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A major in religion consists of 10 courses, a minimum of eight of which must be departmental courses. Normally no more than three of these courses may be at the 200 level. Only one of the total number of courses may be an independent study. Required core courses cannot be counted toward religion requirements.
All religion majors are required to take RELG 202, Introduction to the Study of Religion, and RELG 352, Theory and Method in the Study of Religion. At least one 400-level seminar is also required of all majors. In consultation with the student’s adviser and the department chair, a student may elect to count up to two Colgate courses from outside the program in religion for credit towards the religion major. These courses may be in the study of a language, provided that the student has planned these courses in advance and in consultation with his or her adviser and the department chair.
In cases where a language is not taught at Colgate (e.g., Biblical Hebrew, Hindi, Sanskrit), but its relevance to a particular student’s program of study in religion can be demonstrated, the chair has the option of petitioning the registrar for a transfer of credit that can count toward the major.
Capstone Experience
Building upon the knowledge gained in departmental courses, in consultation with a faculty adviser, majors will create an opportunity to convey publicly something of what they have learned while in the program. Before the end of the senior year, each major — individually or in collaboration with other majors — will make a presentation beyond the classroom: a public lecture, an exhibition, a conference paper, an op-ed essay, and so forth. This ungraded presentation, which is required of all students, will likely come out of a course (e.g., the senior seminar), but may synthesize insights gained from several courses. An honors thesis (and defense) satisfies this requirement.
Minor in Religion
A minor in religion consists of five courses in religion. The structure of the minor can be specially designed in consultation with the student’s adviser in religion, or it can have the basic structure of RELG 202, Introduction to the Study of Religion; RELG 352, Theory and Method in the Study of Religion; a 400-level seminar; and two electives.