Middlebury

 

Religion Events

Religion Requirements

Requirements for the major (11 courses): (For students declaring a Religion Major beginning with the Spring 2011 semester) The Religion major allows students to concentrate in particular Traditions (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, or Judaism) and/or Areas (American Religion or Ethics). The major will consist of at least eleven courses, including no more than one winter term course, distributed as follows:

  • a primary concentration of four courses in a specific Tradition or Area. These courses will include a 0100-level course and a 0300-level seminar that focus in that tradition/area.
  • a secondary concentration of three courses in a specific Tradition or Area. These courses will include a 0100-level course and a 0300-level seminar that focus in that tradition/area.
  • Two electives.
  • RELI 0400, Seminar on the Study of Religion
  • a Senior Project or Thesis (RELI 0700/0701). Normally senior work will relate to the major’s primary concentration of study.

Important Notes:
(1.) Majors must take at least one course in Western Traditions (Christianity, Judaism, or Islam) and one course in Asian Religions (e.g., Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism). These courses may be used toward the primary or secondary concentration, or they may be electives.
(2.) At least one of the two concentrations in a Religion major must focus on a Tradition. The other may focus on a second Tradition or an Area.
     Students should consult closely with faculty advisors to determine which courses in the department satisfy a given concentration. The chair of the department, in consultation with the student’s advisor, will determine how transfer credits and courses taken during study abroad will be applied toward departmental requirements.
     Joint major: Please note: the chair of the department must approve each joint major proposal.
For the Religion component of a joint major, a student will complete seven courses:

  • A primary concentration of four courses in one Tradition or Area. These courses will include a 0100-level course and a 0300-level seminar that focus in that tradition/area.
  • A secondary concentration of two courses in another Tradition or Area
  • RELI 0400

     In addition, the student will complete a senior Project or Thesis that utilizes the expertise of both majors.
     Religion Minor: The Religion minor will consist of at least five courses, three of which will focus in a single Tradition or Area. One of the courses in the focus must be a 0300-level seminar.
     The Minor in Jewish Studies: Refer to Jewish Studies for description, or if searching the online catalog, please refer to Interdisciplinary Programs.
     The Minor in Hebrew: Refer to Hebrew in the Course Catalog for description, or if searching the on-line catalog, please refer to Interdisciplinary Programs.     Departmental Honors: Graduation with departmental honors requires at least a B+ in courses counted toward the major. Students who meet this threshold and receive an A- or A on their senior project will be awarded Honors. Students who meet the course grade threshold and write a thesis will be eligible for Honors if the thesis grade is at least a B+, and High Honors if the thesis grade is an A- or A. Highest Honors will be reserved for students who earn at least an A- in courses counted toward the major and an A on the thesis.
     OLD Requirements for the major: (an option for students who declared before February 1, 2011) Students must take a minimum of eleven fall or spring courses. The major is designed to provide depth and breadth in, as well as systematic reflection upon, the study of religion. To facilitate this, religion courses are required from three Categories: A.) Western traditions (i.e., Judaism, Christianity, and Islam); B.) Asian traditions (e.g., Buddhism and Taoism); and C.) Areas (i.e., American religion, Ethics, and the study of Sacred Texts). Note that although some courses could fall into two categories, no single course will fulfill more than one requirement for a particular student. Courses are keyed as follows:

AR = American Religions
AT = Asian Traditions
ET = Ethics
ST = Sacred Texts
WT = Western Traditions
Requirements for the major may be calculated following the simple formula: 5-4-3-2-1.

     5. To provide depth to their study in religion, students will have a major concentration of five courses in one of the Categories listed above. This concentration will include at least one 0300-level seminar and a senior Project (RELI 0601). A student may choose to develop the senior project into a year-long senior thesis (RELI 0700) in consultation with his or her advisor. Note: Students fulfilling their major concentration in an Area listed in Category C must take all five courses within that specific area (i.e., five courses either in American Religion, in Ethics, or in the study of Sacred Texts).
     4. To provide sustained, systematic reflection on the academic study of religion, students will take RELI 0400, preferably during their junior year.
     3. To provide breadth and depth, students will have a minor concentration of three courses in a second of the Categories listed above. Note: Students fulfilling their minor concentration in an Area listed in Category C must take all three courses within that specific area (i.e., three courses in American Religion, or in Ethics, or in the study of Sacred Texts).
     2. To provide breadth, students will take two courses in the third Category (i.e., the Category not fulfilling either #5 or #3).
     1. Students must take at least one 0100-level introductory course in an Asian and one in a Western tradition. These courses may also fulfill the other major requirements outlined above.
     The Chair of the Department, in consultation with the student's advisor, will determine how transfer credits and courses taken during study abroad will be applied toward Departmental requirements.
     Joint major: For the Religion component of a joint major, students will complete seven Religion courses plus a senior project (RELI 0700) which utilizes the training and content of both fields. These seven courses include: 4. RELI 0400. 3. A concentration of three courses in one of the Categories (including at least one 0300-level seminar). Note: Students fulfilling this concentration in an Area must take all three courses within that specific area (e.g., in American Religion, or in Ethics or in the study of Sacred Texts). 2. A minor concentration of two courses in a second category. 1. An elective of one course in the third and last category.
     Religion Minor: The religion minor consists of at least five courses. Students should have a concentration of three courses (including at least one 0300-level seminar) in one of the categories listed above. Students concentrating their minor in an Area must take all three courses within that specific area (e.g., Ethics).
     Departmental Honors: Graduation with departmental honors requires at least a B+ on the senior project and a B+ average in courses counted toward the major. Only students who have completed a thesis are eligible for highest honors, which requires an A on the thesis and at least a B+ average in other courses counted toward the major.