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Organization, Regulations, and Courses 2024-25


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Religion

Chair: Christopher MacEvitt

Professors R. Balmer, R. Baum, S. Heschel, C. H. MacEvitt, R. Ohnuma; Associate Professors Z. Ayubi, G. Raz, A. K. Reinhart, D. Singh; Assistant Professors R. Feldman, S. Swenson, D. Wilkinson; Lecturers P. Lanfer, M. Long, G. Seton, J. E. Wright; Postdoctoral Fellows T. Feezell, F. Rahman, R. Weiner.

 

To view Religion courses, click here. 

 

Requirements for the Major

 

PLEASE REFER TO THE ORC OF YOUR MATRICULATION YEAR FOR THE APPROPRIATE REQUIREMENTS

 

The major consists of ten courses, including:

  1. At least two courses from the Introductory series on Religion (REL 1.xy through REL 19.xy).
  2. At least one course from the Theories in the Study of Religion series (REL 20.xy).
  3. At least two courses from the Intermediate series on Religion (REL 21 through REL 74.xy).
  4. One seminar in Religion (REL 80.xy or REL 81.xy).
  5. One Culminating Experience Senior Colloquium (REL 85.01 or REL 85.02; See also REL 84). Consult the Chair for more information.
  6. The major must include at least two Religion Department courses from among those designated as fulfilling the Non-Western requirement.

However, no more than two iterations of REL 1 may be counted to satisfy the major. Major programs are subject to the approval of the Chair.

 

Requirements for the Modified Major

The modified major consists of twelve courses of which seven or more shall be in the Religion Department, including:

  1. At least two courses from the Introductory series on Religion.
  2. At least one course from the Theories in the Study of Religion series.
  3. At least one course from the Intermediate series on Religion.
  4. One seminar in Religion (REL 80.xy or REL 81.xy).
  5. One Culminating Experience Senior Colloquium (REL 85.01 or REL 85.02; See also REL 84). Consult the Chair for more information.
  6. The modified major must include at least one Religion Department course from among those designated as fulfilling the Non-Western requirement.

However, no more than two iterations of REL 1 may be counted to satisfy the modified major. The remainder may be courses in other departments provided that such courses constitute a coherent program of study in Religion. Approval of the modified major must be obtained from the Chair.

 

Requirements for the Minor

The minor consists of six courses to be selected as follows:

  1. At least one course from the Introductory series on Religion.
  2. At least one course from the Theories in the Study of Religion series.
  3. At least one course from the Intermediate series on Religion.
  4. Three additional courses in Religion (any level).
  5. The minor must include at least one Religion Department course from among those designated as fulfilling the Non-Western requirement.

However, no more than two iterations of REL 1 may be counted to satisfy the minor. Approval of the minor must be obtained from the Chair.

 

Non-Recording Option

Religion courses 20-87 are out of bounds for the NRO. 

 

Transfer Credit

No more than three transfer courses, which may include REL 70 or REL 71 (on D.F.S.P.), will be accepted for major credit. All transfer courses must be approved in advance by the Department.

 

Foreign Study

Courses taken at the University of Edinburgh on the Department’s Foreign Study Program will normally be counted among the intermediate courses required for the major as listed above. The course offered by the Dartmouth faculty director is REL 74.

 

Religion Honors Program

Qualified majors may apply for admission to the Honors Program of the Department during the second or third terms of their junior year. Completion of the Honors Program is prerequisite to graduation with Honors or High Honors in the major subject.

The Honors Program of the Department of Religion is designed to encourage and enable a qualified major student to pursue a long-term independent research project on some topic of interest and importance. Through the project, as guided by a member of the faculty, the student should come to an understanding in depth of the content of the subject and the methodological procedures necessary to enable him or her to reach the desired goal.

In order to qualify for an Honors Program in the Religion Department, the student must have at the time of application an average of 3.0 in all subjects and 3.3 in the major.

During two terms of the senior year the honors student will pursue the project under the guidance of a selected faculty member by enrolling in REL 85.02 (Senior Colloquium for Honors Program) and REL 87 (Honors). The student is expected to produce a substantial thesis as the culmination of the project. A paper of seventy-five to one hundred pages would be considered usual, although the exact nature of the project might dictate a different length. The student will be expected to maintain at least a ‘B+’ level of performance throughout the two terms. Unless at least a grade of B+ is assigned the thesis and a cumulative average of 3.0 is maintained in the major, he or she will not be considered to have successfully completed the project. If in the judgment of the Department the student has failed to perform at the minimal level, it will have the right to terminate the project at the end of the first or the second term.

Preparation and Submission of Thesis Proposal. Plans for writing a thesis must be made during the junior year. The interested candidate should, in consultation with a faculty adviser, decide on a course of study, reading, and writing. The thesis proposal should ideally be 3-5 pages and include what will be examined and why, the preparation, approach, and where possible, note and discuss anticipated results, and be accompanied by a tentative bibliography. After the proposal is approved by the faculty adviser, it will be submitted to the Religion Department for approval. Since the Department may request that the student rewrite the proposal, we recommend that a proposal be submitted to the Department by the seventh week of the spring term of the junior year.

Thesis Writing . A student must write a two-term thesis, for which two course credits may be received. A thesis written during the fall and winter must be submitted by the end of the first week in May. A thesis completed during the spring term must be submitted by the end of the third week in May. An oral defense will be scheduled to occur typically during the last full week of spring term classes; a public presentation will be scheduled to occur typically on the last day of spring term classes. The final printed and bound thesis copies are due to the department office no later than the Friday before Commencement.

The Honors Program counts as fulfilling the Culminating Experience requirement (see courses REL 85.02 and REL 87).