Religion Courses & Requirements | �鶹��ý�Ŷ�

Degrees Offered:

B.A.: Religion
Minor: Religion

Course Listings

Click here to read complete descriptions of the Religion courses offered at Wittenberg.

Degree Requirements:

Note: Requirements below apply to majors/minors who declare in Fall 2022 or later.

Click here to download requirements for majors/minors declared before Fall 2022

Major in Religion - 37-40 credits

A major in Religion consists of 37-40 credits (typically, nine 4-credit courses plus a 1-4 credit Religion Capstone/Thesis), with at least thirteen credits (including RELI 498/499) at the 300-level.

Students are required to take both courses from Category 1, twelve credits from Category 2 (with at least four credits coming from each of the two sub-categories), eight credits from Category 3 (with at least four credits coming from each of the two sub-categories), a senior Capstone/Thesis (1-4 credits), and eight additional credits in elective courses.

1. GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LITERACY: Introductions – 8 credits

RELI 110 Judaism, Christianity, & Islam – 4 credits
RELI 134 Chinese & Japanese Religious Traditions – 4 credits

2. GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LITERACY: Explorations – 12 credits (3 courses with at least one course each from categories A & B)
A. Asian Religious Traditions – at least one from the following:

RELI 112 Introduction to Buddhism – 4 credits
RELI 100 (Topics): Hinduism – 4 credits
RELI 333 Buddhist Thought & Scriptures – 4 credits
RELI 335 Confucianism and Its Critics – 4 credits
RELI 336 Religious Daoism and Chinese Popular Religion – 4 credits
Other courses with approval of Department Chair/Director

B. Christian & Biblical Traditions – at least one from the following:

RELI 221 Understanding the Old Testament – 4 credits
RELI 222 Understanding the New Testament – 4 credits
RELI 241 The Christian Tradition – 4 credits
Other courses with approval of Department Chair/Director

3. CRITICAL CONNECTIONS – 8 credits (2 courses with one course each from categories A & B)
A. Historical & Interpretive Connections – at least one from the following:

RELI 114 World Religions & Pilgrimage – 4 credits
RELI 116 Fake News, Forgeries, and Frauds – 4 credits
RELI 120 Demons, Angels, & Ghosts – 4 credits
RELI 213 Religion & Medicine – 4 credits
Other courses with approval of Department Chair/Director

B. Cultural and Sociological Connections – at least one from the following:

RELI 176 Racism and Social Ethics – 4 credits
RELI 177 Religious Perspectives on Contemporary Moral Issues – 4 credits
RELI 271 Ethics: Belief and Action – 4 credits
RELI 310 Religion, Nature, & the Environment – 4 credits
RELI 327 Sex, Gender & the Bible – 4 credits
RELI 340 Buddhism, Gender, & Sexuality – 4 credits
RELI 342 Comparative Religious Ethics
RELI 378 Bioethics – 4 credits
HONR 300 Religion, Animals, & Being “Human” – 4 credits
Other courses with approval of Department Chair/Director

4. RELIGION ELECTIVES – 8 credits* (2 courses from any category)
A. Any course from categories 2-3 above not already counted toward major requirements and/or
B. Other RELI courses not otherwise counted toward major requirements, including:

RELI 100 (Topics) Indigenous Religions – 4 credits
RELI 200 (Topics) African American Religion – 4 credits
Other courses with approval of Department Chair/Director

*Note: Depending on courses already completed, students should select elective courses that ensure their completion of the thirteen-credit 300+ level requirement.

5. SENIOR CAPSTONE/THESIS – 1-4 credits (1 course from the following)
A. RELI 498 Religion Capstone – 1 credit (taken in conjunction with concurrently-offered RELI 300)
B. RELI 499 Senior Honors Thesis in Religion – 4 credits

Minor in Religion - 20 credits

A minor in religion consists of 20 credits (typically, five 4-credit courses), with at least four credits at the 300-level.
Students are required to take both courses from Category 1, eight additional credits from Category 2 (with courses coming from two of the four sub-categories), and four credits in religion electives (Category 3).

1. GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LITERACY: Introductions – 8 credits

RELI 110 Judaism, Christianity, & Islam – 4 credits
RELI 134 Chinese & Japanese Religious Traditions – 4 credits

2. GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LITERACY: Explorations – 8 credits (2 courses from two of the four categories below)
A. Asian Religious Traditions

RELI 112 Introduction to Buddhism – 4 credits
RELI 100 (Topics): Hinduism – 4 credits
RELI 333 Buddhist Thought & Scriptures – 4 credits
RELI 335 Confucianism and Its Critics – 4 credits
RELI 336 Religious Daoism and Chinese Popular Religion – 4 credits
Other courses with approval of Department Chair/Director

B. Christian & Biblical Traditions

RELI 221 Understanding the Old Testament – 4 credits
RELI 222 Understanding the New Testament – 4 credits
RELI 241 The Christian Tradition – 4 credits
Other courses with approval of Department Chair/Director

C. Historical & Interpretive Connections

RELI 114 World Religions & Pilgrimage – 4 credits
RELI 116 Fake News, Forgeries, and Frauds – 4 credits
RELI 120 Demons, Angels, & Ghosts – 4 credits
RELI 213 Religion & Medicine – 4 credits
Other courses with approval of Department Chair/Director

D. Cultural and Sociological Connections

RELI 176 Racism and Social Ethics – 4 credits
RELI 177 Religious Perspectives on Contemporary Moral Issues – 4 credits
RELI 271 Ethics: Belief and Action – 4 credits
RELI 310 Religion, Nature, & the Environment – 4 credits
RELI 327 Sex, Gender & the Bible – 4 credits
RELI 340 Buddhism, Gender, & Sexuality – 4 credits
RELI 342 Comparative Religious Ethics
RELI 378 Bioethics – 4 credits
HONR 300 Religion, Animals, & Being “Human” – 4 credits
Other courses with approval of Department Chair/Director

3. RELIGION ELECTIVES – 4 credits (1 course from any category)
A. Any course from category 2 above not already counted toward minor requirements and/or
B. Other RELI courses not otherwise counted toward minor requirements, including other courses with approval of Department Chair/Director.

�鶹��ý�Ŷ�

Religion