Religious Studies

Requirements for the Religious Studies Minor are listed in our digital Undergraduate Catalog.

View Minor Requirements

In the Religious Studies minor, you'll explore matters such as:

• the philosophical ideas of St. Augustine, Ogotemmeli, and Nagarjuna; the moral values of Confucius, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King
• religious communities such as the Buddhist sangha, medieval monasticism, and African American churches
• artistic accomplishments such as Navajo sandpaintings, Hindu temples, and earthworks of contemporary artists
• myths such as the Zuni creation account, the Mahabharata, and Hebrew stories about their ancestors found in the Bible
• rituals such as the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, Haitian possession rituals, and the Jewish Passover.

The Religious Studies program contributes significantly to several majors at Alfred University, most notably, Philosophy. Philosophy of Religion is one of two tracks in the philosophy major. Faculty in religious studies have joined with anthropology and non-western art history to create other impactful major-minor combinations.

Because religious beliefs, rituals and values bear upon all aspects of human life, the study of religions complements majors in many areas. The study of religions contributes to careers in humanities, social sciences, and the arts and it enhances career opportunities in such diverse areas as international affairs, journalism, business, social work, counseling, communications, the health professions, education, and, of course, the ministry. Therefore students in many parts of the university minor in religious studies.