Students majoring in religion receive truly interdisciplinary training and many pursue advanced degrees in the humanities, social sciences, law, education, journalism, and social services. Religion majors have also gone on to work in non-governmental organizations, private companies, and religious communities. The religion program complements many other programs at the University of Florida, including Latin American studies, sustainability studies, Jewish studies, African studies, and Asian studies.

Coursework for the Major

The program consists of 10 courses, which include at least one course in three of the following four areas: Asian religions; Islam; and Jewish or Christian scripture; and religion and ethics in contemporary society. In addition, all majors must complete a junior seminar on methods and theories in the study of religion and a comparative East-West capstone seminar.

The 10 courses (30 credits) for the undergraduate major in religion must be completed with minimum grades of C. These courses must be taken from the introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels of the religion curriculum and they must expose the student to both eastern and western thought.

Required Coursework

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Select one course from three of four groups		9
Asian Religion
REL 2315	Religion in Asia
REL 2341	Introduction to Buddhism
REL 3318	Chinese Religions
REL 3330	Religions of India
REL 3336	Religion in Modern India
REL 4349	Buddhist Meditation
Islam
REL 2362	Introduction to Islam
REL 4371	Islam in Africa
REL 4367	The History of Islam in the Modern World
REL 4393	Islam in the Americas
Jewish or Christian Scripture
REL 2210	Hebrew Scriptures
REL 2240	New Testament
REL 3213	Hebrew Bible as Literature
REL 3249	The Christian Gospels
REL 3252	Acts, Paul, and Early Christianity
REL 3291	Gender and the Hebrew Bible
REL 4221	The Pentateuch
Religion and Ethics in Contemporary Society
REL 2071	Sustainability and Religion
REL 3076	Cults and New Religious Movements
REL 3082	Global Ethics
REL 3099	Spirituality and Health Care
REL 3108	Religion and Food
REL 3148	Religion and Violence
REL 3171	Ethics in America
REL 3492	Religion Ethics and Nature
REL 4092	Ethics, Utopias, and Dystopias
REL 3931	Junior Seminar (during the junior year)	3
4000-level courses, one of which must be the following:		6
REL 4933	The Comparative Study of Religion
Additional Religion courses		12
Total credits		30

• Majors cannot count more than three introductory courses (2000-level, 9 credits) toward the 30 credits.
• No more than three courses (9 credits) can be in approved cognate courses from other departments.
• No more than four courses (12 credits) can be transferred from another institution.
• Every two semesters all majors must consult the undergraduate advisor.

There are no prerequisites for 2000-level courses. Detailed descriptions of current and prospective courses are available in 107 Anderson Hall and from faculty members before registration.

Overseas Studies

The department encourages study abroad. Overseas Studies, within the UF International Center (UFIC), offers the opportunity to study in a wide range of academic and cultural settings. The office coordinates 32 semester and yearlong programs and 28 summer programs in 24 countries. Study abroad programs satisfy the General Education International and Diversity requirements and also may fulfill requirements for a major or minor, as well as basic distribution area requirements and UF Summer residency. Interested students should contact the UF International Center in 170 Hub or the undergraduate coordinator.
More Info

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for progress toward each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 2

• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 3

• Complete 1 religion course
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 4

• Complete 1 additional religion course with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 5

• Complete 1 additional religion course with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 6

• Completed 2 of the remaining REL 3XXX/4XXX required courses
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 7

• Completed 2 of the remaining REL 3XXX/4XXX required courses
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 8

• Completed all remaining REL 3XXX/4XXX required courses
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Students are expected to complete the Writing Requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the General Education International (GE-N) and Diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another General Education requirement (typically, GE-C, H, or S).

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

Plan of Study Grid

Semester One		Credits
Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities)		3
MGF 1106	Mathematics for Liberal Arts Majors 1 (recommended; or other State Core Gen Ed Mathematics course)	3
State Core Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement		3
Foreign language		4-5
	Credits	13-14
Semester Two
One course in Asian religions, Jewish or Christian Scripture, Islam, or Religion and Ethics in Contemporary Society (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Humanities)		3
State Core Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences		3
State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences		3
Gen Ed Mathematics		3
Foreign language		3-5
	Credits	15-17
Semester Three
One course in Asian religions, Jewish or Christian Scripture, Islam, or Religion and Ethics in Contemporary Society (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Humanities)		3
State Core Gen Ed Humanities		3
Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences (area not taken in semester 2) 1		3
Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences 1		3
Elective or foreign language, if 4-3-3 option		3
	Credits	15
Semester Four
One course in Asian religions, Jewish or Christian Scripture, Islam, or Religion and Ethics in Contemporary Society (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Humanities)		3
Gen Ed Biological Sciences		3
Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement		3
Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences		3
Science laboratory (Gen Ed Physical or Biological Sciences)		1
Electives		4
	Credits	17
Semester Five
REL 3931	Junior Seminar	3
Gen Ed Physical Sciences		3
Religion elective (3000 level or above)		3
Electives		6
	Credits	15
Semester Six
Religion courses (Critical Tracking; 3000 level or above)		6
Electives		9
	Credits	15
Semester Seven
REL 4933	The Comparative Study of Religion (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Humanities)	3
Religion elective (Critical Tracking; 3000 level or above)		3
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)		9
	Credits	15
Semester Eight
Religion course (Critical Tracking; 4000 level or above)		3
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)		9
Elective		3
	Credits	15
	Total Credits	120

¹

One General Education option taken this term must be a Quest 2 course.

The major in Religion examines religion as a significant and pervasive element in human culture. Through study of a variety of religious traditions, students learn about the history, beliefs and practices of the world's religions. Emphasis on method and theory and religion's comparative dimensions enables students to read and analyze current literature. Students will be able to locate and use reference tools and demonstrate the ability to communicate independent, critical perspectives.

Before Graduating Students Must

• Achieve satisfactory evaluation of assignment from REL 3931.
• Achieve satisfactory evaluation of assignment from REL 4933.
• Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes | SLOs

Content

1. Identify, describe, and explain religion as a significant and pervasive element in human culture.

Critical Thinking

2. Read and analyze current literature on method and theory in a study of religion.
3. Read and analyze current literature on comparative religion.

Communication

4. Effectively communicate in speech and in writing and disseminate the results of research in a coherent and organized manner.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Academic Learning Compact 4

Courses	SLO 1	SLO 2	SLO 3	SLO 4
Asian Religions
REL 2317, REL 2341, REL 3330 or REL 3336	I, R		I, R
Islamic Religions
REL 2362, REL 3317, REL 3366 or REL 3367	I, R		I, R
Jewish or Christian Scripture
REL 2210, REL 2240, REL 3249 or REL 3252	I, R		I, R
REL 3931	A	I, R, A		I, R, A
REL 4933	A		A	I, R, A

Assessment Types

• Papers
• Additional assessment include the department's senior survey

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