Comprehensive Religion Major

The Religion Major, also known as the Comprehensive Religion Major, consists of 15 credit hours of Bible, required courses in theology and church history, plus elective courses in areas that include missions, philosophy, ministry, and the social science of religion. Students may also elect to add a concentration in one of five areas: church administration, ministerial, missions and intercultural studies, music in worship or worship in the arts.

The major provides liberal arts students with a maximum exposure to Biblical and theological studies and provides an excellent foundation for seminary or other graduate studies. It is also valuable for students going into missionary work.

A minor in Religion is offered for those liberal arts students in other disciplines who desire to broaden their understanding of religious thought.

Religion Major (BA) - 42-44 Hours
Specific Requirements
BIBL 355, 356 Biblical Theology I, II 2, 2
THEL 313 Systematic Theology (required of Wesleyan ordination) 4
THEL 350 Reason and Religious Belief (or PHIL course) 2
THEL 220 History of Christianity (required for Wesleyan ordination) 4
REL 482 Senior Capstone: Seminar in Religion 2
And two of the following:
REL 221 World Faiths I: Eastern Traditions 2
REL 231 World Faiths II: Western Traditions 2
REL 222 New Religious Movements I 2
REL 232 New Religious Movements II 2
  4 hours of historical theology from the following courses:

THEL 325 American Church History (2 hours)
THEL 368 The Reformation (2 hours)
MISS 221 History of the Global Christian Movement (2 hours)		 2
12 hours of Bible:
BIBL 221 Biblical Interpretation (required for Wesleyan ordination) 4
  Bible electives 8
At least 4 hours from the following:
THEL 315 Wesleyan Tradition (required for Wesleyan ordination) 4
MISS 222 The Contemporary Church in Missions
(required for Wesleyan ordination)		 4
URMN 212 Urban Ministry 4
THEL xxx Theology course 4
At least one course from the following:
THEL 337 Theological Foundations of the Family 4
PSY 306 Psychology of Religion 4
SOC 338 Sociology of Religion 2
Students electing the comprehensive major in religion must satisfy all normal integrative studies requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to satisfy I.S. language requirements by taking one of the Biblical languages (Greek or Hebrew). A curriculum plan for this major is available through the Department of Religion and Philosophy.