Religious Studies Minor

Minor code OR5218*

College of Arts and Sciences
Classics and Religious Studies
Ellis 201B
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.597.2100
classics@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/cas/classics

Brian Collins, contact person
collinb1@ohio.edu

Program Overview

For majors in political science, history, international studies, philosophy, women and gender studies, the religious studies minor offers a flexible approach; the student can choose any five courses according to areas of interest, without having to take a core set of courses.

*This program was previously OR5215 - World Religions. Students entering either name/code in the 2024-25 catalog year will have the same requirements which are listed below.

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admission

No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Change of Program Policy

No selective or limited admission requirements.

External Transfer Admission

No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Opportunities Upon Graduation

A minor in religious studies is especially attractive to students entering graduate programs in international studies, journalism, politics, and business at Ohio University or elsewhere. It is also of value to graduates entering the Peace Corps or working as counselors and therapists, among other professions.

Requirements

Minor Hours Requirement

The religious studies minor requires a minimum of 15 hours.

Course Requirements

Complete two courses (6 credit hours total) from the list below:

CARS 2030 - Archaeology of the Ancient Near East Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2050 - Archaeology and the Bible Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2120 - Ancient Jerusalem: From Solomon to Suleiman Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2140 - Human Aspirations Among the Greeks and Romans Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2180 - Ancient Near Eastern Art and Architecture Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2300 - Heroes in Classical Literature Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2310 - Classical Mythology Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2400 - Introduction to the Study of Religion Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2410 - The Global Occult: Ghosts, Demonology, and the Paranormal in World Religions Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2430 - The History of Yoga: From Ancient Discipline to Modern Movement Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2440 - Paganism, Judaism, and Christianity in the Roman Empire Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2500 - Difficult Dialogues: Religious Beliefs Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2510 - Difficult Dialogues: Religion, Gender and Sexuality Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2520 - What is Evil? Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2530 - Difficult Dialogues: Science and Religion Credit Hours: 4
CARS 2600 - Hinduism Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2610 - Buddhism Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2900 - Special Topics in Classics and Religious Studies Credit Hours: 1 - 15
CARS 3000 - The Hebrew Bible (Christian Old Testament, Jewish Tanakh) Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3010 - New Testament Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3020 - Introduction to Islam Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3030 - Political Islam Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3040 - Sufism-Mysticism and Asceticism in Islam Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3120 - Gandhi and the Gita: The Religious Roots of Nonviolent Resistance in Colonial India Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3130 - Indian Epic: Mahabharata and Ramayana Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3200 - Self-denial and Religion: Virgins, Monks, Hermits and other Ascetics Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3210 - Religion and Violence Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3220 - Thinking About Death: Belief and Practice Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3240 - Theories of Religion Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3250 - Contemporary Religious Thought Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3260 - Myth, Ritual, and Symbolism Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3290 - Women and Religion Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3400 - Greek and Roman Religions and Society Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3440 - Love in Antiquity Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3450 - Wisdom in Antiquity Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3470 - Sex and the Bible Credit Hours: 3
JS 1000 - Introduction to Jewish Studies Credit Hours: 3
JS 2100 - History of Jewish Humor Credit Hours: 3
JS 2900 - Special Topics in Jewish Studies Credit Hours: 1 - 15

Complete two courses (6 credit hours total) with any CARS or JS courses or any approved affiliate course:

Approved Affiliate Courses

ANTH 3570 - Anthropology of Religion Credit Hours: 3
GEOG 3220 - Geography of Religious Space and Place Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3540 - History of Early Christianity Credit Hours: 3
HIST 4536 - Eternal Rome: Piety and Power Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 2600 - Philosophy of Religion Credit Hours: 3

Capstone in Classics and Religious Studies

Complete the following course or any other 4000-level CARS course designated as a capstone. Students can also meet this requirement by completing 3 credit hours of CARS 4900 or CARS 4930 .

CARS 4000 - Magic, Sorcery, and Witchcraft in Classical Civilizations and the World’s Religions Credit Hours: 3