Learning Outcomes

The Religion program will develop biblically literate, ethically motivated thinkers and doers, who are culturally engaged and historically informed global citizens.  Students who successfully complete a religion major will be:

1.) Biblically literate, able to interpret biblical texts in contexts.

Through the study of the Bible, including the varieties of literature in the Bible, their historical contexts, and approaches to biblical criticism, religion majors will be able to:

  1. Summarize biblical texts.
  2. Use biblical research tools.
  3. Describe the historical and literary settings of biblical texts.
  4. Analyze biblical texts in their contexts.
  5. Apply biblical texts to contemporary faith and life.

2.) Ethically motivated thinkers and doers, able to articulate ethical messages of theological texts and their contemporary application.

Through the formative exploration of ethical messages in religious texts, which may include theologies, philosophies of religion, and systems of religious ethics, religion majors will be able to:

  1. Examine sources, reflect upon and produce original responses to questions.
  2. Articulate ethical messages of theological texts and their relevance to contemporary faith and life.
  3. Apply biblical values to ethical decisions.
  4. Address problems in classroom, campus, and community.

3.) Culturally engaged and historically informed global citizens, able to appraise religious traditions and sacred texts and their intersection with religion, society, and culture, historically and today.

Through the exploration of religions in their global contexts, including the history of religions, religion majors will be able to:

  1. Compare religious traditions and sacred texts.
  2. Evaluate the relationship between places of worship and religiously significant sites and the traditions they represent.
  3. Appraise the relationship between religion and history, including significant religious figures.
  4. Engage in and reflect upon dialogue with other religious communities.
  5. Articulate the value of their own religious communities and tradition.
  6. Analyze trends in religion and their impact.