements
Credit Hours: 33

At least one upper-division course (3000–4000) must be completed in each area: biblical studies; history of Christianity; and religion, ethics, and culture. A minimum of 18 hours must be taken at the 3000-4000 level in the School of Religion.

I. BIBLE

A. Required (3)

REL 2023 - Methods of Biblical Analysis

B. Biblical Studies (3)

REL 3103 - Psalms and Wisdom Literature
REL 3203 - Prophetic Literature
REL 3303 - Gospels and Acts
REL 3403 - Pauline Letters
REL 4143 - Seminar in Hebrew Bible

C. Biblical Languages

REL 2003 and REL 2013 - Introduction to New Testament Greek
REL 3603 - Reading in New Testament Greek
REL 2133 and REL 2143 - Biblical Hebrew

II. HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY (3)

REL 2503 - Religion in American History
REL 3013 - History of Christianity (Ancient-Medieval)
REL 3113 - History or Christianity (Reformation-Modern)
REL 3223 - History of Christian Spirituality
REL 4153 - Seminar in History of Christianity

III. THEOLOGY (3)

REL 2043 - Questions of Faith
REL 2103 - Introduction to Judaism
REL 2203 - Modern Jewish Thought
REL 3423 - Contemporary Theology
REL 4163 - Seminar in Philosophy and Theology

IV. RELIGION, ETHICS, AND CULTURE (3)

REL 2033 - Introduction to Religion
REL 2163 - Moral Issues in Contemporary Culture
REL 2213 - Introduction to Moral and Social Philosophy
REL 2313 - Philosophy of Culture
REL 2413 - Philosophy of Religion
REL 2513 - Introduction to World Religions
REL 2603 - Religion and the Arts
REL 2703 - Introduction to Christian Ethics
REL 2813 - The Jewish Experience in America
REL 3313 - Religion in Contemporary America
REL 3613 - Problems and Issues in Christian Ethics
REL 4103 - Seminar in Religion and Culture

V. JUNIOR SEMINAR (3)

REL 3953 - Junior Seminar—required of all majors

VI. SENIOR PAPER (3)

REL 4893 - Senior Paper—required for all majors

VII. APPLIED STUDIES OPTIONS

REL 3813 - Nature and Work of Christian Education
REL 3903 - Religious Drama
REL 3913 - Ministry to Youth
REL 4603 - Leadership in Christian Education
REL 4633 - The Bible in Christian Education
REL 4763 - Rites and Rituals in the Faith Pilgrimage

VIII. ADDITIONAL COURSES

REL 2823 - Anti-Semitism and the Holocaust
REL 2903 - Literature and the Judeo-Christian Tradition
REL 3991-3 - Seminar in Religion
REL 4453 - Directed Research
REL 4991-6 - Independent Study

IX. INTERNSHIP

REL 4981 - Internship in Religion
(Junior or senior standing. May be taken for up to two credits. Taken on a credit/no-credit basis.)

Additional electives outside the major must be taken to reach a total of 124 hours.