Religious Studies Program

Director: Martin Adam, BA (Calgary), MA (Waterloo), PhD (McGill), Asociate Professor, Department of Pacific and Asian Studies

The program introduces students to the academic discipline of Religious Studies with a particular focus on the place and function of religions in society both today and in the past. Formal study of the religious traditions that one finds throughout the world and throughout history is widely considered to be an integral part of humanistic studies. The program reflects the growing diversity of belief systems within Canada and emphasizes the need to understand differences between religions in our increasingly interconnected world. Students will be introduced to the major world religions and contemporary religious issues, learn ways of understanding religion and develop their knowledge of specific religious subjects.

Religious Studies offers Major, General and Minor programs leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Students may also undertake the Major in Religious Studies together with a Major Program in another department (see Double Major Program), or with a Major in another faculty (see Interfaculty Program). By completing the requirements for the General Program together with a Major or Honours Program in another department or faculty, students may obtain a Minor (see Minor Program).

Students interested in pursuing a program in Religious Studies should consult with the Program Director, c/o Faculty of Humanities Interdisciplinary Office, Clearihue D264.

Website: <web.uvic.ca/rels>

Program Requirements

Major Program

The Religious Studies Major requires 6 units of courses at the 100 or 200 level and 15 units at the 300 or 400 level.

Required Courses

Lower-Level:

Upper-Level:

General and Minor Programs

Religious Studies may be taken as part of a General Program or, as a Minor, together with an Honours or Major program in another department or faculty. If any upper-level course forms part of the student’s Honours, Major, or General program, it cannot be used to fulfill the requirements for the Minor in Religious Studies.

Required Courses

Lower-Level:

Upper-Level:

Eligible Courses

See <web.uvic.ca/rels/electivesummary.htm> for a list of courses that are available each year.

Additional Eligible Courses:

"Topics" courses (especially in English, History and Medieval Studies) will be accepted for credit at the Program Director's discretion, dependent upon the applicability of the material covered in the course, the approach of the course, and the assignments completed by the student.