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Religious studies is an academic discipline that looks at religious phenomena worldwide from a variety of angles in order to understand the many roles that religion plays in human life. To this end, students of religion learn to use a variety of theoretical analyses and methods. These include historical methods to understand how religions develop in time; critical literary methods to understand religious ideas; aesthetic methods to understand religious art and material culture; social-scientific methods to understand the relationship between religion, society and culture. Religious studies can also engage a variety of professional disciplines in analysis of how religion functions in economic, educational or political contexts, healthcare and scientific research, to name some examples.

Some ways of studying religion emphasize understanding religions on their own terms, other ways use comparative methods to discern differences and similarities between religions. Students of religion also study ways that people use religious resources to make meaning outside the boundaries of religious institutions and identities. Above all, the field of religious studies requires a willingness to explore different ways of interpreting human life and diligent effort to develop understanding of how religious ideas, symbols, rituals and spaces serve as resources for people in a variety of contexts as they make sense of and live out their lives in the world. Thus, religious studies provides important preparation for thinking, communicating and functioning professionally and personally in a complex, multidimensional world.

Courses

Because religious studies is an interdisciplinary program drawing upon many departments, some courses may have prerequisites in their home departments that must be fulfilled even though the prerequisites themselves have no bearing on progress within the religious studies major. Students are responsible for ensuring that they have met all the prerequisites to enter a course before they enroll in it. The current list of courses can be found in the Religious Studies course list page in the Guide.

How to Get in

Students who wish to declare their intention to major in religious studies must meet with the undergraduate advisor during regular office hours or by making an appointment. Students are encouraged to do this early in their academic careers in order to plan for successful completion and take advantage of opportunities such as Honors, special research, internship, service learning, or study abroad opportunities in associate with the major or certificate.

Students declared in the Religious Studies certificate may not be declared in the Religious Studies major at the same time. Students who do wish to declare this major must first cancel their declaration in the certificate.

University General Education Requirements

All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.

General Education
  • Breadth—Humanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
  • Breadth—Natural Science: 4 to 6 credits, consisting of one 4- or 5-credit course with a laboratory component; or two courses providing a total of 6 credits
  • Breadth—Social Studies: 3 credits
  • Communication Part A Part B *
  • Ethnic Studies *
  • Quantitative Reasoning Part A Part B *

* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements.

College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science (BS)

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. The College of Letters & Science allows this major to be paired with either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree requirements.

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements

Mathematics Complete two courses of 3+ credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level in MATH, COMP SCI, or STAT subjects. A maximum of one course in each of COMP SCI and STAT subjects counts toward this requirement.
Language Complete the third unit of a language other than English.
LS Breadth Complete:
• 12 credits of Humanities, which must include at least 6 credits of Literature; and
• 12 credits of Social Science; and
• 12 credits of Natural Science, which must include 6 credits of Biological Science and 6 credits of Physical Science.
Liberal Arts and Science Coursework Complete at least 108 credits.
Depth of Intermediate/Advanced Coursework Complete at least 60 credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level.
Major Declare and complete at least one major.
Total Credits Complete at least 120 credits.
UW-Madison Experience Complete both:
• 30 credits in residence, overall, and
• 30 credits in residence after the 86th credit.
Quality of Work • 2.000 in all coursework at UW–Madison
• 2.000 in Intermediate/Advanced level coursework at UW–Madison

Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major

Non–L&S students who have permission from their school/college to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.

Requirements for the Major

Students must complete 30 credits in Religious Studies course work, to include: 
Gateway (Complete one course:)3
Religion in Global Perspective
Exploring Religion in Sickness and Health
Exploring Religion and Sexuality
Sacred Places and Journeys
Religion and Popular Culture-Local and Global
Middle Sequence15
America and Religions
Christianity: Interpretation and Practice
Women, Gender and Religion
Introduction to Buddhism
The Crusades: Christianity and Islam
Sects and Cults
Christianity and the Almighty Dollar
Classical Rabbinic Literature in Translation
Science, Medicine and Religion
Prophets of the Bible
Early Christian Literature: Matthew-Revelation
King David in History and Tradition
The American Jewish Life of DNA
Nordic Mythology
Anthropology of Religion
Jewish Literature of the Greco-Roman Period
Introduction to Taoism
Shamanism
Hinduism
The Sabbath
Islam, Science & Technology, and the Environment
Myth
The Anglo-Saxons
Early Christian Literature: Pauline Christianity
Islam: Religion and Culture
Great Cities of Islam
The Rhetoric of Religion
Topics in Religious Studies - Humanities
Topics in Religious Studies - Social Studies
Topics in Religious Studies-US Ethnic Studies
African American Religions
The Amish
Children and Religion in America
The Enlightenment and Its Critics
Islam in Africa and the Diaspora
Religious Studies Colloquium
Religion and Politics
Milton
Jewish Philosophy from Antiquity to the Seventeenth Century
Poverty, Ecology and the Arts: St. Francis of Assisi
Introduction to Sufism (Islamic Mysticism)
Buddhist Thought
Meditation in Indian Buddhism and Hinduism
Religion, Global and Public Health
Art and Religious Practice in Medieval Japan
Advanced Topics in Religious Studies
Philosophy of Religion
Religion and Public Education
Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean
Proseminar in Buddhist Thought
Capstone
RELIG ST 600 Religion in Critical Perspective3
Electives: Any course from RELIG ST 100 through 6999
Total Credits30

Residence and Quality of Work

  • 2.000 GPA in all RELIG ST and major courses
  • 2.000 GPA on 15 Upper-Level credits for the major, taken in residence1
  • 15 credits in RELIG ST or the major, taken on campus
1

Courses counting as upper-level in the major are any RELIG ST courses at the Intermediate or Advanced level. 

Honors in the Major

Students may declare Honors in the Major in consultation with the Religious Studies undergraduate advisor.

Honors in the Major Requirements

To earn Honors in the Major, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major (above) and these additional requirements:

  • Minimum 3.300 University GPA
  • Minimum 3.500 GPA in all RELIG ST and all major courses
  • Complete 12 credits, taken for Honors, with individual grades of B or better, to include:

University Degree Requirements 

Total Degree To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements.
Residency Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs.
Quality of Work Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Proficiency in close reading, interpretation, and written and oral analysis.
  2. Proficiency in accessing, appraising, and utilizing a variety of resources and methods for research across disciplinary lines.
  3. Proficiency in categorizing, analyzing and comparing diverse systems of value and belief in a variety of contexts.
  4. Global and local religious literacy; identifying, evaluating, and interpreting the interrelationships and impact of religious worldviews and communities in Wisconsin, the United States and globally.
  5. Ability to conduct and present sustained research on primary sources using methodologies/analysis of religious studies culminating in the senior capstone project.

Four-Year Plan

This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
RELIG ST 101, 102, 103, 104, or 1053RELIG ST course meeting Literature Breadth13
Communication A3RELIG ST elective3
Quantitative Reasoning A3-4Biological Science Breadth3
Foreign Language (if needed)4Social Science Breadth3
Elective3Elective3
 16 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
RELIG ST course with Literature Breadth13RELIG ST/​ILS  234 or 236 (meets Communication B requirement)3
Quantitative Reasoning B3RELIG ST/​FOLKLORE  352, 403, or 404 (meets Ethnic Studies requirement)3
Social Science Breadth 3Physical Science Breadth3
Elective4I/A COMP SCI, MATH or STAT (if needed for BS)3
INTER-LS 2101Elective4
 14 16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
RELIG ST Elective (numbered 300 or above)6RELIG ST Elective (numbered 300 or above)9
Social Science Breadth3Science Breadth3
I/A COMP SCI, MATH or STAT (if needed for BS)3Social Science Breadth3
Elective4
 16 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
RELIG ST 6003RELIG ST Electives 6
RELIG ST Elective (numbered 300 or above)3Elective9
Science Breadth3 
Electives4 
 13 15
Total Credits 120
1

Consult the Course Search & Enroll tool for a comprehensive list of RELIG ST courses designated for Literature Breadth.

Advising and Careers

Advising

Dr. Corrie Norman is the undergraduate advisor and Honors in the Major advisor. Contact her by email at cenorman@wisc.edu to meet with her. Students are encouraged to meet with Dr. Norman early in their academic careers in order to plan for successful completion and take advantage of opportunities such as Honors, special research, internship, service learning or study abroad opportunities in associate with the major or certificate. 

Careers

Religious studies engages a variety of professional disciplines and provides important preparation for thinking, communicating, and functioning professionally in a complex, multi-dimensional world.

Religious studies sponsors workshops and other career exploration vehicles, often in collaboration with SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science, to aid students in articulating the value of religious studies for their career preparation. Student-developed capstone projects in religious studies often make specific connections to experiential learning and career preparation in a range of fields. Talk with Dr. Norman about possibilities for combining internships and other forms of preprofessional training with the major and certificate.

L&S Career Resources

Every L&S major opens a world of possibilities.  SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps students turn the academic skills learned in their major, certificates, and other coursework into fulfilling lives after graduation, whether that means jobs, public service, graduate school or other career pursuits.

In addition to providing basic support like resume reviews and interview practice, SuccessWorks offers ways to explore interests and build career skills from their very first semester/term at UW all the way through graduation and beyond.

Students can explore careers in one-on-one advising, try out different career paths, complete internships, prepare for the job search and/or graduate school applications, and connect with supportive alumni and even employers in the fields that inspire them.

People

Professors

Bell, Bowie, Brenner, Bühnemann, Chamberlain, Cohen, Dale, DuBois, Dunne, Gade, Hansen, Hardin, Hildner, Howard, Hsia, Koshar, Langer, Livorni, Louden, Nadler, Ohnuki-Tierney, Phillips, Rosenblum, Schenck, Schweber, Stanford Friedman, Thompson, Wandel, Wink, Wolf, Zaeske

Associate Professors

Beneker, Cerulli, Hutton, Livanos, Ridgely, Shelef, Shoemaker, Thal, Todorovic

Assistant Professors

Chamedes, Hollander, Pruitt, Rock-Singer, Stern

Distinguished Faculty Associate

Brown

Faculty Associates

Mellor, Norman, Rosenhagen

Associate Faculty Associate

Whelan

Lecturer

Carlsson

Faculty Diversity Liaison

Program Director Rosenblum