Undergraduate Study in Religion
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| Read about some current students and recent graduates in Religion at Otago. |
Studying religion at Otago
There are several ways to include papers on religion in your degree. Many students simply take one or more papers alongside their other major subjects. It is also possible to specialise in the study of religion by taking it as the major subject of the Bachelor of Arts (BA) or the Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA Hons). We also offer minors in Religious Studies and in Buddhist Studies which may be taken with one or more other subjects. Graduates in other disciplines who are planning research in the study of religion may be admitted to the Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad). The regulations for all of these qualifications are listed below.
Papers currently on offer are listed below. Some papers above 100 level are taught in alternate years. For advice on any aspect of your course, please feel free to contact the Religion Programme Co-ordinator, John Shaver, or any member of the teaching staff.
Studying by distance
You don't need to be on campus to take our classes. All undergraduate papers are also offered by distance. To enrol for a paper by distance, just select that option in eVision. The paper will be listed with DL (for Distance Learning) code on your programme. It is even possible to complete an entire degree by distance. Helpful information about enrolling in distance teaching can be found here.
Papers offered in 2024
| Summer School 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Religion, Science and Magic | |||
| Psychology of Religion | |||
| First semester | |||
| Hinduism & Buddhism | |||
| Buddhism, State and Society | |||
| Religion, Conflict and Conspiracy Theory | |||
| Second semester | |||
| Introduction to the Scientific Study of Religion | |||
| Buddhist Thought | |||
| Religion, Law and Politics | |||
| Religion and Identity | Pre-Christmas Summer School 2024 | ||
| Ancient Religion: From Egypt to Mesopotamia | |||
Click on the paper code for further information about the paper, including prescriptions and timetables.
If you are interested in including an internship (HUMS301 Internship Practicum) in your degree, please contact John Shaver to find out what kinds of placements are available for students in Religious Studies.
A full list of Religion papers (including those not offered in 2024) is also available.
Society of Otago Religious Studies Enthusiasts (SORSE)
The Society of Otago Religious Studies Enthusiasts (SORSE) is a student-run group for anyone interested in Religious Studies at Otago University. SORSE provides Religious Studies students - whether majors, minors, undergraduates, postgraduates, or just taking one really fascinating Religion paper - the opportunity to connect and enjoy social events together.
You don't need to be a member of the society to attend, but if you are interested in joining or hearing about future SORSE-organised events please email us at sorse.society@gmail.com or join our SORSE Facebook group and we'll be sure to keep you posted.
Programme requirements
Major subject requirements: BA in Religious Studies
The papers that have to be included in a BA in order to major in Religious Studies are as follows:
100-level: Two 100-level RELS papers
200-level: Three 200-level RELS papers* (54 points)
300-level: Four 300-level RELS papers** (72 points)
*One of ANTH 225, ANTH 228, CHIN 241, DHUM 201, HIST 215, HIST 244, JAPA 243, PHIL 229 or POLS 210 may be subsituted for one 200-level RELS paper
**One of ANTH 325, ANTH 328, CLAS 342, HIST 308, JAPA 343 or PHIL 329 may be subsituted for one 300-level RELS paper
Minor subject requirements: Religious Studies
The papers that have to be taken in order to include a minor in Religious Studies in your degree are as follows:
100-level: Two 100-level RELS papers
Plus at least 54 points of RELS papers (three papers), including at least 18 points (one paper) above 200-level
Minor subject requirements: Buddhist Studies
The papers that have to be taken in order to include a minor in Buddhist Studies in your degree are as follows:
RELS 102 and 72 further points (four papers) from ANTH 105, ASIA 101, CHIN 131, CHIN 132, JAPA 131, JAPA 132, SANS 111, SANS 112, RELS 202, RELS 209, RELS 216, RELS 226, RELS 227, RELS 309, RELS 316, RELS 326, and RELS 327, RELS 328, RELS 336.
At least 54 points (three papers) must be above 100-level, including at least 18 points above 200 level
Minor subject requirements: Science of Religion
The papers that have to be taken in order to include a minor in the Science of Religion in your degree are as follows:
100-level: RELS 110, and one of BIOA 101, PSYC 111, PSYC 112, SCOM 109, STAT 110
At least three papers from the following list, including at least one at 300-level: HIST 229, RELS 217, RELS 225, RELS 237, RELS 238, RELS 240, RELS 317, RELS 325, RELS 337, RELS 338, RELS 340
Regulations
Regulations for the following programmes are available elsewhere on the University website.
- Regulations for the degree of Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Regulations for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA Hons)
- Regulations for the Diploma For Graduates (DipGrad)
- Regulations for the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts)
Resources
A webpage containing essential information for both campus and distance students can be found here. We strongly encourage you to read it carefully at the beginning of your course, and to refer to it whenever you need guidance in your study.
Religion Programme Style Guide
Download the Religion Programme Style Guide (PDF format)