BA in Anthropology & Religion

This joint major offers the student numerous ways to understand how religion works as a dynamic aspect of culture, and how individuals interact with their social environments to create systems of belief and ritual in their efforts to make sense of the world.

Six courses in religion and six courses in anthropology are required with a grade of C or higher, as specified below. Those 12 courses must include Anthropology of Religion (taken either as CAS AN 384 or as CAS RN 387, but not both). Candidates for the BA with this joint major may not pursue a second major in religion or anthropology. They are, however, encouraged to take courses beyond the required 12 in either or both disciplines. Anthropology and religion students pursuing honors in the major are required to take a 13th course, AN 462 in either their junior or senior years (see honors program details below). To ensure the most suitable course of study for the prospective student’s areas of interest, courses should be selected in consultation with the program advisor. For further information about the joint program, contact the program advisor or either department’s Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Anthropology

Students are required to take:

  • CAS AN 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology or CAS AN 103 Anthropology Through Ethnography (only one of these two courses may be taken for credit in the major)
  • CAS AN 252 Ethnicity and Identity
  • CAS AN 384/RN 387 Anthropology of Religion
  • CAS AN 461 Ethnography and Anthropological Theory 1
  • Two social anthropology courses at the 300 level or above from an annually approved list for the major

Religion

Students are required to take:

  • CAS RN 103 Religions of Asia or CAS RN 104 Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
  • CAS RN 200 Theoretical Approaches to the Study of Religion
  • One religion course at the 200 level from CAS RN 209–219
  • Three additional religion courses, numbered CAS RN 220 or higher, from an annually approved list for the major

Honors in Anthropology & Religion

Students wishing to pursue honors in Anthropology & Religion must follow the honors requirements for the BA in Anthropology—Sociocultural Specialization.

Please visit our Honors in the Major page for additional information.

The following courses will count for the Anthropology and Religion degree. Note that they may not all be offered in a given year of semester.

Students who would like to petition for a Directed Study course will need to approach the Director of Undergraduate Study for approval within the Anthropology and Religion concentration.