Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies Program Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies degree program prepares students to understand the implications and expressions of faith, and to apply that understanding through several career options.
The Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies degree program challenges students to understand how faith shapes the thoughts, lives, and ethics of individuals and communities.
Courses encompass various approaches to the study of religion. They explore ritual and textual traditions, consider the early formation of religions, and investigate the interaction of religious beliefs and practices through various societal aspects. Fields of study include Theology, Biblical Studies, Spirituality, World Religions, Ethics, and Religion and Culture. Students become familiar with several major religious traditions in the world in addition to Roman Catholicism. Students explore perennial questions concerning the reality of God, the meaning of human existence, the significance of the Bible, the dignity and liberation of the person, and ways to live ethically in a global world. To this end, students learn to appreciate religious diversity and the roles of religions and religious faith in shaping human life, as exemplified particularly in the Roman Catholic tradition.
Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies Degree Plan
A minimum of 121 credit hours are required to complete the Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies degree program.
UIW Undergraduate Core Curriculum
UIW core coursework is required. Review the Undergraduate Core Curriculum Here and review the degree plans for each concentration for scheduling of the core curriculum classwork. In addition, 45 Community Service hours are part of all bachelor's degree programs. See Community Service.
| UIW Core Curriculum |
| Composition and Rhetoric |
6 credit hours |
| Literature and Art |
6 credit hours |
| Science and Mathematics |
7 credit hours |
| History and Behavioral Science |
6 credit hours |
| Philosophy and Religion |
9 credit hours |
| Second Language |
6 credit hours |
| Wellness and Physical Education |
3 credit hours |
| |
43 total core credit hours |
| |
|
| Community Service |
45 clock hours (non-credit) |
Required Coursework
Biblical Studies
Select 3 credit hours from this list of courses.
Theological Studies
Select 3 credit hours from this list of courses.
Religion and Culture
Select 3 credit hours from this list of courses.
Credit Hours From Options
Select 9 credit hours from either General Religious Studies, or Biblical Studies, or Catholic Studies, or Theological Studies.
General Religious Studies
This option requires 9 credit hours of RELS electives.
Biblical Studies
Catholic Studies
Select 9 credit hours from this list of courses.
Theological Studies
Select 9 credit hours from this list of courses.
Field Education Recommended
1 to 3 credit hours of Field Education Experience is recommended, supervised by faculty in the Religious Studies department.
Philosophy Coursework Recommended
6 credit hours of Philosophy coursework is recommended for this degree.
Second Major, Concentration, or Minor
It is recommended that students in this degree program take a second major, or concentration, or minor. Minors are a minimum of 12 credit hours, with a minimum of 6 upper-division hours required. See Degree Requirements.
Total Credit Hours: 121
Pastoral Institute
Through the Pastoral Institute department, UIW offers undergraduate and graduate programs designed to prepare students for a variety of lay ministries in the church, including religious education at all levels, youth and campus ministry, parish leadership roles, and liturgical ministries.