Religion Major & Minor | Luther College

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Learn more about faith, diversity, and social justice. Prepare for a life of meaningful work. Studying religion at Luther College will equip you to be a global citizen in a diverse and changing world.

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Why Study Religion?

Religion is a powerful force in the world. By taking religion courses, you’ll study this force. You’ll wrestle with some of life’s biggest questions and examine religion’s complex role in society throughout history.

Why Study Religion at Luther?

By studying religion at Luther, you’ll become competent in religious literacy. You’ll explore how people of the world practice their religion. You’ll also discover how religions have shaped the histories and philosophies of individuals, communities, and nations.

Studying religion at Luther will expand your understanding of yourself and others. It will also prepare you with the knowledge you need to lead a life of purposeful service in the world.

Off-Campus Studies

Studying off campus is an ideal way to experience another culture firsthand. Explore religious topics in their natural setting.

Meaningful Research

Gain in-depth knowledge about a topic that interests you. Collaborate with knowledgeable and experienced religion faculty.

Pre-ministry Studies

Are you interested in serving faith communities? At Luther, you’ll work closely with the religion department to prepare for your vocational interests in ordained parish ministry, youth ministry, chaplaincy, Christian education, or pastoral counseling.

What You’ll Learn

Luther’s religion major can provide you with the flexibility to design a program based on your interests and goals. Studying religion can equip you for a role in professional ministry, healthcare, education, law, journalism, political science, or other related fields.

Religion Major

As a religion major, you’ll take eight 4-credit courses and complete a “Reflection and Synthesis” eportfolio requirement. The core of the religion major includes four categories:

Texts: explore the ongoing interpretation of foundational religious texts.
Traditions: learn about the history and formation of particular religious traditions or sub-traditions.
Issues: study contemporary issues of public concern.
Interactions: examine cross-cultural or interfaith issues.

Religion Minor

As a religion minor, you’ll take five four-credit courses, one each from the Texts, Traditions, Issues, and Interactions categories, and one course 300-level or higher.

Whether you choose a major or minor, studying religion will prepare you to be a global citizen in a diverse and changing world.

Curriculum

I came to Luther as a religion major, junior, and mid-year transfer student seeking experiential learning. After only one semester I know I made the right choice.

Katie Bevers '23

RELIGION MAJOR

Studying religion at Luther has allowed me to deconstruct my previous notions of spirituality to understand the ways religion helps, harms, and influences our society and all world cultures.

Marshall Laidlaw '24

RELIGION MAJOR

A Flexible Degree

At Luther, you can design your religion major/minor based on your interests and vocational goals.

For instance, studying religion can help you prepare for a career in journalism. With a religion major, you’ll gain fundamental research and communication skills. You’ll also discover how current issues and events often intersect with religion and ethics.

How does studying religion benefit a career in healthcare? A religion major/minor gives you the ability to provide a holistic approach to treatment. You’ll have a deeper understanding of why it’s important to take care of the diverse spiritual needs of your patients.

How can studying religion help with a career in government? The US government seeks employees with a religion background in agencies such as the State Department or CIA. Understanding the role of religion often benefits the process of formulating foreign policy.