Undergraduate Program

NEWS: The American Indian and Indigenous Studies Minor has just been approved. Please see the link at the left for more information.

UCSB has the premier Religious Studies department in the University of California system. It is one of the best programs in the U.S., and is internationally recognized for its excellence in teaching and research. Religious Studies is interdisciplinary in approach and majors gain critical skills in history, sociology, philosophy and other relevant disciplines. Students in our courses not only learn the substance of religion in various cultures, but they also study the theories that help solve the puzzles about religion in human experience. We offer the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in religious studies. Students can concentrate in Buddhist Studies; South Asian traditions; East Asian traditions; Jewish, Islamic, and Near Eastern traditions; Christian, Mediterranean, and European traditions; or traditions of the Americas through careful selection of coursework. The major requires completion of four lower-division units (one course); and 44 upper-division units – about eleven courses. Students should consult the current General Catalog or meet with the undergraduate advisor about course distribution requirements.

Many students complete double majors and combine religious studies with history, anthropology, political science, philosophy, or art. In addition, the department also houses the American Indian and Indigenous Studies (AIIS) Minor and the Jewish Studies Minor. Students who want to prepare for graduate work in religion should take advantage of the language courses in the department and acquire proficiency in a language related to the area or tradition of their interest. Undergraduate majors may work towards the honors distinction, and there are several departmental awards given each spring for outstanding achievement. Many majors go on to do graduate work in religion, while others entering various professions find that the interpretive, writing, and problem solving skills they learned studying religion give them a unique edge in their work.

To view the religious studies requirement sheet click on the link at left or visit the Registrar's website at: http://www.registrar.ucsb.edu/majors.htm.

We also encourage our students to study abroad, particularly in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, through the university’s Education Abroad Program. (For more information about studying abroad as a religious studies major, see our link at left or go to http://www.religion.ucsb.edu/studyabroad.html)

Majors with superior academic records, upon approval of the faculty, are recommended for membership in Theta Alpha Kappa, a national honorary society in religious studies and theology. For more information, see the link at left or visit Theta Alpha Kappa's website at: http://www-hl.syr.edu/admin/tak/default.html.

The department’s undergraduate advisor helps students plan their course of study. The department chair and other faculty members also assist students with academic planning.

Contact the Undergraduate Advisor:

Deborah McCleister, dmccleister@religion.ucsb.edu