Religion
BA Major, Minor
Religion is one of the most powerful social and cultural forces in human history. It has wreaked havoc through time and been a source of profound comfort and good.
Religion majors at Emory represent a wide range of individuals with an equally wide range of interests.
Whether you’re looking to go into the clergy, medicine, public service, or any number of other careers, developing a deeper understanding of religious traditions and their impact on history, policy, culture, society, and the way we interpret our stories will serve you well.
Outcomes
A degree in religion is ideal for anyone looking for a deeper understanding of faith and how faith impacts global events–past, present, and future. Many of our graduates go on to pursue faith-based occupations, but many also use the degree as a foundation for careers in law, medicine, advocacy, criminal justice, education,and social work, to name just a few.
Recent graduates work at The Carter Center, Capgemini Consulting,National Institutes of Health, Tushita Foundation, and Google.
They have also gone on to pursue advanced degrees at such prestigious institutions as Vanderbilt Law School, Wake Forest, and Harvard University.
Examples of Classes
History of Religions in America
From the colonial period to the present, examine what American people think and do with religion and spirituality. You’ll explore and have opportunities to question the divine right of kings, religious gestures used by Tim Tebow and Colin Kaepernick, religiously marginalized or oppressed communities, and everything in between.
Religion and Healing
Interest in meditation has grown increasingly as research suggests that it may positively enhance health and well-being. In this course, you’ll explore the mind/body connection and the broader role of faith, ritual prayer, and medication in various models of healing.
Introduction to Religion
In this course you will explore diverse ways of being religious by examining the unique concepts, behaviors, cultures, and experiences that comprise different faith traditions.
Research In Religion
International Research
As a Humanity in Action Fellow, Virginia Spinks 17C spent a month immersed in the study of human and civil rights in Sarajevo, Bosnia, and Herzegovina. The fellowship ended with a cohort of international students gathering for a conference in Berlin.
Emory University's National Scholarships & Fellowships office assists interested students in finding opportunities in the U.S. and around the world to further their research and exposure.
Mind-Body Science Summer Abroad
The Emory-Tibet Science Initiative offers a unique opportunity to combine study of western science and Buddhist philosophies. Spend five weeks with a Buddhist refugee community in India in an environment where Tibetan Buddhist monastics and students inspire and learn from each other.
Emory University is the only university in the Western Hemisphere to have such a close partnership with Tibet and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.