The Program for Religious Studies meets the needs of WVU students by offering instruction in the history and practice of many world religions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Near Eastern religious traditions. The program offers opportunities for the exploration of many other interesting topics, including Hebrew and Christian scriptures, ethics, and the history of evil. The program also seeks to address issues of interest within the WVU community by providing activities such as guest lectures and panel forums for students and the public. In Religious Studies, students have the unique opportunity to study religious issues from a scholarly perspective. Religion courses at WVU are intended to stimulate interest in the academic discipline of religious studies, which involves studying religions objectively, without an agenda. Yet our courses often compliment students’ own religious beliefs. Instructors use various methodologies that allow students to immerse themselves in, and learn about, many different traditions. Some of these methodologies include studying ancient texts, examining the history and traditions of various world cultures, the use of resource texts from reputable scholars, and the analysis of archaeological data. Majors in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Biochemistry B Biology B, M, D Chemistry B, M, D Communications Studies B, M, D Computer Science B Creative Writing M Criminology & Investigations B Economics B English B, M, D Environmental Geoscience B Foreign Languages B, M Forensic & Investigative Science B Geography B, M, D Geology B, M, D History B, M, D Individualized Major B Industrial Mathematics and Statistics B International Studies B Legal Studies M Liberal Arts and Sciences B Liberal Studies M Mathematics B, M, D Multidisciplinary Studies B Philosophy B Physics B, M, D Political Science B, M, D Professional Writing and Editing M Psychology B, M, D Public Administration M Regents Bachelor of Arts B Religious Studies B Slavic Studies B Social Work B, M Sociology M Sociology and Anthropology B Statistics M Women's Studies B B=Bachelor's; M=Master's; D=Doctorate For more information, contact Dr. Aaron Gale at: 304-293-3641, ext. 33313, or at: Aaron.Gale@mail.wvu.edu Or visit us online at: www.wvu.edu/~relst/ ReligiousStudiesProgram.htm

The WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences is the largest and most diverse academic unit within West Virginia University. A faculty of 450 and a staff of 125 are involved in educating and supporting the efforts of more than 6,700 students (nearly one-fourth of the WVU student body) who are majoring in one or more of 63 undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the College’s 16 academic departments and divisions. The College’s academic units and research facilities are housed in 14 buildings on the WVU campus. The Dean’s Office is in historic Woodburn Hall. The College and its Department of Biology also maintain the Core Arboretum, a 75-acre wooded tract adjacent to the Monongahela River.

The College provides the majority of the curriculum for all WVU undergraduates and a wide variety of required and elective courses for the entire student body. Arts and Sciences majors may, with permission, major in more than one discipline, and when appropriate, design highly individualized degree programs.

Eberly College undergraduate degree programs prepare students for many specific professions, while also providing a broad-based education that will remain relevant beyond the first job after graduation. Many Eberly College alumni go on to complete graduate and professional degrees. By providing students with analytic and communication skills, reasoning abilities, and a broad knowledge of the humanities and the behavioral and natural sciences, the Eberly College equips graduates for lifelong learning and prepares them to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world and an increasingly volatile job market.

Admission
If University admission requirements are met, a student may be accepted as a major in Pre-Religious Studies. Upon completion of 58 credit hours with at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average, as well as a GPA of at least 2.0 in all courses completed in Religious Studies, a student will be admitted to the Religious Studies Program.

Curriculum
If admitted to the interdepartmental degree program in Religious Studies, the student will be required to satisfactorily complete 42 hours of course work. Of these 42 hours, 24 are in Religious Studies, six in Biblical studies, six in the history of religions, six in contemporary religious thought, three in mythology and religion, and RELG 494. (Students who wish to use RELG 494 to fulfill this requirement must complete twelve hours of religious studies courses before registering for RELG 494.) The other 18 hours fulfill requirements outside the program. The following three-hour courses are required: SOCA 336, HIST 201 and 203, and PHIL 308. Six hours of American and/or English literature are also required. Students must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA in the required course work to retain status as an interdepartmental major in Religious Studies.

Course Work

Accreditation
West Virginia University is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Career Opportunities
The Religious Studies Program offers a general liberal arts education for students entering professions such as law, medicine, and business if electives are chosen carefully. This major is also useful to anyone seeking a professional career in religious journalism, teaching, or the ministry.

Graduate School Opportunities
Academic teaching and research careers are possible with a PhD in Religious Studies.

Salary Range
According to the National Association of Colleges, the average starting salary for bachelor’s degree holders was about $29,000.