Religious Studies
About Our Program
Religion is everywhere and everything. That’s how a lot of people in the world think of it. Our religious studies program will empower you to better understand the diversity of religious worlds and diversity within religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Shinto, and religion in the United States. Your courses will focus on the key role religion plays in history, politics, culture, and in diverse areas of life, and you will spend time investigating the intricacies of religious systems, practices, and expression, as well as their impact felt around the world and on modern events.
Learning Experiences to Prepare for Your Career
Religious studies students leave St. Lawrence understanding that there is incredible diversity in the ways people exist in the world. They bring that global perspective to their coursework and hands-on experiences where they become sharper thinkers and stronger writers.Contemporary Courses
Each year, our religious studies professors develop course offerings you might not expect and won’t find anywhere else.
- Women, Religion and Food
- Religion and Race
- Sacred Cinema
- Religion and Ecology
- Fantasy Religion
- Religion and Violence
- Love and War in Hindu Myth: Mahabharata
- Religion in Conspiracy Theory
Senior Year Experience
Spend an entire semester exploring a theme or topic of your choice with a religious studies professor. While this independent research project is optional, many students take advantage of the opportunity. Recent research conducted by religious studies students include:
- The Southern Baptist Convention and the Black Lives Matter Movement
- Religion in Prisons
- Religion Among Refugees
- Religion and Slavery
- Sports as American Religion
- Religion and Marriage Equality
- Antisemitism and the Fall of Empires
- Old Norse Mythology and Gender
- Old Norse Mythology and Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
Dr. Daniel O'Connor Expendable Fund for Religious Studies
This fund supports religious studies majors who are eager to embark on hands-on- projects and experiences like research, travel for research, or conference attendance.
Why St. Lawrence for Religious Studies
Religions in the world
Our religious studies program empowers you to open your mind
Religious studies graduates recently attended:
- Swedish Institute: A College of Health Sciences
- Boston University
- College of William and Mary
- New York University
- Northeastern Seminary
- Syracuse University
- American University
Unlimited Access
As a St. Lawrence student, you’ll amplify your education with free access to reputable news sources like:
- The New York Times
- The Wall Street Journal
- Washington Post
- Access World News
Study More Than One Discipline
St. Lawrence students often double major, add a minor or two, or even create their own interdisciplinary program
Study Off Campus
Nearly two-thirds of students take advantage of our study abroad and domestic study opportunities
Recent religious studies graduates pursued careers in:
- Education
- Ministry
- Law
- Government
- Human Services
- Healthcare
More Program Information
Program Requirements & Courses
Explore religious studies major and minor requirements, as well as related offerings from departments across campus.
Complementary and Related Programs
If you’re interested in religious studies, you might also like these programs.
Religious Studies Faculty
Learn from professors who are pursuing research on topics such as South Asian religions, how religious and racialized discourses overlap and shape and inform logics of exclusion and violence, and analyzing the relationship between religious discourse, weight stigma, and identity.
“Our classes help students see how much bigger the world is than they realize and how to engage with that in a way that’s both humane and critical.”
Dr. Kathleen M. Self
Dr. Damon T. Berry
Dr. Mark MacWilliams
Kristen Whittier '94, P'23
“Our classes help students see how much bigger the world is than they realize and how to engage with that in a way that’s both humane and critical.”
Dr. Kathleen M. Self
Dr. Damon T. Berry
Dr. Mark MacWilliams
Kristen Whittier '94, P'23
“Our classes help students see how much bigger the world is than they realize and how to engage with that in a way that’s both humane and critical.”
Dr. Kathleen M. Self
Dr. Damon T. Berry
Dr. Mark MacWilliams
Kristen Whittier '94, P'23
Japanese Zen Garden
Our Japanese Zen garden has an Adirondack twist and is a place for quiet reflection as well as a living classroom. It connects the two academic sides of campus--the southern side which hosts most of the sciences, and the northern side which is home to the humanities and the arts.
Featured Events
Aeolian Trio Brings the Sound of Salvation: Zen Music & Japanese Bamboo Flute Performance
The Religious Studies Department is co-hosting, The Sound of Salvation: Japanese Bamboo Flute and Zen Music, a concert presented in partnership with The Unitarian Universalist Church in Canton.
"The Silk Road, Jazz and Modern Sounds from Spain to Japan: How Ancient Trade Routes Continue to Connect Asia and the West"
Experience an unforgettable journey through global music with the Aeolian Trio on Thursday April 17, 2025 at the Northcountry Zen Garden. "The Silk Road, Jazz and Modern Sounds from Spain to Japan," brings together the extraordinary talents of shakuhachi master and California native Bruce Huebner, New York-based Japanese guitarist Shu Odamura, and percussion virtuoso Todd Isler, whose expertise spans South Asian and Middle Eastern rhythms. Join us for a dynamic blend of traditional, jazz, and contemporary influences, showcasing the seamless connections between cultures and the universal language of music.
Aeolian Trio Brings the Sound of Salvation: Zen Music & Japanese Bamboo Flute Performance
The Religious Studies Department is co-hosting, The Sound of Salvation: Japanese Bamboo Flute and Zen Music, a concert presented in partnership with The Unitarian Universalist Church in Canton.
"The Silk Road, Jazz and Modern Sounds from Spain to Japan: How Ancient Trade Routes Continue to Connect Asia and the West"
Experience an unforgettable journey through global music with the Aeolian Trio on Thursday April 17, 2025 at the Northcountry Zen Garden. "The Silk Road, Jazz and Modern Sounds from Spain to Japan," brings together the extraordinary talents of shakuhachi master and California native Bruce Huebner, New York-based Japanese guitarist Shu Odamura, and percussion virtuoso Todd Isler, whose expertise spans South Asian and Middle Eastern rhythms. Join us for a dynamic blend of traditional, jazz, and contemporary influences, showcasing the seamless connections between cultures and the universal language of music.
Aeolian Trio Brings the Sound of Salvation: Zen Music & Japanese Bamboo Flute Performance
The Religious Studies Department is co-hosting, The Sound of Salvation: Japanese Bamboo Flute and Zen Music, a concert presented in partnership with The Unitarian Universalist Church in Canton.
"The Silk Road, Jazz and Modern Sounds from Spain to Japan: How Ancient Trade Routes Continue to Connect Asia and the West"
Experience an unforgettable journey through global music with the Aeolian Trio on Thursday April 17, 2025 at the Northcountry Zen Garden. "The Silk Road, Jazz and Modern Sounds from Spain to Japan," brings together the extraordinary talents of shakuhachi master and California native Bruce Huebner, New York-based Japanese guitarist Shu Odamura, and percussion virtuoso Todd Isler, whose expertise spans South Asian and Middle Eastern rhythms. Join us for a dynamic blend of traditional, jazz, and contemporary influences, showcasing the seamless connections between cultures and the universal language of music.
Get More Information
We’re excited to learn more about you, tell you more about our interdisciplinary academic programs, show you around our beautiful campus, and help you navigate your college search.
Apply to St. Lawrence
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