About the Faculty of Religious Studies (Undergraduate)
Cultivating a thorough understanding of the world’s religions and the roles of religion throughout history and in contemporary society is at the heart of the Faculty of Religious Studies’ teaching at the undergraduate level. The Faculty takes a multidisciplinary approach to scholarship on a plurality of religions and incorporates a broad range of perspectives and methods. In studying the world’s religious traditions, we emphasize the ways in which religious expression and practices are embedded in culture, politics, aesthetics, and social change.
The Faculty’s undergraduate teaching supports two degrees, the B.A. and the B.Th.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) programs in Religious Studies are offered in conjunction with the Faculty of Arts. These programs explore the many cultural, historical, and political issues related to both Eastern and Western religions and to religion in comparative perspective. Majors and minors in World Religions are available, as well as a minor in Religion and Globalization and honours and joint honours programs in Religious Studies. Students frequently combine majors and minors in World Religions with a wide range of other B.A. concentrations, highlighting the importance of the rigorous study of religion to many other areas of inquiry.
A distinctive strength of the Faculty’s offerings is the Major in Scriptures and Interpretations which allows for a concentration on a particular scriptural tradition (Jewish, Christian, or Hindu and Buddhist scriptures); the Minor in Scriptural Languages supports all these concentrations by providing intensive study of either Indo-Tibetan languages or Biblical Languages.
The Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) offers academic instruction in the disciplines of theology and a more intensive study of Christianity. The B.Th. degree can be pursued independently or in preparation for ordained ministry and other careers in pastoral settings such as hospitals and schools. The B.Th. is a key component of the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree, which is offered through the affiliated colleges of the Montreal School of Theology.