Religious Studies Concentration

Page Contents:01.About Concentration02.Subject Requirements03.Additional Resources

About the concentration

The Religious Studies Concentration focuses on the profound significance of religion both in the individual search for meaning and in collective political, cultural, and social life. Subjects offered within the concentration address the traditions of major world religions, the place of religion in public life, the intellectual underpinnings of religious belief, and comparative patterns in religious experience. This concentration allows students to explore the dynamic role religion plays in shaping our world.

Subject requirements

To fulfill the requirements, take three subjects constituting a coherent course of study selected in consultation with the concentration advisor.

Below is a partial listing of subjects. Other courses may be included in your program at the concentration advisor’s discretion. Students seeking a wider range of topics related to global religions may also cross-register for classes at Harvard or Wellesley.

A HASS Concentration may include only one subject that also counts toward the HASS Distribution Requirement. You may include more than one only if the additional subject will not count as a HASS Distribution subject in your degree audit.

 

17.565 / 17.567 Israel: History, Politics, Culture, and Identity, HASS-S

17.568 Comparative Politics and International Relations of the Middle East (G)

21A.00 Introduction to Anthropology: Comparing Human Cultures, HASS-S

21A.157 The Meaning of Life, HASS-S

21A.520 Magic, Science, and Religion, HASS-S

21G.030J Introduction to East Asian Cultures: From Zen to K-Pop, [WGS.236J], HASS-H

21G.044J, Classics of Chinese Literature in Translation, [WGS.235J], HASS-H

21H.160 Islam, the Middle East, and the West, HASS-H

21H.230 Barbarians, Saints, and Emperors, HASS-H

21H.240 The World of Charlemagne, HASS-H, CI-H

21H.322 Christianity in America, HASS-H

21H.333 Early Christianity, HASS-H

 

21H.365 Minorities and Majorities in the Middle East, HASS-H

21L.001 Foundations of Western Literature: Homer to Dante, HASS-H, CI-H

21L.022J Darwin and Design, [21W.739J], HASS-H, CI-H

21L.458 The Bible, HASS-H

21M.013J The Supernatural in Music, Literature and Culture [21L.013J], HASS-A or HASS-H, CI-H

21M.291 Music of India, HASS-A

24.02 Moral Problems and the Good Life, HASS-H, CI-H

24.05 Philosophy of Religion, HASS-H, CI-H

24.503 Topics in Philosophy of Religion (G)

STS.036 Science in American Life: 1920-2020, HASS-H

WGS.220J Women and Gender in the Middle East and North Africa [21H.263J], HASS-H

This list is not exhaustive. Relevant subjects that are no longer offered and subjects with variable topics (such as “special subjects” or “selected topics” courses, for example) may also be counted at the discretion of the concentration advisor.

[ ] Jointly listed subjects

Additional resources

For more information, contact the concentration advisor, professor Graham Jones. Alternately, contact the SHASS academic administrator for support.

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