Religion and Cultural Studies is a B.A. program designed to familiarize students with religious traditions around the world, from ancient through contemporary cultures, as well as to introduce students to critical theories and methods through which to view and analyze the category of religion and its associated concepts, practices, and meanings in all areas of life. The program emphasizes the academic study of religion and does not privilege any particular tradition or belief. It provides students with a well-rounded understanding of major religious traditions and practices while also offering specialization in particular religions, regions, and/or theoretical approaches to the study of religion in historical, global, cultural, and comparative contexts. Students who study religion gain skills in reading analytically, thinking critically, and writing fluently.
Religion and Cultural Studies (B.A.) may be completed fully online, although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.
Admission Requirements
Degree Requirements
- Students who change degree programs and select this major must adopt the most current catalog.
- Co-op or internship credit cannot be used in this major without prior approval by the chair.
- Students must earn at least a "C" (2.0) in each required course.
- Students should consult with a CAHSA Coach.
- Departmental Residency Requirement consists of at least 18 semester hours of regularly scheduled 3000-4000 level courses taken from the UCF Philosophy Department.
- Courses designated in General Education Program and Common Program Prerequisites are usually completed in the first 60 hours.
- No more than 3 courses (i.e. 9 credit hours) of 3000 or 4000 level courses applied to the B.A. in Religion and Cultural Studies may be simultaneously applied to fulfill another major.
Online Religion and Cultural Studies
Degree Requirements
Core Requirements: Basic Level
3 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- REL2000 - Introduction to Religion and Cultural Studies (3)
- REL 2300 - World Religions (3)
- Students must complete 1 of the following: PHI 2010 - Introduction to Philosophy (3) HUM 2020 - Encountering the Humanities (3) HUM 2210 - Studies in Culture: Ancient to 17th Century (3) HUM 2230 - Studies in Culture: 17th Century to Present (3)
- GEP Courses: REL 2300, PHI 2010, HUM 2020, HUM 2210, and HUM 2230.
Core Requirements: Advanced Level
24 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
Traditions- Complete all of the following
- Only one course may be outside the Philosophy Department.
Group 1- Complete all of the following
- Complete at least 1 of the following:
- REL3403 - Christianity (3)
- REL3363 - Islam (3)
- REL3320 - Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (3)
- REL3432 - Mysticism (3)
- One upper-level JST course may be selected to satisfy Group 1
Group 2- Complete at least 1 of the following:
- REL3340 - Buddhism (3)
- REL3333 - Hinduism (3)
- REL3123 - Asian Religions in America (3)
- PHH3701 - Native American Philosophy (3)
Group 3- Complete at least 1 of the following:
- REL3363 - Islam (3)
- REL3320 - Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (3)
- REL3333 - Hinduism (3)
- REL3340 - Buddhism (3)
- REL3432 - Mysticism (3)
- REL3123 - Asian Religions in America (3)
- PHH3701 - Native American Philosophy (3)
- REL3403 - Christianity (3)
Theories and Methods- Complete all of the following
Religion- Complete at least 1 of the following:
- REL4157 - Religion and Psychoanalysis (3)
- PHI3700 - Philosophy of Religion (3)
- PHI3720 - Faith and Reason (3)
- REL4496 - Key Concepts in Religion and Cultural Studies (3)
- REL3181 - Religion and Applied Ethics (3)
- PHI3750 - The Problem of Evil (3)
- PHH3200 - Medieval Philosophy (3)
- PHH3510 - Marx and Nietzsche (3)
- REL3195 - Sex and the Sacred (3)
Cultural Studies- Complete at least 1 of the following:
- HUM3805 - Critical Theory in the Humanities (3)
- HUM3326 - Theories of Sex and Gender in Humanities (3)
- HUM4823 - Queer Theory in the Humanities (3)
- HUM4826 - Postcolonial Theory (3)
- REL3045 - Interfaith Dialogue (3)
- REL3199 - Material Religion (3)
- HUM3482 - Native American Humanities (3)
- REL4936 - Key Figures in Religion and Cultural Studies (3)
- HUM4392 - Form and Fashion (3)
Theories & Methods/ Religion or Cultural Studies- Earn at least 3 credits from the following types of courses: Complete one other Theories & Methods course from either category not used above.
Religion in Culture- Complete at least 2 of the following:
- REL3101 - Religion in Popular Culture (3)
- REL3111 - Religion and Philosophy Through Film (3)
- REL3115 - Religion, Spirituality, and Popular Music (3)
- REL3130 - Religion in America (3)
- REL4110 - Religion and the Arts (3)
- REL4180 - Religion and Medicine (3)
- REL4178 - Religion and Law (3)
- PHI3033 - Philosophy, Religion, and the Environment (3)
- REL3076 - Cults, Minority Religions, and New Religious Movements (3)
Restricted Electives
6 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: Any course from Traditions, Theories and Methods, or Religion in Culture not being used to satisfy those categories can be used here.
- Note: Related courses may be substituted with consent of Religion and Cultural Studies coordinator.
- A list of approved restricted elective courses is found in the myKnight audit.
Capstone Requirements
3 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- REL4910 - Senior Research Seminar (3)
Grand Total Credits: 36
Total Undergraduate Credit Hours Required: 120
Restricted Electives
Capstone Requirements
Electives
- Select primarily from upper-level courses in Religion and Cultural Studies catalogue after meeting with a CAHSA Coach. Other courses from the Philosophy department may be used in this category with approval of Religion and Cultural Studies coordinator.
Foreign Language Requirements
Admissions
- Met by graduation requirement.
Graduation
- Proficiency equivalent to one year of college instruction in a foreign language taught by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures or the Department of History (Hebrew). Standardized examinations for foreign languages may be used to meet the requirement. Majors who are contemplating graduate school should complete two years of a foreign language, preferably one functional in their area of proposed graduate interest.
Additional Requirements
- Signature Experience requirement is met by successful completion of the following course(s): REL 4910 - Senior Research Seminar Credit Hours: 3
Required Minors or Areas of Concentration
Departmental Exit Requirements
- Earn a "C" (2.0) or better in each required course.
- To avoid delaying graduation, you must request a review of requirements prior to registering for your last term.
University Minimum Exit Requirements
- A 2.0 UCF GPA
- 42 semester hours of upper division credit completed.
- 60 semester hours earned after CLEP awarded.
- 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at UCF.
- A maximum of 45 hours of extension, correspondence, CLEP, Credit by Exam, and Armed Forces credits permitted.
- Complete the General Education Program, the Gordon Rule, and nine hours of Summer credit.
Additional Information
Honors In Major
- Students considering graduate school in Religion and Cultural Studies are strongly encouraged to take Honors in the Major.
Requirements are as follows:
- Core, Elective Requirements, and Senior Seminar (36 Credit Hours). Same requirement as for regular majors
Honors Thesis (6 Credit Hours)
- REL 4903H - Honors Directed Readings I Credit Hours: 3
- REL 4970H - Undergraduate Honors Thesis Credit Hours: 3
Additional Information
- Application and admission through the Humanities Honors Coordinator and the Burnett Honors College.
- Fulfill University requirements for Honors in the Major.
- Maintain a UCF GPA of at least 3.2 and a Religion and Cultural Studies GPA of at least 3.5.
- Successful completion and oral defense of Honors Thesis.
- Earn a "B" (3.0) or better in both of the following: REL 4903H - Honors Directed Readings I Credit Hours: 3 and REL 4970H - Undergraduate Honors Thesis Credit Hours: 3
Related Programs
- Philosophy (B.A.)
- Humanities and Cultural Studies (B.A.)
Related Certificates
- Interfaith Dialogue Certificate
Related Minors
- Philosophy Minor
- Humanities and Cultural Studies Minor
Advising Notes
Transfer Notes
- Lower division courses do not substitute for upper division courses.
- Courses transferred from private and out-of-state schools must be evaluated for equivalency credit. The student must provide all supporting information.
Acceptable Substitutes for Transfer Courses
Plan of Study
Freshman Year - Fall (16 Credit Hours)
- ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3
- REL 2300 - World Religions Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- Foreign Language Elementary I Credit Hours: 4
Freshman Year - Spring (16 Credit Hours)
- ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3
- PHI 2010 or HUM 2020 Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- Foreign Language Elementary II Credit Hours: 4
Sophomore Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)
- REL 2000 - Introduction to Religion and Cultural Studies Credit Hours: 3
- PHI 2010, HUM 2020, HUM 2210, or HUM 2230 Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- Elective Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Spring (15 Credit Hours)
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- Group 1 Traditions Credit Hours: 3
- Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Elective Credit Hours: 3
Junior Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)
- Group 2 Traditions Credit Hours: 3
- Theories & Methods: Religion Credit Hours: 3
- Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Elective Credit Hours: 3
Junior Year - Spring (15 Credit Hours)
- Group 3 Traditions Credit Hours: 3
- Theories & Methods: Cultural Studies Credit Hours: 3
- Religion & Cultural Studies Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Elective Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)
- Additional Theories & Methods Credit Hours: 3
- Religion in Culture Credit Hours: 3
- Religion & Cultural Studies Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Upper-Level Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Upper-Level Elective Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year - Spring (13 Credit Hours)
- REL 4910 - Senior Research Seminar Credit Hours: 3
- Religion in Culture Credit Hours: 3
- Upper-Level Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Elective Credit Hours: 4
