Requirements
The Religion and Global Affairs concentration consists of a required gateway course called “Engaging Religions” (three credits), electives selected from an approved list (totaling nine credits), and a general capstone course taken in the final year (three credits).
Engaging Religions
The gateway course is typically offered every fall semester. It provides students with both literacy about the religious dimension of social life as it pertains to global affairs, as well as methods and concepts for asking better questions about global religious phenomena. Students do not need to declare the concentration to enroll in this course, but are strongly encouraged to take it before their final year.
Elective Courses
Students select from a list of approved electives totaling at least nine credits. One-credit or two-credit courses that concern religion and global affairs are not typically listed but may be petitioned to count as electives. At least three credits must be earned in courses that focus extensively on one or more non-Catholic religious traditions. Students who are enrolled in the concentration may receive one credit for participating in a week-long international experience sponsored by the Institute.
Sample Electives
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Catholicism and Politics Daniel Philpott (Political Science) |
The Chinese Religious World Today: Catholicism, Christianity, Islam, and Other Popular Faiths Lionel Jensen (East Asian Languages and Cultures) |
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Christianity in Africa Paul Kollman (Theology) |
Creation, Ecology, Technology James Haring (Theology) |
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Environment, Food, and Society Christian Smith (Sociology) |
Faith and Feminism Kathleen Cummings (American Studies) |
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Faith, Freedom, and Fanaticism Robert Dowd (Political Science) |
The Heart’s Desire and Social Change Daniel Groody (Theology) |
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Islam and Christian Theology Gabriel Said Reynolds (Theology) |
Islam and Global Affairs Mahan Mirza (Religion and Global Affairs) |
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Latin American and US Latino Theologies Timothy Matovina (Theology) |
Love and Violence Jason Springs (Peace Studies) |
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Moral Vocabularies of Contemporary Islam: Islamic Law and Ethics in Perspective Ebrahim Moosa (Peace Studies) |
Our Cosmic Stories Anna Geltzer (History and Philosophy of Science) and Mahan Mirza (Religion and Global Affairs) |
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Reconciliation Emmanuel Katongole (Theology) |
Religion, Gender, Development Atalia Omer (Peace Studies) |
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Religion in America Thomas Tweed (American Studies) |
Religious Pluralism Mun’im Sirry (Theology) |
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Theologizing Women Lailatul Fitriyah (Theology) |
War, Peace, and the Catholic Imagination Gerard Powers (Peace Studies) |
Capstone Course
The capstone project represents a culmination of the coursework completed under in Global Affairs. A semester-long course with other Global Affairs majors will provide students with the structure, skills, and support to complete their capstone projects. The instructor of the capstone course will assist in selecting a faculty advisor, designing a research plan, conducting research, and publicizing your project.