RELST:BA - Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies
Download as PDF
Academic Progression Requirements
Students are admitted directly to their chosen major at the university. Students are expected to make good progress based on critical indicators that include course completion and GPA requirements. In cases where students are not making successful progress, a change of major may be required. Academic advisors work with students to identify an appropriate major where a student will be successful in completing an undergraduate degree.
Common Prerequisite Courses
There are no specified common prerequisites for this degree. All Florida College System students are encouraged to take several religion courses with the REL prefix. All are encouraged to complete the Associate in Arts degree. Recommended Courses: Religion, Philosophy, History, and Anthropology.
For information about state-approved common prerequisites and alternatives for other programs, visit https://cpm.flvc.org.
The major in religious studies requires 36 credit hours with a grade of "C" or better.
A course that introduces students to the world's great religious traditions as well as various multicultural approaches and interdisciplinary approaches in the study of religion.
One course in each of the following areas in order to develop an awareness of the breadth of the field and provide a foundation for more specialized studies:
-- Abrahamic Religions
-- Asian Religions
-- Indigenous and Other Religious Traditions
-- Society, Culture and Ethics
Consult with advisor regarding which courses meet each distribution requirement.
Including at least 12 or more credits in Religious Studies and up to 6 credits in related studies, aimed at building in depth knowledge of a particular area, theme or tradition. Related studies are selected from courses in Art History, English, History, Humanities, International Relations, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology/Anthropology, or other appropriate departments.
A senior or capstone seminar covering advanced methodology in the study of religion.
The Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs and the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education require for the bachelor’s degree that a student take at least nine hours outside the major discipline, of which six hours must be taken outside the major department. Students select their required courses in Religious Studies with the approval of the Undergraduate Program Director. Students are also encouraged to consider a dual major ( i.e., simultaneously) to meet the requirements of two academic majors.
Admissions Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Religious Studies
See general university admissions requirements at FIU Admissions.
Admissions Requirements for the Combined BA in Religious Studies to Master of Arts (MA) in Religious Studies Accelerated Degree Pathway
To be considered for admission to the bachelor’s/master’s accelerated degree pathway, students must have completed at least 75 credits in the bachelor’s degree program at FIU and meet the admissions criteria for the graduate degree program to which they are applying. Students need only apply once to the accelerated degree pathway; the application is submitted to Graduate Admissions typically before the student starts the last 30 credits of the bachelor’s degree pathway.
Admissions Requirements
--Current enrollment in the bachelor’s degree program in Religious Studies, or any humanities major that allows at least 12 hours of electives.
--Current GPA must be 3.4 or higher.
--Two letters of recommendation.
--Approval of the Graduate Committee.
--Submission of acceptable writing sample, complete with bibliography, to Turnitin.com.
Honors Program in Religious Studies (BA)
Requirements:
(a) To earn the BA with Honors in Religious Studies, a student must maintain a 3.5 GPA in religious studies courses.
(b) Candidates for the BA with Honors in Religious Studies will complete the same requirements as for the BA major with one exception: among the “Focus Courses,” 21-semester hours of course work will be taken plus 3 semester hours of “Religious Studies Research,” during which a thesis or honors paper will be proposed, researched, written and defended orally.
(c) In the semester prior to graduation, the student will enroll in course, in which he/she will expand a term paper into an honors paper/thesis, or will begin a thesis anew, under the direction of an appropriate member of the Religious Studies faculty.
(d) When the thesis is approved by the faculty member, the coordinator of course will organize and schedule a defense of the honors paper/thesis, at which time the student will present his/her research and will respond to questions from faculty and students. This requirement will be deemed to have been met upon a majority positive vote of faculty.
(e) The honors paper/baccalaureate thesis normally would be approximately 25-35 pages, must be presented according to FIU regulations (available in the department office), and will be deposited in the FIU Library. The honors paper/thesis must demonstrate that the student has mastered skills in defining a topic, research, and expository writing, as well as oral skills required for the presentation and defense of the honors paper/thesis.
Other Curricular Offering: Combined BA in Religious Studies to MA in Religious Studies Accelerated Degree Pathway
A student admitted to the BA/MA accelerated degree pathway will be considered to have undergraduate status until the student applies for graduation from their bachelor’s degree program. Upon conferral of the bachelor’s degree, the student will be granted graduate status and be eligible for graduate assistantships. Only 5000-level or higher courses, and no more than the number of credits specified by the program catalog, may be applied toward both degrees.
Requirements
Completed BA at FIU including:
--course Religious Studies Seminar or course Methods in the Study of Religion
At least two of the following three core courses:
--course Advanced Fieldwork in Religious Studies
--course Seminar in Sacred Texts
--course Modern Analysis of Religion
Three or six additional hours of graduate credit in Religious Studies (for majors, graduate level enrollment in three or six hours of Focus Courses) must also be taken as graduate courses. The total number of graduate hours taken concurrently with the BA should be 12 credit hours.
Required for the MA
The remaining core course (if not already taken).
--A four-course track, either in one religious tradition, or one theme across religious traditions, approved by the Graduate Director.
--Six credits of electives selected from the Religious Studies Graduate Course Offerings.
--Six hours of thesis or six additional hours from the Religious Studies Graduate Course Offerings.
All courses must be completed with a grade of “B” or above.
There are no majors associated with this program.