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Introduction

As an intellectual inquiry into an important dimension of human experience, the exploration of religion is intrinsically valuable and constitutes a rich resource for reflection on meaning in life and on personal growth. It also prepares students for a wide range of careers (e.g. social work, law, politics from the local to the international level, teaching, medicine, leadership in religious organizations). The academic study of religion, combined with appropriate language preparation, can also open out into graduate work leading to the M.A. and Ph.D. in the growing number of universities offering advanced graduate degrees in the field, and in the University’s own Graduate Centre.

Historically, the academic study of religion has taken a variety of forms, each with its own rationale. The Department identifies itself with a model in which the major religious traditions (e.g. Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism) are studied within a comparative frame. We employ and encourage a variety of approaches (e.g. historical, textual, social scientific) without sacrificing specialized skills and training. The diversity which characterizes this model is reflected in the variety of courses offered or cross-listed by the Department, and by the wide range of training and expertise of our faculty.

Programs are described in detail in the Departmental Handbook; it also includes a limited number of cross-listed courses offered by Colleges or departments such as East Asian Studies, History, Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, Philosophy, and Sociology. Students aiming to complete any RLG program should consult the Undergraduate Secretary at least once a year for assistance in selecting courses that address the student’s interests and fulfill the program’s requirements.

Undergraduate Secretary:

123 St. George Street, 2nd Floor (978-2395)

Enquiries:

123 St. George Street, 1st Floor (978-2395)

RELIGION PROGRAMS

Enrolment in Religion programs requires completion of four courses; no minimum GPA required.

RELIGION (B.A.)

Specialist program (Hon.B.A.):
(10 full courses or their equivalent)
1. RLG 100Y/280Y
2. RLG 210Y/211Y/212Y
3. Four 300+ series courses, including at least one at the 400-level
4. Four other courses
5. Course selection must ensure that more than one religious tradition is studied (RLG100Y/280Y does not fulfill this requirement); it must also ensure depth of study and focus in one area or stream of specialization
6. Two cross-listed courses may be counted
7. Besides any cross-listed courses, two courses in a single language other than English may be substituted for one 200-series RLG course

Major program (B.A.):
(6 full courses or their equivalent)
1. RLG 100Y/280Y
2. One course from: RLG 201Y-209H, or 274H-275H
3. Two 300+ series courses
4. Two other courses
5. One cross-listed course may be counted

Minor program (B.A.):
(4 full courses or their equivalent)
1. RLG 100Y/101Y/280Y
2. One 300+ series RLG course
3. Two other courses
4. No cross-listed courses may be counted

RELIGION: CHRISTIAN ORIGINS (B.A.)
Consult Professor P. Richardson, Department for the Study of Religion

Specialist program (Hon.B.A.):
(10 full courses or their equivalent with four courses at the 300+level, including one course at the 400-level)
1. RLG 100Y/280Y
2. RLG 240Y/241Y
3. Four 300+ series half-courses (at least one must be at the 400-level), chosen from RLG 320H, 321H, 323H, 324H, 325H, 460H, 465H
4. Three full courses or equivalent chosen from: CLA 204H, 205Y, 230H, 231H, 334H, 351H, 352H, 356Y, 378H; FAH 203H, 204H, 208H, 209H, 300H, 302H, 317H, 321H, 419H; NMC 270Y, 325H, 326H, 327H, 328H (if not counted under language requirement), 470Y
5. One full course equivalent in another (preferably Eastern) tradition like Buddhism or Hinduism
6. GRK 102H (or, if not qualified, GRK 100Y), NMC 225Y; and one half-course chosen from NMC 227H, 325H, 326H, 327H, 328H (note: upon approval of the program coordinator, students may be permitted to substitute for these courses two full courses in another language such as Coptic, Syriac, Aramaic)

RELIGION AND EAST ASIAN STUDIES — See EAST ASIAN STUDIES AND RELIGION

RELIGION AND NEAR EASTERN STUDIES — See NEAR and MIDDLE EASTERN CIVILIZATIONS AND RELIGION

RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY — See PHILOSOPHY