Major map compass icon
2022-2023

Religious Studies, Bachelor of Arts

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Arts (Richard Bland College of William and Mary)
Richard Bland College
Richard Bland College
Associate degree
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
  • Quantitative Foundations requirement only
Science required
  • Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ major GPA

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2022-2023

Religious Studies, Bachelor of Arts

Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Arts)

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 cultural events at RBC and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU's annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Familiarize yourself with the career services offered at RBC and VCU and explore career pathways on the VCU Career Services website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
Experience Year 2
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU School of World Studies.
  • Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
  • Apply to VCU.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Continue learning a foreign language or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or School of World Studies-related events.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at RBC or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships or job experiences before your senior year of college.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend cultural events at RBC and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU's annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Familiarize yourself with the career services offered at RBC and VCU and explore career pathways on the 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
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU School of World Studies.
  • Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
  • Apply to VCU.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Continue learning a foreign language or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or School of World Studies-related events.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at RBC or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships or job experiences before your senior year of college.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2022-2023

Religious Studies, Bachelor of Arts

Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Arts)

Richard Bland College of William and Mary courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
Students who earn this associate degree before enrolling at VCU will be eligible for a waiver of VCU's general education requirements.
ENGL 101 Rhetoric and Research I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENGL 102 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
ENGL 102 Rhetoric and Research II UNIV 200 3 General education
MATH Core courses in Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning (select 1): Math 110 or 121, or Math 151, 200, 217, 224, 251 MATH 3 General education
FREN or SPAN Two Courses in Foreign Language as per Placement VCU equivalent 6 to 8 General education
REL 201 Introduction to Religion RELS 108 3 Major (Ancillary)
Human Experience REL 270 Introduction to Asian Religious Thought RELS 220 3 Major
Complete general education and elective requirements for associate degree VCU equivalents 39 General education
Richard Bland credits transferred to VCU 60
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Your GPA Doesn't Transfer With You Although you worked hard to earn your grades at your current institution, they will only be considered by VCU for an admission decision. Once you enroll at VCU, your GPA will reset to 0.0, and your new GPA will be determined by your level of success in your classes at VCU.
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 (Ancillary)
RELS 221 Western Religions 3 Major
RELS 340 Global Ethics and the World's Religions 3 Major
RELS 490 Senior Capstone Seminar 3 Major
RELS Select two upper-level religion, society, and culture RELS electives (see VCU advisor for course options) 6 Major
RELS Select an additional four RELS courses with at least six credits at the 400-level (see VCU advisor for course options) 12 Major
WRLD 495 World ePass Portfolio 0 Major (Ancillary)
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. 18 Elective
Open electives 15 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 60
Bachelor's degree total 120