The student major is required to complete 10 courses with a grade of C- or better.
Among these 10 courses, the student must include:
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three courses in a primary religious tradition
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two courses in a secondary religious tradition
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four elective courses
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of the above, at least one must be a 300-level departmental seminar
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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:
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Buddhism (151, 252, **256, 353)
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Christianity (*121, 194, 211, *212, 223, 224, 245, 262, 267, 269, 290, 312, 338)
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Indigenous religions (**184, **281, 283, 285, *288)
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Hinduism (151, 252, 253, **255, **333)
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Islam (**181, 253, 280, 284, 286)
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Judaism (109, **121, 203, 204, 205, 206, *211, 214, 307, 308, 318)
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*/**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 $1000 award for the best senior religion thesis as determined by the faculty of the Religion Department. The fund also provides approximately $1000 for assisting one person in doing research on his or her senior thesis. The recipient of this research grant will be determined by the faculty in the department upon receipt of a grant proposal.
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 12 page integrating paper either after they have completed their fifth or sixth course in the minor or no later than the 10th week of the last semester of their senior year. Or, as an alternative, they may, with the approval of the instructor and the minor advisor, 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 advisor who will determine how the student will meet the integrating paper requirement. The advisor 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.