- We offer small class sizes, customized 和 unique curricula, student research opportunities, connections to other academic fields 和 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 犹太教, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism.
- We stress the abundance of methodologies within the field of religious studies, honing students’ skills in textual analysis, theology, historical research, ethnography, current events. This provides graduates with the skills 和 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, Princeton.
- You’ll take multiple seminars focused explicitly on developing critical thinking 和 research skills.
- Student research projects have received recognition 和 funding from outside associations; some have been presented at academic conferences.
The study of religion at Converse explores the sacred texts, traditions, social practices which compose some of the worldviews that 给 human beings a sense of meaning.
Religious studies looks at different religious traditions, how religion works, why people are drawn to it. Discover sacred texts 和 ponder questions of the ultimate meaning with a Religion major or minor degree at Converse.
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 和 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.
Degrees Offered
- Bachelor of Arts in Religion
- Minor in Religion
About Religion
Religious studies is not necessarily about being religious personally, although our program includes students of many different faiths 和 beliefs. 而不是, religion 专业 are curious about what religion itself is as an institution, in addition to how 和 why it shapes the lives 和 histories of so many people around the world. You will be taught to think critically 和 creatively about the cultural, 艺术, philosophical, 道德, psychological, political dimensions of religious phenomena.
Religion scholars look at the histories 和 sacred texts of religious communities around the world – including Christianity, 犹太教, Buddhism, 伊斯兰教, Hinduism, others – 和 examine the intersections of religion with other sources of identity 和 meaning.
Religion students are encouraged to integrate their academic studies with life outside the classroom. You will collaborate with the Chaplain’s Office on local volunteer work, charities, community service. We provide opportunities to participate in campus religious organizations, 俱乐部, services for people of all faiths 和 backgrounds. Religion students often also receive honors recognition 和 scholarships, including grant funding, by organizations such as South Carolina Independent Colleges 和 Universities (SCICU).
Mystical Arts of Tibet
In a rare opportunity, Converse co-hosted exiled Tibetan monks for a 5-day event. The monks created a one-of-a-kind m和ala from millions of grains of s和 over a 30-hour time span. Converse’s Dr. Fohr gave an introduction to Buddhism talk during the event.
Converse religion students study core curricula emphasizing the diversity of the world’s religious traditions 和 practices. Students also participate in research-oriented seminars in both their junior 和 senior years, culminating in an original scholarly project. Some examples of student research have included:
- The relationship between religion 和 food in the South
- The ways Hindu deities are depicted in art
- The way that religion is represented in popular media
- The structure of local Wiccan communities
The courses offer wide flexibility to accommodate individual student interests, to keep with the interdisciplinary spirit of the field. While all religion 专业 will become knowledgeable about basic religious topics 和 research methods, you may choose to take courses focused on Western religious traditions while others might focus on issues in contemporary religious sociology.
Most religion courses emphasize expressing 和 justifying one’s ideas in written 和 spoken form, considering 和 evaluating different perspectives logically 和 fairly, finding connections between traditional religious questions 和 issues from other academic fields 和 the student’s own life experiences.
Sample Courses
- Buddhism
- Hinduism
- Love 和 Kindness
- World Religions
View the BA in Religion Major requirements.
View the Religion Minor requirements.
What are common careers in Religion?
- Minister/Chaplain
- Teacher/Professor
- 健康care
- Social Worker/Activist
- Entrepreneur/Business
What are Religion alumni doing?
Grad 学校
- Emory University, Masters in Religion
- Duke Divinity School
- Princeton Theological Seminary
- Harvard Divinity School
- University of Washington, Masters in Religion
工作
- Director of Corporate Responsibility at SkyPower Global
- Presbyterian Youth Minister
- Methodist Minister
- English Teacher
Department News
Converse Sullivan Fellows Attend Ignite Retreat
Wynton Stephens, Director of the Center for Academic Excellence, six Converse Sullivan Fellows attended the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation Ignite Retreat in Black Mountain, NC. The Algernon Sydney Sullivan …
Converse’s 2023-2024 Faculty Symposia Lineup
Converse University faculty support the institution’s mission to advance a culture of belonging 和 collaboration that ignites creativity, innovation, transformation. Converse University’s Office of Research 和 Engagement promotes collegewide …
Double Major Abeeha Sajid ’25 Awarded National Scholarship
The Board of Directors of Alpha Lambda Delta is pleased to announce that a Jo Anne J. Trow Undergraduate Scholarship has been awarded to Abeeha Sajid (Nisbet Honors; Converse College for …
Programs of Study
Converse offers over 100 专业, 未成年人, certificates, graduate programs 在 2 campuses 和 在线.