Department of Religious Studies
Phone: (405) 325-4594
Email: rels@ou.edu
Website: rels.ou.edu
The Religious Studies department has grown substantially to become one of the most diverse programs in the College of Arts and Sciences. Religious Studies students take classes from multiple disciplines that given them an in-depth overview of global religious traditions. In addition to full-time RELS faculty members, OU faculty from many departments (e.g., African and African-American Studies, Anthropology, Classics, English, History, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, etc.) offer courses each year that count for the RELS major or minor. This multi-disciplinary approach reflects accurately the contemporary study of religion and human religious life. Many students choose to double major or pursue a dual degree program since Religious Studies complements numerous academic disciplines.
By examining human activity through religion, both in the present and the past, faculty in the Religious Studies Department enable students to gain a deeper understanding of the ways that human beings make sense of the world in both intellectual and bodily form, particularly as they work through ideas about value, meaning, transcendence, power, and collective forms. The academic study of religion provides students with a strong foundation in deeply culturally-grounded critical thinking, an ability to interrogate and critique forms of power, and a nuanced understanding of the human condition. Students emerge from our major and minor programs prepared engage the diversity and complexity of our global environment in meaningful ways, and equipped with essential skills in analytical writing, active listening, cross cultural communication, critical empathy, public speaking, and scholarly research.
Our majors have gone on to pursue careers in a wide variety of fields and professions. And our minors have found their studies contribute to their professional goals and graduate school options. Religious Studies students are well suited to work in environments of diverse worldviews and backgrounds.
A Religious Studies student graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies degree. Students can also minor in Religious Studies.
A Religious Studies student typically has interest in:
Increasingly, religion has become a central part of election campaigns, educational curricula, personal decisions, and popular culture products. Given the power of religion in our world, it is important that we, as citizens, study it. The academic study of religion provides students with essential skills (critical thinking, analytical writing, active listening, cross cultural communication, critical empathy, public speaking, scholarly research, etc.) and prepares them to engage the diversity and complexity of our global environment in meaningful ways.
Along with the classroom experience, Religious Studies sponsors or co-sponsors numerous programs featuring a variety of prominent speakers and authors each year. In addition to speaking in classes and meeting with students, most of these visitors present public lectures on religious dimensions of important contemporary issues. These public lectures are open to the wider OU campus and local community.
The Religious Studies department currently provides 8 partial scholarships each year in a competitive process for RELS majors and minors.
Each year, the department hosts a number of events including social events, public speakers, and alumni panels focused on career and graduate school preparation. To find more information on getting involved with the department community and events, go to OU ENGAGE.
Religious Studies courses include a variety of requirements and electives:
Students are able to combine courses across various categories to formulate concentrations. The combination of required courses and elective courses, from a variety of disciplines, allows students options. A student may choose to study broadly and comparatively, or to choose a more in-depth option of a concentration in Asian Studies, Biblical Studies, Buddhist Studies, Christian Studies, Islamic Studies, or Judaic Studies.
Popular minors for Religious Studies majors include:
OU has numerous study abroad opportunities for students of all majors. Whether you want to take electives or major requirements, be sure to check the education abroad opportunities are available to you through the College of International Studies. RELS students have studied at schools around the world, including the UK, Italy, France, Spain, and India. Opportunities to study in the Middle East are also available in conjunction with the Schusterman Center for Judaic and Israel Studies.
Visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website to explore the median pay for jobs you can pursue with this degree.
Department of Religious Studies
Phone: (405) 325-4594
Email: rels@ou.edu
Website: rels.ou.edu
