Religion

Major, Minor

Why choose CMU for religious studies?

Religious studies uses history, anthropology, sociology and text analysis to answer big questions, like: What roles do religion and spirituality play in politics, social justice and culture? Our program focuses on critical reading and writing skills, creating a broad base of global understanding and reflecting on ethical issues.

Our religious studies major will prepare you to address the challenges of a diverse global community. You’ll study how different cultures and faiths have answered questions about the human experience, like the meaning of life and the existence of suffering.

You’ll gain an understanding of global diversity by studying overseas, and learn about the variety of religious traditions around the world, including China, Japan, India and the United States. You'll also dive into several major world religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism. Biblical studies, ethics and the relationships between religion and society will also help you to see the connections we have to one another.

Pairing religious studies with another subject as a double major is a great way to add dimension to your studies. The ability to think clearly about social and personal issues, and relate to others, builds people-skills that can be useful in any career.

Highlights for the study of religion

• See for yourself: Travel to India, Japan or Israel through our cooperative study-abroad programs.
• Match courses with your interests: Earn credit toward your religion major by taking classes in related disciplines like history, philosophy and English.
• Lean on the past to understand the present: Explore religious views, belief systems, moral codes and rituals and how they have formed the basis of cultures throughout history.