In the Classroom

Students may pursue several courses of study at the Center, and each of them will foster understanding and appreciation of the complex ways in which religious thought and traditions–or nonbelief–inform human thought and behavior.

The minor in religion and politics allows students to examine, in both historical and contemporary terms, any number of issues in a U.S. context, including church-state relations, religion’s role in shaping gender and sexuality debates, religion and electoral politics, public conflicts over the nexus of religion and science, and religion’s entwining with reform movements (from abolition to environmentalism).

Students may pursue a religious studies major or minor, which considers religion in broader geographical and historical terms. As a major source of inspiration and meaning in human societies, religion impacts, and is impacted by, forces of globalization, migration, technology, climate change, and more.

Studying religion is a way into understanding human thought and behavior, so whether you are interested in preparing for the advanced academic study of religion, seeking to complement another area of study, or simply feel the need to acquire a greater knowledge of religions, one of these courses of study will prepare you for living and working in a pluralistic society and an increasingly global culture.

Majors and minors are invited to the Center’s colloquium series and to special engagements with guests and visiting scholars throughout the academic year.

You may declare your major or minor in Workday and then meet with the Center’s Director of Undergraduate Studies (a rotating role), who will serve as your minor advisor. In 2026-2027, this is Professor Kambiz GhaneaBassiri, who can be reached at ghaneabassiri@wustl.edu.

Requirements

Minor in religion and politics
15 units of coursework, including:

• RELPOL 2000: Religion and American Society (3 units) OR
  RELPOL 2100: The Good Life between Religion and Politics (3 units) OR
  RELPOL 2010: Religion and Politics in American History OR
  BEYOND 1008: Religious Freedom in America (Note this is a course in the Beyond Boundaries Program.)
  The above course should be completed prior to the second semester of the junior year.

• 12 additional units, nine of which must be 300- or 400-level, and nine of which, at any level, must be taught by Center faculty.

• Attendance at five events sponsored by the Center on Religion and Politics (lectures, colloquia, lunch discussions, film screenings). You must inform the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the event you attended so this can be recorded for your record.

Major in religious studies
30 units of coursework, including 24 units in courses numbered 3000 or above. There are three components to the major: required foundational courses, electives, and the capstone experience.

Electives (21 units; 18 units must be 3000 level or above):

• Required Foundational Courses (6 units):
  • All majors are required to take the following two courses:
    REST 1501 Thinking About Religion: Offered every fall.
    REST 3635 Theories and Methods in the Study of Religion: Offered every spring and normally taken in either the junior or senior year.

• Electives (21 units; 18 units must be 3000 level or above):
  All majors must take at least seven additional courses for the major in Arts and Sciences. These courses should be chosen in consultation with your advisor and should fulfill the following:
  • Broad coverage of religious traditions: majors explore various religions by taking at least one course in four different traditions (such as: Judaism; History of Christianity; Islam; Buddhism; East Asian religions; South Asian religions; and religion in the Americas).
  • Course concentrations: majors focus their interests on a single religious tradition or theme by creating two course concentrations: a 3-course series and a 2-course series.

• Capstone experience (3 units):
  During their senior year, religious studies majors are required to take REST 4022 Material Religion or equivalent 4000-level seminar in Religious Studies for 3 units of credit.  Alternatively, majors can fulfill the capstone requirement by writing an honors thesis during their last two semesters at WashU. Applications for Senior Honors are due no later than the spring semester of the student’s junior year.
  
• Important Information
  • Independent Studies: No more than 6 units of Independent Studies may be applied to the major. Normally, Independent Studies courses are designed for seniors who have already taken all of the available courses regularly offered or who have a very specific topic they wish to pursue at an advanced level (schedule conflicts do not constitute a valid rationale for taking an Independent Studies). Permission of the program director, the academic advisor, and the supervising faculty is required.
  • Transfer Credits: Students may transfer a maximum of 6 units from another institution (including Study Abroad) to count toward their religious studies major with the approval of the advisor and the program director.
  • “Double Counting” Courses: If a student has two majors or a major and a minor, only introductory (1000- and 2000-level) courses may be counted, when relevant, toward the requirements of both majors. All advanced (3000- and 4000-level) courses must be unique to each major; i.e., no advanced course may “double-count” for the course work needed to fulfill the minimal requirements for either major. Should both major programs require the same course, an elective approved by the Center advisor must be chosen to replace the course in one of the programs.

Minor in religious studies
18 units of coursework, of which 12 units must be in courses numbered 3000 or above. There are two components of the minor: required foundational courses and electives.

• Required foundational courses (6 units):
  • All minors must take two required courses:
    • REST 1501 Thinking About Religion: Offered every fall.
    • REST 3635 Theories and Methods in the Study of Religion: Offered every spring and normally taken in either the junior or senior year.
      
• Electives (12 units; 9 units must be numbered 3000 or above):
  Minors may choose their electives based on individual interest and in consultation with their minor advisor. Please keep in mind that at least three of the four courses must be numbered 3000 or above.
  
• Important Information
  • Independent Studies/Study Abroad: Students may transfer 3 credit units from another institution to count towards their Religious Studies minor with the approval of the advisor and the Program director.
  • “Double Counting” Courses: If a student has a major and a minor or has 2 minors, only introductory (100- and 200-level) courses may be counted, when relevant, toward the requirements of both majors. All advanced (3000- and 4000-level) courses must be unique to each major; i.e., no advanced course may “double-count” for the course work needed to fulfill the minimal requirements for either major. Should both major programs require the same course, an elective approved by the Center advisor must be chosen to replace the course in one of the programs.

Senior Honors Thesis
Religious studies majors who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.65 or higher after six semesters are eligible to apply for candidacy for senior honors. Students considering graduate or professional school are especially encouraged to write a senior thesis, although any undergraduate will benefit greatly from this experience.

The senior honors thesis is a research project that is significantly longer normally 50-75 pages long, but no fewer than 40 pages and no longer than 100 pages. As such it is more intellectually sophisticated than the usual term paper. Each honors candidate works closely with a faculty advisor to develope an independent, focused work of scholarship that builds on the courses the student has taken as a religious studies major.

Planning and Dedication
Writing a senior honor’s thesis is no easy task. The research paper is significantly longer and more intellectually sophisticated than the usual term paper. To complete a 50-75 page, multiple chapter thesis it takes dedicated planning and preparation on the part of both the student candidate and the thesis advisor. Our expectations of both students and thesis advisors are:

The responsibilities of the candidate for honors include:

• Attending regularly scheduled meetings with the thesis advisor
• Adhering to the research and writing plan jointly developed by the candidate and thesis advisor
• Seeking out the help when needed from thesis advisor, subject librarians, and relevant faculty members
• Meeting agreed-upon deadlines
• Abiding by the guidelines outlined in the Statement of Student Academic Integrity

The responsibilities of the thesis advisor include:

• Setting up regular meetings with the candidate
• Helping the candidate design a research and writing plan
• Monitoring the candidate’s progress through regular meetings and written deadlines
• Offering feedback in a timely fashion

 Honors Thesis Timeline

• Spring semester of junior year: Apply for senior honors and create preliminary research and writing plan
• Summer between junior and senior year: preliminary reading and research
• Fall of senior year: detailed outline of thesis; complete bibliography; update research and writing plan
• Spring of senior year: complete thesis and participate in thesis review
• End of senior year: present senior honors research at religious studies senior symposium
  

Milestones
A detailed list of milestones and deadlines for successful senior honors completion can be found in the Guidelines for Senior Honors in Religious Studies.

Apply for Senior Honors
Interested students should first consult with their advisor, no later than the second semester of their junior year, about the feasibility of writing an honors thesis and names of possible thesis advisors. After having identified an appropriate faculty member who is willing to serve as thesis advisor, the student should meet with the faculty member to discuss the feasibility of his or her thesis topic. Then the student will need to apply for candidacy.

The application form includes a 1-2 page thesis proposal, a preliminary working bibliography, and a current unofficial transcript. It will also require the signature of the thesis advisor. The completed application should then be submitted to the Director of the Danforth Center on Religion and Politics for final approval before the end of the spring semester of the senior year. A listing of past topics can be found here.

Once a student’s senior honors thesis application is approved, candidates should begin planning how to best use the summer months for preliminary reading and research.

Students approved for an honors thesis will enroll in REST 4990 “Independent Work for Senior Honors I” for the fall semester and REST 4997 “Independent Work for Senior Honors II” for the spring semester. Students will receive a total of 6 units towards the major for their work on their honors thesis

Theta Alpha Kappa
A chapter of Theta Alpha Kappa, the National Honor Society in Religious Studies and Theology, was established in 1998 to sponsor lectures and programs. Theta Alpha Kappa (TAK) is organized and administered by students, with Dr. Jenott serving as chapter advisor.

Membership Requirements

• Completion of at least 3 semesters at Washington University
• Completion of at least 12 credits at the Danforth Center
• GPA of at least 3.5 Danforth Center courses
• Overall GPA of at least 3.3
• The initiation fee is $25 — this will be paid for by the Danforth Center

Please note: You do not need to be a religious studies major or minor to become a member of TAK. If you are interested in joining TAK please contact Sheri Peña and include a copy of your unofficial student record with GPA listed.

You may find out more information about the national organization at: http://www.thetaalphakappa.org