Religious Studies

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Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Double Major Minor

Explore a broad range of religious cultures, traditions, and history while studying the differences and similarities between religious faiths such as Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.

Program Information

Religious experience is an indispensable key to the understanding of human behaviour and thought. The Religious Studies program invites students to join in current scholarly efforts to study, analyze and understand different forms of religious experience from a number of disciplinary perspectives. In the core course, students will learn how to use various analytical methods to explore the rich variety of the world’s religious traditions. They may then, if they wish, concentrate on one religious tradition (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism etc.) or they may take a comparative approach. Students are expected to acquire breadth both in disciplinary approach and in subject matter. Religious studies emphasizes personal contact between its majors and the faculty participating in the program.

Degree Information

Campus: Keele
Faculty: Liberal Arts and Professional Studies
Degree: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Degree Options: Double Major, Minor, Single Major, Specialized

Duration

3, 4 yrs

Experiential Education

Research / Other Activities

Honours Option

Yes

OUAC Code

YRL

Degree Overview

Tightly Knit Community
As a tightly knit program with small class sizes, our Religious Studies program will give you the opportunity to establish scholarly relationships with your classmates and professors.

Access to Academic Advising
First and foremost, Religious Studies at York is a student-friendly program. You are encouraged to consult often with faculty members about current and future courses as well as career paths.

Flexibility
You are able to choose from a rich array of course offerings every year within the general guidelines and requirements of the Religious Studies program to create a combination which best serves your academic interests and career aspirations.

The curriculum in our Religious Studies program will teach you to identify and understand different forms of religious experience from a number of disciplinary perspectives. In our core course you will learn the different analytical methods used to explore the rich variety of the world’s religious traditions, and be able to focus on one religious tradition or multiple religions in the upper years of the program.

Sample Courses:
HUMA 1860 The Nature of Religion
HUMA 1870 The Bible & The Arts
HUMA 2805 The Religions of Canadians
PHIL 2090 Philosophy of Religion
ANTH 3320 Religious Ritual and Symbolism
HUMA 4815 Studies in Islamic Mysticism

Career Options

Our program will give you a thorough grounding in sophisticated text analysis and improves your writing skills - excellent preparation for any number of careers, including the clergy and law.

Careers:

Clergyperson	Community Developer	Historian
Human Rights Advocate	International Aid Worker	Minister
Missionary	Museum Curator	Religious Rights Advocate
Researcher	Social Service Worker	Social Worker