Major map compass icon
2019-2020

Bachelor of Arts: Religious Studies

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science: General Studies (Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway))
Brightpoint Community College
Program description

The Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies provides students with knowledge of the nature, history, diversity and common themes that characterize religious traditions. The study of humanity's diverse and developing religious traditions is vital to understanding what it means to be human and how to live wisely as members of the world community. The curriculum offers students the opportunity to study Eastern and Western traditions and to explore the artistic, ethical, literary, psychological and social dimensions of religions, as well as the relationship between religious ideas, institutions, and practices and gender, sexuality, race, nationality, health, social justice, human rights and nature.

Combining classroom-focused and community-based learning through study-abroad programs, internships, and community research, the program provides students with opportunities to study lived religions and participate in the work of building a truly multi-religious democracy that supports religious understanding and collaboration to address such issues as socio-economic empowerment and environmental protection.

Career opportunities

Religious Studies emphasizes excellence in written, oral and visual interpretation and communication, critical thinking, informed dialogue, cross-cultural understanding, the ability to see the world from diverse perspectives, and global citizenship. In so doing, the program provides students with an abundance of knowledge and skills that are highly appreciated and sought by businesses, government institutions and agencies, and non-profit organizations that are comprised of and engage with diverse individuals and communities. A degree in Religious Studies strengthens students’ capacity to empathize with others and to facilitate meaningful dialogue to build stronger, more cohesive communities. Students will find opportunities for work in social justice organizational management, leadership, and advocacy; humanitarian relief; refugee assistance; research analyst for organizations and institutions that focus on barriers to and support for development, democracy, human rights, and environmental restoration, preservation, and protection; international cultural ambassadorship and cultural affairs; international journalism, reporting, communications; global business affairs; civil rights and legal aid/advocacy. We encourage students to double-major in Religious Studies and one of the other majors degrees in the School of World Studies: Anthropology, Foreign Languages or International Studies, as doing so strengthens their cumulative knowledge, experience, academic record and resume for success in whatever path they choose after graduation.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Blogger/Vlogger
  • Community and Social Service Specialist
  • Community Health Worker
  • Director of Youth Ministry
  • Director, Religious Activities and Education
  • Funeral Director
  • Market Research Analyst or Marketing Specialist
  • Paralegal and Legal Assistant
  • Regional Planning Aide
  • Religion Teacher, Postsecondary
  • RELS Professional Organization Staff
  • Social and Human Service Assistant
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • College Professor
  • Higher Education Administrator
  • Nonprofit Director
  • Religious Leader, Clergy, or Chaplain
Contact information


VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better

Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 131
Science required
  • Core only
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2019-2020

Bachelor of Arts: Religious Studies

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) (Associate of Science: General Studies)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Attend Tyler Orientation.
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway.
  • Register for SDV course.
  • Understand how you will fund your education.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester and cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Browse the career coach for jobs related to Religious Studies.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
  • Use the career coach to take a career assessment.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ Website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
Experience Year 2
  • Meet with your academic advisor.
  • Use Navigate to remain on your pathway.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
  • Explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
  • Reflect on your academic preparation for VCU by completing the MINDSET Inventory.
  • Learn about the World ePass and start considering how you will fulfill the experiential learning requirement for the bachelor's degree.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the School of World Studies.
  • Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a current issue through ConnectVA or HandsOnRVA.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or School of World Studies-related events.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Attend Tyler Orientation.
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway.
  • Register for SDV course.
  • Understand how you will fund your education.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester and cultivate relationships with your professors.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Browse the career coach for jobs related to Religious Studies.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Use the career coach to take a career assessment.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ Website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Meet with your academic advisor.
  • Use Navigate to remain on your pathway.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
  • Explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
  • Reflect on your academic preparation for VCU by completing the MINDSET Inventory.
  • Learn about the World ePass and start considering how you will fulfill the experiential learning requirement for the bachelor's degree.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the School of World Studies.
  • Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a current issue through ConnectVA or HandsOnRVA.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or School of World Studies-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2019-2020

Bachelor of Arts: Religious Studies

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) (Associate of Science: General Studies)

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I UNIV 111-112 3 General education
MTH 154 Quantitative Reasoning MATH 131 3 General education
CST 100 Public Speaking SPCH 121 3 Elective
HIS History elective (select 1): HIS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122 HIST 3 General education
Art elective Art elective (select 1)): ART 101, ART 102, CST 130, CST 151, MUS 121 VCU equivalent 3 General education
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
MTH 245 Statistics I STAT 210 3 General education
Social/Behavioral Science Social/behavioral science (select 1): PSY 200, PSY 230, SOC 200, SOC 211 VCU equivalent 3 General education
ITE 115 Introduction to Computer Applications and Concepts INFO 160, 161, 162 3 Elective
REL 230 Religions of the World RELS 311 3 Major
Laboratory Science Laboratory science (select 1): BIO 101, CHM 101, PHY 101 VCU equivalent 4 General education
Foreign Language Foreign Language 101 or elective (take elective course if successfully completed through the third level of a foreign language in high school). VCU equivalent 3 to 4 General education
ENG 200-level ENG literature course (select 1): ENG 241, 242, 243, 244, 251, 252 ENGL 3 General education
HLT 160 Personal Health and Fitness HPEX 1XX 3 Elective
Social/Behavioral Science Social/behavioral science (select 1): PSY 200, PSY 230, SOC 200, SOC 211, SOC 268 VCU equivalent 3 General education
Laboratory Science Laboratory science (select 1): BIO 101, BIO 102, CHM 101, ENV 121, PHY 101 VCU equivalent 4 General education
Foreign Language Foreign Language 102 or elective (take elective course if successfully completed through the third level of a foreign language in high school). VCU equivalent 3 to 4 General education
Transfer Elective REL 100 Introduction to the Study of Religion RELS 101 3 Elective
Transfer Elective Transfer elective VCU equivalent 3 Elective
John Tyler credits transferred to VCU 60 to 62
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Foreign language through the 102 level (by course at John Tyler or placement). (This requirement can be fulfilled by means of completion of the 102-level of a language or waived if the student completed up through the third level of a foreign language in high school. Additionally, language waiver and placement testing options are available for native or heritage speakers of a non-english language.) 0 to 8 General education (not waived by associate degree)
Experiential learning requirement Students must fulfill an experiential learning requirement through an approved internship, service-learning course or study-abroad program. See VCU advisor for options. 0 to 3 Major
World ePass Portfolio (see VCU advisor). The World ePass portfolio content requirements include professional preparation, transferable skills articulation, academic career highlights, experiential learning experiences and global citizenship. 0 Major
RELS 108 Human Spirituality 3 Major
RELS 312 Religions of the World 3 Major
RELS 340/INTL 341 Global Ethics and the World's Religions 3 Major
RELS 490 Senior Capstone Seminar 3 Major
RELS Select two religion, society, and culture RELS electives (see VCU advisor for course options) 6 Major
RELS RELS electives: select an additional four RELS courses with at least six credits at the 400-level (see VCU advisor for course options) 12 Major
Upper-level electives (300 or 400-level courses): consider a minor or a second major. Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 15 to 18 Elective
Open electives 12 to 15 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 58 to 60
Bachelor's degree total 120