Religious Studies, Major

Religious Studies, Major, B.A.

The following is a sample degree plan, based on the current catalog. It is based on the 120-credit graduation requirement and assumes no transferred credits, no requirements waived by placement tests, no courses taken in the summer or winter, no repeated courses, and no remedial courses that may be required. This sample degree plan is intended for first-year students entering UW-Eau Claire in the fall semester. Your own degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). UW-Eau Claire cannot guarantee all courses will be offered as shown, but will provide a range of courses that may enable prepared students to fulfill their requirements in a timely period. This sample degree plan is just a guide. Please consult your advisor, your degree audit, and the catalog to create your own degree plan. Note: In order to earn the required minimum of 120 credits for the degree in four years, you should plan to take 15 credits each semester or 30 credits each year.

To earn a degree, students must fulfill all University Graduation Requirements, including the Liberal Education (LE) Core.  LE Core course work in the following sample degree plan uses abbreviations such as LE-K1, LE-S2, LE-R3, and LE-I1 to represent the learning outcomes students will meet via completion of their liberal education course work.  Please click here for a description of the Liberal Education Core outcomes and requirements. Note that the LE Core may be completed through both course and non-course experiences.

Students in this major have the option to pursue either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree.  The degrees are distinguished by foreign language competency for the B.A. and a higher level of mathematics competency for the B.S.

SOME TIME IN THE FIRST YEAR
Introductory RELS course - RELS 100 (LE-DDIV, LE-K3, LE-R1) or RELS 210 (LE-R1) 3
WRIT 114Intensive Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (LE-S1)5
or WRIT 116 Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing
LE Option: Knowledge 2 (K2) Social Sciences3
LE Option: Skills 2 (S2) Mathematics4
Introductory RELS course - RELS 110 (LE-K3, LE-R2)3
Foreign Language - 101 level4
LE Option: Knowledge 1 (K1L) Natural Sciences with Lab4
LE Option: Knowledge 2 (K2) Social Sciences3
TOTAL29
SOME TIME IN THE SECOND YEAR
RELS Area Requirement: Monotheistic Religions - RELS 303 or RELS 3044
RELS Elective3
Foreign Language 102-level (LE-S1)
LE Option: Integration (I1) (e.g., RELS 315)3
Minor or Certificate 3
RELS Area Requirement: Asian Religions - RELS 312 or RELS 314 or RELS 323 or RELS 326 or PHIL 234 3
Minor or Certificate 3
LE Option: Responsibility 3 (R3) Civic and Environmental Issues3
LE Option: Knowledge 1 (K1) Natural Sciences3
Minor or Certificate 3
TOTAL31
SOME TIME IN THE THIRD YEAR
RELS Area Requirement: Asian Religions RELS 312 or RELS 314 or RELS 323 or RELS 326 or PHIL 234 3
RELS Elective 3
LE Option: Integration (I1)3
Minor or Certificate 3
Minor or Certificate 3
RELS Area Requirement: Monotheistic Religions - RELS 307 or RELS 3093
RELS Elective 3
Minor or Certificate 3
Minor or Certificate 3
LE Option: Knowledge 4 (K4) Fine Arts3
TOTAL30
SOME TIME IN THE FOURTH YEAR
RELS Elective 3
RELS Elective 3
LE Option: Responsibility 1 (R1) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity3
Minor or Certificate 3
Elective3
RELS 490Seminar in Religious Studies (LE-S3) c3
Elective3
Elective3
Minor or Certiificate3
Elective3
TOTAL30
Minimum total for the baccalaureate degree = 120 credits

Note 1:  RELS 100 and RELS 110 are disallowed for credit toward the major after the student has completed 9 credits in Religious Studies. 

Note 2:  A maximum of three credits from any combination of RELS 395, RELS 399, RELS 498, and RELS 499 may be counted toward the major. 

Note 3:  All students must complete the 30-hour Service-Learning Requirement via a non-credit or credit option (see Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).

Course Information
RELS 100 counts for LE-DDIV, R1, K3
RELS 110 counts of LE-K3, R2
RELS 203/WGSS 203 counts for LE-DDIV, R1, K3 
RELS 210 counts for LE-R1 
RELS 303 counts for LE-K3, R2 
RELS 304 counts for LE-R2 
RELS 307 counts for LE-K3 
RELS 309 counts for LE-K3 
RELS 312 counts for LE-K3, R2 
RELS 323 counts for LE-K3 
RELS 334 counts for LE-K3 
RELS 342 counts for LE-DDIV, R1, K3 
RELS 348 counts for LE-K3 
RELS 390 counts for LE-K3 
RELS 490 counts for LE-S3 

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HIGH IMPACT PRACTICES (HIPs) 
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire encourages all students to participate in High Impact Practices.  The following information identifies any specific recommendations that faculty in this major have concerning which HIPs might be most beneficial to students, and any recommendations about when those HIPs best fit into the degree plan. Students should also consult their faculty advisor for information on HIPs. There are many additional high impact opportunities available. Talk to your academic advisor for more information about incorporating HIPs like Study Abroad, Intercultural Immersion, Internship, and/or Student/Faculty Collaborative Research into your time at UW-Eau Claire.


Liberal Education (LE) Core Guidance

Liberal Education Core (LE Core) 

The LE Core comprises 17 learning experiences across 11 learning outcomes. Students must complete a minimum of 36 credits in courses approved for the LE Core. 

  • K1 – Natural Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2). 

  • K2 – Social Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2). 

  • K3 – Humanities; two experiences. 

  • K4 – Fine Arts; one experience. 

  • S1 – Written and Oral Communication; two experiences (one experience must satisfy the University writing requirement). 

  • S2 – Mathematics; one experience (must satisfy the University math competency requirement). 

  • S3 – Creativity; one experience (can be fulfilled in a student’s major). 

  • R1 – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity; two experiences (one experience must meet the UW System Design for Diversity (DD) requirement). 

  • R2 – Global Perspectives; one experience. 

  • R3 – Civic and Environmental Issues; one experience. 

  • I1 – Integration; two experiences (one experience can be fulfilled in a student’s major). 

  • SL—Service Learning; 30 hours 

Additional LE Core Information 

  • Most LE Core learning experiences are course based, and many courses meet more than one learning outcome (e.g., K3 and R2 or K1 and R3). 

  • Some learning experiences can also be met outside of a traditional course (e.g., undergraduate research (S3), study abroad (I1)). 

  • S1 – An English placement score that fulfills the University writing requirement fulfills one S1 experience. 

  • S1 – A foreign Language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 102 level satisfies one S1 experience. 

  • S1, R2 – A foreign language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 202 level satisfies one experience in S1 and the R2 experience. 

  • S2 – A math placement score that qualifies the student to enter Math 111, 112, 113 or 114 fulfills the S2 experience. 

  • S3 – Completion of two credits from any approved music ensemble fulfills the S3 experience. 

  • I1 – Any semester long study abroad program can fulfill one I1 experience.