Requirements for a B.A. in Religious Studies
A major or minor in religious studies is recommended both for students interested in religious education and/or church ministry, and for those wishing to augment their academic background in the area to support the liberal arts dimension of their chosen professional career (e.g., law, medical, business).
Students who plan to pursue a degree in Religious Studies must formally apply and be admitted as a major as soon as possible upon completion of 30 semester hours, at least 15 of which must be from the University o the Incarnate Word. To be eligible for admission to the RELS major, a student must have at least a 2.25 cumulative GPA. Without special arrangement, RELS courses taken before 1980 or courses taken at a state institution will not fulfill the 36-hour requirement or a major. Lower division classes are at the 1000 and 2000 levels,, and upper division classes are at the 3000 and 4000 levels.
Undergraduate Certificate in Religious Studies
A certificate in Religious Studies will be awarded to students who complete 18 semester hours of Religious Studies coursework, including 1345, 2320 or 2350 and 3345.
33 semester hours
1. 15 semester hours
Biblical Studies (3 semester hours)
RELS 1320 Biblical Themes, or RELS 2330 Hebrew Scriptures, or RELS 2350 Gospel and Acts
Theological Studies (3 semester hours)
RELS 1310 Introduction to Theology, or RELS 1340 Understanding Catholicism
Christianity and Culture (9 semester hours)
RELS 1360 Christian Ethics
RELS 1355 History of Christianity
RELS 3345 World Religions
2. 18 semester hours (15 hours must be upper division, including at least one from each of the following areas below)
Biblical Studies
RELS 1345 Biblical Themes
RELS 2320 Hebrew Scriptures
RELS 2350 Gospel and Acts
RELS 3310 Pauline Literature
Theological Studies
RELS 1310 Introduction to Theology
RELS 3300 The Religious Quest
RELS 3399 Contemporary Issues
RELS 3340 Feminist Theology
RELS 3350 Environmental Theology and Ethics
RELS 4320 Latino/a Theology and Culture
RELS 4360 Theologies of Liberation
Christianity and Culture
RELS 1340 Understanding Catholicism
RELS 2329 Religious Movements in the United States
RELS 2330 Religion, Values, and Film [new course]
RELS 3305 Catholic Social Teachings
RELS 3335 God and Human Sexuality
RELS 4300 Women and Faith
RELS 4310 Women in the Christian Tradition
RELS 4330 Death and Belief
Worship and Spirituality
RELS 1375 Prayer and Spirituality
RELS 2320 Latino/a Spirituality
RELS 3320 Christian Symbols and Celebrations
RELS 3322 Christianity through Art
RELS 3325 Arts for Christian Worship
RELS Christian Worship
RELS 4362 Lay Leadership of Public Prayer
3. RELS 3349 Field Education (under the direction of UIW RELS Faculty) is recommended.
4. 6 semester hours of Philosophy is recommended.
Recommended Sequence of Courses in the Major
First Year (6 to 9 hours)
RELS 1310 or 1340
RELS 2320, 2350 or 1320
Second Year (9 to 12 hours)
RELS 1355
RELS 1360
RELS 3310
RELS 3340
Third Year (9 to 12 hours)
RELS 3322 or 3320
RELS 3310
RELS 4360 or 3399
RELS 4320
Fourth Year (9 to 12 hours)
RELS 4310 or 4300
RELS 3350 or 3305
RELS 3335
RELS 3345
