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Contact Information
(541) 346-4971
(541) 346-4118 fax

http://www.uoregon.edu/~religion/

Undergraduate degrees: B.A., B.S.
Undergraduate minor

The UO’s Department of Religious Studies does not promote the viewpoint of any religious group. It focuses on the history and philosophy of eastern and western religions through an examination of origin, sacred texts, rituals, beliefs, and subgroups.

A deeper understanding of people and place

In today's increasingly globalized world, the importance of cultivating a deeper understanding of our international community is more critical than ever before. The Department of Religious Studies is committed to this concept. Whether learning about Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, or Islam, not only will you come away with a rich understanding of the region where the religion began and the people who continue to practice it today, but also how the religion migrated and transformed with societies over time.

"Religion is one of the most vital and powerful forces in global culture," asserts Assistant Professor of Christianity Stephen Shoemaker. That's why the ability to think critically about religion and how it relates to other aspects of human existence is such an important part of the Religious Studies Department's curriculum.

"We teach students how to approach religious traditions from a secular, outsider perspective, a valuable set of tools to understand their own religions and the religions of others," explains Stephen.

While studying culture from a variety of perspectives, religious studies students also learn how to critically read texts from different cultures, and improve their communication and presentation skills.

"There's really no method for religious studies," says Stephen. "We approach it from all angles—philosophical, social sciences, classical, and archaeological—just about everything the school has to offer."

Because of the boundary-crossing nature of the religious studies program, students have the opportunity to explore a multitude of disciplines—especially in the humanities and social sciences—that are mutually complimentary with a religious studies major or minor.

The religious studies department is characterized by new, young, and energetic faculty. "There's a vitality that comes from that," explains Stephen. And because most of the faculty members specialize in the formative periods of religion—meaning their areas of expertise are in the early or medieval periods—the department has a cohesiveness that fosters personal faculty-student relationships and ensures students an excellent foundation in the field.