The Comparative Religion Program is one of several interdisciplinary programs in the Jackson School of International Studies. Students completing the program requirements receive a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Religion.
The availability of a large number of courses in a broad range of religious traditions underscores the distinctive nature of the Comparative Religion curriculum at the Jackson School. Course offerings introduce students to several approaches to the study of religions, e.g., historical, textual, anthropological, philosophical, psychological, and sociological. Drawing from programs within the Jackson School as well as from other units on campus, the curriculum is highly international and trans-cultural in character.
The faculty of the Comparative Religion
Program includes appointments not only in the Jackson School, but in
several other units of the University (History, Sociology, Anthropology,
Music, Art History, Psychology, Philosophy, Political Science, Asian
Languages and Literature, Near East Languages and Civilization, and
Classics). The University's Language and Literature/Civilization programs
offer excellent resources for students interested in the comparative study
of religion, particularly in areas represented by the various regional
programs within the Jackson School of International Studies. The
expertise represented on the faculty covers a wide variety of religious
traditions and issues.
-James Wellman, Chair
Any undergraduate admitted for study as a matriculated student in the College of Arts and Sciences may declare Comparative Religion as a major.
Students must complete a minimum of 55 credit hours from the Comparative Religion curriculum.
Required Courses:
RELIG 201/Introduction to World Religions:
Western Traditions (5 credits)
RELIG 202/Introduction to World Religions:
Eastern Traditions (5 credits)
RELIG 380/The Nature of Religion and Its
Study (5 credits)
SIS 201/The
Making of the 21st Century (5 credits)
Other Course Work:
Students must complete 35 credits in courses chosen from among the following rubrics:
Overlapping credits: A maximum of 15 credits that are used to fulfill minimum requirements of any other UW major can be counted in this major.
Comparative Religion offers an honors program for students with a high level of scholarly achievement (3.5 GPA in the courses for the major). In addition to fulfilling the same basic requirements as other majors, honors students must complete two years of a scriptural language and write an honors essay under faculty supervision.
30 credits, to include the following:
RELIG 201 (5) and RELIG 202 (5)
15 additional credits in RELIG-prefix courses or joint-listed equivalents
5 additional credits chosen from RELIG courses or from an approved list of electives*
*For a list of approved electives, follow this link
Revised 11/29/2007