Distinguished Major Program

The Distinguished Majors Program in Religious Studies affords qualified students the opportunity to do advanced research, and to receive, at graduation, the honor of "Honors", "High Honors" or "Highest Honors". The level of distinction will be determined by the Program Director in conjunction with the Undergraduate Committee

Entry into the program

1. Students qualify for the program if they have achieved an average of 3.40 in all course work prior to application for the program.
2. Students who declare as Religious Studies Majors in the spring of their second year will be eligible for entry into the program in the fall of their third year. Applicants cannot be considered earlier than the spring of their second year. Students must declare by the spring of their third year.
3. Fill out the application (.pdf, 11KB) and submit it to the Department by April 1st.
4. The applicant must obtain a Religious Studies faculty member's agreement to direct the reading and thesis research, as well as a second reader from the Department.
5. Admission into the program will be evaluated by the Committee on Undergraduate Studies.

Admission into the program will be considered by the Committee on Undergraduate Studies.

Requirements

1. Completion of normal major requirements of thirty credit hours (including the Majors Seminar, RELG 400);
2. At least six of these must be at the 5000 level, to be completed by the end of the first semester of the fourth year;
3. In addition to the 30 credits required for the major, three hours of directed reading with a faculty member in a specific field of study for the thesis are required in the first semester of the program (RELS 4998 DMP Thesis I), followed by a thesis course in the second semester for an additional three more credits (RELS 4999 DMP Thesis II).;
4. The thesis should be thirty to fifty pages in length. Final copies must be submitted both to the Interim Director of the Distinguished Majors Program and to the directing professor no later than May 1st for Spring graduation, and for August graduation, and December 1st for December graduation. A final copy must also be submitted to the department archives.