Current Perspectives on Old Questions
Majors and minors credit the Department's focus on writing, small-group learning, faculty-student mentorship, and the communal atmosphere of our student cohort as leading to their post-collegiate success.
Areas of teaching and research focus in the Department include Biblical Studies, Bioethics, Theology & Ethics, and Liberation Theology, as well as diverse broader religious traditions including Catholicism, Lutheranism, Buddhism, and Judaism.
The Department of Religion at Â鶹ÊÓƵ focuses on interdisciplinary religious studies to help students contribute to a better world community. In our classes - and in undergraduate and faculty research - we seek to contextualize religious traditions and beliefs with their real-world implications. Students learn to not only understand the core content and beliefs of diverse religious traditions but also how they manifest in the world. Studying religions provides perspective on how they coexist in dialogue and tension with different worldviews and philosophical and ethical cultures.
As a Religion student, you will develop skills that will enrich and reward you for the rest of your life. Our classes strengthen students' abilities to interact and engage with people from diverse backgrounds, religious or otherwise. By studying the origins of beliefs and practicing interreligious dialogue, Religion majors, minors, and general education students greatly improve their interpersonal communication abilities, constructing a diverse set of social, analytical, and philosophical tools that can apply to any pursuit beyond the classroom.
Majors, Minors, and Related Programs
The vast majority of people worldwide identify with a religious or spiritual-philosophical tradition, and they have a momentous influence on every aspect of social, political, economic, and ethical life. A degree in religion from Â鶹ÊÓƵ gives you a broad framework and a deep background for understanding the moral and existential questions that connect (and cause conflict between) communities and nations. Through your courses, you will gain the essential tools for thoughtfully reflecting upon conflicts and commonalities in faith and practice around the world, while also exploring the history and development of your own belief and faith systems.
Our faculty are highly accomplished, presenting their work at national and international forums, and publishing on topics like sexuality and Christianity, Buddhist philosophy, children and theology, medieval Catholic thought, and prophecy in the Hebrew Bible and Dead Sea Scrolls.
The Religion Department also offers a minor in Interreligious Leadership in Civic and Professional Life, which allows students across disciplines to develop the knowledge and leadership skills needed to navigate religious diversity in professional and civic contexts.
Evolving to Meet the Needs of Students
The Religion Department offers a new minor, called Interreligious Leadership and Professional Life.
- Gives students the background and knowledge necessary to understand the religious diversity commonly found in the modern workplace.
- Guides students in developing the skills to become leaders in interreligious dialogue and intercultural communication in their future workplaces, whether as HR directors, managers, consultants, or individual project coordinators.
Opportunities in Religion
Grow Your Self, in Community with Others
Scholarship is practiced in a community, which is why the Religion Department encourages you to engage in learning and interfaith and academic dialogues outside the classroom. You may also get involved in different social and religious groups on campus, including the Theta Kappa Alpha honor society. Faculty also organize visits to cultural and religious sites and communities in the Twin Cities to connect with the diverse religious landscape in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. You are encouraged to take your religious studies abroad to explore your interests further, traveling anywhere you wish to go in the world.
Events — Regular campus and community events foster a greater appreciation for diverse religious and spiritual cultures
Undergraduate Research — Research opportunities throughout your program, along with a senior research project, deepen your knowledge, and develop critical thinking and analytical skills
Study Away — Gain fresh perspectives and deepen your skill set through a cultural immersion away from campus
Community-Engaged Learning — Several courses feature opportunities to connect with diverse religious communities and explore religious questions in real-world contexts
Student Organizations — Build your community and your leadership skills through events of the Chaplain's Office, one of the faith-based student organizations, or the Theta Kappa Alpha Honors Society
Careers and Graduate Studies — Faculty and staff support you all the way, helping you translate the skills and experiences gained to meet your career goals
Study Religion Under Top Scholars
When you become a student in the Religion Department at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, you're joining a curious and supportive community of learners. Being in Saint Peter, MN, you're just minutes away from Mankato and less than an hour from the Twin Cities, where you will meet with a diverse group of religious communities. Through small-group learning, faculty-student mentorship, and a communal atmosphere, you will grow intellectually, personally, and socially with skills you can use to make a positive impact in an ever-changing world. Religious studies grow perspectives, build appreciation, and facilitate stronger communities.
Contact Religion
Email:Ìýreligion [at] gustavus.edu (religion[at]gustavus[dot]edu)
Phone:Ìý(507) 933-7550
Old Main, 202A
800 West College Avenue
Saint Peter, MN 56082