Religious Studies, BA

  • Lucas Sweeney, religious studies major

    RESEARCH REWARDED:   Lucas Sweeney, class of 2014, has twice won the Thomas Schaub Religious Studies Essay Contest. “Both projects helped me further refine my writing skills and challenged me to analyze numerous theological beliefs, scriptures, and practices to create a solidified and scholarly argument.”

    Taylor Jones, student

    Professor Inspired a Wish to See Cultures

    “Professor Stuart Chandler’s inspiring stories of traveling pushed me to want to study abroad. I’m grateful that he mentioned the program on Jainism. Otherwise I never would've had this experience.”

    Taylor Jones, Class of 2015, Religious Studies and Dietetics double major, spent a month in India staying in a Jain temple and taking a course on Jainism

    Given the impact of religious power, studying it is crucial

    Because religion is believed to be the most powerful and widespread force in the world, the Religious Studies bachelor’s degree program will help you understand the relationship between religion and politics, economics, and social structures.

    • Learn about the faiths, world views, and ways of life of people all over the world.
    • Receive a balanced, nonsectarian, cross-cultural perspective leading to a better understanding of the phenomenon of religion in human experience.
    • Develop critical thinking and analytical skills, public speaking, and cross-cultural communication.
    • Gain experience in factual description, comparative and critical analysis, and historical judgment.
    • Enhance your knowledge of cultural diversity and the complexity of diverse world views.
    • Prepare for professions as ministers, priests, rabbis, or careers in international relations and development, religious education, religious journalism, and religious broadcasting.
    • Strengthen your education by complementing a BA in Religious Studies to majors in such fields as anthropology, English, fine arts, history, international studies, music, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology.

    We believe in real-world experience. That’s why we recommend that all of our majors get internships. If you work hard, we will make sure you get an internship that challenges you.

  • Religious Studies Department
  • Humanities and Social Sciences Building
    Room 505
    981 Grant Street
    Indiana, PA 15705
  • Phone: 724-357-1360
  • Fax: 724-357-4039
  • Office Hours
  • Monday through Friday
  • 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
  • 1:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.