The College of Wooster

What you'll study

The Religion major at The College of Wooster combines historical, textual and theoretical approaches to the study of religion. You will work across world traditions and topical areas, with attention to method and to how religion intersects with gender, race, politics, science and the arts. A distinctive element of the programme is the senior Independent Study—the college's capstone—in which students design and carry out original research under close faculty supervision.

• Core topics: introductions to the study of religion, research methods, theory of religion, and comparative religion.
• Historical and textual study: courses on the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, New Testament, early Christianity, Islamic history and classical South Asian and East Asian religious traditions.
• Thematic electives: religion and ethics, religion and politics, ritual and performance, religion and gender, religion and media or film, religion and science, and migration and diasporic faiths.
• Language and source study: opportunities to study biblical Hebrew, Koine Greek or modern languages to support primary-source work, depending on student interests and departmental offerings.
• Independent Study: an extended supervised research project that may be archival, ethnographic, textual, or theoretical, culminating in a written thesis and often accompanied by a public presentation.
• Complementary experiences: internships, community-engaged research, and study abroad options to pursue fieldwork or deepen language competence.

Entry requirements

Admission to The College of Wooster is selective and holistic. Candidates for the Religion major are typically expected to present a strong secondary-school academic record with emphasis on reading, writing and critical thinking. Admissions materials usually include a personal essay and at least one teacher recommendation; standardised test scores are considered according to the college's current testing policy. For transfer applicants, college transcripts and a record of relevant coursework and academic maturity are required.

Specific departmental placement may depend on prior coursework; students with language study or humanities classes may place into advanced courses, while newcomers are supported through introductory-level offerings. No assumed faith commitment is required—the programme is academic in orientation and open to students of all backgrounds.

Career prospects

Graduates with a Religion major develop analytical, research, writing and intercultural skills that prepare them for a wide range of careers. Alumni move into roles in:

• Education and academic study — secondary teaching, postgraduate study (MA/PhD) in religious studies, theology or related humanities fields.
• Non-profit and community work — programme coordination, advocacy, refugee and immigrant services, and social justice organisations.
• Religious leadership and pastoral care — when combined with appropriate professional training.
• Public sector and policy — cultural policy, community relations, and roles that require cultural literacy and ethical reasoning.
• Media, publishing and communications — journalism, editing, content development with emphasis on religion, ethics and cultural reporting.
• Law, business and healthcare — sectors that value critical thinking, ethical reasoning and strong written communication.

Why study at The College of Wooster

The College of Wooster offers a small-college environment with close faculty-student mentorship, especially visible in the Independent Study capstone that gives Religion majors hands-on experience conducting sustained research. Classes are seminar-style, encouraging discussion, debate and close reading of texts. The department emphasises interdisciplinarity, allowing students to combine religious studies with history, anthropology, philosophy, gender studies or languages.

Students benefit from opportunities to present research, to engage in community-based projects in the town and region, and to pursue study abroad placements that deepen language skills and field experience. The department’s commitment to guided, original research and the college’s liberal arts context make it a strong choice for students who want both broad intellectual formation and focused scholarly training in the study of religion.