Interdisciplinary Religious Studies

About the Major

The Interdisciplinary Religious Studies Major is designed for students whose interests in religion intersect with their work in other disciplines, such as Literature, Fine and Performing Arts, Psychology, Politics & Government, Social Justice, Environmental Studies, or Sociology & Anthropology, or other career interests, such as those in law, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, refugee work, ministerial work, community-based work and relations, and non-profit organizations.

Related Minors

Think Big

You have the opportunity to connect one-on-one with faculty to pursue your research interests and create new knowledge.

You may present your research at the annual Student Symposium.

Research Theory-to-Practice Grants

The Language of Heresy

Kiersten Payne '17 worked with Prof. Susan Gunasti to examine the language contemporaries used to discuss the Donatists, beginning in the fourth century, and the Anabaptists, beginning in the sixteenth century.

Religious Narratives

Religion and English major Thomas Owings ’14 used a Theory-to-Practice grant to travel to West Virginia, Alabama, and Illinois to study the mechanisms of religious narrative in Protestant denominations and their impact on social identity.

Go Global

The OWU Connection provides a variety of opportunities for all students to go global. Travel-Learning Courses combine classroom study with travel to areas of the world where you may study how the issues you discuss in class really come to life. Or you can use a Theory-to-Practice Grant to explore a topic anywhere in the world.

Interdisciplinary Religious Studies students have studied and pursued research projects in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Travel-Learning Courses Study Abroad

Exploring Apostle Paul in Greece

Religion minor Alexis Thomas '20 used an OWU Connection Grant to travel to Greece to study the Apostle Paul’s journeys and learn more about the influence he held and continues to hold in the region.

Conflict Resolution in Northern Ireland

Daniel Delatte '19, Leslie Melton, Eli Reed '19, HannahJo Grimes '20, Adedayo Akinmadeyemi '19, Lisa Hp, Cara Harris '18 and Anna L. Davies '19 with Father Martin Magill, a priest and peaceworker in Northern Ireland. Their trip was funded by a Theory-to-Practice Grant.

Martin Luther in Germany

Kiersten Payne ’17 traveled to Wittenberg, Germany, to research the practical faith of Christians by attending church services and interviewing Christians in the city. She also studied how the secularization of German society impacts the practices of Christians and Christian churches in Wittenberg.

Get Real

Build your experience and connections to the professional world with internships both on and off campus. Interdisciplinary Religious Studies majors have held internships in OWU's Chaplain's office, Delaware and Columbus-area churches, nonprofit organizations, and other ministries.

Chaplain's Office Career Connection Office

Real Service

During spring break, student interfaith service teams make a difference across the U.S. and internationally.

Chaplain's Office

Students have opportunities to intern or volunteer in the Office of the University Chaplain.

Highlights

Guest Lectures

The Merrick Lecture series brings a visiting renowned scholar in religion or philosophy to OWU every year. In addition to a lecture, the scholar leads a discussion with a small group of students.

Merrick Lecture

Travel Opportunities

Faculty and their classes travel to institutions relevant to the subject matter of their classes. Faculty have taken students to the Holocaust Memorial in Detroit, Buddhist meditation centers, and the Hindu Hare Krishna temple in West Virginia.

Rare Liturgical Works

Beeghly Library has many uncommon and valuable 19th-and early 20th-century works on religion. In addition, students have access to the library of the nearby Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

Student Award

The Ralph W. Sockman Award was established in 1985 to honor students who have shown excellence in the study of religion. The award is determined both by academic record and by an independent paper or project in the study of religion.

Graduate Outcomes

A.J. Barnhardt '16

A.J. Barnhardt is currently a Masters Student at the University of Chicago with a university scholarship. He says, "The Ohio Wesleyan University Religious Studies program gave me the writing and reading skills that are crucial to success in graduate school. All the professors in the program helped me tremendously to become the scholar I am today, and I can't thank them enough for fanning the flames of my passion for the study of religion."

Theology Pathway

Andrew Sloan '13 earned a master's degree in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary and now works as a development coordinator at Newseum in Washington, DC., which is dedicated to free expression and the five freedoms of the First Amendment.

Social Justice and Religion

Emily Burns '18 currently works as a Community Organizer at Sunnyside United Methodist Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The position is a two-year social justice fellowship through the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church.

Leaders in Religious Education

Tamar Frankiel ’67 has a masters in Religious Studies from Miami University and a PhD in the History of Religions from the University of Chicago. She is currently the president of the Academy for Jewish Religion California.

Pastoral Pathways

Elizabeth Quick '00 has a Master of Divinity from Drew University and a Doctor of Ministry (focused in Leadership for Transformational Change) from Methodist Theological School in Ohio. She is currently Head Pastor at Gouverneur First and North Gouverneur United Methodist Churches in the Syracuse area.

A Look at Religious Studies

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Attending Local Services— Eli Reed '19 attends a lecture about The Troubles in Northern Ireland while visiting Fitzroy Presbyterian Church in Belfast.

Live It and Learn It— The Interfaith House (IF) and House of Spiritual Athletes (HSA) are living-learning Small Living Units for students committed to religious studies and issues of morality in everyday life.

Students can help plan and execute the May Baccalaureate ceremony for seniors, in which reflections are presented about the spiritual journey of learning throughout college and life. Above, Jude Fahoum ’17 participates in the ceremony.

Sectarianism in Belfast— HannahJo Grimes '20 attends a lecture at Queens University Belfast comparing sectarianism in Northern Ireland to race relations in America. Grimes used a Theory-to-Practice Grant to fund her research.

Find Peace in Peale— Peale Chapel is a favorite place among students to find peace and reflect on personal faith journeys. The interfaith chapel is located on the third floor of the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center.

Traveling to Understand— Reverend Steve Stockman gives a lecture in Belfast about peace and reconciliation studies. Six OWU students attended by using a Theory-to-Practice Grant.

Student Leaders— Mollie Marshall '19 has served in several leadership roles for Interfaith Service Teams, such as Reflections Leader and Logistics Leader.

Research in Northern Ireland— Religion students often utilize the Theory-to-Practice Grant program to study conflict resolution, peace, and religious life in Northern Ireland.

Pilgrimage in Spain— Makenna Huff '15 used a Theory-to-Practice Grant to follow an approximately 500 miles across northern Spain along the Camino de Santiago. The path is a Christian pilgrimage route to the tomb of St. James, dating back to the Middle Ages.

Department Contact Info

Location

Phillips Hall 114 and 117
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH 43015

P 740-368-3790
E philrel@owu.edu

Department Contact

Acting Department Chair: Susan Gunasti
Professor of Religion
Phillips Hall 219
740-368-3829
sgunasti@owu.edu