- We offer small class sizes, customized and unique curricula, student research opportunities, and connections to other academic fields and perspectives.
- Our professors are award-winning teachers who have been recognized for their excellence in the classroom. You’ll study with people who literally wrote the textbook on the subject they are examining.
- Converse’s religion program emphasizes the true diversity of religions from all around the world. We provide specialized courses of study in Christianity as well as Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism.
- We stress the abundance of methodologies within the field of religious studies, honing students’ skills in textual analysis, theology, historical research, ethnography, and current events. This provides graduates with the skills and versatility to thrive in the ever-changing job market.
- Religious studies at Converse is an excellent stepping-stone for careers in religious ministry. Our graduates have attended seminaries at Harvard, Duke, and Princeton.
- You’ll take multiple seminars focused explicitly on developing critical thinking and research skills.
- Student research projects have received recognition and funding from outside associations; some have been presented at academic conferences.
Religion
As of the Fall 2023 semester, students cannot declare a major or a minor in Religion. Current students who previously declared a major or minor in Religion will be advised through their required coursework throughout the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years. Once their studies are complete, a BA in Religion or a minor in Religion will no longer be conferred by Converse University.
The study of religion at Converse explores the sacred texts, traditions, and social practices which compose some of the worldviews that give human beings a sense of meaning.
Religious studies looks at different religious traditions, how religion works, and why people are drawn to it. Discover sacred texts and ponder questions of the ultimate meaning with a Religion major or minor degree at Converse.
About Religion
Religious studies is not necessarily about being religious personally, although our program includes students of many different faiths and beliefs. Instead, religion majors are curious about what religion itself is as an institution, in addition to how and why it shapes the lives and histories of so many people around the world. You will be taught to think critically and creatively about the cultural, artistic, philosophical, ethical, psychological, and political dimensions of religious phenomena.
Religion scholars look at the histories and sacred texts of religious communities around the world – including Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and others – and examine the intersections of religion with other sources of identity and meaning.
