Program Details
Program Details
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Program Details

Religious Studies, BA

Bachelor of Arts
George Mason University

Religious studies provides students an understanding of the traditions of religions across the globe. Areas of study offered by the department include Asian religious traditions, Near (Middle) East religious traditions (Judaism, Islam, and Christianity), and comparative aspects of religion. Students develop skills in reading and interpreting sacred texts. They explore the cultural and social dimensions of religion along with a consideration of religious values and ethics from comparative and cross-cultural perspectives, and with relation to global issues. Students go on to work in the government, service, or nonprofit sectors, as well as pursue graduate work in the humanities and social sciences.

Outcomes

1. Inter-religious Literacy: Students will demonstrate nuanced knowledge of the various defining dimensions of religion both within specific religious traditions and comparatively across different religious communities. 2. Knowledge of Key Concepts and Questions: Students will be conversant in the history, formation, and significance of foundational ideas, terms, and questions within the interdisciplinary field of Religious Studies. 3. Critical and Comparative Thinking: Students will be able to critically and comparatively analyze particular religious phenomena via different theoretical approaches and methods in the academic study of religion, including historical, textual, and social scientific analysis. 4. Research Methods and Assessment: Students will be able find appropriate scholarly sources in the field of Religious Studies, learn to critically evaluate secondary sources, and consider how to respectfully engage with primary source materials. 5. Argument-oriented Writing: Students will be able to read for, evaluate, and professionally write an argument with support of scholarly evidence and reasoning within the field of Religious Studies.


Program Overview & Guidance
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Program Web Page
External Link
Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree

The Department of Religious Studies at George Mason is a vibrant community of scholars and students exploring questions about human life through the lens of religion. The Department offers a comprehensive study of religion that spans geographies, traditions, and methods, including historical, ethnographic, philological, sociological, and text critical approaches. Religious Studies as an inherently inter-disciplinary field brings together the scientific and historical study of religion, which may include an intense focus on a specific religion, the comparative study of multiple religions, or even the very definition of religion. The Religious Studies BA is offered as an on-campus in person degree program. Limited coursework may be offered as an online course offering.

Program Requirement Notes
Program Requirement Notes

https://catalog.gmu.edu/colleges-schools/humanities-social-sciences/religious-studies/religious-studies-ba/#requirementstext

Considerations When Selecting Courses

Students interested in Mason are encouraged to focus on completing courses that meet general education requirements. BA degree programs in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences have additional requirements in: philosophy or religion, social and behavioral science, foreign language through the intermediate level, and non-western culture. Students are encouraged to use the "Contact an Institution" section of the portal and connect with our staff for questions related to specific course equivalencies and requirements.

For the BA Reiligious Studies, introductory courses for the major (such as RELI 211 and 212) may be completed prior to transfer to Mason.

  • Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
  • Connect with an advisor at your community college and George Mason University within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses
Doing More With Your Degree

The BA in Religious Studies can provide students with upwards of 40 credit hours in general elective credits that can be used to complete a second major or minor to enhance your academic depth and interests. Our proximity to Washington D.C. offers students a wealth of opportunities to pursue their passions. Religious Studies can also help bring students to the world. Many of Mason's Global Education study-abroad opportunities to England, Italy, Israel, or South Korea fit perfectly into the Religious Studies curriculum.

Program Successes & Highlights

Looking for the experience of a liberal arts college at a major public research university? Religious Studies majors and Judaic and Islamic Studies minors at Mason benefit from small upper-level classes, ready access to instructors, and opportunities to participate in research projects and activities beyond the classroom. The Religious Studies BA offers competency in the diversity of religions (religious literacy) an increasingly recognized value among employers in both private and public sectors in fields as diverse as health care, diplomacy and security, environmentalism and development, trade, and entertainment. Recent Religious Studies majors have secured internships in the Greater Washington area, have pursued careers in higher education, the non-profit sector, and various agencies in the federal government, and have attended top-tier graduate programs such as Georgetown Law School and Yale Divinity School.

Program Credit Requirements
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Credit and Course Requirements for the Program are expected in a future release. Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. If you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.

If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
  • Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
  • View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
If you are interested in the cost of attending this institution, please visit the institution's cost page to review costs
Applicable Admissions Agreements
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The table below lists admissions agreements between George Mason University and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.

Institution Name Type Title
Richard Bland College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Blue Ridge Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Central Virginia Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Danville Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Mountain Gateway Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Eastern Shore Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Germanna Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Brightpoint Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Laurel Ridge Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Mountain Empire Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
New River Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Northern Virginia Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Paul D. Camp Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Patrick & Henry Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Piedmont Virginia Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Rappahannock Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Southside Virginia Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Southwest Virginia Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Tidewater Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Virginia Peninsula Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Virginia Highlands Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Virginia Western Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Wytheville Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement

You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center

What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
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Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion Transfer associate degree completion is recommended. RBC and VCCS students completing A.A., A.A.& S., A.F.A, or A.S. degrees receive a lower-level Mason Core waiver.

Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School Students who earn an associate degree through high school dual enrollment should still apply as freshmen and are not eligible for GAA. College coursework will be evaluated for transferable course credit.
Credit for Prior Learning https://www2.gmu.edu/admissions-aid/apply-now/how-apply/transfer/transfer-credit-policy
Did You Know That...
  • Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
  • Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: George Mason University
College Level Information
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Transfer Admission Application
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
External Link
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? George Mason University welcomes 4,500 new transfers each year.
  • Our students enroll from all over the Commonwealth, all 50 states, and more than 130 countries.
  • Transfer students are encouraged, but not required to join our residential campus community of 6,300 students.
  • Mason transfers thrive in any number of the 470+ academic, cultural, or social student organizations.
Transfer Student Catalog Year Determined by first semester of enrollment
First Year Student Catalog Year Determined by first semester of enrollment
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions https://go.gmu.edu/GAA
Where Can This Degree Transfer
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This section displays degrees most closely related to this program and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to visit that program page.

Institution Title Degree Award Name Award Level Delivery Mode
Eastern Mennonite UniversityBachelor of Arts Theology & ReligionBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Hollins UniversityBA in Religious StudiesBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Roanoke CollegeBachelor of Arts in Religious StudiesBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Virginia Wesleyan UniversityBachelor of Arts in Religious StudiesBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
William & MaryReligious Studies - Bachelor of ArtsBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Shenandoah UniversityBachelor of Arts ReligionBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Ferrum CollegeB.A. in Religious Studies BachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityReligious Studies, Bachelor of ArtsBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Emory & Henry UniversityPsychology (BS)BachelorBachelor of Science4-YearIn-Person
Randolph-Macon CollegeReligious Studies (BA)BachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Careers Where This Degree Applies
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O*Net Code Name Description Parent
25-1126.00Philosophy and Religion Teachers, PostsecondaryTeach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
Cost To Complete
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This section provides you with a very high-level estimate of your costs and is purely intended as a guide. You should consult the institution via College Connect to get a more detailed estimate based on the totality of your circumstances. The selections below are based on information gathered from your Profile and the estimated costs are calculated based on the 120 credits remaining to be completed

Please select the "Cumulative Months of Service" that determine your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Estimated Cost for the Plan Name Not Provided at George Mason University
These costs are based on an estimated 8 semesters or 4 years remaining to complete this degree (assuming a full-time load of 16 hours per semester)
Category Cost Basis Cost (To You) Estimated Benefits Net Cost Notes
Tuition $5,196 Per Semester $41,568 $0 $41,568 Flat rate semester tuition for full time status of 12 - 15 credit hours. For less than 12 credit hours, tuition is $433.00 per credit hour. Credit hours over 15 are also charged the same per-credit tuition.
Fees
Mandatory Student Fee $1,914 Per Semester $15,312 0 $15,312 Flat rate semester mandatory student fee for full time status of 12 - 15 credit hours. For less than 12 credit hours, mandatory student fee is $159.50 per credit hour. Credit hours over 15 are also charged the same per-credit fee.
*Please note that the above estimated costs do not include all Federal, State or other financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc. for which you may qualify. All such aid could substantially reduce these costs.
Tuition & Fee Notes:
  • Additional Fees
    • New student fee is $275 for transfer students or $350 for freshman.
      Additional course fees vary. For more information about course and program fees, visit: https://studentaccounts.gmu.edu/tuition-fees.
      Housing, dining, and parking fees may also apply. For more detailed cost information, visit:

      George Mason Cost of Attendance

Other Financial Aid to Pay for College:
  • You may be eligible for additional financial aid from Federal, State, and Local sources. Military education benefits are not considered in determining eligibility for federal financial aid. Everyone is therefore encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), because many will qualify for additional educational funds like Pell Grants, worth over $5,500/yr.