2024-2025 Hope College Catalog
Religion
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The broad academic purpose of the study of religion at Hope College is to understand the Christian faith and the role of religion in global society.
About The Program
The Department of Religion is a department within the Humanities Division presenting an area of study and research which students may choose as the focus of their liberal arts education. The department concentrates on four academic fields: Biblical Studies, Historical Studies, Theological Studies and World Religions. Some take courses broadly in all four fields; other students focus on one field and develop a considerable expertise. Some students combine their religion major with a minor or a second major in another academic program in the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, or Natural Sciences. Whether students choose greater depth or greater breadth, they find the focus provided by a Religion Major to be an excellent way of centering their liberal arts education at Hope College.
Students majoring in religion participate in a wide variety of academic and service activities which include:
- Assisting professors with research programs
- Providing leadership to various student groups and campus offices
- Serving as Student Representatives in the Religion Department
- Directing youth groups in area churches
Hope Religion graduates have excelled in the following fields among others:
- Christian Ministry and Mission
- Non-profit Organizations
- Counseling and Social Work
- News Media and Social Media
- Medicine
- Secondary Education
- Library Science
- Law
- Politics and Government
- Higher Education: Biblical Studies, History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies
Graduates with Religion as second major or minor attract the attention of graduate schools and employers looking for critical thinking, breadth of perspective, and cultural sensitivity and competence.
Course options for religion majors and minors include lectures, seminars, individual research, and independent studies for advanced students.
Internships in Religion: advanced students may also apply to pursue an internship with a local church or organization; such credits are elective and in addition to required major credits and courses.
On occasion, religion major and minor courses are accepted for credit and advanced standing at seminaries, divinity schools, and other graduate programs. The religion program at Hope College has been endorsed and recommended by graduate theological seminaries for students preparing for church vocations.
A student with special interests and objectives may apply to the department for a “contracted religion major” which consists of 15 credits at the introductory 200-level and 15 credits of advanced work in religion appropriate to the academic and vocational interests of the student.
The 100-level Religion courses do not count toward any major.
ProgramsMajorsMinorsCoursesReligion: Basic StudiesReligion: IntroductoryReligion: Biblical StudiesReligion: HistoricalReligion: TheologicalReligion: WorldReligion: Seminar and Independent StudiesReligion: Hebrew
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