Program at a glance
How much does it cost?
Learn more about how to afford a degree from the University of Nevada, Reno.
How long does it take?
This minor is designed to be completed with any major in four years.
What will I learn in a religious studies minor?
The interdisciplinary minor in religious studies includes coursework from the departments of anthropology, art, dance, world languages, history, philosophy and sociology. Your classes will draw on the different perspectives offered in these fields to explore fundamental questions concerning the nature of religion and its continuing relevance to contemporary life in a rapidly globalizing world.
In the minor, you will:
- Learn about religions around the world
- Read religious texts, commentaries and analyses, and reflect on their meaning and importance
- Discuss the concept of religion, its origin and construction
- Think about religions as cultures with specific identities tied to language, region, bodily practices, texts and beliefs
- Consider how religions are shaped by interaction and exchange with other cultures, by technological change, by changing conceptions of gender, and by globalization
- Study contemporary religious movements and their relation to secularism, law, sovereignty and violence
- Look at religious art and artifact and consider how they reflect and produce religion
The Religious Studies minor is offered by the Department of Anthropology in the College of Liberal Arts. The department offers degree programs in Anthropology and also houses interdisciplinary minors in Religious Studies, Museum Studies and Historic Preservation.
Take the next step
Careers with a minor in religious studies
A degree in religious studies provides you with a number of skills that can be applied to diverse career paths as well as a specific appreciation for diverse religious traditions and awareness of the role religion plays in modern society.
The minor in religious studies can give you knowledge in specific religious traditions and artifacts, which may prepare you for a career in museums, libraries or other specialized institutions. During your minor in religious studies, you'll also gain experience with closely reading and analyzing a variety of texts as well as critically evaluating different arguments and perspectives. These communication and critical thinking skills transfer well into careers in non-profits, public policy or communications more generally.
Those skills also provide strong foundation for graduate school, where you might go on to study a professional subject like law or continue your studies in a related field such as philosophy, sociology, anthropology or public policy.
You can afford the University of Nevada, Reno
76% of students receive financial aid
Almost everyone is eligible to receive some kind of aid. We offer need-based and merit-based forms of financial aid to help you afford college.
54% of all students graduate with no debt
That's right. More than half of our students leave the University of Nevada, Reno with no student debt.
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