Religious Studies at USF To know one is to know none We have a diverse department with over 150 students declared as majors. Over 60 undergraduate courses offered in three main categories: Western, Non-Western, Issues & Approaches. Religion is EVERYWHERE! Religious Studies involves interdisciplinary scholarly analysis and interpretation of religion, culture, and society using the theories and methodologies of the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. At USF, our faculty engages in the scholarly study of ethics, morality, and public policy. Our curriculum entails the study of religion, ethics and society in cross cultural and historical perspective. This area not only is descriptive and analytic but also prescriptive; and it seeks insights applicable to contemporary social issues and public policy. Why is religion important? Religion has always been with us. Throughout history, it has expressed the deepest questions human beings can ask, and it has taken a central place in the lives of virtually all civilizations and cultures. As we think all the way back to the dawn of human consciousness, we find religion everywhere we turn. Why Religious Studies at USF? Our faculty have won prestigious awards: Fulbright Fellow Lilly Fellow NEH Fellow Montgomery Fellow Alvin Plantinga Fellow And written over 50 books, more than 150 book chapters, and in excess of 200 journal articles www.religious-studies.usf.edu USF-Tampa Bay What is "Religious Studies"? How is this different from Religion? Religion has shaped the world’s history, literature, art, culture, politics, ethics, and economics. Across the globe religious agendas have fueled conflict and encouraged acts of terrorism and ethnic cleansing, dislocating populations and destroying economies. Religion has consequently proven to be one of the greatest threats to world peace and prosperity. But religious traditions have also laid the foundation for human rights, social justice, toleration, and world peace. It is impossible to open a newspaper, listen to the radio, or watch television without being bombarded by debates about the religious and ethical dimensions of cloning, euthanasia, abortion, divorce, AIDS, gay marriage, feminism, animal rights, preemptive war, capital punishment, and a host of other issues that fiercely divide the public both in this country and abroad. Because moral and ethical issues are at the heart of every religious tradition, encouraging students to discuss them in an academic setting is of the greatest importance in creating educated, thinking individuals. What careers can I get with a major in Religious Studies? Because critical thinking, writing, and reading skills are essential in any field, students who major in Religious Studies are well prepared to enter a variety of careers, including the health professions, law, business, government, and teaching. In an increasingly global society university graduates cannot know where their life and careers may take them. But wherever students end up, knowledge of the religious traditions of the people with whom they interact is essential. Helpful link: http://www.ou.edu/religiousstudies/Careers/Careerspage.htm We offer the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts Master of Arts PhD in Philosophy and Religion