At a Glance
I’m interested in this field of study. Can you tell me more about it?
Religious studies examines the major religions of the world from a nonsectarian and academic perspective. We emphasize how the beliefs and practices of these religions influence society, government, economics, and more
The Department of Religious Studies at Scripps is simultaneously an independent department with a robust number of majors and minors and an intercollegiate program. That means that Scripps’ religious studies majors get the personalized attention of a small department while also enjoying extensive course offerings from multiple professors across The Claremont Colleges. During any given semester, you can pick from over thirty courses in religious studies!
The intercollegiate program in religious studies particularly excels in the study of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism, and some of the most common concentrations include revolutionary movements, economics, politics, and gender, women, and sexuality.
What are some courses appropriate for first year students interested in exploring this field of study?
We recommend that you take some of the following courses during your first year at Scripps:
- Feminist Interpretations of the Bible
- God on Trial: Free Will and Evil
- Jesus, Paul, and Early Christian Sexualities
- Queer African Christianities
- Christianity, Capital, and Communism
- Introduction to Early Christianities
- New Testament and Christian Origins
If I decide to major or minor in this field, are there certain courses that need to be taken in a specific sequence?
No. The major has only three required courses: RLST 180, RLST 190, and RLST 191.
RLST 180 is an introduction to the academic study of religion that should ideally be taken in the first two years of study. It is offered every spring.
RLST 190 and RLST 191 are the senior seminar and senior thesis, which are completed in sequence during students’ senior year.
Can students who major or minor in this field complete a second major or minor (as a double major or a major/minor combination)? If so, what are some common pairings?
Religious studies allows double majors, and we encourages them! We also routinely have students minoring in religious studies, which requires RLST 180 and five more courses. The most popular pairings are with psychology, philosophy, politics, economics, anthropology, and English.
What other useful information should I know about this field of study?
Religious studies has the lowest unemployment rate, not just in the humanities, but among all disciplines within six months of graduation. It’s an excellent major for students preparing for law school, medical school, business school, or graduate school in other fields.
Students of religious studies are in high demand in many areas beyond what one might expect (such as religious leadership or teaching) because they are outstanding in developing creative solutions to complex problems.
Religious studies also has a strong tradition of critical–analytical thought, empowering and leading social change, and a firm commitment to social justice and empathetic advocacy for the oppressed. The major will help you fine-tune excellent communication skills and become a close reader of extremely complex ideas.
Scripps Catalog link to specific requirements for the major/minor:
https://colleges.claremont.edu/religious-studies/courses-and-requirements/
Link to profiles of faculty who teach in this field:
https://www.scrippscollege.edu/offices/profile/luis-josue-sales
Religious Studies is a cooperative program offered jointly by Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, Pomona, and Scripps Colleges. The program of study is designed to serve both as one focus of a liberal arts education and as a foundation for students planning to pursue the study of religion beyond the baccalaureate degree. Students may enroll in Religious Studies courses offered at any of the undergraduate colleges, and advanced students may, with permission, enroll in master’s-level courses in their area of specialization at Claremont Graduate University.
While offering a broadly based and inclusive program in the study of religion for all liberal arts students, the Religious Studies major affords the opportunity for more specialized work at the intermediate and advanced levels in particular historic religious traditions, geographical areas, philosophical and critical approaches, and thematic and comparative studies.
The Department of Religious Studies recognizes the importance and legitimacy of personal involvement in the study of religion, but it does not represent or advocate any particular religion as normative. Rather, the aim is to make possible an informed knowledge and awareness of the fundamental importance of the religious dimension in all human societies—globally and historically. In addition to preparing students for graduate study in religion, the multidisciplinary nature of the major affords students intellectual training to enter a variety of fields and careers. Recent graduates are, for example, in schools of law, medicine, and business. Others have careers in management, journalism and the media, college administration, primary and secondary education, government, and health and social services.
The Religious Studies major consists of 10 courses, including four courses in a specialized field, two integrative courses, three elective courses outside the specialized field, and a senior thesis. Specialized fields may, for example, consist of religious traditions (Asian, Western, Judaism), themes (Philosophy of Religion and Ethics, Gender and Women’s Studies), historical period (e.g. Religion in the Contemporary Period), and geographical area (e.g., Middle Eastern Studies, Religion in the Americas).
Language study appropriate to the specialized field and a period of study abroad when possible are strongly encouraged.