Why Minor in Religion?

Contemporary society in the U.S. is increasingly shaped by diverse and conflictual religious claims, even as the great majority of public high schools provide their graduates with little if any introduction to the formal study of religion. Students who complete the coursework for the Religion Minor gain a solid foundation in the core competencies required for religious literacy in the contemporary world. These include a sophisticated understanding of religion as a category of analysis, a grounding in the discourses and practices of multiple religious traditions, and the capacity to insightfully engage and interpret current events around the world shaped by religious influences.  Together these essential skills prepare CAS graduates to engage ethically and insightfully with a diversity of communities in our religiously plural society, and they support successful work in a wide variety of careers.  The minor also complements a broad range of majors across the university.