Religious Studies and Ethics Department

Religious Studies

A.B., Major, Minor

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Use Intellectual Curiosity to Investigate the World

Explore the mystery and meaning of our existence across cultures, societies, and historical moments. As a Religious Studies major or minor, your insight, curiosity, and creativity are merged with critical thinking and rigorous analysis to better understand human longing and society’s potential for both goodness and oppression.

Through classroom discussion, intensive reading, individual and group research projects and personal reflection, Religious Studies majors tackle a variety of historical, timely, and relevant subjects. These include forms of social oppression and environmental destruction, the nature of the divine and the human condition, and the development and practice of religious traditions.

Faculty members have a gift for drawing out student potential, enabling you to be a change agent wherever you find yourself. The Quaker context of Guilford is fundamental to our ways of teaching. All classes involve discovering the resources within to engage truth and take responsibility for your learning and living in ways that foster peace, justice, simplicity, integrity, equality and community.

Religious Studies students pursue diverse careers. They include teaching, law, service and social work, ministry, counseling, religious education, art, business, government and positions in non-governmental organizations. Graduates go on to live lives concerned with meaning, purpose and service. They are better able to tackle big-picture questions and to consider their role and responsibility in the world.

Office

Religious Studies and Ethics Department

Ask Us

Eric Mortensen
Department Chair
+1 (336) 3162357
emortens@guilford.edu

College Catalog

For more information about courses for the Religious Studies Department, visit the online, searchable College Catalog. In addition to the Undergraduate Catalog, information includes academic department and major information as well as academic regulations and resources; admission standards and requirements; and tuition, fees and financial aid information.

Majors and Minors

"My relationships with teachers in the Religious Studies department have enhanced my experience more than I can say. They have challenged me to think critically, and improved my ability to synthesize information and communicate orally and in writing. On top of that, they have made a genuine effort to build personal relationships with me."

Katie Fullerton '16
Religious Studies and Health Sciences double major
  • Religious Studies Major and Minor: Religious Studies at Guilford explores the mystery and meaning of our existence in the many aspects of the social and natural world. The major requires 33 credit hours, and the minor requires 16. Students work with the department chair or minor adviser to determine a specific focus.
  • Quaker Studies Minor: The Quaker Studies minor explores Quaker spirituality in relation to the world. It requires 16 semester hours.