Religious Studies

The Religious Studies program is interdepartmental and interdisciplinary. Students are introduced to a multidisciplinary experience of religions–both traditional Judaeo-Christian and non-Western–that employs ancient and modern languages, anthropology, art, architecture, history, literature, philosophy, psychology, social sciences, and theology. Students learn about the history and traditions of their religion and those of others, the role of organized religion and religious groups in society, and the contribution of the religious sensibility to the psychological well-being of individuals. Students also know that the world today extends far beyond the borders of Texas: there are cultures, nations, and peoples they need to understand better as they participate in a genuinely international community. What better path to global understanding than knowing and appreciating the religions, beliefs, and hopes of persons living throughout Europe, the Mediterranean basin, Africa, the Near and Far East, and Latin America?