Religion

Every Concordia student gets a chance to experience the in-depth teaching in the religion department through core courses. Many elect to dive deeper into what the department offers, discovering more about world religions including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism.

Classes range from biblical Hebrew to how pop culture shapes religion and religion shapes pop culture. Coursework in religion will help students to lead an examined life by building up self-knowledge and compassion for others throughout the world.

Programs of Study

Religion Major or Minor

Religion courses will teach you history, diversity, tolerance, leadership, critical thinking and analytical writing. Religion majors and minors are encouraged to pursue an emphasis that develops their particular interests and passions and prepares them for their vocational aspirations.

Major in Religion with Faith and Leadership Concentration

Courses in the faith and leadership concentration develop your capacity for resilient faith-based leadership in our interconnected and rapidly changing world. The faith and leadership concentration offers you the advantage of pre-professional preparation that can be customized to meet your individual needs, to help you develop your particular talents and interests, and to enable you to pursue your specific vocational aspirations. Students who choose to concentrate are equipped to lead in faith communities, service organizations, nonprofits, outdoor ministry settings, and other professions. Many students in the concentration choose to go on to a graduate program. For more information on this concentration, contact Dr. David Creech.

Interfaith Studies Minor 

The interfaith studies minor promotes interreligious literacy with the cultivation of skills and competencies necessary for living in a pluralistic world. This is an emerging academic field that has a practical aim of developing professionals who can “responsibly engage the world” as interfaith leaders.

Career

Where can you go with a religion major? Anywhere you like. Religion majors find careers all over the map. While some work in religious settings, many others work in businesses, higher education and social justice organizations.

Special Opportunities

If you want to experience rich conversations, opposing viewpoints and the opportunity to view faith from various religious perspectives through scholars who have expert information, spending some time in the religion department is just the place for you. Better yet, travel with some of these expert faculty members to religious sites around the world including Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, China and more.

Santorini, Greece

The Santorini, Greece, experience is a monthlong abroad opportunity that combines the Religion in Global Context course with cultural immersion on the island of Santorini and in Turkey. This experience introduces students to basic language skills, cultural experiences, and the study of religion in Greece and Turkey. It introduces students to the complexity of the academic study of religion and its relation to culture in a global arena in a way that will help students develop critical knowledge and thinking skills about some of the most pressing modern social issues of our age – in this case, the Greek/Turkey refugee crisis.