College: Arts and Sciences
Degree: BA
Specialized Admission: No
Address: M01 Dodd Hall Tallahassee, FL 32306-1520
Phone: (850) 644-1020
Email: srtucker@fsu.edu
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
The Florida State University Department of Religion is one of the largest university departments of religion in the U.S. Southeast and has the most extensive graduate program in religious studies in Florida. It is committed to the scholarly investigation of religious phenomena and traditions within the context of a pluralistic culture. The Religion curriculum is divided into four areas of study: American Religious History, History and Ethnography of Religions, Religions of Western Antiquity, and Religion, Ethics, and Philosophy. The department offers a program of honors-in-the-major work in the junior and/or senior years for religion majors. There is a joint major option available in Religion and Classics, and the department participates in FSU’s interdepartmental programs in African American Studies, American Studies, Asian Studies, Humanities, International Affairs, Middle Eastern Studies, and Women’s Studies.
Prospective transfer students should contact as-admissions@fsu.edu (Arts & Sciences Admissions) with specific questions about admission and mapping requirements.
Prerequisite Coursework: None
However, students are encouraged to complete several courses with the REL prefix during their freshman/sophomore years.
Note: State-wide common prerequisites are always under review. For the most current information and for acceptable alternative courses, visit the “Common Prerequisites Manual.” This is available from the “Student Services” section of http://www.flvc.org .
Requirements for Graduation in the College of Arts and Sciences Include:
The College of Arts and Science requires proficiency in a foreign language through the intermediate (2220 or equivalent) level or sign language through the advanced (2614 or equivalent) level.
Requirements for Progression to the Upper-Division Major
To be admitted, students must complete at least 52 hours of credit with an adjusted GPA of 2.00 on FSU coursework, and at least half the required hours in General Education, including freshman English composition and mathematics, or an AA degree.
Major Programs of Studies at FSU
Religion Major: (30 hours)
The major in Religion requires a minimum of 30 hours of religion courses. For purposes of the major, religion courses are divided into the following three distribution areas: Western, Asian or African, and Issues and Approaches. Majors must take at least one course in each of these areas. In addition, at least four courses must be at the 3000/4000 level. Finally, majors must take REL 4044 (“What Is Religion? What Is Religious Studies?”), in addition to one course in a seminar-style format. Courses in which the student receives a grade below C minus will not count toward the major. Majors must also complete a minor in another department.
Religion and Classics Joint Major: (45 hours)
A student interested in studying both Religion and Classics may pursue the Religion and Classics joint major. Minimums of 27 hours in Religion and 18 hours in Classics are required. A minor is not required. For specific requirements, see the academic program guide and academic map for this major at www.academic-guide.fsu.edu. For more information, contact Prof. David Levenson (314 Dodd Hall; dlevenson@fsu.edu; 850-212-5099).
Minor Coursework: Required for Religion but not Religion and Classics.
12 hours from one minor department, 15 hours for an interdisciplinary minor, or requirements as stated by the minor area.
Digital Literacy:
CGS 2060 (3), CGS 2100 (3), or other University approved course.
Oral Communication Competency: (0 beyond major requirement)
REL 4044 What Is Religion? What Is Religious Studies? fulfills this requirement for the major at FSU.
Minimum Program Requirements - Summary
Total Hrs. Required 120
General Education 36*
Major Coursework 30 (Religion) or 45 (Religion and Classics)
Minor Coursework 12 (Religion), 0 (Religion and Classics)
Foreign Language 0-12 (depending on placement)
Digital Literacy 3
Oral Competency 0
Electives to bring total hours to 120
*NOTE: 3 hours (one course) of major coursework may also be used to partially satisfy General Education (Humanities) requirements.
Mapping is FSU’s academic advising and monitoring system. Academic progress is monitored each Fall and Spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion. Transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be accepted into their majors. You may view the map for this major at www.academic-guide.fsu.edu/.
1. A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
2. Half of the major course semester hours must be completed in residence at this University.
3. The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.
Salary Information: For more information go to: National Association of Colleges and Employers (www.naceweb.org) or the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm) provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Representative Job Titles Related to this Major: Academic, Administrator of a Religious Institution (Church, Hospital, Institute, Mosque, School, Seminary, Synagogue, Temple, etc.), Anthropologist, Bioethicist, Business Person, Campus Minister, Classicist, Comparative Literature Scholar, Editor, Ethicist, Government Administrator (Local, State, Federal), Graduate Student, Historian, Historic Preservationist, Hospital Administrator, International Organization Administrator, Journalist, Lawyer, Linguist, Literary/Cultural Organization Administrator, Museum Administrator, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Administrator, Non-Profit Organization Administrator, Nurse, Pastor/Religious (Bishop, Brother, Chaplain, Imam, Minister, Nun, Pastor, Priest, Rabbi, etc.), Philosopher, Physician, Physical Therapist, Professor, Public School Administrator, Publisher, Religion Scholar, Researcher, Sales Person, Seminarian, Social Worker, Teacher, Theologian, Translator/Interpreter, University Administrator.
Representative Employers: Colleges, Development Agencies, Cultural Organizations, Government, Hospitals, International Organizations, Museums, Newspapers, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Non-Profit Organizations, Private Businesses and Industry, Public Schools, Publishers, Religious Organizations (Churches, Mosques, Synagogues, Temples, etc.), Religious Institutions (Hospitals, Institutes, Schools, etc.), Schools, Research Institutes, Seminaries, Universities.
ACADEMIC MAP (Effective Summer 2025 and after)
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
This map is a term-by-term sample course schedule. The milestones listed to the right of each term are designed to keep you on course to graduate in four years. The Sample Schedule serves as a general guideline to help you build a full schedule each term. The General Education and Elective courses must be selected to satisfy all area and diversity requirements unless your program meets these requirements with major courses. Milestones are courses and special requirements necessary for timely progress to complete a major. Missing milestones will result in one of two types of map registration stops. The first level (Degree Map Off-Track) is placed following grade posting if the student has missed a milestone (course and/or GPA) for the first time in the major. If a student is in non-compliance with milestones for two (2) consecutive semesters (excluding summers), a Major Change Required stop is placed on the student's registration.
To complete a major in Religion, a student will need 30 hours of coursework with grades of C minus or better. Religion courses are divided into the following three distribution areas: Western, Asian or African, and Issues & Approaches. Majors must complete one course from each area. The department’s undergraduate advisors can counsel majors on which courses fall into these areas if questions arise. In addition, at least six courses must be at the 3/4000 level.
Finally, majors must take REL4044 ("What Is Religion? What Is Religious Studies?"), as well as one course in a seminar-style format.
Mapping Coordinator: Shellie Camp
Email: scamp@fsu.edu
Sample Schedule and Required Milestones by Term
| Sample Schedule: Term 1 hrs |
| ENC1101 Freshman Composition3 |
| 1st GE Mathematics3 |
| GE History3 |
| GE Natural Science3 |
| Digital Literacy: CGS2060 or 2100 3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 1 |
| Complete ENC1101 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 2 hrs |
| ENC2135 Research, Genre, and Context 3 |
| 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics3 |
| GE Core Social Science3 |
| GE Core Natural Science w/ Lab4 |
| Elective 3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 2 |
| Complete ENC2135 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete 1st GE Mathematics ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 3 hrs |
| Foreign Language (semester 1)4 |
| GE Core Humanities/Cultural Practice3 |
| GE Social Science3 |
| REL course3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 3 |
| Complete 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 4 hrs |
| Foreign Language (semester 2)4 |
| GE Humanities/Cultural Practice 3 |
| GE Ethics3 |
| Elective3 |
| Elective 3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 4 |
| (no milestones) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 5 hrs |
| Foreign Language course (semester 3)4 |
| Major Course at 3000/4000 Level3 |
| Major Course in Distribution Area3 |
| Minor3 |
| Elective 3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 5 |
| Complete one REL course at 3000 or higher ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Civic Literacy Requirement |
| Sample Schedule: Term 6 hrs |
| Major Course in Distribution Area3 |
| Major Course in Distribution Area3 |
| Major Course3 |
| Minor3 |
| Elective 3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 6 |
| Complete REL distribution requirement ( ≥ C minus in each ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 7 hrs |
| REL4044 What Is Religion? What Is Religious Studies?* 3 |
| Major Course at 3000/4000 Level3 |
| Major Course3 |
| Minor3 |
| Elective3 |
| *REL 4044 fulfills the Oral Communication Competency Requirement for this major at FSU. |
| Required Milestones: Term 7 |
| Complete REL4044 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete Pre-Graduation Checks |
| Sample Schedule: Term 8 hrs |
| Religion Seminar3 |
| Major Course3 |
| Major Course3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 8 |
| Apply for Graduation in 1st two weeks |