Missouri State University

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Religious Studies 

Major in Religious Studies

Religious Studies (Non-Comprehensive)

Bachelor of Arts

  1. General Education Requirements - see General Education Program and Requirements section of catalog

  2. Major Requirements

    1. REL 100(3), 101(3), 102(3), 131(3), 210(3), 580(3)

    2. Complete 15 hours from the following four areas, distributed so that there will be at least six hours in one area and three hours in each of the other three areas. Courses must be chosen to include at least one 500-level course and another course at the 300-level or above*:

      1. History of Religions: REL 315(3), 350(3), 355(3), 360(3), 540(3)

      2. Biblical Studies: REL 312(3), 319(3), 320(3), 321(3), 323(3), 362(3), 510(3), 520(3), 570(3), 571(3)

      3. History of Judaism and Christianity: REL 103(1), 330(3), 340(3), 550(1-3)

      4. Religion, Self, and Society: REL 200(1), 332(3), 344(3), 345(3), 365(3), 370(3), 530(3); REL 390(3) or SOC 390(3) or PSY 533(3)

        *Variable content courses (REL 197, 397, 399) may be counted where appropriate with the approval of the advisor and department head.

  3. Minor Required (or second major)

  4. Specific Requirements for Bachelor of Arts Degree - see "Degrees, Programs and Requirements" section of catalog

  5. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements - see General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements section of catalog

Career Preparation

Religious Studies majors may go into careers relating to religious vocations; however, the major is really designed for broad employment possibilities in a variety of professional fields.  The major provides students with an excellent liberal arts education comparable to that of students who study literature, languages, history, philosophy, sociology and anthropology.  Although not a specific vocation preparation, the major enables one to develop critical skills and abilities that are readily transferable into a variety of occupational fields.  Among these are counseling, youth ministries, social positions with government and not-for-profit organizations, journalism, retail sales, administrative functions in communications, insurance underwriting, student services, human resources, and many others.