Religious Studies
Offered at IU Indianapolis by School of Liberal Arts.
About
“Religion is a window onto human history and culture. By studying religion, we come to understand everything from societal gender roles to politics, to the ethics of healthcare, and the music of Bruce Springsteen and Beyonce.”
As a Religious Studies student, you will have the opportunity to examine the depths and nuances of many beliefs, rituals, and practices. Studying religions is a way to learn about people and society. Through our courses, you will explore how religious communities worship, shape moral norms and gender roles, wage war and make peace, and influence what people eat, how they dress, and how they live and die. Studying religions is also personally meaningful as you, your peers, and faculty members reflect together on big ethical and philosophical questions.
Take a course on the history and diversity of Christianity; on Islam in America; or on yoga in the religious, cultural, and economic marketplace. Explore how religions foment revolution or support political regimes. Or delve into the interplay of religion and culture in defining family structures, making sense of death, and shaping ethical norms around healthcare.
Religious Studies students have gone into careers in a variety of fields that require critical thinking and problem-solving, excellent writing and communication skills, and an ability to work with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Students combine their professional skills in natural science, pre-medicine, public health, nursing, social work, public affairs, philanthropic studies, secondary education, business, and technology with excellent writing and communication skills, the flexibility to conceptualize complex social and moral problems, and the cross-cultural understanding needed to build respectful relationships and teamwork.