Our Mission
The mission of the religion program is to provide students the interfaith skills and knowledge to shape their communities through understanding and compassion. With 30 major hours and only one required related class, our B.S. in Religion maximizes electives to best facilitate double majoring or adding a minor according to your specific interests and career goals.
See My Degree Plan
Get the full details on your program by downloading your degree plan today or checking out the catalog below. For more information about a course, click on the course number. These plans are meant to be a guide — work with your advisor to create the perfect plan for you.
Degree Requirements
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Religion, B.S.
This degree is designed to meet the admission requirements of graduate programs in varying fields, including Religious Studies, and seminaries, by providing students with an introduction to a diverse array of religious traditions and methodologies for engaging in the comparative examination of these cultural institutions.
Faculty Mentoring and Experiential Learning
Having broad latitude in choosing courses, religion majors and minors will collaborate with their advisors in crafting their own unique area of concentration. the path of study for majors may be enhanced by an internship or service learning, and will culminate in the capstone experience with a digital portfolio detailing how their Texas Wesleyan religion major has equipped and empowered them for their next steps after graduation.
General Education Curriculum (36)
For the full General Education Curriculum Policy and Requirements, refer to the GEC listed in this catalog.
MAT 1302 is acceptable for the GEC math requirement.
Some courses listed in program “Major Requirements” or “Required Related Courses” (noted with an asterisk [*]) may be used to meet requirements in the GEC. Although these courses fulfill requirements in each area, credit hours for these courses, if taken for the GEC, may only be counted in the GEC.
Complete Graduation Requirements are listed in this catalog.
Language Literacy (12)
English (9)
| ENG 1301 | Composition I | 3 Credits |
| ENG 1302 | Composition II | 3 Credits |
one of the following courses:
| ENG 2324 | Introduction to Creative Writing | 3 Credits |
| ENG 2326 | Exploring American Lit | 3 Credits |
| ENG 2327 | Exploring World Lit | 3 Credits |
| ENG 2328 | Exploring British Lit | 3 Credits |
Speech (3)
| SPC 1301 | Fund of Speech | 3 Credits |
Analytic Literacy (7)
Mathematics (3)
MAT 1302, MAT 1304 (if allowable by major), or any math course with MAT 1302 or MAT 1304 or higher as a prerequisite.
Note: MAT 1304 is acceptable for all programs in the School of Arts and Sciences except for the programs in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, and Mathematics. MAT 1304 is acceptable for all programs in the School of Education. MAT 1304 is not acceptable for any program in the School of Business and Professional Programs.
Science (4)
Choose 1 of the following courses with accompanying lab:
| BIO 1403 | Fundamentals of Science | 4 Credits |
| BIO 1406 | Contemporary Biology | 4 Credits |
| BIO 1407 | Animal Life | 4 Credits |
| BIO 1408 | Plants & Human Affairs | 4 Credits |
| BIO 1409 | Cracking the Code: A User's Guide to Human Genetics | 4 Credits |
| BIO 1410 | Introduction to Biology I | 4 Credits |
| BIO 1413 | Local Spring Flora | 4 Credits |
| BIO 1414 | Cats, Chromosomes & Codons | 4 Credits |
| BIO 1415 | Exploring Human Biology | 4 Credits |
| BIO 1420 | Introduction to Biology II | 4 Credits |
| BIO 2401 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 Credits |
| BIO 2402 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 Credits |
| CHE 1403 | Nature of Physical Science | 4 Credits |
| CHE 1404 | Physical Science & Environment | 4 Credits |
| CHE 1405 | Forensic Science I | 4 Credits |
| CHE 1415 | General Chemistry I | 4 Credits |
| CHE 1416 | General Chemistry II | 4 Credits |
| CHE 1418 | Chemistry in Context | 4 Credits |
| NSC 1402 | Introductory Astronomy | 4 Credits |
| PHY 1401 | University Physics I | 4 Credits |
| PHY 1402 | University Physics II | 4 Credits |
| PHY 1410 | Fundamentals of Physics I | 4 Credits |
Cultural Literacy (9)
| HIS 2324 | Fundamentals of Modern American History | 3 Credits |
Choose (3) hours from one of the following:
FAR, MUS, or THA
Choose (3) hours from any of the following:
| REL 1311 | Introduction to Jewish Scriptures | 3 Credits |
| REL 1312 | Introduction to Christian Scriptures | 3 Credits |
| REL 1313 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 Credits |
| REL 1321 | Introduction to Comparative Religions | 3 Credits |
| REL 1323 | Introduction to Interfaith Leadership | 3 Credits |
Social Literacy (8)
| EXS 1220 | Basic Concepts of Wellness | 2 Credits |
Choose any two of the following courses with at least two different academic areas represented:
| BUA 1301 | Introduction to Business | 3 Credits |
| ECO 2305 | Principles of Economics I | 3 Credits |
| FIN 1325 | Personal Finance | 3 Credits |
| GEG 2304 | World Geography | 3 Credits |
| GEG 2305 | Human Geography | 3 Credits |
| HUM 2340 | The Human Experience I | 3 Credits |
| HUM 2341 | The Human Prospect | 3 Credits |
| IST 2300 | Introduction to International Studies | 3 Credits |
| MCO 1302 | Mass Media & Society | 3 Credits |
| POL 2311 | American Government I | 3 Credits |
| PSY 1301 | General Psychology | 3 Credits |
| PSY 2342 | Psychology of Everyday Life | 3 Credits |
| SSC 2360 | Social Justice | 3 Credits |
| SOC 1302 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 Credits |
| SOC 2301 | Intro to Sociology | 3 Credits |
| SOC 2302 | Social Problems | 3 Credits |
| SOC 2390 | Minority Groups | 3 Credits |
| WSP 2304 | Hon Sem Social Literacy | 3 Credits |
| WSP 2340 | Hon Lang/Lit Interdiscip Integrative | 3 Credits |
Required Related Courses
English
| ENG 3310 | Advanced Writing | 3 Credits |
Major Requirements
A minimum of 30 total religion hours including the Capstone course. At least three hours must be taken at the 1000 level, and no more than six hours may be taken at that level. At least three hours must be at the 2000 level. And at least 18 hours must be taken at the 3000 level or above.
Choose 3 or 6 hours of religion courses at 1000 level
(any more than 6 hours will count as elective)| REL 1150 | Independent Study | 1 Credit |
| REL 1311 | Introduction to Jewish Scriptures | 3 Credits |
| REL 1312 | Introduction to Christian Scriptures | 3 Credits |
| REL 1313 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 Credits |
| REL 1321 | Introduction to Comparative Religions | 3 Credits |
| REL 1323 | Introduction to Interfaith Leadership | 3 Credits |
| REL 1350 | Independent Study | 3 Credits |
Choose 3 hours from religion courses at the 2000 level
| REL 2321 | Encountering Asian Traditions | 3 Credits |
| REL 2322 | Encountering Abrahamic Traditions | 3 Credits |
Choose at least 18 hours of religion or religious history courses at 3000 level or above
| HIS 3331 | History of England | 3 Credits |
| HIS 3342 | Era of the Crusades | 3 Credits |
| HIS 3343 | Renaissance, Reformations, & Rise of Nat | 3 Credits |
| REL 3150 | Independent Study | 1 Credit |
| REL 3250 | Independent Study | 2 Credits |
| REL 3315 | Interfaith Leadership | 3 Credits |
| REL 3315H | Interfaith Leadership | 3 Credits |
| REL 3322 | The Buddha and His Teachings | 3 Credits |
| REL 3322H | The Buddha and His Teachings | 3 Credits |
| REL 3323 | Exploring Islamic Tradtions | 3 Credits |
| REL 3323H | Exploring Islamic Traditions | 3 Credits |
| REL 3324 | Exploring Christian Traditions | 3 Credits |
| REL 3324H | Exploring Christian Traditions | 3 Credits |
| REL 3325 | Exploring Jewish Traditions | 3 Credits |
| REL 3325H | Exploring Jewish Traditions | 3 Credits |
| REL 3340 | Exploring Daoism | 3 Credits |
| REL 3340H | Exploring Daoism | 3 Credits |
| REL 3350 | Independent Study | 3 Credits |
| REL 3361 | Jesus' Life & Teachings | 3 Credits |
| REL 3361H | Jesus' Life & Teachings | 3 Credits |
| REL 3363 | Religion in America | 3 Credits |
| REL 3363H | Religion in America | 3 Credits |
| REL 3364 | Pursuing Happiness | 3 Credits |
| REL 3364H | Pursuing Happiness | 3 Credits |
| REL 3370 | Religion, Justice, and Human Rights | 3 Credits |
| REL 3370H | Religion, Justice, and Human Rights | 3 Credits |
| REL 3371 | Religion, Science and the Environment | 3 Credits |
| REL 3371H | Religion, Science, and the Environment | 3 Credits |
| REL 3399 | Special Topics | 3 Credits |
| REL 3451 | Independent Study | 4 Credits |
| HIS 4328 | His of Ancient Greece & Rome | 3 Credits |
| HIS 4329 | Heresy, Witchcraft, and Popular Violence | 3 Credits |
| HIS 4348 | The Byzantines and Turks | 3 Credits |
| REL 4150 | Independent Study | 1 Credit |
| REL 4250 | Independent Study | 2 Credits |
| REL 4345 | Religion & Popular Culture | 3 Credits |
| REL 4345H | Religion & Popular Culture | 3 Credits |
| REL 4350 | Independent Study | 3 Credits |
| REL 4368 | Experiencing Religion Through Travel | 3 Credits |
| REL 4393 | Internship | 3 Credits |
| REL 4399 | Special Topics | 3 Credits |
| REL 4450 | Independent Study | 4 Credits |
Capstone Experience
(Must have completed 9 upper level Religion hours to take course)| REL 4343 | Saints, Sages & Social Reformers | 3 Credits |
Electives
Electives will be required if the student has not met a minimum of 120 hours in the program.