Bachelor of Arts
Religious Studies
(previously Studies of Religions)MJ-A000067 (major)
MN-A000067 (minor)
Campuses
Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Cloud (online)
Overview
Understanding religion has seldom been as important as it is today. There is increasing dialogue among the greater religions of the world, but there is also increasing misunderstandings of religious traditions. Religious ideas are regularly debated in the media and featured in popular culture and religious beliefs play a significant role in conflict, peace building, and international development. With countries and communities becoming more diverse and complex, the need for cross-cultural religious literacy and inter-disciplinary expertise in religion is becoming more urgent.
The Religious Studies Major is a multi-disciplinary major that looks at religion and religions from diverse viewpoints and methodologies. The major includes units from the disciplines of anthropology, philosophy, sociology, literary and cultural studies and others. It also offers the possibility of focusing on particular religious traditions.
Career outcomes
Religious literacy and understandings of different cultural and religious perspectives is an indispensable skill in our global society as is the ability to analysis multiple perspectives. Career opportunities exist for Religious Studies students in the education sector, publishing, government agencies, cultural institutions, multicultural associations, media organisations, the public service and the marketing and tourism industries.
Units
- To complete a Major sequence in Religious Studies select eight (8) credit points as outlined below;
- To complete a Minor sequence in Religious Studies select the following required units ASR100, ASR200 ASR300 and one further ASR coded level 2 elective
Complete the following unit from level 1:
ASR100 | World Religions |
Complete a further unit from level 1, selected from:
ASP129 | Love, Sex and Death |
ASS101 | Peoples of the World |
Complete the following unit from level 2:
ASR200 | Religion, Spirituality and Popular Culture |
Complete a minimum of 3 further units from level 2:
ASC211 | Religion and Social Change |
ASP263 | Buddhist Studies in India |
ASR205 | Mindfulness, Meditation, and Buddhism |
ASR206 | Gender and Sexuality in Islam |
ASR207 | Transforming Buddhism |
ASR208 | Contemporary Islam: Religion, Culture & Politics |
ASS233 | Myth and Ritual |
Complete the following unit from level 3:
ASR300 | Religion, Rights and Governance |
Complete one of the following two units from level 3:
ASR310 | Mysticism and Religious Experience |
ASP327 | Philosophies of Religion: Western, Asian, and Contemporary Inquiries |
Minor study - students must complete core units ASR100, ASR200 ASR300 and one ASR coded level 2 elective