Explore the phenomenon of religion as well as religious traditions throughout the world with a major or minor in Religious Studies. You’ll study religion through different lenses including historical, theological, sociological and ethnographic and graduate with a diverse awareness of religion’s role in the lives of individuals and the greater society.
Religious Studies students looking to engage more in their work can study and complete Honors and research projects in their chosen topic with the guidance of a faculty mentor.
Past examples of Honors projects include:
Attend Shabbat dinners at the Abbe Center for Jewish Life or explore various faiths through the Office for Spiritual Engagement.
At Hobart and William Smith, learning goes beyond textbooks and classrooms. You’ll gain high-impact practical experience that deepens learning and opens doors.
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Explore religion’s influence on cuisine in Argentina or multiculturalism in the Czech Republic.
Hear the stories and visit monuments, museums and memorials of the Holocaust in Germany and Poland through The March: Bearing Witness to Hope.
Wherever you go, our top-ranked global education program will allow you to apply classroom knowledge, develop cultural understanding and build global connections that expand your personal capacity and sense of purpose
Gain insight into faith, religious texts and how religion shapes people – and people shape religion.
Explore the question: what does it mean to imagine an American religion?
Discover the rise and historical development of Buddhism in South Asia and its spread into Southeast, Central and East Asia.
Become familiar with central texts of Jewish and Christian traditions and key methods of reading and interpreting those texts.
Learn key concepts in Islamic environmental ethics, Muslim responses to environmental catastrophes, and the link between local and global forces in Islamic societies and their impacts on environment.
Majors: Religious Studies and Psychology
Minors: Education and Asian Studies
"Whether we are born into a religious family or not, religion shapes our lives. It influences our views, morals and actions, and is a foundation in our encounters with others, shaping our culture. Understanding the many religions of the world and how they merge, we can better comprehend the human psyche and realize that the majority of people are looking for the same things and work to find solutions to current events. Religion truly plays a part in all life subjects."
