Study world religions to build intercultural awareness and critical thinking skills. With our Religious Studies major, you'll have a solid foundation to pursue careers in business and public service spheres.
Why Study Religious Studies?
Understand the significance of religion on individuals and civilizations past and present. By majoring in religious studies, you'll have a greater appreciation of human diversity while sharpening your problem-solving and communication skills. You'll also learn about major religious traditions through disciplines including history and cognitive science.
The Religious Studies major provides an excellent basis from which to pursue careers requiring imagination, critical thinking skills, and multicultural awareness. This applies to various business fields and opportunities for higher education.
Why Study Religious Studies at CSUN?
Cultural Exploration
The Department of Religious Studies believes in helping people understand our diverse world. Study how religion ties into many areas of culture to better appreciate different people groups. Our professors will help you understand the past and respond to present issues to create a compassionate society for all.
Open To All
Our department is non-sectarian and aims to serve all students with or without religious affiliation. You'll find an inclusive space to learn and study in community. As a result of your studies, you'll be prepared to live and work harmoniously in our diverse world.
Major or Double Major
We offer both a standard major and double major option. The standard major option is for students who want religious studies to be their main focus. The double major option is for students who want to study religious studies as their second major. Both options take the same core classes, but the double major option takes fewer electives. With the two options, you'll have flexibility.
Excellent Faculty
Our faculty have a long tradition of research and teaching in a range of specializations. You'll receive a global education in their classrooms. Our department's core strengths include:
- World religions
- The intersection of government and religion
- Cognitive science in religion
- Religion and colonialism
- Religion and race, ethnicity and class
What You'll Learn
Study religions of the world in this multidisciplinary field. You'll learn the different histories and cultures of various groups. You'll examine them using frameworks like gender constructs, economics and politics.
As a Religious Studies major, you'll have the option of completing the standard major or the double major.
In your lower-division required courses, you will select courses from the following:
- Introduction to Religious Studies
- The Bible
- World Religions
- Approaches to the History of Religions
In your upper-division required courses, you will choose from courses such as:
- Theory and Method in Religious Studies
- Religion in America
- Native American Religions
- Islam
- Asian Religions
- Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)
You will also complete one proseminar as part of the major. You will compete the rest of your degree requirements with upper division elective courses.
This option is designed for students who choose to double major in Religious Studies as their second field of study. In your lower-division required courses, you will select a course from the following:
- Introduction to Religious Studies
- The Bible
- World Religions
- Approaches to the History of Religions
In your upper-division required courses, you will choose from courses such as:
- Theory and Method in Religious Studies
- Religion in America
- Native American Religions
- Islam
- Asian Religions
- Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)
You will also complete one proseminar as part of the major. You will compete the rest of your degree requirements with upper-division elective courses.
Careers & Outcomes
The Religious Studies major and double major prepare you to succeed in a global world. With your knowledge of diverse cultures and analytical skills you'll be prepared for a variety of careers. You'll be a compassionate worker who is open-minded, inquisitive and empathetic — all qualities that employers look for. Our students go on to careers in business, teaching, counseling and more. Many also apply to graduate programs for law, social work, medicine and more.
Join our honors society.
High-achieving Religious Studies majors may be nominated for Theta Alpha Kappa, which recognizes academic excellence in the subject. You'll be eligible for scholarships and have opportunities to be featured in its publication.