Religious Studies Minors
Quaker Studies Minor
Max L. Carter, Department of Religious Studies
The Quaker studies minor explores Quaker spirituality in relation to the world. Through study of Quaker history and “social testimonies” (social ethics), it uses the perspective of this world-mending spirituality to reflect on justice issues. As an interdisciplinary exploration it seeks to understand forms of systemic oppression in our time (such as sexism, racism, classism, militarism, religious imperialism and environmentalism) and how to transform them.
This study will develop several kinds of thinking in speaking, listening and writing: analysis, criticism, imagination, textual interpretation, social problem-identification and problem-solving and self-reflective exploration. It will investigate the interrelated subtle aspects of individual selves, characteristics of a religious movement, large but obscured social systems and the student’s own religious and ethical commitments.
Quaker Studies Minor Requirements
The minor requires a minimum of 16 credit hours (four courses).
- GST 105 Quaker Social Testimonies and Spiritual Roots – 2 credits
- GST 405 Quaker Faith & Practice – 2 credits
- REL 110 Quakerism – 4 credits
- Two courses from: 8 credits
- BIOL 212 Environmental Science
- ECON 344 Environmental and Resource Economics
- ENGL/THEA 215 Play Analysis
- ENGL 224 Self Image in Women Writers
- ENGL 230 African American Literature
- ENGL 331 Black Women Writers
- GEOL 121 Environmental Geology
- HIST 223 Gender & Power in US History
- HIST 225 African American History
- HIST 308 The Underground Railroad
- HIST 315 The Civil Rights Movement
- IDS 423 Ethical Issues in Biology and Medicine
- JPS 244 Conflict Resolution
- JPS 313 Law and Society
- JPS 425 Family Violence
- PECS 103 Voices of Liberation
- PECS 330 Nonviolence Theories and Practice
- PHIL 111 Ethics
- PHIL 247 Philosophy of Law
- REL 120/ENGL 228 American Nature Writing
- REL 222 Feminist Theology
- SOAN 313 Sociology of Sex and Gender
- Or other courses addressing the normative Quaker testimonies of spirituality, simplicity, integrity, peace, equality and community by permission of the coordinator, or evidence of an internship (credit or non-credit) that provided direct experience with Quaker faith and practice.
Total credit hours required for Quaker Studies Minor – 16 credits
Religious Studies Minor
Max L. Carter, Department of Religious Studies
Religious studies at Guilford explores the mystery and meaning of our existence as selves in the many aspects of the social and natural world. We seek to nurture wonder, insight, clear and creative thinking, to understand humanity’s destructive ways with others and the environment and to imagine ways of mending the world. We want to open heart and mind to the sacred and the problematic in our world today and historically. The burning issues we address are forms of social oppression and environmental destruction, the nature of the divine and the human condition, the development and practice of religious traditions and the meaning of the religious. We aim to draw forth leadership potential in all students to enable them throughout their lives to be agents of change where they find themselves, overcoming injustice and engendering the fullness of life.
Students work with the department chair or minor advisor to determine a specific focus.
The minor in religious studies is not available to religious studies majors.
Religious Studies Minor Requirements
The minor requires a minimum of 16 credit hours (four courses).
- Two REL courses at any level – 8 credits
- One REL course a the 200 level or above – 4 credits
- One REL course a the 300 level or above – 4 credits
Total credit hours required for Religious Studies Minor – 16 credits
