Religion
Department of Religion
The College of Arts and Sciences
Chair
Peter Slade, Professor of Religion
Faculty
Craig Hovey, Professor of Religion
Kirsty Jones, Assistant Professor of Religion
Degree Offered
Bachelor of Arts
Mission
The Department of Religion furnishes a basic Biblical understanding and appreciation of Christian thought for all graduating students. It seeks to help students become aware of how religious commitments and values continue to shape our worldviews and affect our ethics. It also seeks to be a learning environment for intensive and advanced work in religious explorations as a means of preparing students for graduate study and professional careers in churches and ministry.
Objectives of the Religion Department
To furnish a basic Biblical understanding and appreciation of Christian thought for all graduating students;
To provide preliminary studies for students wishing to do graduate work in religion;
To prepare students to enter seminary training, religious vocations and related social professions;
To provide courses of study for students who wish to teach religion in primary and secondary schools; and
To provide courses of study for students who have interests in Christian involvement in community and church.
Student Learning Outcomes
Identify the main events and themes in the Bible.
Analyze the Biblical text and secondary Biblical studies writings.
Examine the history of Christian thought and practice.
Identify major themes in Christian theology and ethics.
Evaluate primary works in Christian theology and ethics
Identify beliefs and practices in major world religious traditions.
Integrate religious studies into life and vocation.
Clinical Experience in Religion
Majors in religion may elect an internship in a congregation or other ministry setting for up to nine credit hours (typically three credit hours at a time) under the supervision of a leader approved by a Religion Department faculty member. Students must comply with all Independent Study Program requirements and guidelines developed by the Career Services Center.
Study Abroad options include participating in mission trips coordinated through the Office of Christian Ministry in conjunction with a course on short term missions. The department is an active partner with the Study Abroad Office and regularly offers expeditionary learning opportunities for Religion students. These have included exploring the history of Christian worship in Italy (as part of the AU in Tuscany Program), and learning about Luther and the German Reformation (as part of the AU in Germany Program).
Pre-Seminary
One important objective of the department is to prepare students to enter seminary training and explore religious vocations. As a religion major, students will be an active member of an academic community that integrates life, service, worship, and their studies. Students may take advantage of the connections with Ashland Theological Seminary (ATS). ATS professors teach classes in the Religion Department and there are opportunities to attend programming at the seminary.
In their junior year, pre-seminary students can apply to Ashland Theological Seminary (ATS) to enter the Pre-Seminary Acceleration. This allows the student to start taking seminary classes that simultaneously count toward their B.A. general electives and a variety of non-counseling master’s degrees at ATS.
Description of Major
Religion majors become a part of a learning community that is both academically rigorous and sensitive to issues of faith development and spiritual formation. Students take courses in the areas of Biblical studies, theology and ethics, Christian history, world religions, and practical theology. The religion major not only prepares those who are called to a life of ministry in the church or academy but also helps those who are planning a career in other fields to apply a Biblical and theological worldview to their respective disciplines.
Religion Courses and Descriptions