Dec 11, 2024  
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Religious Studies, B.A.

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The B.A. degree in religious studies is appropriate for a general liberal arts education and for preprofessional training leading to graduate degrees in religious studies, law, theology or other areas of the humanities.

Departmental courses are offered in four areas: philosophical studies of religious ideas and values, historical studies of religious movements and institutions, social-scientific studies of religious beliefs and behavior, and textual studies of religious traditions and scriptures. A well-balanced program of undergraduate study includes courses from each of these four areas. Students planning to undertake Ph.D. work in religious studies are strongly encouraged to take the major with departmental distinction  and to complete 12 credit hours in either French or German.

A total of 30 credit hours are required in the department, and 24 hours must be completed in courses numbered at the 3000 level and above. Students may earn a B.A. in religious studies with specializations in Asian religions, Christian tradition, or religion and culture.

SMU Degree Requirements

An SMU undergraduate degree requires a minimum of 120 credit hours and must include completion of the University’s Common Curriculum , one major and a combination of electives and/or other majors or minors. Completion of certain majors requires more than 120 hours to finish the degree. The credit hours within this curriculum are distributed as follows:

Requirements for the Major

Core Courses (9 Credit Hours)

One course from the following:

One course from the following:

One course from the following:

(if not taken for the above requirements)

Elective Courses (21 Credit Hours)

For students who are not specializing in Asian religions, Christian tradition, or religion and culture:

Seven RELI courses, at least five of which must be at the 3000 level and above , chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.

Asian Religions Specialization (9 Credit Hours)

Any course used to satisfy the core requirements in the major cannot also count toward the specialization.

Required Course

One course from the following, whichever was not taken to satisfy the core requirements:

Elective Courses

Two courses from the following, whichever were not taken to satisfy the core requirements:

Additional Elective Courses (12 Credit Hours)

Four RELI courses that meet the major distribution requirements regarding course level (i.e. 24 credit hours at the 3000 level and above ), chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.

Christian Tradition Specialization (9 Credit Hours)

Any course used to satisfy the core requirements in the major cannot also count toward the specialization.

Required Course

One course from the following, whichever was not taken to satisfy the core requirements:

Elective Courses

Two courses from the following, whichever were not taken to satisfy the core requirements:

Additional Elective Courses (12 Credit Hours)

Four RELI courses, at least two of which must be at the 3000 level and above , chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.

Religion and Culture Specialization (9 Credit Hours)

Any course used to satisfy the core requirements in the major cannot also count toward the specialization.

Required Course

Elective Courses

Two courses from the following, whichever were not taken to satisfy the core requirements:

Additional Elective Courses (12 Credit Hours)

Four RELI courses, at least two of which must be at the 3000 level and above , chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.

Total for the Major Only: 30 Credit Hours

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