Ball State University

Department Name: 
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Department website: 
http://cms.bsu.edu/Academics/CollegesandDepartments/PhilRelStudies.aspx
Approximate Enrollment (entire institution): 
22,000
Number of Religion Majors: 
95
Number of Full-Time Departmental Faculty: 
9
Public Institution?: 
Public
Related to a religious denomination or body?: 
No
Which best describes the institution?: 
Grants bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees
Department offers undergraduate coursework in ministerial preparation (either a track, a minor, or a major)?: 
No
Department or institution offers masters programs in religious studies or theological studies?: 
No
Department or institution offers doctoral programs in religious studies or theological studies?: 
No
Description of Undergraduate Major: 

The beginnings of a new century have made all too clear the relevance of understanding the function of religious ideas and practices. To understand the world in our present – but also in the past and in the future – you must understand religion. To aid in the tasks of knowing and evaluating the role of human participants in religious activities, our Religious Studies program stresses the role of religion in culture: how humans have generated various religious practices, products, and remains.

At the cutting edge of the latest developments in the academic study of religion, our faculty, students, and learning opportunities in this program reflect the best in critical approaches to the perennial problems of society as they relate to religions.

The religion major requires 33 semester hours including Religion in Culture; and a course in Asian religion as well as a course in Western religion, both at 200 level or above. Additional information can be found at http://cms.bsu.edu/Academics/CollegesandDepartments/PhilRelStudies/RSProgram/Requirements.aspx.