Minor in Religion and Society
Contact R. Gustav Niebuhr, Director, 513 Hall of Languages, 315-443-5723;
rgniebuh@syr.edu.
Faculty P. Arnold, D. Arzt, C. Babiracki, M. Barkun, M. Boroujerdi, Z. Braiterman, J. Burdick, A. Fernández, M. Gaddis, A. Gold, M.G. Hamner, S. Henderson, S.K. Herrick, T. Kassam, P. Kurien, N. Kutcher, J. Levine, P.C. Miller, M. Mũgo, G. Niebuhr, R. Pilgrim, M. Robinson, D. Romano, M.T. Schwarz, J.S. Strickland, H. Swarts, L. Thomas, M.S. Thompson, R. Thompson, S. Wadley, J.P. Waghorne, E. Wallwork, J.W. Watts.
Religion and society is an interdisciplinary program that provides the opportunity to study the pervasive role of religion in contemporary society, especially in U.S. national politics, international relations, economic development, and popular culture; and in most facets of social change broadly conceived. Course requirements aim to provide students with (1) an understanding of several major religious traditions on their own terms; (2) perspectives on the social and cultural roles played by religion in various periods and places, not the least of which is the contemporary world; and (3) comparative analyses of religion’s influence on particular aspects of human cultures, such as politics, violence, and group identity. The program is open to any SU student, and may be especially useful to students interested in pursuing careers in journalism, international relations, law, government, or foreign service.
The minor in religion and society is designed to encourage study of the interaction of religion with other aspects of public affairs, such as politics, diplomacy, law, and business, on the basis of a broad understanding of various religious traditions.
REQUIREMENTS
A minor in Religion and Society consists of a minimum of 18 credits (at least 12 credits in courses numbered 300 or above), of which 9 credits must be earned in courses from the Traditions list, and 9 from courses on the Religion and Society list.
Traditions Courses (12-18 credits)
Religion and Society Courses (12-18 credits)
REL 252 Religious Ethics and Social Issues
REL 300 Religion and the News Media
REL 324 Religion and Storytelling
REL 326 Religion and Film
REL 347 Religion and the Conquest of America
REL 348 Religion and American Consumerism
REL 352 Sociology of Religion and Morals
REL 375 Religion and Ethics in Post-Freudian Depth Psychologies
REL 395 Religions and the Natural Environment
REL 449 Religious Dimensions of Whiteness
WSP/REL 341/
HST 387/
AAS 400 Women, Abolition, and Religion in 19th-Century America
WSP/REL 384 Goddesses, Women, and Power in Hinduism
WSP/REL 465 Gender in Islam