Course Planning

Religious Studies Major - Planning

The course planning advice here is limited to completing this major which is just one piece of the overall Hendrix College degree requirements.  For a full description of degree requirements see the Catalog.

Possible Degree Path – starting in the first year. The Major in Religious Studies requires 10 courses and is highly flexible. The following is only one possible plan for this major.   Please consult with your advisor to create your unique path. 

  Fall Semester Spring Semester
First Year

1 - 2 Religious Studies (RELI) courses at the 100- or 200- level possibly including Asian Religions (RELI 111) and/or Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (RELI 113)

Sophomore

2 – 4 Religious Studies (RELI) courses at the 100- or 200- level.  

  • RELI 209 What is Religion? is appropriate for sophomores, though it maybe taken in the junior year.
  • 300-level courses are appropriate for sophomores with prior RELI coursework. Please consult with the course instructor or the department chair.

If not completed previously: Asian Religions (RELI 111) and Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (RELI 113) 

Junior

1-2 Religious Studies (RELI) courses at the 300- or 400- level

If not completed previously: What is Religion? (RELI 209)

Senior

Liberal Arts Senior Colloquium (LBST 497)

1 - 2 Religious Studies courses at the 300- or 400- level

Other Religious Studies courses as necessary to complete the major

Possible Degree Path – starting in the second year.  The Major in Religious Studies requires 10 courses and is highly flexible. The following is only one possible plan for major starting in the sophomore year, but many variations are possible. Please consult with your advisor to create your unique path. 

  Fall Semester Spring Semester
First Year

 -

Sophomore

World Religions: An Introduction (RELI 110)

3 - 4 courses in Religious Studies (RELI) courses at the 100- or 200- level.  

  • Ideally this will include both including Asian Religions (RELI 111) and Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (RELI 113). If necessary, one can be taken junior year.
  • RELI 209 What is Religion? is appropriate for sophomores, though it maybe taken in the junior year.
Junior

Approaching the Study of Religion (RELI 395, Spring semester)

1 - 2 Religious Studies (RELI) courses at the 100- or 200- level.

1 - 2 Religious Studies (RELI) courses at the 300- or 400- level.  

If not completed previously: Asian Religions (RELI 111), Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (RELI 113), and What is Religion? (RELI 209) 

Senior

Liberal Arts Senior Colloquium (LBST 497)

1 - 2 Religious Studies courses at the 300- or 400- level

Other Religious Studies courses as necessary to complete the major

Capstone Comments:  Please refer to the Catalog for details on the Religious Studies capstone experience.