Religion Pathway
Studying Spirituality.
The Religion Pathway offers an interdisciplinary program of study for students interested in the study of religious beliefs, practices, and social phenomena.
Pathway Information
As Interdisciplinary Studies majors, students in this pathway learn theories and methods enabling them to address questions about religion and spirituality by integrating insights, methods, and techniques from multiple relevant disciplines, including Anthropology, History, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, and more.
If you have any questions, please contact the Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Andy Walter, (awalter@westga.edu).
IDS MAJORS
All IDS majors complete an XIDS course sequence through which they learn interdisciplinary concepts and method, culminating with a capstone project that reflects their intellectual and career interests:
FOCUS AREAS
Students select two focus areas, at least one of which must be either Religion in the Arts & Humanities or Religion in the Social Sciences.
Religion in the Arts and Humanities
Choose three courses (9 hours):
- ART 3230 Medieval Art of Christian Europe and the Near East
- HIST 4210 Pagans and Christians in Late Antiquity
- HIST 4231 The Reformation
- HIST 4285 Topics in European History (if focused on religion-related topic; seek advisor approval)
- HIST 4385 Topics in World History (if focused on religion-related topic; seek advisor approval)
- HIST 4485 Special Topics (if focused on religion-related topic; seek advisor approval)
- HIST 4478 American Religion to 1800
- HIST 4479 American Religion since 1800
- HIST 4385 History of Political Islam
- PHIL 3105 Medieval and Early Modern Philosophy
- PHIL 3205 Theories of Religion
- PHIL 3220 Christian Thought
- PHIL 3250 Islamic Thought
- PHIL 4230 Philosophy of Religion
Mentor: Dr. Rosemary Kellison
Religion in the Social Sciences
Choose three courses (9 hours):
- ANTH 3170 Religion in America: The Shakers
- ANTH 4170 Myth, Magic and Religion
- ANTH 4190 Modern Shamanism
- PSYC 4070 Psychology of Myth and Symbol
- PSYC 4130 (4 credits) Eastern and Transpersonal Psychologies
- PSYC 4670 Values, Meaning, and Spirituality
- PSYC 4085 (2-4 credits) Horizon Seminar (if focused on religion-related topic; seek advisor approval)
- SOCI 3543 Sociology of Religion
- SOCI 3804 Death, Dying, and Grief
- SOCI 4999 Religion and Global Social Problems
Mentor: Dr. Marjorie Snipes
Spirituality and Health
Required courses (6 hours):
- ANTH 4190 Modern Shamanism (new course)
- ANTH 4130 Medical Anthropology
Choose one courses (3 hours):
- ANTH 3180 Environment and Health
- ANTH 3188 (4 credits) Ethnographic Field Methods
- ANTH 4170 Myth, Magic, and Religion
- ANTH 4885 Special Topics (if focused on religion or health-related topic; seek advisor approval)
- PSYC 3580 Holistic Health Psychology
- PSYC 3800 (3-4 credits) Psychology of Mind and Body
- PSYC 4085 (2-4 credits) Horizon Seminar (if focused on religion or health-related topic; seek advisor approval)
- PSYC 4130 (4 credits) Eastern and Transpersonal Psychology
- PSYC 4290 Moral and Social Development
- SOCI 3804 Death, Dying, and Grief
Mentor: Dr. Marjorie Snipes
Religion and Social Justice
Choose one course (3 hours):
- ANTH 3170 Religion in America: The Shakers
- ANTH 4190 Modern Shamanism
- HIST 4479 American Religion since 1800
- HIST 4385 History of Political Islam
- PHIL 3220 Christian Thought
- PHIL 3250 Islamic Thought
- SOCI 4999 Religion and Global Social Problems
Choose two (minimum of 6 hours):
- ANTH 3180 Environment and Health
- ANTH 4146 Latinx in the U.S.
- CRIM 4265 Crime and Social Inequality
- HIST 4469 Civil Rights Movement
- HIST 4285/4385/4485 Special Topics (if focused on religion and social justice-related topic; seek advisor approval)
- PHIL 3115 Political Philosophy
- PHIL 4110 Philosophy of Law
- PHIL 4130 Feminist Philosophy
- POLS 4209 Environmental Policy
- POLS 4517 Global Human Rights
- SOCI 3134 Social Work/Social Welfare
- SOCI 4323 Sociology of Race
- XIDS (or other discipline) Research Project
- XIDS (or other discipline) Internship
Mentor: Dr. Dan Williams
Contact
Contact Us
Dr. Andy Walter
Director, Center of Interdisciplinary Studies
(678) 839-4070
awalter@westga.edu