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Religious Studies

Religious Studies begins with questions about faith, the sacred, and the experience of the transcendent. The program is rooted in the social, personal and religious values of the Christian and Catholic faith traditions and encourages dialogue with other religious traditions. The program welcomes students from a variety of faith traditions and courses encourage students to explore their own spirituality and their relationship to God/the divine in accord and dialog with their own traditions.

Many of our courses are taught from an historical perspective. At the same time, the predominant emphasis in the program is on religion in the contemporary world. Consistent with Catholic social teaching, emphasis throughout the curriculum is placed on an intercultural perspective and on the perspective of non-dominant groups, such as women, people of color, and the poor.

Religious Studies majors must take four core classes, in which philosophical and religious perspectives on human personhood, human and social political life, human values, and world wisdom traditions are examined and compared. The remainder of the religious studies requirements is designed to meet discipline specific goals. The Senior Seminar in Religious Studies and the student’s portfolio are used to assess the program.
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Major in Religious Studies

Preparation for the Major

  • RLST 10 Introduction to Scripture: Hebrew Scriptures or RLST 15 Introduction to Scripture: New Testament
  • RLST/PHIL 20(W) Moral Choices in Contemporary Society or RLST/PHIL 40(W) The Human Person

Requirements for the Major (24 upper-division units)

  • RLST 110 Introduction to Scripture: Hebrew Scriptures or RLST 115 Introduction to Scripture: New Testament
  • RLST/PHIL 120(W) Moral Choices in Contemporary Society or RLST/PHIL 140(W) The Human Person
  • RLST/PHIL 122 Social and Political Thought
  • RLST/PHIL 175 World Wisdom Traditions
  • RLST 160 Christianity: History and Foundations
  • RLST 165A, B, C, or D Themes in Contemporary Theology
  • RLST 195 Senior Seminar in Religious Studies
  • One upper division elective in Religious Studies.

Note: Although some courses are listed more than once, a course used to satisfy a requirement in one area cannot be used to satisfy a requirement in another.

The Minor

Requires a minimum of 21 units in Religious Studies, as advised.

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A major in Religious Studies has many uses. In addition to preparation for graduate studies or for a specific career-oriented goal in ministry or education, majors have gone on to successful careers in such fields as law, journalism, social services, and public service.

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Rene Sanchez, PhD (Candidate)

Boston College
Assistant Professor of Religious Studies
510-436-1121
rsanchez@hnu.edu

Robert Lassalle-Klein, PhD

Graduate Theological Union
Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Philosophy
510-436-1439
lassalle-klein@hnu.edu

Miriam Malone, SNJM, MPS

Loyola University of Chicago
408-395-1818
miriam@snjmfire.com

Shelley Waldenberg, MA, DD

Hebrew Union College
510-465-9825
shelleywald@aol.com

Sophia Park, snjm (PhD Candidate)

Graduate Theological Union
Lecturer in New Testament

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