Mar 29, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Religion and Contemporary Issues, BA Major in


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A major in Religion and Contemporary Issues enhances students’ pursuit of professional goals as they gain an understanding of religion; recognize the multiple impacts that religion exerts upon public life and people’s experience; and learn to communicate between different worldviews, navigate conflict, and deepen inclusion. It is suited for any student interested in how religion is involved in the contemporary world but is specially designed for those preparing for a career in:

  • Health
  • Law, Public Policy, Public Service, 
  • Media, Communications, and the Arts.

Majors choose one of the three areas above as a pre-professional concentration. They use nine s.h. of complementary course work in another program, department, or school toward their Religion and Contemporary Issues major. This makes it easy to double-major and builds religious literacy into pre-professional development. Majors then take religion courses grouped within their concentration (Health, Law, or Media) to focus on the role of religion in their future careers. Finally, the remainder of their religion courses is elected from among any in religion or Jewish studies.

Program Requirements:


Candidates for graduation from Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with the degree of Bachelor of Arts must fulfill the BA requirements as listed under Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.  Students may use major requirements to meet BA Distribution requirements.

All Religion and Contemporary Issues majors are free to select courses within the major that fit their needs and interests.  The requirements for each Pre-Professional Concentration are listed below.  Majors complete at least 24 semester hours in the Religion department and 9 semester hours in Pre-Professional courses within the following guidelines:

Major Requirements - 33 Semester Hours


Majors complete at least 24 semester hours in the Religion department and 9 semester hours in Pre-Professional courses. 

Required Pre-Professional Coursework - 9 Semester Hours


Pre-Professional Coursework is taken under advisement in the student’s other study area. Students will use nine (9) semester hours of course work from their Pre-Professional disciplinary area to meet this requirement.

Elective Courses - 9 Semester Hours


Students are free to choose nine (9) semester hours from all Religion courses (RELI) and all Jewish Studies courses (JWST).

Additional Semester Hours as Follows:


While internships in Religion and Contemporary Issues with pre-professional components are not required, they are highly recommended. See department chair for details.

 

Students must select one of the following concentrations:


Religion and Contemporary Issues in Health - Semester Hours: 9


Appropriate for students in the following majors and minors: Biology, Community Health, Counseling, Health Education, Health Science, Psychology, Neuroscience, Pre-Health (Pre-Medical) Studies With a Concentration in Humanities or Social Sciences (except a Religion concentration), Pre-Medical Studies, Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences.

Appropriate for all students considering a career in the healthcare fields, or for those considering graduate work in one of the above majors.

Religion and Contemporary Issues in Law, Ethics, and Politics - Semester Hours: 9


Appropriate for students in the following majors and minors: African Studies, American Studies, Asian Studies, Business, CCE, Chinese Studies, Criminology, Economics, Environmental Resources, Geography, Global Studies, History, Japanese, Labor Studies, LACS, Peace Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, PPPS, Sociology, Sustainability Studies, Urban Ecology, Women’s Studies. 

Appropriate for all students considering a career in law, public service, public policy, business, government, social work, or nongovernmental organizations, or for those considering graduate work in one of the above majors.

Religion and Contemporary Issues in Media and Popular Culture - Semester Hours: 9


Appropriate for students in the following majors: Art, Audio/Radio Production and Studies, Drama and Dance, Film Production and Studies, Journalism, Mass Media Studies, Music, Public Relations, Rhetoric and Public Advocacy, and Television Production and Studies.

Appropriate for all students considering a career in media, communications, and arts fields, or for those considering graduate work in one of the above majors.

1. Religion/Pre-Professional Core Course - 3 Semester Hours

BA Requirements - 91 Semester Hours


Please see the BA degree requirements for additional information. 

Recommended Program Sequence - Total Hours: 124


 

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