德保爾大學(xué)

The Department of Religious Studies offers DePaul students the opportunity to engage in the academic study of religion. The study of religion includes not only the traditional areas of sacred texts, myths, rituals, mystical experiences and doctrines, but also the ways in which political, social and economic forces shape these phenomena for religious communities. Drawing on a host of academic disciplines, religious studies challenges students to encounter the traditions of the world in all their rich diversity. Given the complexity of the subject matter, members of the department draw upon several other academic disciplines - anthropology, art history, biblical studies, economics, environmental studies, ethics, gender studies, history, linguistics, literature and literary criticism, political science, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and theology - as they do their work.

Beyond work with texts, students may also study religion through the media of film and video, music, the visual and dramatic arts, and the internet. The department emphasizes comprehensive learning in writing, synthetic and analytic thinking, and oral communication skills. Students can go beyond their course work with further learning opportunities, such as the senior thesis, independent study, study abroad and internships, and service learning, both locally and internationally.

A religious study major or minor is positioned to pursue a wide variety of careers. A bridge between the specialist's perspectives on religion and a wider world that is often in need of these perspectives, religious studies majors have worked in the fields of law, social work, regional and international business, governmental and non-governmental service, secondary school teaching, and service in religious communities. A religious study major is also well-prepared for further studies in graduate programs leading to careers in academia.

Learning Outcomes

?Students will be able to:

• Identify, analyze, and critically compare some significant elements of religion - such as myth, narrative, symbol, ritual, sacred texts, law, doctrine, ethics, experience, and systems of cosmic, social and individual order - as they are manifested in religious traditions across culture, time, ethnicity race, or gender.
• Apply to religious phenomena various theories, methodological perspectives, and experiential approaches.
• Evaluate the relationship between religion and other elements of culture and society regarding such issues as the relation between religion and moral values, religion and power, as well as the role of religious movements as forces of personal and social transformation, social justice, and social integration.
• Identify and apply scholarly resources and/or field methodologies from religious studies in writing.