About the DepartmentDepartment of Religion
The Department of Religion introduces students to the diversity and multiplicity of religious beliefs and expressions. The faculty teach courses on a broad range of religious cultures and experiences, from antiquity to the present, and from the Americas to Europe, Africa, and Asia. Students learn about the diversity of human religious practice and about the nuances of theological and ethical ideas. Because religion affects all parts of the human experience, our faculty teach an array of subjects, from philosophy to literature, history to art, and social science to mysticism. Students interested in any aspect of the liberal arts will find a home in the study of religion.
The Department of Religion teaches numerous general education courses for the College, including Bible, World Religions, and American Religions. The Department also supports the THEOL (Theological Studies) requirement, which aims to promote among Gustavus students a nuanced and contextualized understanding of Christian theology in conversation with the beliefs and practices of other religions.
The Department offers a major in Religion, as well as minors in Religion and Religious Diversity in Professional Life. Majors write a senior thesis, a semester-long project during which students learn advanced skills in research methodologies, critical thinking, and public speaking. Requirements for the major and minor, as well as a complete list of Religion courses, can be found in the course catalog.
The faculty of the Department of Religion also maintain a robust research program, spreading knowledge about religion to scholarly and public communities near and abroad. We invite you to visit the Religion Blog for updates on our faculty's latest projects and publications. Visitors to the Gustavus campus can also walk through the Department, on the 3rd Floor of Old Main, where we showcase faculty publications and scholarly accomplishments.