Religion

Advantages

• Small class sizes allow professors to engage students and deliver personalized learning experiences.
• Students in this program have experiential learning opportunities and career paths in areas like nonprofit organizations, religious institutions, ministry settings, social work, chaplaincy, and others.
• Courses connect to current issues, religion in pop culture, as well as offer site visits around Indianapolis.
• Faculty members represent diverse backgrounds and experiences in their careers foster and create students growth and success.
• Faculty have won numerous awards in their fields and present their research locally, nationally, and internationally.
• Examine meaning and purpose, identity and belonging in a rapidly changing world.
• Develop the soft skills a professional needs to succeed in any work environment that Humanities and Religious Studies specialize in.

Concentrations

The Department of Philosophy & Religion offers three areas of concentration that can be added to any major.

Ancient Greek

The New Testament is written in a form of Ancient Greek called koine. Beginning with the Greek alphabet, basic grammar, and vocabulary, you'll build the skills necessary to begin reading the letters of Paul and the Gospels in their original Greek. Through your reading of the texts, you'll supplement your understanding of the cultures in which Christianity formed and gain insight into the poetic language of the time. Additionally, you'll see how Ancient Greek has influenced the development of the English language and improve your own communication skills.

Pre-Theology

Led by UIndy's chaplain in the Ecumenical and Interfaith Office, the pre-theology concentration consists of a series of Christian vocation classes that offer students a chance to dig deep into the Christian tradition and explore their calling in the context of their faith. With the completion of four Christian vocation courses, you'll complement your studies in prayer, worship, service, and stewardship with a real-world internship opportunity.

Comparative Religions

Are you interested in learning more about the fundamental philosophies of religion? Focused on the significance of religion and exploration of the role religion plays in shaping our world, this 12 credit hour concentration explores several avenues and aspects of the significance of ritual and practice. 

You’ll explore a variety of topics, from Christianity and Buddhism, to Religion and Magic, and everything in between. This concentration can help you prepare for a broad understanding of how religion informs many aspects of civic life.

Potential Careers

• Ministry, chaplaincy, or pastoral roles
• Counseling, social work
• Journalism, public relations
• Nonprofit leadership
• College advising, grant writing, or research-oriented careers

Where recent graduates have gone on to work or study:

• Yale Divinity School and Christian Theological Seminary, M.Div.
• Eli Lilly, Program Director
• University of Notre Dame and Ball State University, Communications
• Christian Northeast Hospital, Occupational Therapist
• Ohio Rehabilitation Services, Vocational Counselor
• L’Arche North, Executive Director

Curriculum Guides

These curriculum guides outline the different classes you will need to take as a Religion major. The general education guide provides a list of all the classes you need in order to fulfill UIndy’s general education requirements. The Religion guide outlines and lists all of the classes you will need to take in order to fulfill the major’s requirements. Be sure to take a look at both guides in order to get a complete picture of what your classes will look like at UIndy.

• University of Indianapolis General Education curriculum guide
• Religion Major curriculum guide