Religion
Chair: Susan Ackerman
Professors S. Ackerman, I. Amadiume, N. K. Frankenberry, R. M. Green, S. Heschel; Associate Professors E. Z. Benor, C. H. MacEvitt, R. Ohnuma, A. K. Reinhart; Assistant Professor G. Raz; Visiting Professors R. Balmer, S. J. Brown, R. Schmitt.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR
Prerequisite: Religion 1.
Requirements: In addition to Religion 1, the major consists of nine courses including:
1. At least two courses from the Introductory series on Religion (Religion 2 through 19).
2. At least one course from the Theories in the Study of Religion series (Religion 20.1 through 20.4).
3. At least two courses from the Intermediate series on Religion (Religion 21 through 79).
4. One on-campus seminar in Religion (Religion 80 or 81). Students should note that some seminars will have prerequisites. Consult the Chair for more information.
5. As Culminating Experience, either completion of the Honors Program (Religion 86 and 87), or the Senior Colloquium (Religion 85), or an Advanced Independent Study (Religion 84). Consult the Chair for more information.
6. The major must include at least one Religion Department course from among those designated as fulfilling the Non-Western requirement.
No more than three transfer courses, which may include Religion 70, 71, or 72 (on D.F.S.P.), will be accepted for major credit. All transfer courses must be approved in advance by the Department.
Major programs are subject to the approval of the Chair.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MODIFIED MAJOR
Prerequisite: Religion 1.
Requirements: In addition to Religion 1, 11 courses of which 7 or more shall be in the Department.
1. At least two courses from the Introductory series on Religion.
2. At least one course from the Theories in the Study of Religion series.
3. At least one course from the Intermediate series on Religion.
4. One on-campus seminar in Religion. Students should note that some seminars will have prerequisites.
5. As Culminating Experience, either completion of the Honors Program, or the Senior Colloquium (Religion 85), or an Advanced Independent Study (Religion 84). Consult the Chair for more information.
The remainder may be courses in other departments provided that such courses constitute a coherent program of study in Religion. Approval of the modified major must be obtained from the Chair.
The modified major must include at least one Religion Department course from among those designated as fulfilling the Non-Western requirement.
No more than three transfer courses, which may include Religion 70, 71, or 72 (on D.F.S.P.), will be accepted for major credit. All transfer courses must be approved in advance by the Department.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR
Prerequisite: Religion 1.
Requirements: In addition to Religion 1, the minor consists of five courses to be selected as follows:
1. At least one course from the Introductory series on Religion.
2. At least one course from the Theories in the Study of Religion series.
3. At least one course from the Intermediate series on Religion.
4. Two additional courses in Religion (any level).
5. The minor must include at least one Religion Department course from among those designated as fulfilling the Non-Western requirement.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS AND FOREIGN STUDY
Courses taken at the University of Edinburgh on the Department’s Foreign Study Program will normally be counted among the intermediate courses required for the major as listed in 3, above. The course offered by the Dartmouth faculty leader is Religion 74.
RELIGION HONORS PROGRAM
Qualified majors may apply for admission to the Honors Program of the Department during the second or third terms of their junior year. Completion of the Honors Program is prerequisite to graduation with Honors or High Honors in the major subject.
The Honors Program of the Department of Religion is designed to encourage and enable a qualified major student to pursue a long-term independent research project on some topic of interest and importance. Through the project, as guided by a member of the faculty, the student should come to an understanding in depth of the content of the subject and the methodological procedures necessary to enable him or her to reach the desired goal.
During two terms of the senior year the honors student will pursue the project under the guidance of a selected faculty member by enrolling in Religion 86 (Honors I: Research) and 87 (Honors II: Writing). The student is expected to produce a substantial thesis as the culmination of the project. A paper of seventy-five to one hundred pages would be considered usual, although the exact nature of the project might dictate a different length. The student will be expected to maintain at least a ‘B+’ level of performance throughout the two terms. Unless at least a grade of B+ is assigned the thesis and a cumulative average of 3.0 is maintained in the major, he or she will not be considered to have successfully completed the project. If in the judgment of the Department the student has failed to perform at the minimal level, it will have the right to terminate the project at the end of the first or the second term.
In order to qualify for an Honors Program in the Religion Department, the student must have at the time of application an average of 3.0 in all subjects and 3.3 in the major. The interested candidate should, in consultation with a faculty adviser, decide on a course of study, reading, and writing and should then present these proposals in a petition to the Department.
Preparation and Submission of Thesis Proposal. After the proposal is approved by the faculty adviser, it will be submitted to the Religion Department for approval. Since the Department may request that the student rewrite the proposal, we recommend that a proposal be submitted to the Department by the seventh week of the spring term of the junior year.
Thesis Writing. A student must write a two-term thesis, for which two course credits may be received. A thesis written during the fall and winter must be submitted by the end of the first week in May. A thesis completed during the spring term must be submitted by the end of the third week in May. An oral defense will be scheduled shortly thereafter.
The Honors Program counts as fulfilling the Culminating Experience requirement. Honors students are normally expected to participate in the Senior Colloquium but are excused from the writing component.