Religious Studies
The religious studies major sparks curiosity of religions and cultures globally.
About Our Religious Studies Degree
The religious studies major at Valpo helps you understand the world – and yourself – on a deeper level. The curriculum explores religions globally, encompassing Christianity and other religious traditions, with courses in history, philosophy, sacred texts, and more.
Students of all backgrounds are invited to examine the complex nature of religion and its role in our interconnected world today. By studying different faiths and engaging with life’s big questions, you’ll gain insight into who you are and how you see the world, as well as cultures around the globe.
There are 40+ religious studies courses available for undergraduate students at Valpo, exploring religions globally. Learn more about the religious studies major requirements (minimum 28 credits):
Core Requirements
Core Requirements (8 Cr.)
- REL 100 – Religion and Society – 3 Cr.
- REL 300 – Human Experience and Faith Expression: Theories and Methods – 3 Cr.
- REL 493 – Senior Seminar in Religious Studies – 2 Cr.
Distribution Requirements (6 Cr.)
- REL 201 – Survey of Biblical Literature – 3 Cr.
- REL 201WIC – Survey of Biblical Literature – 3 Cr.
- REL 202 – Reading the Bible Across Culture & Time – 3 Cr.
- REL 202WIC – Reading the Bible across Culture & Time – 3 Cr.
- REL 221 – Christianity – 3 Cr.
- REL 223 – Judaism – 3 Cr.
- REL 225 – Islam – 3 Cr.
- REL 225WIC – Islam – 3 Cr.
- REL 231 – Hinduism – 3 Cr.
- REL 235 – World Religions – 3 Cr.
- REL 251 – Christian Theology and the Moral Life – 3 Cr.
Electives (Minimum 14 Cr.)
- REL 301 – Creation Narratives: Interfaith Conversations about Origins – 3 Cr.
- REL 302 – Apocalyptic Literature: From the Bible to Modern Dystopias – 3 Cr.
- REL 303 – Prophetic Preaching: Past and Present – 3 Cr.
- REL 307 – The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth – 3 Cr.
- REL 311 – Quranic Studies – 3 Cr.
- REL 314 – Hindu Sacred Texts and Motifs – 3 Cr.
- REL 315 – Narratives of Love in South Asian Literature – 3 Cr.
- REL 322 – To the Ends of the Earth: Christian Missions and Culture to 1500 – 3 Cr.
- REL 323 – Christian Mysticism and Spirituality – 3 Cr.
- REL 325 – Luther and the Age of Reformations – 3 Cr.
- REL 327 – Topics in Christian Liturgy – 3 Cr.
- REL 331 – Islamic Law – 3 Cr.
- REL 334 – South Asian Rituals and Performances – 3 Cr.
- REL 335 – Sacred Geographies – 3 Cr.
- REL 336 – Modernity, Migration, & the Merging of Cultures – 3 Cr.
- REL 337 – Philosophy of Religion – 3 Cr.
- REL 338 – Human Nature: Religious & Philosophical Perspectives – 3 Cr.
- REL 351 – The Bible and Politics – 3 Cr.
- REL 352 – Heroines and Harlots: Women in the Bible – 3 Cr.
- REL 354 – Muslim Identity in Media and Literature – 3 Cr.
- REL 356 – Calling and Purpose in Religious Traditions – 3 Cr.
- REL 357 – Bioethics – 3 Cr.
- REL 358 – Ethics, Morality, and Justice: Religious and Philosophical Perspectives – 3 Cr.
- REL 359 – Disability, Society, & Culture – 3 Cr.
- REL 361 – Christianity and the World in Crisis – 3 Cr.
- REL 362 – The Secular & the Sacred in Modern Life – 3 Cr.
- REL 365 – Anthropology of the Body – 3 Cr.
- REL 366 – Bollywood Movies: Religion, Popular Culture, and Society – 3 Cr.
- REL 385 – Care of Self, Care of Others – 3 Cr.
- REL 386 – Practicum in Ministry – 1 Cr.
- REL 390 – Topics in Religious Studies – 3 Cr.
- REL 495 – Supervised Reading and Research in Religious Studies – 1 Cr.
- REL 497 – Honors Work in Religious Studies – 3 Cr.
- REL 498 – Honors Candidacy in Religious Studies – 3 Cr.
Valpo offers many ways for students to grow in leadership, service, and faith. Students who are interested in ministry can participate in the weekly Christian Formation and Leadership Symposium and apply for the University’s Allen Scholars Program. Religious studies students are also regularly selected for internships through the Calling and Purpose in Society (CAPS) Fellows Program, organized by Valpo’s Institute for Leadership and Service. These opportunities help students deepen their faith, develop practical skills, and prepare for lives of purpose and leadership.
Students in religious studies at Valpo have rich opportunities for experiential learning, supported by the University’s long-standing foundation of lived faith. With campus partners such as the Division of Calling and Spiritual Life, students are invited to observe different ways of worshipping, leading, and serving. Students visit places of worship in the local community, including a Buddhist temple, Christian churches, a Hindu temple, an Islamic Center, and a Sikh Gurudvara. Workshops on meditation, prayer, and other religious practices offer insight into religion as a lived experience. Campus programming, including panels and conferences, also provides opportunities to learn about different faiths through dialogue and discussion.
Additionally, involvement in the local community is an integral part of the religious studies curriculum. Students engage with local nonprofits and learn about individuals, community, service, and leadership.
Upcoming Admission Events
religious studies
Program Rankings & Highlights
The Chapel of the Resurrection
A Way Station of Wonder, A Haven of Hope
Before coming to Valpo, the words “In Luce Tua Videmus Lucem” most likely would have been lost in translation – literally – for those of us who don’t speak Latin (so…most of us). Since coming to Valpo, however, you may now know those words to mean “In Thy Light We See Light.” …
Religious Studies
Meet Our Faculty
Our religious studies faculty members are called to help students understand their own beliefs and those of others. Professors at Valpo bring a variety of expertise in the field and provide personalized mentorship to help guide students on their journey to a career that shines with purpose.
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
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