Majors and Minor

The Department for Studies of Religions and Spirituality offers both a Major and a Minor in Studies of Religions and Spirituality.  The Faculty has constructed a versatile Major that students can adapt to a wide variety of educational interests and goals.

The Major in Studies of Religions and Spirituality offers three possible tracks of study, only one of which students in this Major must choose to pursue:

  1. General Studies in Religions and Spiritualities (Track One);
  2. Studies in Christian Religions and Spiritualities (Track Two); and
  3. Studies in Religions, Spiritualities, and Social Justice (Track Three).

The three tracks of study present three optional ways in which students may develop their curricular plans for the Major in Studies of Religions and Spirituality, in order to draw most effectively from the historic disciplinary strengths in both the Department for Studies of Religions and Spirituality and its larger academic division.

The Faculty designed Track One: General Studies in Religions and Spiritualities for students who seek a broad background in studies of religions and spiritualities with one of two aims: (a) to prepare for graduate studies that specialize in a specific religious or spiritual tradition or community; or (b) to supplement and to support studies in another academic major, such as African and African American Studies, Asian Studies, Art History, History, Peace and Social Justice Studies, Philosophy, Women’s and Gender Studies, among other academic majors as well.

The Faculty designed Track Two: Studies in Christian Religions and Spiritualities for students who aim to pursue careers in various kinds of Christian ministry.  Students who choose Track Two will draw from one of the historic strengths of Berea College more broadly and the Department for Studies of Religions and Spirituality more specifically, in their longstanding efforts to educate students about Christian religions.  This track of studies will prepare students with such interests for various kinds of graduate studies: studies in graduate seminaries and theological schools to prepare for careers as pastors or other ministers in Christian churches of various denominations; studies in graduate seminaries to prepare for service as Christian missionaries; or studies in graduate seminaries, schools of theology, or other graduate programs in Christian religions at various universities, to prepare for academic research and teaching about some specialized facet of Christian religions (liturgy, doctrine, ethics, etc.) at collegiate or graduate levels.

The Faculty designed Track Three: Studies in Religions, Spiritualities, and Social Justice for students who plan to pursue various careers in fields such as business, law, politics, diplomacy, social work, or social activism.  Students who choose Track Three will draw from another of the key historic strengths of Berea College more broadly and the Department for Studies of Religions and Spirituality more specifically, in their continuing efforts to educate students about key social injustices, as well as efforts and methods to promote social justice of various kinds.  The Major in Studies of Religions and spirituality, as pursued through this third track of study, serves especially well as a second or companion academic major for students who have chosen as their primary academic major one of the following fields of study: African and African American Studies; Appalachian Studies; Child and Family Studies; Economics; Education Studies; Peace and Social Justice Studies; Political Science; Sociology; Sustainability and Environmental Studies; and Women’s and Gender Studies.  This third track of study will prepare students with such interests for various kinds of social work, social activism, or graduate studies in some facet of social justice for those who aim toward research and teaching in this broad area or one of its specific foci.

Major and Minor Requirements