Ministry & Theology
Dual degree partnerships with graduate theological programs support students pursuing ministry, chaplaincy, or theological study.
Religious Studies examines how religion shapes — and is shaped by — history, literature, politics, and culture. The discipline draws on the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences to understand religion as a force in human experience, making it essential context for understanding daily news, modern history, and human behavior more broadly.
The major is built around four areas of analysis: comparative study of world religions, literary and exegetical study of sacred texts, institutional analysis of religion's relationship to politics and law, and social/cultural analysis of religion in contemporary life. The major culminates in RELST 364, a capstone course in mediating religious conflict.
Students can also pursue a Jewish Studies minor, drawing on coursework across Religious Studies, History, Political Science, and German, alongside a dedicated internship and readings sequence in the Jewish Studies (JST) program.
Requirements
Comparative Analysis
One of: RELST 116 World Religions · RELST 181 Judaism through Food · RELST 206 American Sacred Space
4 hrs
Literary and Exegetical Analysis
One of: RELST 217 The Old Testament World · RELST 218 The New Testament World · RELST 251/351 Bible & Literature
4 hrs
Institutional Analysis
One of: RELST 232 Religion & American Politics · RELST 233 Religion & Constitutional Law
4 hrs
Social/Cultural Analysis
One of: RELST 335 Christian Theology & Film · RELST 363/463 Sports & Religion · RELST 352/452 Seminar in C.S. Lewis
4 hrs
RELST 364
Mediating Religious Conflicts (Capstone)
4 hrs
300/400-level Electives
At least three additional courses at the 300/400 level
12 hrs
Open Elective
One elective at the 100, 200, 300, or 400 level
4 hrs
Total Hours Required
36
RELST 116
World Religions
4 hrs
200+ Course
One RELST course at the 200 level or above
4 hrs
300/400-level Courses
Two RELST courses at the 300/400 level or above
8 hrs
200+ Course
One additional RELST course at the 200 level or above
4 hrs
Total Hours Required
20
Introductory Course
One of: RELST 180 Judaism & Film · RELST 181 Judaism through Food
4 hrs
History/Politics Elective*
One of: HIST 357 Holocaust · POLS 338 Comparative Politics of the Middle East and North Africa · RELST 140 Religion in American Culture · RELST 217 The Old Testament World
4 hrs
Culture/Language Elective*
One of: GER 305 Short Prose of Kafka · GER 340 German Cinema: Art & Politics · HIST 356 History of Modern Germany · RELST 361/461 Thinkers/Topics in Religion (as applicable)
4 hrs
JST 381
Internship in Jewish Studies
4 hrs
JST 481
Readings in Jewish Studies
4 hrs
Total Hours Required
20
Graduate & Dual Degree Pathways
Religious Studies students have access to guaranteed and preferred admission pathways to graduate theological programs and law school through Batten University's partnership agreements. Contact your advisor for current eligibility requirements and application deadlines.
Boston University
School of Theology
Guaranteed AdmissionGuaranteed admission with scholarship consideration to the MDiv or MTS programs. Requires continuous enrollment, GPA requirement, and religious studies coursework.
Duke University
Duke Divinity School
Early AdmissionStreamlined early admission with scholarship opportunities to the MDiv or Master of Arts in Christian Practice programs.
Emory University
Candler School of Theology
Guaranteed AdmissionGuaranteed admission with scholarship opportunities to the MDiv or Master of Religious Leadership. Requires Religious Studies coursework.
United Theological Seminary
Master of Divinity
Dual Degree 3+2Cooperative College Program — complete a Bachelor's at Batten and an MDiv at United Theological Seminary in five years.
Career Outcomes
Law & Public Policy
Coursework in religion, law, and constitutional issues supports careers in law, public policy, and religious liberty advocacy.
Education & Counseling
Skills in interpretation, comparison, and cross-cultural sensitivity translate into careers in education, counseling, and interfaith work.
Diplomacy & Public Service
Understanding religion's role in politics and global affairs supports careers in diplomacy, government, and public service.
Faculty
Craig Wansink
Batten Professor of Religious Studies and Leadership ,Joan P. and Macon F. Brock, Jr. Director of the Robert Nusbaum Center ,Chair of Religious Studies
757-455-3406
106 Robert Nusbaum Center, Clarke Hall
Terry Lindvall
Professor of Religious Studies,C.S. Lewis Endowed Chair in Communication and Christian Thought
757-455-3277
107 Robert Nusbaum Center, Clarke Hall
Eric Mazur
Professor of Religious Studies
Gloria and David Furman Endowed ,Professorship
Religion, Law, and Policy Fellow of the Robert Nusbaum Center
757-455-3250
25 Blocker Hall
Religious Studies examines how religion shapes — and is shaped by — history, literature, politics, and culture. The discipline draws on the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences to understand religion as a force in human experience, making it essential context for understanding daily news, modern history, and human behavior more broadly.
The major is built around four areas of analysis: comparative study of world religions, literary and exegetical study of sacred texts, institutional analysis of religion's relationship to politics and law, and social/cultural analysis of religion in contemporary life. The major culminates in RELST 364, a capstone course in mediating religious conflict.
Students can also pursue a Jewish Studies minor, drawing on coursework across Religious Studies, History, Political Science, and German, alongside a dedicated internship and readings sequence in the Jewish Studies (JST) program.
Requirements
Comparative Analysis
One of: RELST 116 World Religions · RELST 181 Judaism through Food · RELST 206 American Sacred Space
4 hrs
Literary and Exegetical Analysis
One of: RELST 217 The Old Testament World · RELST 218 The New Testament World · RELST 251/351 Bible & Literature
4 hrs
Institutional Analysis
One of: RELST 232 Religion & American Politics · RELST 233 Religion & Constitutional Law
4 hrs
Social/Cultural Analysis
One of: RELST 335 Christian Theology & Film · RELST 363/463 Sports & Religion · RELST 352/452 Seminar in C.S. Lewis
4 hrs
RELST 364
Mediating Religious Conflicts (Capstone)
4 hrs
300/400-level Electives
At least three additional courses at the 300/400 level
12 hrs
Open Elective
One elective at the 100, 200, 300, or 400 level
4 hrs
Total Hours Required
36
RELST 116
World Religions
4 hrs
200+ Course
One RELST course at the 200 level or above
4 hrs
300/400-level Courses
Two RELST courses at the 300/400 level or above
8 hrs
200+ Course
One additional RELST course at the 200 level or above
4 hrs
Total Hours Required
20
Introductory Course
One of: RELST 180 Judaism & Film · RELST 181 Judaism through Food
4 hrs
History/Politics Elective*
One of: HIST 357 Holocaust · POLS 338 Comparative Politics of the Middle East and North Africa · RELST 140 Religion in American Culture · RELST 217 The Old Testament World
4 hrs
Culture/Language Elective*
One of: GER 305 Short Prose of Kafka · GER 340 German Cinema: Art & Politics · HIST 356 History of Modern Germany · RELST 361/461 Thinkers/Topics in Religion (as applicable)
4 hrs
JST 381
Internship in Jewish Studies
4 hrs
JST 481
Readings in Jewish Studies
4 hrs
Total Hours Required
20
Graduate & Dual Degree Pathways
Religious Studies students have access to guaranteed and preferred admission pathways to graduate theological programs and law school through Batten University's partnership agreements. Contact your advisor for current eligibility requirements and application deadlines.
Boston University
School of Theology
Guaranteed AdmissionGuaranteed admission with scholarship consideration to the MDiv or MTS programs. Requires continuous enrollment, GPA requirement, and religious studies coursework.
Duke University
Duke Divinity School
Early AdmissionStreamlined early admission with scholarship opportunities to the MDiv or Master of Arts in Christian Practice programs.
Emory University
Candler School of Theology
Guaranteed AdmissionGuaranteed admission with scholarship opportunities to the MDiv or Master of Religious Leadership. Requires Religious Studies coursework.
United Theological Seminary
Master of Divinity
Dual Degree 3+2Cooperative College Program — complete a Bachelor's at Batten and an MDiv at United Theological Seminary in five years.
Career Outcomes
Ministry & Theology
Dual degree partnerships with graduate theological programs support students pursuing ministry, chaplaincy, or theological study.
Law & Public Policy
Coursework in religion, law, and constitutional issues supports careers in law, public policy, and religious liberty advocacy.
Education & Counseling
Skills in interpretation, comparison, and cross-cultural sensitivity translate into careers in education, counseling, and interfaith work.
Diplomacy & Public Service
Understanding religion's role in politics and global affairs supports careers in diplomacy, government, and public service.
Faculty
Craig Wansink
Batten Professor of Religious Studies and Leadership ,Joan P. and Macon F. Brock, Jr. Director of the Robert Nusbaum Center ,Chair of Religious Studies
757-455-3406
106 Robert Nusbaum Center, Clarke Hall
Terry Lindvall
Professor of Religious Studies,C.S. Lewis Endowed Chair in Communication and Christian Thought
757-455-3277
107 Robert Nusbaum Center, Clarke Hall
Eric Mazur
Professor of Religious Studies
Gloria and David Furman Endowed ,Professorship
Religion, Law, and Policy Fellow of the Robert Nusbaum Center
757-455-3250
25 Blocker Hall