Arts Departmental Academic Plans

Purpose of the Academic Plan in Religious Studies:

1. to expose students to the issues and problems involved in, and to the nature of the questions raised by, the study of religious phenomena and ideas;
2. to enable students to approach, in a methodical way, the study of the major religious traditions living today for the purpose of encountering and understanding the life and the expression of religion through the various religions of the world;
3. to introduce them to the distinctive features of one or more religious traditions and to the methods for their systematic study.

The course offerings of the Religious Studies Department fall into the following five areas:

1. World Religions
2. History of the Christian Tradition
3. Biblical Studies
4. Theology – Philosophy – Ethics
5. Religion, Society and Culture.

Areas of Religious Studies to which courses belong are indicated by the area number below the course description.

Three-Year General Religious Studies

Continuation in this academic plan requires an overall cumulative average of 60% and a cumulative Religious Studies average of 65%.

Eligibility for graduation in the Three-Year General Religious Studies academic plan includes successful fulfilment of the following requirements:

1. Appropriate BA Program-level requirements. See " BA Degree Requirements."
2. Religious Studies Plan-level requirements:
   • at least five academic course units (ten courses) must be in Religious Studies with a minimum cumulative average of 65%, including:
     • RS 100A, 200, and either 230 or 231
     • one other course from the RS 100A-Z sequence
     • two RS courses at the 300- or 400-level (See Note 2 below.)

Four-Year General Religious Studies

Continuation in this academic plan requires an overall cumulative average of 60% and a cumulative Religious Studies average of 65%.

Eligibility for graduation in the Four-Year General Religious Studies academic plan includes successful fulfilment of the following requirements:

1. Appropriate BA Program-level requirements. See " BA Degree Requirements."
2. Religious Studies Plan-level requirements:
   • at least seven academic course units (14 courses) must be in Religious Studies with a minimum cumulative average of 65%, including:
     • RS 100A, 200, and either 230 or 231
     • one other course from the RS 100A-Z sequence
     • four RS courses at the 300- or 400-level (See Note 2 below.)

Honours Religious Studies

Continuation in this academic plan requires an overall cumulative average of 60% and a cumulative Religious Studies average of 75%.

Eligibility for graduation in the Honours Religious Studies academic plan includes successful fulfilment of the following requirements:

1. Appropriate BA Program-level requirements. See " BA Degree Requirements."
2. Religious Studies Plan-level requirements:
   • at least ten academic course units (20 courses) must be in Religious Studies with a minimum cumulative average of 75%, including:
     • RS 100A, 200, and either 230 or 231
     • one other course from the RS 100A-Z sequence
     • one course from each of the five RS areas
     • at least five RS courses at or above the 300-level not including RS 490A/B
     • RS 490A/B or two courses at the 300- or 400-level (See Note 2 below.) RS 490A/B is recommended for those considering future graduate studies.

Honours Religious Studies (Arts and Business Co-op and Regular)

A student may combine an Honours Religious Studies academic plan with Arts and Business. The requirements in Religious Studies are identical to the Religious Studies Joint Honours academic plan requirements listed below. See the Arts and Business requirements.

Joint Honours Religious Studies

A Joint Honours academic plan with Religious Studies may be taken in combination with any other Arts discipline in which an Honours academic plan is offered or with many Honours majors in other Faculties. See the department for the most recent list of approved combinations.

Continuation in this academic plan requires an overall cumulative average of 60% and a cumulative Religious Studies average of 75%.

Eligibility for graduation in the Joint Honours Religious Studies academic plan includes successful fulfilment of the following requirements:

1. Appropriate Program-level requirements for the Home Faculty, including at least 20 academic course units. If the Home Faculty is Arts, see " BA Degree Requirements."
2. Religious Studies Plan-level requirements:
   • at least seven academic course units (14 courses) must be in Religious Studies with a minimum cumulative average of 75%, including:
     • RS 100A, 200, and either 230 or 231
     • one other course from the RS 100A-Z sequence;
     • one RS course from each of the five RS areas
     • at least five courses at or above the 300-level not including RS 490A/B
     • RS 490A/B or two courses at the 300- or 400-level. (See Note 1 below.) RS 490A/B is recommended for those considering future graduate studies.
3. Plan-level requirements for the second Major.

Minor in Religious Studies

The Minor in Religious Studies requires successful completion of a minimum of five academic courses units (ten courses), from at least four of the five areas of Religious Studies, with a minimum cumulative average of 65%. The sequence of courses is to be determined in consultation with the Undergraduate Advisor of the Religious Studies Department.

Note For All Academic Plans

1. Students at the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University may, with the permission of their advisor, take courses in Religious Studies at either University. For details regarding enrolment procedures and courses available at Wilfrid Laurier University, consult the Undergraduate Officer, Religion and Culture (www.wlu.ca/religionandculture).
2. Occasionally, travel courses are offered at the 300- and 400-levels. Unit values for these courses may vary. Students should consult the Undergraduate Advisor.