The Major in Religion:
The Religion major at Seton Hall University is based on a broad liberal education, using the study of religion as a central focus in understanding human history, thought and aesthetic experience. With a concentration in the Catholic Christian tradition, the major in Religion can also be the basis for further study and work in religious education, particularly in Catholic parishes. Seton Hall’s chapter of Theta Alpha Kappa, the national honor society in religious studies, affords our majors other opportunities to expand their education beyond the classroom. The Department of Religion’s faculty members have doctoral degrees from many of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions, including Princeton, Duke, Temple and Emory universities; The Catholic University; New York University; The University of St. Michael’s College in Toronto; and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. In recent years, faculty members have been invited to teach as visiting faculty at such institutions as The Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, Princeton University, St. John’s University, the École Biblique in Jerusalem and the Gadjah Mada University in Indonesia.
The major in Religion offers courses in four areas: (1) biblical studies/scripture, (2) Christian tradition/ecumenical theology, (3) Comparative Religion, and (4) Religious and Social Ethics. After taking two introductory courses (6 credits) and RELS 2010: Methods in the Study of Religion and Theology (3 credits), students choose a concentration in one of the department’s four areas. Religion must take one advanced course from each of the four major areas of study (12 credits). At least one of these courses must be at the 3000 level. In order to ensure depth of study, majors complete two additional advanced courses (6 credits) in one of the four major areas of study, at least one of which must be at the 3000 level. They conclude their major with RELS 4010, the Capstone Seminar (3 credits).
The awarding of a Bachelor of Arts in Religion requires a total of 30 credits completed in the major, including the Methods in the Study of Religion and Theology course and the Capstone Seminar, as well as the completion of the College of Arts and Sciences core requirements. To talk to a faculty adviser, contact Dr. KC Choi, acting chair of the Department of Religion, at kijoo.choi@shu.edu or (973) 761-9480. .
PLEASE NOTE: As of Fall 2014, Religion majors may take 2-3 classes (6-9 credits) in other departments to meet program requirements. The courses listed below are acceptable for the program requirement specified; other courses may be approved by the department on a case-by-case basis. Courses taken outside the Religion Department can count for upper level (i.e., 2xxx, 3xxx) electives only. Courses outside the Department do not substitute for Rels. 2010 or Rels. 4010.
The following courses have been approved for inclusion in the Religion major (additional courses may be approved by the Religion Department chair on a case-by-case-basis):
- SOCI 3816: West African Derived Religions in the Americas in Dialogue with Catholicism
- SOCI 2412: The Sociology of Religion
- ANTH 2412: Anthropology of Religion
- PSYCH 1223: Psychology of Religion [only as elective]
- PSYC 3330: Neuropsychology of Religious Experience
- DIPL 3851: Religion, Law and War
- DIPL 3850: Church, State and Politics in Latin America
- POLS 3412: Church-State-Law-Pol in US
- POLS 3611: Political Ferment-Mid East
- POLS 3101: Catholics in the Political Process
- POLS 3696: Philanthropy and Christianity
The Minor in Religion:
To earn a minor in Religion, students must complete the following program:
- Two introductory RELS courses (6 credits)
- Three 2000 or 3000 level courses (9 credits). (RELS 2411, 2415, and/or 2418 may not count as upper level courses if used to fulfill the introductory level courses)
- RELS 2010 Methods in the Study of Religion and Theology (3 credits)