Religion

The Religion Department offers instruction, from the introductory to the advanced level, in most of the world's major religious traditions. Almost all of the faculty specialize in a specific religious area and have expertise in the associated languages and history, since a philological and historical grounding is considered essential to a thorough understanding of a religion. 

Requirements for the Major

Prerequisite: REL 1 Patterns of Religious Experience.

Requirements: In addition to REL 1, the major consists of nine courses including:

1. At least two courses from the Introductory series on Religion (REL 2 Religion in the Modern World, REL 3 Modern Religious and Anti-Religious Thinkers, REL 4 Religion of Israel: The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), REL 5 Early Christianity: The New Testament, REL 6 Introduction to Judaism, REL 7 First-Year Seminars in Religion, REL 8 Introduction to Islam, REL 9 Hinduism, REL 10 The Religions of China, REL 11 Religion and Morality, REL 12 Religion in Early America, REL 13 Religion in Modern America, REL 14 Introduction to African Religions, REL 15 The Christian Tradition, REL 16 Modern Islam, REL 17 African Religions of the Americas, REL 18 Indian Buddhism, REL 19 Special Topics in Religion-Introductory Level).
2. At least one course from the Theories in the Study of Religion series (REL 20.01 Classic Works in the Study of Religion, REL 20.02 Magic, Science, and Religion, REL 20.03 Reason and Religious Belief, REL 20.04 Theoretical Approaches to the Study of Myth: Interpreting Ancient Near Eastern Mythology, REL 20.05 What is Religion?).
3. At least two courses from the Intermediate series on Religion (REL 21 Judaism in Late Antiquity: The Rabbinic Revolution, REL 23 Jewish Mysticism, REL 24 Jewish Philosophers of Religion, REL 25 Islamic Mysticism (Sufism), REL 26 Islam in America, REL 27 The Qur'an and the Prophet, REL 28 Topics in the Study of Islam, REL 28.02 The Islam of Morocco, REL 29 Kierkegaard and Existentialism, REL 30 Sacred Cities, REL 31 Sex, Celibacy, and the Problem of Purity: Asceticism and the Human Body in Late Antiquit, REL 32.02 Dante's "Divine" Comedy, REL 32.04 Spiritualities of the Christian Church, REL 33 Christians, Jews, and Muslims in the Age of the Crusades, REL 34 Christianity and Conversion in the Northern World: Vikings, Celts, and Anglo-Saxons, REL 35 Religion and Science, REL 36 Religion and Literature, REL 37 Animal Rights in Religion, Film, and Literature, REL 38 Spiritual Autobiography, REL 39 Magic, Madwomen, and Mystics, REL 40.01 Gods, Demons, and Monkeys: The Ramayana Epic of India, REL 40.05 God’s Fools: Saints, Music, And Mysticism In South Asia, REL 41 Readings in Buddhist Literature, REL 42 Goddesses of India, REL 46 Daoism: Transformations of Tradition, REL 47 Buddhism in China, REL 48 Body and Sex in Chinese Religions, REL 49.01 Apocalyptic Thought, REL 50 Indigenous African Religions, REL 51 The Virgin of Guadalupe: From Tilma to Tattoo, REL 52 Religion and Music in Cuba, REL 53 Religion, Healing, and Medicine, REL 55 Ancient Egyptian Religion, REL 56 Women and the Bible, REL 57 Readings in the Biblical Tradition, REL 57.01 The End of the World, REL 58 Topics in the Bible and Archaeology, REL 58.02 The Bible, Sex, and Sexuality, REL 60 Reformations: Protestant and Catholic, REL 61 Religion and the Civil Rights Movement, REL 62 Religion, Politics, and the Presidency, REL 63 Mormonism, REL 64 Evangelicalism, REL 65 Sports, Ethics & Religion, REL 66 Women, Religion, and Social Change in Africa, REL 67 Religion And Imperialism, REL 70 Foreign Study in Religion I, REL 71 Foreign Study in Religion II, REL 74 Special Topics in Religion-Intermediate Level, REL 74.07 Ritual in Post-Modern Great Britain).
4. One seminar in Religion (REL 80 or REL 81). Students should note that some seminars will have prerequisites. Consult the Chair for more information.
5. As Culminating Experience, either completion of the Honors Program (REL 86 and REL 87), or the Senior Colloquium (REL 85), or an Advanced Independent Study (REL 84). Consult the Chair for more information.
6. The major must include at least one Religion Department course from among those designated as fulfilling the Non-Western requirement.

Major programs are subject to the approval of the Chair.

Requirements for the Modified Major

Prerequisite: REL 1.

Requirements: In addition to REL 1, eleven courses of which seven or more shall be in the Department, including:

1. At least two courses from the Introductory series on Religion.
2. At least one course from the Theories in the Study of Religion series.
3. At least one course from the Intermediate series on Religion.
4. One seminar in Religion. Students should note that some seminars will have prerequisites.
5. As Culminating Experience, either completion of the Honors Program, or the Senior Colloquium (REL 85), or an Advanced Independent Study (REL 84). Consult the Chair for more information.

The remainder may be courses in other departments provided that such courses constitute a coherent program of study in Religion. Approval of the modified major must be obtained from the Chair.

The modified major must include at least one Religion Department course from among those designated as fulfilling the Non-Western requirement.

Requirements for the Minor

Prerequisite: REL 1.

Requirements: In addition to REL 1, the minor consists of five courses to be selected as follows:

1. At least one course from the Introductory series on Religion.
2. At least one course from the Theories in the Study of Religion series.
3. At least one course from the Intermediate series on Religion.
4. Two additional courses in Religion (any level).
5. The minor must include at least one Religion Department course from among those designated as fulfilling the Non-Western requirement.

1.       SAT Reasoning or ACT (with Writing);

2.       2 SAT Subject Test Scores;

3.       The common application essay;

4.       Within the Common Application, Dartmouth’s writing supplement requires that applicants write a brief response to one of the following supplemental essay prompts. Candidates choose one topic and respond;

5.       A counselor recommendation and two teacher recommendations. In addition, a peer recommendation is strongly encouraged;

6.       Resume;

7.       Brief abstract of an independent research project;

8.       IELTS or TOEFL (no minimum scores).

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