The student major is required to complete
10 courses with a grade of C- or better. Among these 10 courses,
the student must include:
- three courses in a primary religious tradition,
- two courses in a secondary religious tradition,
- four elective courses,
- of the above, at least one must be a 300-level departmental seminar, and
- a 400-level senior thesis course.
The Writing Intensive Part II requirement
is fulfilled by the senior thesis.
The traditions available for study on a
regular basis are: Buddhism, Christianity, indigenous religions,
Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. Students interested in other specific
religious traditions should see the department chair. The tradition
requirement can be met with the following courses:
- Buddhism (RELG 151, 252,
256**, 353)
- Christianity (RELG 121*, 211,
212*, 223, 224,
262, 267,
312, 338,
339)
- Indigenous religions (RELG 184**,
281**, 283,
285, 288*,
289)
- Hinduism (RELG 151, 252,
253, 255**,
333**)
- Islam (RELG 181**, 253,
280, 284,
286)
- Judaism (RELG 104, 109,
121**, 203,
204, 205,
206, 211*,
214, 307,
308, 318).
Together the sequence 103-04 counts for two religion credits (including
104 in the Jewish tradition) and one
Jewish Studies credit and fulfills the language requirement.
*/**
To concentrate in a tradition, students must take at least one of the
single starred courses, and at least one of the double-starred courses,
in the appropriate category.
No course may count
for more than one tradition. Students may request tutorials or independent
studies to fulfill the tradition requirement. Normally the department
accepts up to two courses from outside the department as counting toward
the religion major. However, the department will consider petitions asking
for credit for additional courses taken outside the department.
Honors are awarded
to those who attain a minimum grade average of A- in 10 courses fulfilling
the major requirements and distinction on the senior thesis and oral
examination.
Thanks to the
generosity of Trinity alumnus Tom Chappell, the Theodor Mauch Fund has
been established to provide a $1,000 award for the best senior
religion thesis as determined by the faculty of the Religion Department.
The fund also provides approximately $1,000 for assisting one or more
persons in doing research on their senior theses. The recipient of this
research grant will be determined by the faculty in the department upon
receipt of a grant proposal on the last day prior to the Spring Break
in the student's junior year.
There are many
foreign study opportunities available for the religion major. In
addition to the Trinity Rome Program, and Trinity Global Sites in
Barcelona and Trinidad, students may opt to go on Trinity-approved
programs, such as to Egypt, India, Israel, Thailand, Tibet, and the
United Kingdom. Religion majors may also petition the International
Programs Office to go on other programs, so long as they consult their
religion advisers about their options.
In addition,
students are encouraged to study foreign languages, especially those
that would enable them to read primary religious texts, for
example, Arabic, Aramaic, Chinese, Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Japanese,
Latin, Pali, and Sanskrit. Language courses may be counted for the
religion major only if the course covers significant textual exegesis
of religious literature.
The religion minor---Students
interested in minoring in religion should consult the department chair.
Ordinarily a minor in religion consists of six courses, with two courses
in a primary religious tradition, one course in a secondary religious
tradition, and three electives. All students completing a minor in
religion will write an eight to twelve page integrating paper either
after they have completed their fifth or sixth course in the minor or
no later than the tenth week of the last semester of their senior year.
Or, as an alternative, they may, with the approval of the instructor and
the minor adviser, write the integrating paper as part of the requirements
for the fifth or sixth course.
To begin the
process of minoring in religion, each minor will inform the chair
of the department that he or she is declaring a minor in religion
and will then be assigned an appropriate department adviser who will
determine how the student will meet the integrating paper requirement.
The adviser or the instructor of the course in which the integrating
paper is written will report to the chair of the department when that
paper has been completed and deemed acceptable. Completing an
acceptable integrating paper is a precondition for receiving a
designation on one's transcript that one has successfully fulfilled
all the requirements for a minor in the study of religion. All courses
counted toward the minor must be taken for a letter grade. Students
should declare their minor by the beginning of their senior year. Minor
declaration forms can be obtained at the Registrar's Office.