Requirements for the major are found on the checksheet. Please note that 21 hours of credit (out of the 30 hours needed for the major) must have RELS prefixes, including RELS 2653 and RELS 4323. Please contact our Academic Advisor, Jennie Lazar for assistance in navigating the checksheet.
For the list of courses available to satsify RELS requirements for both major and minor, click here and here for current RELS-accepted courses, including those considered approved electives.
Course descriptions may be found here.
If you have any questions about majoring or minoring in Religious Studies, please contact our Academic Advisor, Jennie Lazar.
All HON 2973 and 3993 sections with Dr. Marie Dallam count in the major, as do HON or RELS 3960/3980 when the topic is approved for use in RELS.
To research course availability, please consult classnav.ou.edu. This database provides several semesters to research, as well as a feature that allows for searching by General Education category.
Requirements for the RELS minors can be found on the Religious Studies minor checksheet (pdf) (15 hours of coursework).
For a list of courses to use for completing the minor, visit the RELS minor page. Explore the course lists here and here for current RELS-accepted courses, including those considered approved electives.
For more information about the minor please contact our advisor, Jennie Lazar.
Did you know that Religious Studies offers many skills that translate into successful careers in law and medicine? Find out how to set yourself apart with RELS & Pre-Law or RELS & Pre-Med degrees.
Regardless of your major, you can advance your goals by focusing your elective courses towards an undergraduate certificate. An undergraduate certificate indicates completion of a set of courses that represent a specific area of knowledge.
The certificate in Asian Religions provides formal recognition on the university transcript of students in any major who have developed specialized knowledge of Hindu, Buddhist, Daoist, and/or Confucian traditions through a focused study across five courses (15 credit hours). Knowledge of Asian Religious traditions may prepare students for careers in government agencies, non-profit organizations, and business enterprises in or involving East and South Asian nations and communities. The certificate represents a student's knowledge of and ability across multiple cultural fields; it serves as a credential when applying for jobs or graduate programs in fields as diverse as business, medicine, and technology. You can find the requirements for the Asian Religions certificate here.
| Course | Course Description | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| IAS/PHIL 1223 001 | Intro to Asian Philosophy | A. Olberding |
| PHIL/IAS 1223 001 | Intro to Asian Philosophy | A. Olberding |
| Course | Course Description | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| IAS/PHIL 3343 001 | Chinese Philosophy | A. Olberding |
| PHIL/IAS 3343 001 | Chinese Philosophy | A. Olberding |
| RELS 2703 001 | Buddhist Traditions | G. Goble |
| RELS 3763 001 | Chinese Religions | G. Goble |
The certificate in Islamic Studies gives formal recognition, recorded on the transcript, to students of any major who demonstrate a special interest in Islam by taking five relevant courses selected across a wide range of departments. It can help to prepare and credential students for careers in humanitarian, civil society, and intelligence work involving the Near East, Africa, or South and Southeast Asia; and it can help students to set themselves apart as they apply for jobs and graduate programs in fields like medicine, engineering, business, or law. You can find the requirements for the Islamic Studies certificate here.
| Course | Course Description | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| IAS 3413 001 | Iran & Islam in Global History | A. Marashi |
| IAS 3473 001 | The Arab-Israeli Conflict | J. Landis |
| IAS 3763 001 | Women & Gender Middle East | M. Hashemi |
| MLLL 3243 001 | Arab Islamic Heritage | M. Al-Masri |
| PSHU 4173 301 | Women in the Bible and Qur'an | TBA |
| RELS 2303 001 | Introduction to Islam | D. Vishanoff |
| Course | Course Description | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 3113 001 | The Crusades | R. Magnusson |
| PSHU 4173 101 | Women in the Bible and Qur'an | K. LaFever |
| RELS 3533 001 | The Qur'an | D. Vishanoff |
