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Religious Studies at Ohio State is an interdisciplinary field, which requires the active involvement of faculty from numerous different departments, from the arts to the hard sciences. Studying religion includes the study of written texts and spoken languages, works of art, architecture, music and drama as well as myriad social practices and institutions.
Religion runs throughout the fabric of human life. We cannot fully understand culture, politics, economics, morality, or social change without considering how religion has influenced them. The academic study of religion does not favor any particular religious standpoint. Instead, it enables students to explore traditions ranging from antiquity to the present, from the local to the global.
With faculty from disciplines across the university, the religious studies major and minor nurture the critical thinking skills and sensitivity to cultural difference relevant in an increasingly diverse and pluralistic world. Some graduates have taken jobs where such qualities can be put to use immediately. Others have gone on to advanced degrees not only in religious studies or divinity, but also in law, business, education, and global studies.
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During their studies, students develop strong skills in analytical and critical thinking, written and spoken communication, and an understanding of cultural differences as they attend to the intersections of gender, ethnicity, race and class in relation to religious traditions and practices.
Students majoring in religious studies develop strong skills in analytical and critical thinking and in written and spoken communication. These skills are essential to many positions in both the public and private sector: government; the law; local, national and international service organizations; business and industry; and all levels of education. Religious studies students also develop their understanding of religious and cultural differences, including those of gender, ethnicity, race and class.