Majoring in Religious Studies at St. John Fisher College:

The departmental offerings include courses which:

• center on the historical development of religious ideas, movements, and institutions
• center on analysis of religious thought and action in the light of religious beliefs
• examine the primitive literature of religions, in particular those of the Judaic, Islamic, and Christian traditions.
• explore the role of religion in society
  

Major Requirements:

Majors in the field choose 10 courses offered by the Department in consultation with a departmental faculty advisor for a total of 30 credits in Religious Studies.  Four of the courses must be at the 300 level or higher, including REST 496 – Independent Study.  Completion of this Independent Study entails a major research paper that is written under the direction of a member of the Religious Studies Department.  The remaining 6 courses must be completed in one of the concentrations listed below. 

Curriculum:

The Religious Studies Department offers the following concentrations for those interested in a major or minor in the discipline:

• General Religious Studies – with an emphasis on the methods used in the academic study of religion from global and national perspectives;
• World Religions – with an emphasis on knowledge of the various religious traditions, both Eastern and Western;
• Roman Catholic Theology – with an emphasis on the methods and sources of Roman Catholic theology

Many students combine a religious studies program with other fields such as history, gerontology, communications, business, education, psychology, political science, philosophy, literature, sociology, anthropology, languages, or international studies. 

Career Opportunities:

Textual analysis, critical moral inquiry, and cultural sensitivity fostered through religious studies constitute excellent preparation not only for further graduate study in the field, but also for graduate work in law, business and in the health care professions. 

Several career opportunites are, moreover, open to graduates who major in the discipline.  These include the following:

• entry level positions for lay ministers in parish settings such as pastoral worker, religious educator, liturgical coordinator, and youth minister;
• entry level chaplaincy roles in such settings as high school or college campuses, hospitals or nursing homes, and correctional facilities
• entry level positions in agencies such as Catholic Charities;
• preparation for teaching religion in Catholic schools at the elementary and secondary levels

Additional education toward certificate and degree programs is widely available for those who wish to dedicate themselves to the rapidly expanding field of lay ministry.

 

Supervised Internship Program:

To provide religious studies majors with hands-on experience in ministerial settings, the Department sponsors a co-operative program with local churches.  A recent participant made the following comment:

“I took away more than knowledge from this co-op.  I acquired further inspiration t for my academic study of religion and aspiration to grow spiritually.  I think of the parish staff as mentors, teachers, and friends.”

Recent supervisors have likewise expressed their satisfaction with the program, noting that it “was a very worthwhile experience” and how they “would love to have this as an on-going working relationship.”