The Religious Studies Program is designed to meet the needs of three classes of students: (1) students planning to pursue advanced degrees in the academic study of religion or allied disciplines or sub-disciplines (e.g., history of religions, religion and literature, religion and psychology, ethics, theology, area studies); (2) students seeking courses on topics relating to religion to fulfill distribution requirements: and (3) students desiring a more systematic exposure to the academic study of religion as a significant component of a liberal arts education.

To all students, our program offers an excellent opportunity to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the complex ways in which religious traditions inform human thought and behavior. The courses offered through our program are built on the established scholarly tradition of the study of religion as an academic, as opposed to confessional, pursuit. Religious traditions are explored in all of their complexity through comparative, contextual (in specific historical or cultural contexts), and thematic studies.

The program also hosts lectures, conferences, symposia, and periodic social gatherings for faculty members and students throughout the academic year to foster a sense of intellectual community.

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