BA Four-Year Degree Plan: Religious Studies

The following is a sample schedule for this major – your actual schedule may vary.

Meet with your advisor and review the class schedule before confirming your schedule. 

Missouri State is committed to helping you graduate in four years.

The following degree plan, last reviewed 04-12-2018, is based on the 2018-19 catalog and Missouri State general education requirements.

First semester (fall)

Courses Hours
GEP 101 First-Year Foundations 2
ENG 110 Writing I 3
REL 100 Introduction to Religion 3
REL 101 Old Testament/Hebrew Bible 3
MTH 130 Contemporary Mathematics 3
Total hours 14

Second semester (spring)

Courses Hours
REL 102 New Testament 3
COM 115 Fundamentals of Public Speaking 3
Life Sciences - General Education 4
REL 131 Religion in America 3
ENG 210 Writing II: Writing Across the Disciplines 3
Total hours 16

Third semester (fall)

Courses Hours
REL 110 World Religions 3
PHI 105 Critical Thinking
or PHI 115 Ethics and Contemporary Issues
3
HST 103 World History to Circa 1600 C.E. 3
PLS 101 American Democracy and Citizenship 3
Foreign Language - BA requirement 3
Total hours 15

Fourth semester (spring)

Courses Hours
REL elective (upper level) 3
Foreign Language - BA requirement 3
Physical Sciences - General Education 3
HST 121 Survey of the History of the United States to 1877
or HST 122 Survey of the History of the United States since 1877
3
HST 104 World History since 1600 C.E. 3
Total hours 15

Fifth semester (fall)

Courses Hours
REL elective (upper level) 3
Social and Behavioral Sciences - General Education 3
Course for minor 3
The Arts - General Education 3
Foreign Language - BA requirement 3
Total hours 15

Sixth semester (spring)

Courses Hours
REL course (500-level) 3
REL elective 3
Course for minor 3
Foreign Language - BA requirement 3
Fine Arts - BA requirement 3
Total hours 15

Seventh semester (fall)

Courses Hours
REL 580 Theories of Religion 3
Course for minor 3
Course for minor 3
Fine Arts - BA requirement (upper level) 3
General elective (upper level) 3
Total hours 15

Eighth semester (spring)

Courses Hours
REL elective 3
Course for minor (upper level) 3
General elective (upper level) 3
General elective (upper level) 3
General elective (upper level) 3
Total hours 15

Tips for success

  • There is also a Bachelor of Science option.
  • A minor is required for this major; minors typically require 18-24 credit hours.
  • It is convenient and not uncommon to add a second major to a religious studies degree.
  • Students can take some online summer courses to reduce the hours taken during a semester.
  • Religious Studies offers a REL 499 Internship program for majors and minors.
  • The required REL 580 capstone course is only offered in fall semesters.