What Will I Study As a Religious Studies Student?
Religious Studies is the study of different religions as human social constructions in particular historical contexts. The study of religion is, in many ways, the key to the study of the many and varied cultures that make up the complex world in the twenty-first century.
You can take interesting classes like
- The World of Islam
- The Hebrew Prophets
- Hindu Mysticism
- Literature of the New Testament
- Buddhism
- The Teachings of Jesus
- Jewish Holocaust
- Religion in America
What Can I Do With Religious Studies?
Almost anything!
Many of our majors go on to law school, medical school, or pursue a Ph.D. in Religious Studies or a related field. As an undergraduate stand-alone degree it is excellent preparation for any position where dealing with the many cultures of our pluralistic world is involved. About half of our majors are double majors, e.g., psychology and religion, art and religion, etc. A double major is very valuable in setting a student apart and above the rest in competition for graduate admissions.
Religious Studies students get
- Small classes, a close-knit group of fellow students, and faculty who know and care about your individual goals.
- Intense advising: Students meet with Religious Studies professors once a semester for detailed discussions of major requirements, research interests, and job opportunities.
- A flexible major that you can mold to your interests: With the aid of the faculty and staff, students can create a major that allows them to study topics not necessarily covered in the normal curriculum.
For more information about the Religious Studies major, contact Dr. Jeff Ruff:
304-696-2702 / ruff@marshall.edu / Harris Hall 411
or email: religious-studies@marshall.edu
Faculty
Fall 2024 Courses 
RST 206 – Religious Traditions Asia (Core II Humanities, International, Writing Intensive)
RST 220 – Literature of the Old Testament (Core II Humanities, Literature)
RST 250 – Humanities and Film (Critical Thinking, Core II Humanities, Literature, Multicultural)
RST 310 – The Hebrew Prophets (COLA Humanities, Literature)
RST 311 – The Jewish Holocaust (COLA Humanities)
RST 351 – Classics of Religious Literature (Literature, Writing Intensive)
RST 361 – Buddhism (International, COLA Humanities)
RST 480 – Special Topic: Islam
RST 494 – Senior Seminar: Horror
Spring 2025 Course
RST 206 – Religious Traditions Asia (Core II Humanities, International, Writing Intensive)
RST 225 – Literature of the Testament (Core II Humanities, Literature)
RST 304 – The Teachings of Jesus (Literature)
RST 311 – The Jewish Holocaust (COLA Humanities)
RST 351 – Classics of Religious Literature (Literature, Writing Intensive)
RST 360 – Hindu Mysticism (COLA Humanities)
RST 361 – Buddhism (International, COLA Humanities)
RST 480 – Special Topic: Islam
RST 494 – Senior Seminar: Goddesses
Course Catalog 2024-2025
A comparative study of major religious traditions of the Western world: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Zorastrianism and religions of the Americas.
A comparative study of the major religious traditions of Asia: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Shinto, and how these religions have influenced Asian thought and cultures.
Students explore the physical and human geography of ancient Palestine and assess how geography informs our understanding of people, events, and places described by Jewish and Christian scriptures.
Traces the origins, growth and development of the literature of Hebrew people to the Greek period. Includes an introduction to and application of modern tools of biblical study.
Traces the origins, growth, and development of the literature of the early Christian church. Includes an introduction to and application of modern tools of biblical study.
An interdisciplinary course to introduce students to the elements of a humanistic education through study of film. (Same as Philosophy 250 and Classics 250; PR or CR: ENG 101)
Pre-req: ENG 101 with a minimum grade of C or ENG 200H (may be taken concurrently) or ENG 201H (may be taken concurrently) or ENG 101P (may be taken concurrently).
Treats the cultures and religions of Egypt from the Neolithic to Late Periods, and their impacts and receptions in ancient and modern cultures. Archaeology art literature and history based.
Research adaptable to the needs of the individual student.
Research adaptable to the needs of the individual student.
Research adaptable to the needs of the individual student.
Research adaptable to the needs of the individual student.
An analysis of the nature of religious personalities, institutions, literature, philosophies, experiences, and education.
An examination of the global cultures of Islam with particular focus upon the origin and development of the religion which binds them together.
An analysis of early Christian writing and a systematic study of the message of the historical Jesus that stands behind it.
Traces the background, birth, and development of Christian thought from Paul through Augustine.
The rise of the office of prophet and the contributions of prophecy to religion.
An examination of the religious/philosophical questions raised by the Holocaust of European Jews: Why and how did it occur? What does it tell us about religion and humanity?
An examination of Eastern Orthodox Christianity from the culture in which it was birthed to its place in today's society.
An examination of the distinctive historical and theological features of the Protestant movement in Western Christendom, with special attention to the distinctive beliefs and practices of contemporary American denominations.
The rise and development of religious thinking in America. (Same as History 323)
An exploration of the distinctive features of the heritage of modern Judaism. An integrated approach to the study of Jewish religious practices, teachings, literature, and contributions to contemporary life.
A contextual analysis of selected popular religious classics, e.g., Foxe's Book of Martyrs, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, St. Augustine's Confessions, Bhagavad-Gita, and the like.
A general survey of religious life and mysticism throughout South Asian history.
General survey of Buddhist life throughout history and around the world.
A structured interdisciplinary study offered by the departments of Classics, Philosopy and Religious Studies in the foundations of human thought, myth, literature, religion, philosophy, art. (Same as Classics 390 - 394 and Philosophy 390 - 394).
Pre-req: ENG 102 or ENG 302 or ENG 201H or YGS 162 or IST 201 or CL 231 or CL 232 or CL 233 or CL 319 or PHL 200 or PHL 201 or PHL 303 or PHL 321 or PHL 340 or PHL 353 or RST 205 or RST 206 or RST 300 or RST 304 or RST 320 or RST 325.
A structured interdisciplinary study offered by the departments of Classics, Philosopy and Religious Studies in the foundations of human thought, myth, literature, religion, philosopy, art. (Same as Classics 390 - 394 and Philosophy 390 - 394).
Pre-req: ENG 102 or ENG 302 or ENG 201H or YGS 162 or IST 201 or CL 231 or CL 232 or CL 233 or CL 319 or PHL 200 or PHL 201 or PHL 303 or PHL 321 or PHL 340 or PHL 353 or RST 205 or RST 206 or RST 300 or RST 304 or RST 320 or RST 325.
A structured interdisciplinary study offered by the departments of Classics, Philosophy and Religious Studies in the foundations of human thought, myth, literature, religion, philosophy, art. (Same as Classics 390 - 394 and Philosopy 390 - 394).
Pre-req: ENG 102 or ENG 302 or ENG 201 or ENG 201H or YGS 162 or IST 201 or CL 231 or CL 232 or CL 233 or CL 319 or PHL 200 or PHL 201 or PHL 303 or PHL 321 or PHL 340 or PHL 353 or RST 205 or RST 206 or RST 300 or RST 304 or RST 320 or RST 325.
A structured interdisciplinary study offered by the departments of Classics, Philosophy and Religious Studies in the foundations of human thought, myth, literature, religion, philosophy, art. (Same as Classics 390 - 394 and Philosophy 390 - 394).
Pre-req: ENG 102 or ENG 302 or ENG 201H or YGS 162 or IST 201 or CL 231 or CL 232 or CL 233 or CL 319 or PHL 200 or PHL 201 or PHL 303 or PHL 321 or PHL 340 or PHL 353 or RST 205 or RST 206 or RST 300 or RST 304 or RST 320 or RST 325.
A structured interdisciplinary study offered by the departments of Classics, Philosophy and Religious Studies in the foundations of human thought, myth, literature, religion, philosophy, art. (Same as Classics 390 - 394 and Philosophy 390 - 394).
Pre-req: ENG 102 or ENG 302 or ENG 201H or YGS 162 or IST 201 or CL 231 or CL 232 or CL 233 or CL 319 or PHL 200 or PHL 201 or PHL 303 or PHL 321 or PHL 340 or PHL 353 or RST 205 or RST 206 or RST 300 or RST 304 or RST 320 or RST 325.
An analysis of the major schools of religious thought as they have developed in the West.
An investigation into religion as a social phenomenon.
Disigned for majors as a senior humanities seminar and the culminating interdisciplinary study in the Humanities program. (Same as Classics 490 -494 and Philosopy 490 - 494),
Pre-req: ENG 102 or ENG 302 or ENG 201H or YGS 162 or IST 201 or CL 231 or CL 232 or CL 233 or CL 319 or PHL 200 or PHL 201 or PHL 303 or PHL 321 or PHL 340 or PHL 353 or RST 205 or RST 206 or RST 300 or RST 304 or RST 320 or RST 325.
Designed for majors as a senior humanities seminar and the culminating interdisciplinary study in the Humanities program. (Same as Classics 490 - 494 and Philosphy 490 - 494).
Pre-req: ENG 102 or ENG 302 or ENG 201H or YGS 162 or IST 201 or CL 231 or CL 232 or CL 233 or CL 319 or PHL 200 or PHL 201 or PHL 303 or PHL 321 or PHL 340 or PHL 353 or RST 205 or RST 206 or RST 300 or RST 304 or RST 320 or RST 325.
Designed for majors as a senior humanities seminar and the culminating interdisciplinary study in the Humanities program. Same as Classics 490 - 494 and Philosophy 490 - 494 ).
Pre-req: ENG 102 or ENG 302 or ENG 201H or YGS 162 or IST 201 or CL 231 or CL 232 or CL 233 or CL 319 or PHL 200 or PHL 201 or PHL 303 or PHL 321 or PHL 340 or PHL 353 or RST 205 or RST 206 or RST 300 or RST 304 or RST 320 or RST 325.
Designed for majors as a senior humanities seminar and the culminating interdisciplinary study in the Humanities program. (Same as Classics 490 - 494 and Philosophy 490 - 494).
Pre-req: ENG 102 or ENG 302 or ENG 201H or YGS 162 or IST 201 or CL 231 or CL 232 or CL 233 or CL 319 or PHL 200 or PHL 201 or PHL 303 or PHL 321 or PHL 340 or PHL 353 or RST 205 or RST 206 or RST 300 or RST 304 or RST 320 or RST 325.
Designed for majors as a senior humanities seminar and the culminating interdisciplinary study in the Humanities program. (Same as Classics 490 -494 and Philosophy 490 - 494).
Pre-req: ENG 102 or ENG 302 or ENG 201H or YGS 162 or IST 201 or CL 231 or CL 232 or CL 233 or CL 319 or PHL 200 or PHL 201 or PHL 303 or PHL 321 or PHL 340 or PHL 353 or RST 205 or RST 206 or RST 300 or RST 304 or RST 320 or RST 325.