Offered by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences the Minor in Religious Studies may be completed entirely online.
Students in religious studies courses develop a critical understanding of the important role of religious diversity and change in the world we inhabit. Students learn to analyze religion’s profound influences on people and societies around the world.
Online Curriculum
The undergraduate minor in religious studies requires a minimum of 15 semester hours in religious studies courses, including 12 semester hours in courses taken at the University of Iowa. Students may count up to three semester hours of transfer credit toward the minor with approval of the department’s undergraduate committee. All students must maintain a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.00 in all departmental and UI courses for the minor. Coursework for the minor cannot be taken pass/nonpass.
Students must take one course from at least three different core areas for a total of nine semester hours. The remaining six semester hours may be taken from any of the five core areas or from the list of elective courses. At least one three-semester hour course must be at 3000 level or above.
*All hyperlinks on this page open in a separate tab.
The minor in religious studies requires the following coursework.
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| Core Area Courses | 9 |
| Additional Coursework | 6 |
Core Area Courses
Students select courses from at least three out of the five core areas for a total of 9 s.h. (typically three courses).
Social Justice, Equity, Inclusion, and Religion
Religion in History
Religion in Global Context
Religion, Values, and Culture
Electives
Additional Coursework
Students select an additional 6 s.h. from any core area list or any other religious studies course to reach the required minimum of 15 s.h.
Search for ONLINE course offerings here, be sure to select the correct session in the upper right corner of the screen.
How to Declare the Minor
Students may add a minor to their plan of study at any time. Declaring a minor will allow you to request a degree audit for the minor requirements in MyUI. There is no penalty to remove a minor from a plan of study and one may be removed at any time.
Current BAS/BLS University of Iowa students may add the minor to their plan of study by contacting their assigned BAS/BLS advisor or students may declare minors through MyUI by selecting Student Records > Advising > Programs of Study & Advisors. After the minor has been declared, please log into MyUI to make an appointment with your advisor for the Minor in Religious Studies.
How to remove the minor from your program of study
Current BAS/BLS students can email their assigned academic advisor to ask to remove the minor from their plan of study. There is no penalty to remove a minor program from a plan of study and one may be removed at any time.