religion honours thesis

Department of Religious Studies

Honors thesis.

• Undergraduate

How to Get Started

Do you want to write a thesis? You can begin thinking about your answer to this question at any time in your course of study.

Fundamentally, an honors thesis is simply an opportunity for students to conduct extended independent research under the guidance of faculty. While an honors thesis might sound like an intimidating project, try to imagine it as a set of several related research papers, connected by a single topic, issue, or question. Thinking about it that way, ask yourself: do I have a topic, issue, or question that I would like to write several papers about, over the course of a year?  If the answer is yes, then you should think seriously about writing a thesis.  As you consider an answer to this thesis and set out pursuing it, you may find it helpful to explore recent theses by concentrators in Religious Studies.

Beyond a set of interests and ideas, the first thing you need is an advisor.  In their sixth semester (ordinarily Spring semester of junior year), a student contemplating a thesis should identify a faculty member with whom they hope to work.  Students should ask faculty members if they are available and interested in supporting a thesis as a first or second reader.  The faculty member might decline for any number of reasons or may suggest other members of the department better suited to work with the student. 

If the faculty member agrees to advise the thesis, the student begins honing the topic of the thesis in consultation with the faculty member.  Before the student finishes the sixth semester, the broad contours of the project should be laid out so that the student can commence productive research at the very beginning of the seventh semester.  Before the beginning of examination period of the sixth semester, the student should complete a senior thesis proposal, obtain the necessary signatures, and submit all these materials to the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Capstone Seminar and Thesis Workshop

Thesis writers should enroll in the Senior Capstone Seminar (RELS 1995) during the Fall semester of their senior year, and they should enroll in RELS 1999 (Thesis Preparation) in the Spring semester of their senior year.  For the Fall semester, RELS 1995 serves as the venue for thesis preparation. 

In the Capstone Seminar, thesis writers will be offered break-out sessions that provide specialized instruction and mentorship in thesis planning, research, and writing.  Dual concentrators who are enrolled in the Capstone Seminar while writing a thesis for their other concentration are welcome to join thesis workshop if their thesis is related to the academic study of religion.

Thesis Readers

Students are responsible for identifying readers for their theses.  But the Director of Undergraduate Studies and your concentration advisor can offer assistance identifying potential readers.  To receive honors, students must receive an "A" grade on their thesis from both readers. 

The "first reader" is your primary advisor.  Potential thesis writers should devise a potential thesis in consultation with an advisor.  The role of the "second reader" is more flexible.  A second reader can serve as an additional advisor who offers feedback throughout the year of research and writing, or the second reader might only read the thesis in its final form. At minimum, the second reader offers a second opinion (alongside the advisor's) about whether a thesis deserves honors; a more maximal role would have the second reader serve essentially as a second advisor. The role of the second reader should be established through dialogue between thesis writers and their readers. 

Additional Information

Honors thesis proposals, honors thesis format, bishop mcvickar prizes.

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Senior Honors Thesis

The senior honors thesis is an opportunity to explore an area of interest in detail. Students who elect to write a thesis should regard it as the culmination of years of reading, analyzing, and making arguments about religion. As noted above, in order to be eligible to write a thesis, students must maintain a minimum average in the concentration of B+.

Due to the nature of our field, the subject matter of religion theses varies widely. In all cases, individual theses should be specific enough to allow for depth of treatment, while not so narrowly construed that they lose sight of broader issues in the Study of Religion. This is particularly important because the readers of a given thesis are often drawn from a various fields within the Study of Religion. Depending on your concentration plan, your thesis may focus on a topic solely within one tradition; or it may involve two traditions, or one tradition and a theme, or (in the case of joint concentrations) one tradition and another academic field; or it may be focused on a single tradition but deal with an issue that involves the comparative study of religious phenomena from other religious traditions as well.

For more information on the thesis, please refer to the Senior Honors Thesis Handbook in the below list of   guides   and  handbooks.    

All concentrators are expected to designate the general topic of the thesis by April of the junior year. A prospectus that has been approved and signed by the senior thesis Adviser is due in September of the senior year. The prospectus should include a tentative title, a two-page description of the specific subject matter, and a bibliography. One chapter of the thesis is due in November, another in December, and a third in February. The completed thesis, which should be 50-80 pages, is due in early March. For the complete schedule of dates for the current year, see the Senior Honors Thesis Handbook.

The Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies oversees the thesis writing process and leads Rel 99, the senior tutorial on thesis-writing.

Guide to Writing in the Study of Religion

Writing resources at harvard, harvard guide to using sources, undergraduate handbook  (2019-2020), senior thesis handbook  (2018–2019).

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Office of career services, harvard college funding sources, harvard college, office of international education, harvard’s committee on the use of human subjects, register your travel abroad for emergency support: www.globalsupport.harvard.edu/travel-tools, past senior theses.

The Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies has hard copies of many past theses that are available for students to borrow. Looking through old theses may stimulate ideas for a topic or give you ideas about how to organize or write your own thesis.

• "The 'Tug-of-War' over British Muslim Identity: A Comparative Analysis of British Muslim Engagement Programs today" (2016)
• "Making Boston Warm: A Case Study of the Intersection of Social Movements and the Social Gospel in the Modern City" (2016)
• "Militant Christianity and Universal Politics: Alain Badiou as Political Theologian" (2016)
• "How to Read Body Language: Constructions of Power, Women, and 'The Gaze' in Early Christianity" (2016)
• "A Time for Tulpas: Technology, Language, and the Study of Religion" (2016)
• "Tevye's Children: Jewish Continuity in Changing Times" (2016)
• "对耶稣丢面子 Losing Face for Jesus: An Ethnography of Young Adults in the Boston Chinese Evangelical Church" (2016)
• “Living the Mission: The Catholic Church and Human Rights in Peru.”
• “‘Maybe I Did Not Live As I Should”: An Analysis of Tolstoy’s Christian Ethic in His Post-Conversion Literature.”
• “Constructing Conflict: Israeli and Palestinian Conceptions of the Role of Religion in the Disagreement over the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif.”
• “Making Kafka Happy: An Experiment in Recapturing the Joy in God’s Death and Modernity.”
• “Flexible Conservatism: Authority and Ambiguity in the Thought of Vivekananda and Schechter” (2012): Adviser: Parimal Patil
• “Child Witches and Witch Hunts: New Images of the Occult in the Democratic Republic of Congo” (2011); Adviser: Timothy Nelson
• “Advisers to the Almighty: The Modern Church Consulting Industry in the United States” (2010); Adviser: Marie Griffith
• “The Ebb and Flow of Peace: Hindu-Muslim Relations in Hyderabad” (2009); Adviser: Diana Eck
• “First Timothy and the Question of Women’s Leadership in the Church: An Analysis of Evangelical Biblical Hermeneutics” (2009); Adviser: Laura Nasrallah
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Director of Undergraduate Studies, Courtney Lamberth

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Honours program

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The Honours program is open to outstanding students and is intended for students who want to undertake independent research on a topic of interest to them. This can be helpful as preparation for graduate study, but is also useful to students wanting to deepen their understanding of a single topic in the study of religion. Admission to the Honours program is by permission of the Honours Program Coordinator for the Program in the Study of Religion (PiR) and requires that students demonstrate a strong overall performance in RGST courses and courses that are included in the list of approved courses for credit towards a Major in the Study of Religion (e.g., ASIA, ANTH, AMNE, PHIL). For a list of approved courses in each of the four program Areas, please see the Program in the Study of Religion website. Students are expected to maintain a 76% average in the program.

Lower-level Requirements

As for the Major in the Study of Religion.

Upper-level Requirements

Students must complete 48 credits at the upper level:

• RGST 300 (3) Theory and Method in the Study of Religion
• RGST 400 (3) Advanced Seminar in the Study of Religion
• RGST 499 (6) Honours Thesis
• 6 credits in Area A (Religion in the Contemporary World)
• 6 credits in Area B (Religious Cultures and Expressions)
• 6 credits in Area C (Religious Histories)
• 3 credits in Area D (Theory and Method)
• 15 additional credits in any of the four Areas

Should I Do Honours in RGST?

When trying to decide whether you want to do an Honours degree in RGST, you need to begin by doing a critical self-assessment and asking yourself a few key questions. These might include:

• Have I maintained a GPA of 76% or higher, and am I confident I can continue to maintain it through my final years of study?
• Have I completed at least 50% of the requirements for the major, and am I able to take on an additional 21 units necessary for the Honours degree (6 units of RGST 499 + 15 units of electives)?
• Do I have a specific topic in the study of religion about which I am passionate, to which I am willing to devote a year of in-depth study?
• What are my strengths?
• What skills would I like to develop?
• What skills do I need to develop?
• How much independent work do I want to do?
• What scholarly expertise do I need during the research and writing process?

Finding a Thesis Advisor/ Supervisor

It is essential to find a professor who can supervise your Honours thesis. This person will guide you in every stage of your research, approve your proposal, and grade your thesis once it’s finished. Think about the classes you have taken and the professors whose expertise includes your specific question or topic. These are the professors you should approach to discuss your topic and ask whether they might be interested and available to supervise your Honours thesis. You might even write up a preliminary proposal (see below) and submit it to a professor for further discussion.  This will give both of you a better idea of how well-suited you are to working together. It’s a good idea to get a commitment from the professor in the spring before your final year of study. If you don’t know a professor specialized in your area, consult the Program Chair; they can help you find faculty working on related topics.

Your thesis advisor will play an important role in your Honours program. Problems in the advising relationship can happen due to misunderstandings about expectations between the faculty advisor and undergraduate researcher, including but not limited to: the amount of contact hours; deadlines for work; or what qualifies as an acceptable draft or thesis submission. It is important to discuss these expectations openly with the professor(s) with whom you are hoping to work before formalizing the relationship and applying for Honours.

In addition to your thesis supervisor, you will also need a second reader who will evaluate your completed thesis along with your advisor. You will no doubt have developed relationships with other professors who are experts in your area. Consult with your thesis advisor about which of these professors might be a good choice to be your second reader, and make sure to approach them ahead of time – preferably in the first term of your final year, once you have a completed and approved proposal.

If your planned research will involve interviewing and/or observing living human subjects, please consult your thesis advisor early in the process for information on ethics and special permissions you will need.

1. Choosing a Thesis Topic: Spring Term of Year 3

A good time to begin planning your Honours thesis is in the second term of the year before you plan to graduate. So, for example, if you plan to graduate in May 2024, you should begin planning your thesis in the spring of 2023. Begin by formulating a question or topic you want to explore in depth. It should be something that captures your interest, as you will be working on it for an entire year.

2. Finding a Thesis Advisor: Spring Term of Year 3

See Finding a Thesis Advisor/ Supervisor for recommendations on how to do this.

3. Register for 6 units of RGST 499: summer before your 4th or final year of study

4. complete your research proposal: by the beginning of term 1 of your 4th or final year.

See Research Proposal Guidelines for recommendations on how to do this.

5. Research and Writing: Terms 1 & 2 of your 4th or final year

Typically, you will spend your first term doing research for your thesis under the direction of your thesis supervisor, although a few students choose to begin research during the summer before their final year. Please consult your thesis advisor for specific recommendations regarding how and when to start your research.

If you have not already written a research proposal, you should plan to do so within the first month of the first term of your final year, as a first step in your research. See guidelines on writing a research proposal for more information on how to complete this step.

During the first months of your second term, you will write the first draft of your thesis. Plan to turn it in to your advisor no later than the first week of March of the second term. This allows your advisor to read it (allow at least two weeks) and return it to you for revisions. You can expect to do at least one round of revisions to your thesis before your advisor considers it complete. In some cases, you may need to revise several times. This is a normal part of the research process.

Once your advisor has accepted your revised draft, they will send it to your second reader, who will get back to you with feedback. The entire process should be completed no later than the end of April of your final term. At that point, your advisor will enter a grade for your RGST 499, and your Honours thesis will be completed.

The Program in Religion may ask graduating Honours students to present brief, 10 minute recaps of their research at an open reception for Honours students, RGST majors and minors, and their professors at the end of the academic year. This is an occasion to celebrate your achievement and share it with your peers and professors. It should not be an occasion for stress! Your advisor can guide you on how to put together a short presentation, with or without slides, to showcase your outstanding accomplishment.

Research Proposal Guidelines

The purpose of your research proposal is to clearly identify the topic or question you will be researching, identify a methodology you will use to obtain information, and identify potential theoretical or analytical approaches suitable for your topic. It helps you and your advisor agree on the scope of your project. You should discuss your research proposal with your Honours advisor, and follow their recommendations for writing one. However, research proposals typically share certain features. These general guidelines are provided as a starting point for your conversation with your advisor.

Generally, a research proposal should state:

• the research question you will be exploring
• why your research question is significant — why should anybody care?
• a very brief overview of the background on this question: who are the main scholars who have written on this issue, and what have they said?
• your research methods: how you will be obtaining data to answer your question
• your proposed theoretical or analytical approach, if you know it: what theories or approaches will you use to analyze or interpret your data?
• a timeline for when you plan to complete each stage of your project. As a reminder, you should be spending most of the first term on research, plan to write during January and February of the second term, and turn in your first draft no later than the first week of March of your final year of study. That gives your readers time to give you feedback (at least 2 weeks) and you to revise in time for the final deadline at the end of April.

Your proposal should be about 750 words, or about 3 pages double-spaced including bibliography, unless your advisor gives you different instructions.

Honours Thesis Guidelines

You should discuss your Honours thesis with your advisor, and follow their recommendations closely. However, undergraduate Honours theses typically share certain features. These general guidelines are provided as a starting point for your conversation with your advisor.

An Honours thesis is a piece of original research using primary and secondary sources, as well as analytical literature. It demonstrates an undergraduate’s ability to formulate a research question, develop a methodology for investigating it, conduct research, and interpret results, drawing preliminary conclusions about the research question.  It goes beyond an ordinary research paper for a class in that it usually synthesizes a number of issues and perspectives.

An undergraduate Honours thesis generally ranges between 30 and 60 double-spaced pages in 12-point type, or 7,000 – 15,000 words, including bibliography. It should not exceed 60 pages or 15,000 words. Please consult your thesis advisor for more specific recommendations, as ideal length may vary according to subject and method.

The structure of an Honours thesis typically includes an introduction that lays out the research question and gives background on it, a chapter presenting the data or materials, a thorough discussion and analysis of the data or sources presented, and a conclusion in which preliminary results are discussed. The specific format will depend on the research question you are investigating; you should consult closely with your advisor for their specific expectations and recommendations.

Honors Thesis

If you are an honors student, you are strongly encouraged to do your Honors Thesis in the Religion Department! The small size of our department and our commitment to mentoring make the process simple: Decide on a professor you would like to work with, and meet with them to settle on a topic. You must take TWO semesters of RELI 193 Honors Thesis.

Topics vary widely. Some samples:

• Samantha Shuart (2018)  [PDF] This thesis uses traditional Chinese medicine as a case study to explore the nexus between language and perception. Samantha examines three levels: lexemes, syntax, and philosophical views about the function of language. In her conclusion, she proposes that practice is one way to approach this nexus.
• Steven Hartman (Spring 2015)  [PDF] Philosopher and social critic Michel Foucault distinguished two modes by which people are governed in modern democracies: discipline and market liberalization. Steven Hartman’s thesis uses this distinction by Foucault to analyze and evaluate two health insurance schemes in the modern state of Karnataka in India.
• Paige Meserve (Fall 2013)  [PDF] In her thesis, titled "Undoing Racial Identification and Redoing Ethical Cultivation: Passing as a Performance of Identity and an Ethics of Self-Making," Paige Meserve uses contemporary affect theory and queer theory to explore how racial identities are performed (and taken apart) in novels from the 1920s Harlem Renaissance. Drawing on Foucault's notion of ethics as a practice of self-cultivation, Paige reads racial passing as one way that African-American women negotiate a world that refuses to sustain and feed them but which they cannot simply leave. Paige shows how such strangely performed identities constitute an ethics of dis-identification. By its means, these women hope to create cross-temporal communities that go beyond fixed racial identities of white and black, and therefore also go beyond existing moral codes of right and wrong – all in favor of imagining new styles of living that are not complicit with a racist world.
• Rebecca Gianarkis (Spring 2013)  [PDF] Polls indicate that 18% of Americans identity as “spiritual but not religious.” Rebecca Gianarkis’ thesis gets behind the numbers! She conducted 15 in-depth interviews, mostly with Hofstra students. Rebecca brings their different (and perhaps deliberately amorphous) experiences into focus by analyzing them as spiritual collectors: dissatisfied with established religion, they collect different ways of believing (for example, ways that include doubt), different places of encountering the sacred (from hiking in nature to the internet), and different practices. Rebecca took the lens of spiritual collectors from 16th century Wunderkammers or cabinets of curiosity. Just as these older collections were made possible by colonialism, so Rebecca ponders how today’s practices of “spiritual” collection might also depend on injustice.
• Kaylee Platt (Spring 2013)  [PDF] In her thesis, Kaylee grapples with the complex meanings (or semiotics) of veiling in Islam. Why is it that when Westerners see a woman wearing a veil, we think we automatically know what wearing a veil means to her? Looking comparatively across four different contexts – Iran, France, Canada, and the United States –Kaylee explores the power of this symbol: how Western discourses use the veil to not-see and not-hear Muslim women: to assume Islam is backward and oppressive of women, regardless of what women actually say, think, and feel about the veil. She asks: How can we be so sure we know how to read her – when we do not even know how to see her?

Department of Religious Studies

• Honors Thesis

Program Description

The Honors Program at UNC-CH is recognized as one of the most inclusive and accessible in the United States. While some students are competitively selected to participate in the Honors Program from their first or second year at UNC-CH, students who write a senior honors thesis can graduate with honors even if they did not participate in the Honors Program earlier.

Requirements

Students majoring in religious studies (including double majors) can graduate with honors if they:

• Have a GPA of 3.3 or above;
• Complete RELI 691H and 692H (the honors course, to be taken in the Fall and Spring semesters of the student’s senior year); and
• Write a senior honors thesis.

Students who write a senior thesis do so under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Arrangements for working with a mentor need to be made  during the student’s junior year . Consult the  Director of Undergraduate Studies  early in your junior year if you wish to write a senior thesis. When confirmed, please submit the Honors Thesis Agreement and an Independent Study Contract .

Students may want to talk with their thesis advisors about applying for an Honors Undergraduate Research Award . This competitive award provides up to $500 to help cover research expenses.

General guidance for writing an honors thesis is available from the Writing Center .

Undergraduate

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The Honors thesis may seem like a daunting task, but with the help of the Religious Studies Department and your faculty thesis adviser, we believe it will be one of your most rewarding academic experiences. Pursuing a thesis topic of your choice is a wonderful opportunity to experience firsthand the creative processes that are fundamental to universities. You will benefit from the mentorship provided by your thesis adviser and the advice and support of your committee. Our hope is that by completing the Honors thesis, you will develop an appreciation for the challenges, complexities, and rewards of creative activities.

Many Honors graduates say that the Honors thesis is one of the highlights of their undergraduate academic experience. The thesis allowed them to explore areas of their most passionate interests, engage in the process of discovery, and work one-on-one with outstanding faculty. The Honors thesis has benefits beyond university as well. Former students have used their theses to gain entrance into graduate programs where creative accomplishments are highly valued. Even if you do not plan to attend graduate school in the near future, the thesis experience is an impressive accomplishment to list on your resume. It shows that you are creative and hard working – characteristics highly valued in today's job market.

Admission & Continuation

To be admitted to the Religious Studies Honors program, a student must apply formally through the University Registrar.  Students are advised to consult the Academic Calendar for a description of the requirements for admission into an Honors degree program.  Students must fulfil requirements listed in the Academic Calendar for Continuation in and Graduation from an Honors program.

Combined Honors

Students in a combined Honors program should consult the pertinent Academic Calendar regulations. As early as possible they should consult with the Department Chairpersons or their designate on the requirements for a specific interpretation of the courses and requirements in each department for a Double Honors. Every effort will be made to accommodate students wishing to complete a double Honors.

Certificate in Honors Equivalency

Students may apply to Saint Mary's University to complete an Honors Equivalency in Religious Studies. A student's record from Saint Mary's or from another university will be reviewed by the Department Chairperson to determine which courses and requirements must be met in order to received the Certificate in Honors Equivalency‌‌ (Faculty of Arts – Undergraduate Program Degree Requirements, are found on pp. 47-48 of the 2006-2007 Academic Calendar).

For more information: Honours Thesis Handbook

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Honours Thesis

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Department of religious studies, undergraduate.

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Majors who have an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher and a GPA of 3.5 or higher in Religious Studies courses may opt to do an Honors Thesis instead of RLGN 399. Ideally, the thesis project will take two semesters: RLGN 394 Honors Research I, focusing on research and preparation of a prospectus, and RLGN 395 Honors Research II, focusing on writing and defending the thesis. Students may, however, opt to undertake the entire thesis in one semester, in which case they will register only for RLGN 395. Whether the thesis takes two semesters or one, the student must submit a thesis prospectus (on which see below) to the thesis advisor before beginning RLGN 395.

Departmental honors are awarded upon completion and satisfactory defense of the senior project before a faculty committee, provided that the required grade point averages are maintained.

If you meet the GPA requirements and wish to do an Honors Thesis, you are encouraged to contact the professor with whom you wish to work about serving as your thesis advisor. Discuss your research interests and thesis ideas with that professor and, if agreeable to both of you, begin making a plan and schedule for your work. Then proceed to register for the appropriate course number with that professor. Remember: if you are undertaking a single-semester thesis, you must submit a thesis prospectus before beginning RLGN 395.

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Program description

We encounter religion in many manifestations frequently on TV and the Internet: breathtaking mosques, colossal Buddhas, the Pope addressing huge crowds, brutal religious wars or unusual rituals.

Studying religion enhances our understanding of what it is to be human. It enables us to learn more about the diverse cultures of the world, their ancient histories and their highest values. While you may not discover the meaning of life by studying religion, you will learn how others have answered that perennial human question, and how those answers have shaped people’s lives and the lives of those around them.

The University of Lethbridge is a secular (non-religious) institution of learning; we do not try to promote belief in any of the religions that we study. Rather, we attempt to study religion in as objective a manner as possible. Of course, each person faces challenges when trying to do so with neutrality, because we may have predispositions for or against particular religions, or toward religion in general.

In religious studies, our explorations are wide-ranging, embracing the human religious response, from the great world religions to marginal and quasi-religious phenomena, such as shamanism and magic. We examine history, social and cultural configurations, symbolism, and literature, as well as theologies and metaphysical philosophies within belief systems. You will study shared themes and marked differences in myths and rituals, and how religion permeates even our secular lives.

Minors | Adding a minor to your degree is a great way to explore academic interests beyond your major. A minor is a set of courses comprising a secondary focus of interest generally not related to your major. A minor may be required or optional.

Honours thesis | If your GPA is high enough in your fourth year, you can opt to complete an undergraduate thesis course. This is an excellent opportunity for you to earn an “Honours Thesis” designation on your degree.

Experience learning | Our students have a number of experiential learning opportunities available to them including co-operative education , international exchanges , independent and applied studies as well as volunteer opportunities. uLethbridge is the only university in Alberta to offer co-operative education to all majors in the arts & sciences, at both the undergrad and grad level. Transfer students can actually head out on their first work term before ever stepping foot on campus! For example, many transfer students have completed a summer work term before starting classes in September.​ ​ Skills acquired | In addition to developing exceptional written and oral communication skills in the program, you will also develop your critical and analytical thinking skills, your information acquisition and management skills, as well as your attention to detail. You’ll also gain an in-depth understanding of a variety cultural norms and value systems. All of these abilities are highly sought after and can be applied to practically any working scenario.

Possible careers

Related fields | There are numerous career options open to religious studies graduates, some of which are:

• Human Resources
• Civil Service
• Religious Organizations
• Humanitarian Aid
• Museum Curation
• Genealogist
• Demographer
• Creative Writer
• Diplomatic Corp
• Public Relations

Professional disciplines & graduate studies | Your undergraduate degree in religious studies also provides an excellent foundation for law, journalism and education. The University of Lethbridge’s School of Graduate Studies offers programs at the master's and doctoral levels spanning over 60 disciplines — so why not consider pursuing grad school right here in Lethbridge! Whether you choose to do your advanced studies at uLethbridge or another institution, know that your undergraduate degree has set you on the path to post-graduate success.

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​For admission, Canadian high school students in Alberta must have completed five of the following courses with a minimum 65% average across them:

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Not a Canadian high school student in Alberta?  Find your admission requirements here

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The religious studies and psychology departments have given me so many opportunities to study things of deep personal interest and allowed me the methodological freedom to study these things in the ways that I find most relevant. The professors I've worked with have been unfailingly approachable and helpful. - Logan (BASc '20) Religious Studies and Psychology

Sample classes

As part of this program, courses are offered in the following areas:

• Introduction to World Religions
• Bible Survey
• The Hindu Tradition
• The Buddhist Tradition
• Religion, Worldviews, & Identity

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Digital Commons @ USF > College of Arts and Sciences > Religious Studies > Theses and Dissertations

Religious Studies Theses and Dissertations

Theses/dissertations from 2022 2022.

Interpreting 9/11: Religious or Political Event? , Fadime Apaydin

The need to address religious diversity at work: an all-inclusive model of spirituality at work , Ivonne Valero Cázares

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

The Mass is the Medium: Marshall McLuhan and Roman Catholic Liturgical Change , Ashil D. Manohar

White Too Long: Christianity or Nationalism? , Rachel E. Osborne

"Theology" in the Public University , Sarah T. White

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Warfare in Christianity and Islam: Unveiling Secular Justifications and Motivations Behind So-Called Religious Violence , Onur Korkmaz

Legitimizing Violence: Functional Similarities of the Religious and the Secular Violence , Tahir Topal

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

“Living Creatures of Every Kind:” An Ecofeminist Reading of Genesis 1-3 , T. G. Barkasy

Three Theorists on Religious Violence in an Islamic Context: Karen Armstrong, Mark Juergensmeyer, and William T. Cavanaugh , Ayse Camur

Complex Tripartite Hydro Politics of River Ganges , Muttaki Bin Kamal

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Solid Metaphor and Sacred Space: Interpreting the Paradigmatic and Syntagmatic Relations Found at Beth Alpha Synagogue , Evan Carter

Growth, and Development of Care for Leprosy Sufferers Provided by Religious Institutions from the First Century AD to the Middle Ages , Philippa Juliet Meek

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

Altering Tian: Spirituality in Early Confucianism , Jacob Thomas Atkinson

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

The U.S. Department of State Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives: What does the U.S. engage when they engage `religion'? , Belgica Marisol Cucalon

Rising Above a Crippling Hermeneutic , Luke Steven, Carlos, Armando Thompson

Theses/Dissertations from 2011 2011

From Cosmogony to Anthropogony: Inscribing Bodies in Vedic Cosmogony and Samskara Rituals , Christine Boulos

Theses/Dissertations from 2010 2010

Gadamer and Nāgārjuna in Play: Providing a New Anti-Objectivist Foundation for Gadamer’s Interpretive Pluralism with Nāgārjuna’s Help , Nicholas Byle

Shamanism, Spiritual Transformation and the Ethical Obligations of the Dying Person: A Narrative Approach , Ellen W. Klein

Theses/Dissertations from 2009 2009

Finding Confucianism in Scientology: A comparative analysis , John Albert Kieffer

Sympathy for the devil: A character analysis of Gibreel Farishta in Salman Rushdie's The satanic verses , Catherine Mary Lafuente

The Babel paradox , Michel Machado

Theology, Spirituality, and the Academic Study of Religion in Public Universities , Don Saunders

Broadening the Spectrum: The Religious Dimensions of the Rainbow Gatherings , Seth M. Walker

Theses/Dissertations from 2008 2008

Poetry and Ritual: The Physical Expression of Homoerotic Imagery in sama , Zachary Holladay

Religious Exiles And Emigrants: The Changing Face Of Zoroastrianism , Tara Angelique Migliore

Metropolitan Community Church: A Perfectly Queer Reading Of The Bible , Matthew D. Stewart

Theses/Dissertations from 2007 2007

(Dis)continuity between Sikhism and Islam: The development of hukam across religions , Mark Horowitz

Natural Law Ethics: A Comparison of the Theravāda and Thomistic Traditions , David Lantigua

An analysis Of Origen's charismatic ideology in his Commentary on the Gospel of John , Kimberly W. Logan-Hudson

The proliferating sacred: Secularization and postmodernity , Donald Surrency

Theses/Dissertations from 2006 2006

The commodification of yoga in contemporary U.S. culture , Michelle E. Demeter

The Middle-Class Religious Ideology and the Underclass Struggle: A Growing Divide in Black Religion , Franklin Hills Jr.

The ethics of the spirit in Galatians: Considering Paul's paranesis in the interpretation of his theology , Steven Douglas Meigs

Cicero and St. Augustine's Just War Theory: Classical Influences on a Christian Idea , Berit Van Neste

Theses/Dissertations from 2005 2005

The Origins of Jewish Apocalyptic Literature: Prophecy, Babylon, and 1 Enoch , Sarah Robinson

Theses/Dissertations from 2004 2004

Sports and the American Sacred: What are the Limits of Civil Religion? , Frank Ferreri

Radical Religious Groups and Government Policy: A Critical Evaluation , Tori Chambers Lockler

“Symbolism of Language: A Study in the Dialogue of Power Between the Imperial Cult and the Synoptic Gospels” , Sharon Matlock-Marsh

Near-Death Experiences, Religion, and Life After Death , Holly Wallace

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As for most other FASS departments and programs, Religious Studies offers an Honours concentration option, namely the Combined Honours in Religious Studies degree (no single-subject or concentrated Honours for Religious Studies alone is available). Students choosing this degree must meet the requirements of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Department regarding the distribution of classes and the level of work to be attained in them. Often RELS Honours students combine RELS with History, Classics, Philosophy or King's programs such as Early Modern Studies. Students completing the Combined Honours in Religious Studies with RELS as their first subject must complete the Honours component, which is normally an exam, detailed below. However, the Honours exam can be replaced by an Honours thesis at the discretion of the advisor. Students interested in pursuing this option should approach Dr. Austin or Dr. Treiger no later than their penultimate year of study.

All RELS-First-Subject students in the RELS Combined Honours degree must decide on their Honours component at the latest before the start of their final year.  

Honours Exam in Religious Studies - Details

The Religious Studies Honours Exam consists of one exam in Western and one in Eastern Religions. The exam must be completed before the last day of classes of the student's final year. Honours-RELS Students are particularly encouraged to consider completing the exam during the summer prior to their final year.

The Religious Studies Honours Exam is a Pass / Fail take-home exam in two parts: Western Religions and Eastern Religions. Both parts are mandatory.

If you wish to write the exam please:

• register for RELS 0400 Religious Studies Honours Examination (* please see note below)
• review the following table and select one topic from each column (e.g. A3, B5):
• email Dr Treiger to request the readings for your chosen "A" topic 
• read carefully all of the materials in the bibliography you receive
• once you have read all the materials and are ready to write your exam, email Dr Treiger to request the questions on that topic. You will be given three questions on that topic and you will answer two of these, each with a 1500 word essay. As soon as you are sent a set of exam questions, you will have 5 days to complete and submit your two 1500-word essays on that topic. Please return your written response in .doc, .docx, .rtf or .pdf to the appropriate instructor by email.
• repeat again in the same manner for the "B" section, contacting Dr Austin for your selected bibliography and exam questions

There is no need to complete both A and B sections at the same time, nor to complete A before B. Students typically request and read through a chosen bibliography at their leisure, write the corresponding essays in the 5-day period, and thereafter complete the other section in the same manner.  

Please select your "A" and "B" topics according to your interests. Bibliographies cannot be viewed before choosing, and once selected, topics cannot be changed.

* Please note: You must complete the exam in the semester you register for it or else you will receive an F. If for example you decide to complete the exam over the summer and sign up for the summer "session" of RELS 0400, both exams must be completed before Sept. 1st.  

Please consult the Religious Studies undergraduate advisor if you have any questions.

Dalhousie University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada  B3H 4R2 1.902.494.1440

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MTSU Honors student’s thesis explores addiction re...

Mtsu raises record $158k-plus .., mtsu honors student’s thesis explores addiction recovery through christian lens.

• by Robin E. Lee
• 22 November 2023
• Student News

Eli Ward , a  religious studies  and  nursing  double major with a love for art, combined all his passions to develop his Middle Tennessee State University   Honors  thesis, “Communicated Commemorabilia: A Creative Project Exploring Christian Recovery.”

A Murfreesboro, Tennessee, resident, Ward studies the intersections of health and faith and plans to pursue medical mission work. Additionally, his art has been published and received local and national awards.

“As a student of nursing and religious studies, I am interested in the convergence of religion and health,” said Ward, adding, “As an artist, I have represented this intersection in watercolor stained-glass windows.” 

“When he first approached me with the idea of bringing his two fields of study — nursing and religious studies — together into a project that could be expressed in a creative, artistic form, I was thrilled,” said Rebekka King , Ward’s thesis director and professor of religious studies. 

“His project is situated in a new and exciting field of study known as applied religious studies. This refers to coursework in the academic study of religion that extends beyond a traditional research paper to engage how religious people navigate the world and provide practical resources to community partners. Much of the innovative work in this field relates to health care, along with law, nonprofits, education, etc.”

Ward’s talents and scholarly interests led him to the creation of an immersive exhibit that was on display in a gallery at Todd Hall in Fall 2023 and reflected on the experiences of individuals in Christian addiction recovery groups. “Beyond the aesthetic beauty of stained glass, the medium has also captured sacred stories for centuries,” Ward states in his thesis pre-defense.

“These men and women are in pursuit of both their religion and their healing. As they heal, they tell stories of radical new identities, intimate communities, gradual change, empowering practices, and novel perceptions of God,” explained Ward in part of his thesis display. The project depicts sacred religious symbols in stories of healing.

Ward’s research process included conducting interviews with multiple participants at a local Christian recovery group. 

“In recovery, they find physical and religious healing from addiction, trauma, and mental health alterations,” Ward said. 

He discovered common themes from their shared stories. These themes are represented within the stained-glass-style works of art that he created in his exhibit. By painting on translucent paper, he was able to replicate a stained-glass appearance with lights behind hanging white sheets, imitating windows. Each piece of art conveys one of the five themes Ward identified in his interviewing process.

‘Moving’, ‘Thought-provoking’

Depictions on his artwork, such as an electrical outlet, or Jesus wearing a hardhat, may seem out of place in most traditional stained-glass works; however, every detail holds a deep meaning for the artist and for those he interviewed during his research. The outlet resonates particularly for one individual Ward interviewed who mentioned God’s power 12 times.

“She was adamant that the power of God was necessary for recovery and that it was too often neglected,” Ward recalled. So, the electrical outlet and the energy surging around it represent this power. This outlet is included in just one of 12 petals that make up a much larger image that Ward titled “The God Window.” 

At its center of “The God Window” is Jesus wearing a hardhat. According to Ward, another interviewee spoke about God as a construction manager. “He’s in the construction business. He’s got the blueprints. And for him to refine us, it’s like remodeling. He’s got to tear down from the bottom up. And then mine and your job is to redecorate…” recalls Ward of the individual’s words.

Each depiction of a window is filled with symbolic details representing the emotional journeys Ward took with each of the individuals he interviewed. Part of the exhibit also displayed his artistic process and the development of each piece of art.

“He put hours of work into his institutional review board application and permissions, followed by formal interviews, transcriptions, and reflexive analysis. He then codified these interviews thematically and drew connections between his research and the prevailing themes about healing identified by anthropologists of Christianity,” explained King. 

“This intertwining of image and narrative takes its most profound form in the icons and images of religious stained glass. I love how Eli’s project captures the ancient and the modern, the universal and the particular.”

Feedback from his exhibit has been overwhelmingly positive. While on display in the student gallery, he offered tours for anyone who wanted to learn more about his project and the stories of his interviewees.

“Several people have reached out to me to tell me how moving and thought-provoking they found his exhibit. This is what good art does — it creates an experience where we can reflect on ourselves, our relationships with others, and our place in the universe,” said King.

Ward said his thesis was dedicated to God, to those who work in healing, and to those in recovery. He successfully defended his Honors thesis on Nov. 6 and ceremoniously rang the Honors bells.

— Robin E. Lee ( [email protected] )

Robin E. Lee

2023, Middle Tennessee State University, 1301 East Main Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37132-0001 USA +1-615-898-2300

Middle Tennessee State University, in its educational programs and activities involving students and employees, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age (as applicable), status as a covered veteran or genetic information. [ Nondiscrimination Policy ] European Union (EU) citizens, please note that MTSU will collect personally identifying information and other data about you and may share that data with other agencies as required. [ Terms ]

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Linh pham '23.

"Colonial Translation Turned Vietnamization: Phạm Quỳnh and the Discourse of Transculturation" as the winner of the 2024 Prize. Congratulations on a very well-earned accomplishment!

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University of Sydney Handbooks - 2020 Archive

The university of sydney - arts and social sciences (undergraduate) handbook 2020.

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Semester 2 2020 unit of study availability

Some Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences units of study originally intended to run in Semester 2, 2020 are no longer available. A full and up-to-date list of units of study available in Semester 2, 2020 from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, can be found on this webpage .  

Honours seminar units of study

This unit of study is not available in 2020

Honours thesis units of study

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