The Department of Religion conducts research and offers undergraduate and graduate education in the academic study of historical and contemporary religions in diverse global settings. We examine religious practices, ideas, institutions, and texts as well as the social, intellectual, cultural, and political contexts with which they interact. The Department possesses distinctive strengths in Judaic and Christian Studies, Islamic Studies, Buddhist Studies, Religions in the Americas, Hindu Studies, and Chinese Religions.
The study of religion is intrinsically interdisciplinary, and our faculty, students, and curriculum draw from a range of scholarly fields, including anthropology, history, literary studies, philosophy, science, philology, and sociology. Religious Studies coordinates these and allied fields to develop a critical analysis of the complexity of religion and religions and their far-reaching implications throughout the past and in the present, both within and across geographic, social, and historical boundaries.
The study of religion is foundational to an education in the humanities and liberal arts, and an understanding of religion and religions is an essential component of cultural and political literacy. Building on their work with the distinguished faculty of the Department, our students have found success in many different careers, including in law, education, medicine, business, academia, science, visual and performing arts, government, and journalism.
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Application for Visiting Research Associate at the Religion Department.
