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About the Department

departmentsign2.pngThe Department of Religious Studies at Northwestern University is a diverse community of scholars, comprising outstanding professors, graduate students and undergraduate majors and minors, who study the history, texts and lived religious practices that have shaped our world. Home to 14 full-time faculty and numerous other visiting faculty and joint appointments, the department is known for its breadth, interdisciplinary emphasis, excellence in teaching and award winning faculty scholarship.

We offer courses in American religions, Buddhism Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Theology, as well as the Theory and Method of the study of religion. Our undergraduate major attracts many students who wish to explore various aspects of this exciting field and our small, well-funded graduate program appeals to graduate students seeking in-depth as well as interdisciplinary work in various areas of religious studies.

Our graduate program offers concentrations in American Religions, Buddhism, Contemporary Religions, Islam, Judaism, Medieval Christianity, Religion, Ethics and Public Life and Theology and Religious Reflection. Students interested in our undergraduate program can pursue a major or a minor or simply sample from a varied menu of introductory and advanced courses.

Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes and Assessments