<h4>Undergraduate Programs<br /></h4> <h5><a href="../../programs/show/LA-BA-RELI">Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies</a></h5> <p>The BA in religious studies is designed to give students an understanding of the major religious traditions of the world. The degree has a comparative and cross-cultural perspective that relates to global issues. Areas of study include Eastern religious traditions (Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Hinduism) and Western religious traditions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism).</p> <h5><a href="../../programs/requirements/LA-MINOR-RELI-RELI">Minor in Religious Studies </a></h5> <p align="left">The minor in religious studies introduces students to the main religious traditions of the world. Students may focus on the religions of the West (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) or the religions of the East (Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism etc.). Exposure to religious beliefs, practices, and rituals from a variety of cultures allows students to gain an understanding of those faiths that continue to influence the political, economic, ethical, and social life of the majority of people in the world.</p> <h5><a href="../../programs/requirements/LA-MINOR-RELI-JS">Minor in Judaic Studies </a></h5> <p>The minor in Judaic studies offers courses in Judaism, Jewish thought, and Jewish culture through the ages. The minor recognizes that the Jews form a global community, and, thus, provides a global approach, rather than a regional framework, for exploring Judaism. Students who pursue this minor explore the historical role and contributions of Judaism beyond the Middle East. They learn to appreciate the experiences that connect historical Jewish communities to the present.</p> <h5><a href="http://islamicstudies.gmu.edu/">Minor in Islamic Studies </a></h5> <p>The faculty of the department participate in the interdisciplinary minor in Islamic studies. This minor offers students the opportunity to pursue an interdisciplinary study of societies with significant Muslim populations in the Middle East and North Africa, Africa, Central Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, as well as in Europe and North America. The Islamic studies minor recognizes that Islam is a universal faith and a world civilization with a global community, and thus provides a global approach rather than a regional framework for exploring Islam.</p> <h4>Graduate Programs<br /></h4> <h5><a href="http://mais.gmu.edu/concentrations/show/LA-MAIS-ISIN-RCV">MA in Interdisciplinary Studies Concentration in Religion, Culture, and Values</a></h5> <p>The department sponsors the concentration in religion, culture, and values in the master&rsquo;s degree in individualized studies (MAIS). This concentration is designed for students who are interested in exploring the world&rsquo;s major religions at the graduate level. Students study the development and interaction of the global religious traditions that influence human identity, behavior, culture, and values. They investigate the effects that historical crises and the forces of change have on religion, placing contemporary religious pluralism and inter-religious dialog in a global context.</p> <h4><a href="../../coursesandinterdisciplinaryprograms">Religious Studies Courses and Interdisciplinary Programs</a><br /></h4> <p>Religious studies courses form an important part of several interdisciplinary majors and minors in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Consider applying courses in religious studies to one of these programs of study. <a href="../../coursesandinterdisciplinaryprograms">Read more &gt;&gt;&gt;</a></p> 3 2009-04-02T17:28:25Z 1 501 false religious_studies_degrees false 23 2009-08-25T18:29:09Z 2009-08-25