Minors in Religious Studies
Oakland University offers minors in Islamic, Judaic, or Christian studies. Why should you consider a minor in any one of these areas? Religious thinking has greatly affected cultures and social formation around the globe. An understanding of religious thought and movements allows us to peer deeply into and more competently evaluate a society, major movements in history and complex moral and ethical problems. By enrolling in one of these minors you will be exposed to the rich cultural treasures that these faiths have traditionally offered and still offer today. You will learn about essential concepts that continue to drive religious expression and motivate their followers. You will learn to articulate essential human questions that affect us all.
Each of these minors will complement almost any other academic or vocational degree in which you are already enrolled. They will provide for you a rich basis in the humanities. Understanding religious thinking complements the ideas of science, the ethics of business, the task of holistic healing in medicine, the insights into psychology; above all, it makes you a better informed and well-rounded student of life. No matter what you are studying, you will gain greatly by enrolling in a minor in any of these religious traditions. Essential life questions, the meaning of existence, the awe of the natural order and the motivators of human culture are addressed in the courses offered. Your minor will complement and add meaning to your major: your studies prepare you for life’s great adventures. This acquired knowledge of faiths, beliefs and practices equip you to look at reality from a wider perspective while you work on your major academic specialty, enabling you to enter into the ongoing discussion about religious topics that inform the fundamental political, historical, ethical and cultural drivers of society.
Developed to complement current minors in Christianity and Judaic studies, the Oakland University Islamic studies program fosters a richer understanding of Islamic history, heritage and religious tradition. The minor also complements and enhances studies in other academic areas, such as business, law, history and political science. The program focuses on the understanding of the impact of Islam on politics, culture and society. For more information, contact Aly Lela ([email protected]), sub-director of Islamic Studies.
The Judaic studies program at Oakland University offers you the opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding of the multi-faceted, interesting and unique religion and culture of the Jewish people. We offer a wide variety of classes on Jewish beliefs and values; history; literature; film; archaeology; and Hebrew.
Whether you are taking courses for interest, to fulfill a general education requirement, or adopting the minor, our classes offer you the unique opportunity to broaden your perspective and increase your understanding of the world in which you live. Moreover, given our increasingly globalized world, understanding different cultures and world-views like Judaism is a great asset for success. Whether you are going into business, education, or health care, you will have to work with and provide service for people from many different backgrounds. The addition of a Judaic studies minor can enhance your resume and open doors for employment; adopting a minor in Judaic studies is a great compliment to many other majors including business and education. For more information, contact Michael Pytlik ([email protected]), sub-director of Judaic Studies.
The minor in Christianity Studies is designed to explore the history and thought of the Christian experience set in the context of world history and cultures. It is taught from a non-sectarian perspective and serves to provide a deeper understanding of many of the important values that underlie broader American and Western values. Taught in collaboration with minors in Judaic and Islamic studies, courses highlight similarities and shared vision with them, as well as the distinctive approach to broad concerns of the human spirit that Christianity offers. The minor provides the student with a solid background for a wide spectrum of professional endeavor in contemporary American life that must necessarily engage the realities of an increasingly diverse public. For more information, contact Randall Engle ([email protected]), sub-director of Christianity Studies.
Religious Studies / Center for Religious Understanding
Religious Studies / Center for Religious Understanding