Welcome to Religious Studies at NDSU
Our program and courses examine religious traditions as historical and cultural phenomena. We offer a Religious Studies minor, general education courses, and electives.
100-level courses introduce students to the field of religious studies and major world religions. 200-level courses apply approaches of religious studies either to topics relevant to multiple traditions or to specific texts, rituals, or other cultural artifacts. 300-level courses offer in-depth examinations of religious traditions. 400-level courses require rigorous engagement with major approaches and theories of religious studies.
Objectives for the Minor in Religious Studies
- Cultivate foundational knowledge of the history, rituals, scriptures, and beliefs of major world religions.
- Critically interpret representations of religious movements and religious conflict found in popular culture, the arts, and news media.
- Analyze the complex historical, political, and cultural backgrounds of global and historical religious movements and conflicts.
- Comprehend how religion can foment both social justice and acts of violence, complacency and rebellion, liberation movements and imperialism, compassion and tyranny.
- Apply historical, anthropological, sociological, and literary methods to religious phenomena, including texts, images, material objects, institutions, theologies, and movements.
- Respectfully debate the role of religion in public life and politics.
Faculty
Requirements for the Religious Studies minor
The minor requires 18 credits, 9 of which must be at the 300-400 level. RELS 100: World Religions is required. Courses taken at Concordia College or Minnesota State University-Moorhead may count toward the minor, subject to pre-approval by religious studies faculty. Courses relevant to Religious Studies within other NDSU departments may also be eligible, subject to pre-approval. A minimum of 9 credits must be taken at NDSU. The minor cirriculum guide can be found here.
For advice on the distribution of the remainder of the electives consult with religious studies faculty, Anne Blankenship and/or Sean Burt.
Religious Studies course descriptions