Religious Studies

The major in Religious Studies is a cooperative program offered jointly by Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, Pomona, and Scripps Colleges. The program of study is designed to serve both as one focus of a liberal arts education and as a pre-professional foundation for students planning to pursue the study of religion beyond the baccalaureate degree. Students in the major may enroll in Religious Studies courses offered at any of the undergraduate colleges, and advanced students may, with permission, enroll in master's-level courses in their area of specialization at Claremont Graduate University.

While offering a broadly based and inclusive program in the study of religion for all liberal arts students, the Religious Studies major affords the opportunity for more specialized work at the intermediate and advanced levels in particular religious traditions, geographical areas, philosophical and critical approaches, and thematic and comparative studies.

The Department of Religious Studies recognizes the importance and legitimacy of personal involvement in the study of religion, but it does not represent or advocate any particular religion as normative. Rather, our aim is to make possible an informed knowledge and awareness of the fundamental importance of the religious dimension in all human societies globally and historically. In addition to preparing students for graduate study in religion or the ministry, the multidisciplinary nature of the major affords students intellectual training to enter a variety of fields and careers. Recent graduates are, for example, in schools of law, medicine, and business administration. Others have careers in management, journalism and the media, college administration, primary and secondary education, government, and health and social services.

Pitzer Advisors : Joseph Parker, Phil Zuckerman

Intercollegiate Department of Religious Studies