Program Requirements for Religious Studies Majors
There are two tracks to an undergraduate degree in Religious Studies at Marywood University: the Traditional Program and the Applied Program. The Traditional Program is intended for students who wish to pursue Religious Studies as their primary major, whereas the Applied Program requires students to adopt Religious Studies as a second major.
Students in both programs are trained in two different approaches to the academic study of religion. First, in keeping with Marywood’s Catholic identity, students learn about the discipline of Christian theology, which combines faith and reason in the pursuit of a deeper understanding of God and creation. Second, in line with Marywood’s commitment to responsible global citizenship, students learn about the comparative study of world religions, which prepares them for respectful dialogue and collaboration with persons of diverse faiths and worldviews.
Traditional Program (36 credits)
The traditional major provides a rigorous program of study that is especially appropriate for students who wish to pursue a graduate degree in Religious Studies and/or a career in religious ministry, religious education, or the nonprofit sector.
The required courses for the Traditional Program are as follows:
- RST 112 Modern Belief (3 credits)
- One course on the Bible (3 credits)
- One course on ethics (3 credits)
- One course that covers Christianity (3 credits)
- One course that covers a non-Christian religion (or more than one) (3 credits)
- One course that examines a theme or issue across multiple religious traditions (3 credits)
- Six RST electives (18 credits)
In the case that a course fits into more than one of these categories, it can only be used to satisfy one requirement (i.e., no double-counting).
In the case of electives, a student is allowed to substitute up to two cognate courses from other disciplines (e.g., PHIL 312 Philosophy of Religion). Each substitution requires written approval from the student’s advisor, the chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, and the Office of the University Registrar.
Applied Program (30 credits)
The applied major offers students the opportunity to enrich their undergraduate education through a program of study that complements their primary major.
The required courses for the Applied Program are as follows:
- RST 112 Modern Belief (3 credits)
- One course on the Bible (3 credits)
- One course on ethics (3 credits)
- One course that covers a non-Christian religion (or more than one) (3 credits)
- Six RST electives (18 credits)
The rules regarding double-counting and cognate courses are the same for the Applied Program as for the Traditional Program.