Religion

Khalid Blankinship, Chair

617 Anderson Hall
kblankin@temple.edu
215-204-4745

Vasiliki Limberis, Undergraduate Chair and Faculty Advisor
631 Anderson Hall
limberis@temple.edu
215-204-5543

Gayle Schooley, Administrator

gaylehs@temple.edu

215-204-7210

Anderson Hall, Room 615
215-204–7973
www.temple.edu/religion

Religion is a pervasive, powerful, multifaceted, and enduring dimension of human experience.  Religions have shaped complex cultures and countless individual lives.  They are influential in the world today and will continue to be so in the future.  The academic study of religion is multidisciplinary, drawing upon approaches from history, literary studies, philosophy, and the social sciences.  It is multicultural, exploring the beliefs, practices, and development of particular religious communities in many different cultures.

The Bachelor of Arts in Religion is a solid Liberal Arts degree, providing graduates with the knowledge base and the intellectual, analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills essential to succeed in any career. The faculty and course offerings provide an introduction to the major religions of the world, with an emphasis upon the comparison of traditions and their encounter with one another. Instruction is offered in African and African American religions, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Daoism. Employment Prospects after graduation with the Bachelor's degree include the fields of Journalism and Communications, Social Work, Ministry/Chaplaincy, Pre-Law, Pre-Med/Health Services, Government/FBI, NGO's, Hospice/End-of-Life Care, International Enterprise, Education, Academic Research, Human Resources, Tourism and Hospitality.

Summary of Degree Requirements

1. University Requirements:

• Mathematics 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or English 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.
• All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. See below for a list of the specific courses required for your major.
• Students must complete requirements of the General Education (GenEd) Program. See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for more details.

2. College of Liberal Arts Requirements:

• Completion of a minimum of 123 credits, including: 90 credits in CLA/CST courses, 45 credits of which must be at the upper level (numbered 2000-4999). For Humanities majors, 6 upper level credits must be earned in the Social Sciences: African American Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Asian Studies, Criminal Justice, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography and Urban Studies, History, Jewish Studies, Latin American Studies, Mathematical Economics, Neuroscience: Systems, Behavior and Plasticity, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Women's Studies , or any department in the College of Science and Technology.

• A minimum GPA of 2.0, cumulatively, in all CLA/CST coursework, and in the major.
• Only courses in which a student receives a grade of at least C- can satisfy GenEd, major, minor, or CLA Foreign Language and Global Studies requirements.

3. Foreign Language/Global Studies Requirements:

1) All students must complete the second level of a foreign language;

2) All students must complete at least one course from the GenEd Global/World Society category; and

3) All students must complete one of the following options:

• Third level of a foreign language;
• Demonstrated proficiency in a foreign language;
• A second General Education Global/World Society course;
• Study Abroad at an approved program; or
• Take one Global Studies course from the list on the CLA College Graduation Requirements page.

4. Major Requirements: Ten courses in Religion  (30-31 s.h.)

• Specifically required courses: Religion 1001 and 4096
• Select one writing-intensive course from: Religion 2496 or 2596
• Select two non-Western courses from: Religion 2101, 2102, 2201, 2702, 3101, 3201, 3301, 3302, 3701, and 3702
• Electives in Religion (may not double-count with any of the above requirements):

- Two electives at any level, 0800-4999;

- Three upper-level electives numbered 2000-4999.

5. General electives vary according to a student's individual program of study. Consult your academic advisor for more information.

Requirements for the Major

*Restricted to Religion majors only and minors with permission of instructor.  Students must have completed at least five courses in the major prior to taking the capstone.

All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses. The specific writing-intensive courses required for this major are listed above and are identified by "WI" in the Attribute column.

Transfer students: No more than five religion courses taken at other institutions may be accepted for the major. The director of undergraduate studies must determine that these meet the standards of the Religion major.

Requirements for the Minor

A minor in Religion has the same objectives and offers the same kinds of opportunities for learning as the major, in a program designed for students concentrating in another academic field. It consists of:

Distinction in Major in Religion

For graduation with Distinction in Major, an overall GPA of 3.25 is required with 3.5 in Religion courses.

Suggested Semester-by-Semester plan