RELST-BA - Religious Studies (BA)
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Program Overview
Undergraduate courses in Religious Studies are designed to engage students existentially and assist them in thinking about intellectual, ethical, and sociopolitical issues in the world’s religions. The department’s faculty seek to provide tools for understanding the complex encounters among religious ideas, practices, and communities, and the past and present cultures that have shaped and been shaped by religion. Courses, therefore, expose students to leading concepts in the field of religious studies such as god(s), sacrifice, ritual, scripture, prophecy, and priesthood; approaches developed over the past century, including the anthropological, historical, psychological, philosophical, and phenomenological, that open religion to closer inspection and analysis; and essential questions, themes, developments, features, and figures in the world’s religious traditions. The department encourages and supports the acquisition of languages needed for engagement with sacred texts and interpretive traditions, as well as study abroad at Stanford’s overseas centers where religions can be observed and experienced in their contemporary contexts.
The curriculum for majors is designed to lead students through a course of study that begins with laying foundations, then moves on to building expertise, and finally culminates in a capstone experience. The foundational courses aim to introduce students to the academic study of religion by exploring a particular religious tradition, issue, or methodology. Students build expertise in more advanced courses offering an in-depth investigation of specific topics, such as mysticism, gender, or violence/nonviolence; of particular texts, historical periods, or figures of a given religious tradition; or distinct approaches to the study of religion, such as the philosophy of religion, ritual studies, or ethnography. Students consolidate the knowledge and skills acquired in the major through the WIM course and an integrative capstone experience consisting of either a senior essay or an honors thesis completed in conjunction with two supporting capstone courses.
Preparing for the Major
Students contemplating the major, the minor, or the Philosophy and Religious Studies major are invited to consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies. The Undergraduate Student Services Officer in Building 70 can also field questions regarding the declaration procedure within the department.
Minimum Units in the Program
Minimum University Units
Three courses (3-5 units each) from courses numbered RELIGST 1-99, only one of which may be an Introductory Seminar.
Six courses (4-5 units each) from courses numbered RELIGST 100-289, of which at least two must be at the 200-level.
With the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies, up to two language courses relating to the student’s program of study (such as Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, Chinese, Persian, or Japanese), but not counted towards the university language requirement, may be counted toward the major.
No more than ten units of the total 60 (excluding course) may be taken for the S/NC or CR/NC grade.
Students must ensure that their total complement of Religious Studies courses is not focused on a single religious tradition.
The Director of Undergraduate Studies may approve variations to the required distribution individually.
All units must be in RELIGST courses unless the Director of Undergraduate Studies makes an exception.
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To be completed winter quarter of the junior year.
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Senior Essay: five units, winter quarter, graded N until submission
Honors Thesis: five to ten units, spread over Autumn and Winter Quarters, graded N until submission
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Spring quarter only; grading option S/NC
Students applying to fulfill their capstone by writing an Honors Thesis in Religious Studies must begin developing their topic and preparing their application no later than spring quarter of the junior year. The Honors Thesis is a 40-80 page research paper, supported by a mastery of primary and secondary scholarship, that advances a well-reasoned, supportable thesis.
Applicants for honors must have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 in Religious Studies courses and at least 3.2 overall at the time of application in May of junior year. They must also already have demonstrated success in writing research papers. Students meeting these prerequisites are strongly encouraged to enroll in units of RELIGST 199 with a potential thesis advisor (who must be a regular member of the Religious Studies faculty) during spring quarter of the junior year to develop the proposal and gather other materials for the application, which is due on May 31. Students interested in projects involving the use of living human subjects must have completed approved coursework in qualitative research methods by the end of spring quarter and obtain IRB approval for their projects, if needed, before engaging in this research.
Students whose applications to write an Honors Thesis have been approved enroll in 3-5 units of RELIGST 297 in autumn and winter of the senior year. They meet with their thesis advisor weekly in autumn and weekly or bi-weekly in winter quarter as they research and draft. A complete rough draft of the paper is due on the first day of spring quarter. Revisions are undertaken in the Senior Colloquium (RELIGST 298), the required capstone course taken in the spring quarter. Honors Theses are due the second Wednesday in May. The Honors Thesis is read and graded by the student’s thesis advisor and another member of the Religious Studies faculty assigned by the DUS. Theses earning a grade of ‘B+’ or above receive honors.
For further information, contact the DUS or the faculty director of senior capstone research for Religious Studies.