The religious studies major at Hollins University focuses on the world's religions, their rituals, beliefs, texts, and ethical systems, as well as the various cultural contexts that shape, and are in turn shaped by, religious communities and beliefs. The major offers critical understandings of religion as community and individual enterprise, especially as religion relates to other human endeavors in the allied fields. It allows students to engage religious issues with other disciplines. All religious studies majors take six core classes and four classes in their chosen area of concentration (art, classics, English, history, pastoral studies, philosophy, sociology, or women's studies). The major's capstone involves a senior seminar, which includes a major research project that incorporates theories and methodologies with those of the student's area of concentration.
The religious studies major provides excellent training in cultural literacy. It offers broad background for graduate school in religious studies, ministerial studies, international studies, or programs in the allied fields. Its broadest appeal will be to those who wish to engage in and integrate several different fields of study, and to understand religious community and spirituality in their incarnations across many disciplines and cultures.
Experiential Education in the Classroom
Many religion classes provide opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. Introductory religious studies classes require a visit to and reflection on a religious service outside of one's own tradition and a class trip to the Hindu temple. Other classes involve visiting Christian worship services, the Bodhi Path Buddhist center, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and participation in a Jewish Passover Seder meal.
CONTACT James Patrick Downey
Chair, Philosophy, Religion & Classics jdowney@hollins.edu
(540) 362-6264
Hollins University P. O. Box 9712
Roanoke, VA 24020
"...how supportive and encouraging it is to study under two very strong and wise women." Augusta Glendenning '02
The religious studies major at Hollins University focuses on the world's religions, their rituals, beliefs, texts, and ethical systems, as well as the various cultural contexts that shape, and are in turn shaped by, religious communities and beliefs. The major offers critical understandings of religion as community and individual enterprise, especially as religion relates to other human endeavors in the allied fields. It allows students to engage religious issues with other disciplines. All religious studies majors take six core classes and four classes in their chosen area of concentration (art, classics, English, history, pastoral studies, philosophy, sociology, or women's studies). The major's capstone involves a senior seminar, which includes a major research project that incorporates theories and methodologies with those of the student's area of concentration.