Skip to main content
Undergraduate Bulletin College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Religious Studies

Minor in Religious Studies

Students on Summer 2020, Fall 2020, or Spring 2021 requirements RELMIN

The Minor in Religious Studies offers students an opportunity to explore and understand the religious traditions of the world, as well as to study expressions of religious life and thought that may not fall within traditional patterns. The program teaches a variety of approaches to the academic study of religion and religion's intersections with other aspects of human society and culture. Students minoring in religious studies will not only be better equipped to understand people of different backgrounds, but will also learn about themselves: how their ideas and values were formed, how they differ from others, and the significance of these differences. A minor in Religious Studies prepares students for a wide variety of careers, including those in education, the social sciences, law, medicine, and politics.

Requirements

The minor requires at least 15 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
  1. Core courses. One (1) course chosen from three (3) different areas (three (3) courses total):
    • Area A (Africa, Europe, and West Asia).
      • Any REL-A 100–499
    • Area B (South and East Asia).
      • Any REL-B 100–499
    • Area C (The Americas).
      • Any REL-C 100–499
    • Area D (Theory, Ethics, Comparison).
      • Any REL-D 100–499
  2. Electives.
    • Additional Religious Studies courses
      • COLL-C 103 Critical Approaches to the Arts and Humanities (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
      • COLL-C 104 Critical Approaches to the Social and Historical Studies (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
  3. Minor GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Minor GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the minor—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    2. Minor Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the minor.
    3. Minor Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    4. Minor Residency. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.