Peter Paik, Associate Professor of French, Italian & CompLit., Director
Judith Beall, Adj. Asst. Prof., Asst. Director

The interdisciplinary major in the Religious Studies draws on the resources of UWM faculty members with a teaching and research interest in religion. This program provides students with a broad humanistic background in religion and an opportunity to develop special concentrations in specific areas of interest. There is no sectarian program of instruction. Rather, faculty bring to their teaching the special academic characteristics of their own scholarly disciplines, and majors in the program draw upon a wide sample of those academic traditions. Thus, such subjects as the history and philosophy of religion and religion in art and literature are included in this program. Religious Studies includes the major components of world religions, in particular Buddhist, Christian, Classical Greek and Roman, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, African, and American Indian.

Religious Studies serves students seeking a broadly humanistic program, those who are pursuing a wide range of pre-professional education programs, those anticipating teaching careers at the secondary or higher educational level, and those who will undertake further study for the religious ministry.

Course of Study: Major

The Religious Studies major requires 33 credits, including at least 18 in upper-division courses (numbered 300 and above) of which at least 15 must be taken in residence at UWM. In satisfying these requirements, students must select courses from at least three different departments. These 33 credits must be distributed as follows:

I. Introductory Courses: Religion in Human Experience (9 credits) - Select three of the following courses, from at least two different departments: Go To List

II. Approaches to the Study of Religion (6 credits) - Select two of the following courses: Go To List

III: Electives (18 credits) Section I and II courses not selected to satisfy those requirements may count as electives. Go To List
  1. All majors are required to complete at least 18 additional credits beyond their sections I and II courses on one or more religious traditions or topical areas related to the study of religion. Twelve of these 18 credits must be numbered 300 or above.

  2. All students must complete a research experience in their major. This requirement may be met by any one of the following options:

    1. Hist 600, Seminar in History: (Subtitle), with research conducted on a religion-related topic;
    2. For students with additional major(s), upper-level research seminar in the additional major that focuses on a religion-related topic;
    3. 3-credit independent study on a religion-related topic;
    4. Senior thesis in another program/department on a religion-related topic.

    In all cases, the Religious Studies director must approve the topic to satisfy the research requirement. Majors are required to file the appropriate research/capstone approval form prior to completion of their research/capstone course.

    Students with a double major need only fulfill one of the above to complete the research requirement for both majors. In other words, a student double majoring in History and Religious Studies may complete the requirement for both areas by taking History 600 and working on a religion-related topic for the research paper. All double majors may fulfill the requirement by completing a research project, whether in a course or in an independent study, that focuses on questions of religion.

  3. Relevant language courses above the second semester will be counted as electives toward the Religious Studies major. Relevant languages depend on the student's primary concentrations in religious studies but potentially include Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, German, Spanish, French, Italian, or other languages with approval of the director. Majors must file the appropriate forms with the director to receive approval for language courses.

Course Criteria

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