2024-2025

Comparative Study of Religions, Minor

Department of Comparative Cultural Studies

College of Arts and Letters

At the heart of human diversity stands religion. In global business, politics, healthcare, scientific research, literature, music, or art, it is essential to understand the religious motives and differing beliefs, practices, and values of people that shape their decisions and actions, their history, social structure, and psychology.  This minor provides the framework for such understanding to complement your major.

  • A minor is earned in conjunction with a bachelor's degree.

    To receive a minor (18 - 24 units) at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject matter areas with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. At least 12 units of the minor must be unique to that minor and not applied to any other minor.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

No more than fifty percent of the units used to satisfy minor requirements may be used to satisfy major requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion 18
Major GPA 2.0

Purpose Statement
 
This minor provides students with the framework for understanding the religious motives and differing beliefs, practices, and values of people from a global perspective.  Through written and oral analytical engagement with primary sources—including text, image, and performance—and secondary scholarship, students enter into the comparative study of global traditions.  As a result, students learn the shared and unique characteristics and the local and global impact of different religions.  The study of religion demonstrates to students how religious belief and practice has shaped their decisions and actions, as well as their history, social structure, and psychology. 

 
Student Learning Outcomes

Students in the REL minor will demonstrate and/or gain:  

  • introductory knowledge about the study of religion and interdisciplinary thinking about religions and culture
  • knowledge about selected major religious traditions and various topics in religion
  • proficiency in the essential skills of critical reading, critical thinking, effective writing and interdisciplinary and integrative methodologies as related to the field of religious studies

Minor Requirements

  • Take the following 18 units, with a Grade of "C" or better in each course:

    • Select from the following (3 units):
    • Additional REL courses, selected in consultation with a Religious Studies advisor. (15 units)
Additional Information

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.