Religious Studies

The Study of Religion at EMU

EMU has offered a minor in Religious Studies since 1977, and in 2017 EMU introduced a Religious Studies major, becoming the only public university in Southeast Michigan to offer a major in the study of religion. Students in our major and minor select courses that explore different religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, as well as classes that teach different approaches to the study of religion, such as anthropology, comparative religion, history, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and women's and gender studies. By taking courses in several disciplines, students learn to research and analyze religion in different ways. Majors and minors also take two core courses, RLST 100 Comparative Study of Religion and RLST 300W Theories and Methods for the Study of Religion, and majors complete their course of study with a capstone project, which can be a research project, an internship, or another project of the student’s design.

Our Major and Minor Programs

Please see the Undergraduate Catalog for descriptions of our major and minor:

• Religious Studies Major
• Religious Studies Minor

Scheduled Course Offerings

• Religious Studies Courses Summer 2023

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  Required Courses

  RLST 100 - The Comparative Study of Religion | GEKH

  • 50306 Online Asynchronous 5/8/23-6/26/23 Whitters

  Special Topics Class--ask an advisor to apply this class to your major or minor

  RLST 379 Imagining the Holy Land

  • 51259 Study Abroad 5/31/23 -6/30/23

• Religious Studies Courses Fall 2023

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  Required Courses

  RLST 100 - The Comparative Study of Religion | GEKH

  • 11795 MW 0200p0315p Main Campus Whitters
  • 11803 Online Asynchronous Whitters

  RLST 300W - Theories and Methods for the Study of Religion | GEWI

  • 14515 MW 1100a1215p Main Campus Erlewine

  Restricted Electives: Traditions

  HIST 203 Global History of Islam | GEGA

  • 13980 Online Asynchronous #000-499 Whitters

  Restricted Electives: Methods

  PHIL 215 Philosophy of Religion | GEKH

  • MW 1230p0145p Main Campus Bruya

  PHIL / RLST / WGST 320 Gender, World Religions, and Social Justice 

  • 14003 TR 0330p0445p Online Synchronous Mehuron

  PSY 225 Psychology of Religion

  • 14285 Online Asynchronous

  SOCL 320 Sociology of Religion

  • 13955 Online Asynchronous

  Electives

  ARTH 162 - Survey of Western Art I | GEKA

  • 11701 TR 0930a1045a Main Campus Pitamber
  • 14020 TR 1100a1215p Main Campus Pitamber

  ARTH 469 Baroque Art 

  • 14034 MW 1230p0145p Main Campus Stewart

Advising, Career Planning, Scholarships, and Opportunities Beyond the Classroom

Religious Studies majors and minors are encouraged to take advantage of all History Section programs and services, including:

• Undergraduate Advising
• Career Planning: This page is written for History majors, but all of this advice applies to Religious Studies majors as well!
• Scholarships: Religious Studies majors and minors may apply for History Section scholarships.
• Opportunities Beyond the Classroom

Faculty and Staff

Instructors who regularly offer classes in Religious Studies include:

Brian Bruya
James Egge
Robert Erlewine
Dyann Logwood
Kate Mehuron
Jeremy Proulx
Ronald Rich
Rachel Schroeder
Mark Whitters

Contact Us

Please contact Professor James Egge or Professor Robert Erlewine with any questions about our Religious Studies programs.

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