Religious Studies Minor: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region

Program Type: Undergraduate

Department: Sociology, Anthropology and Philosophy

We designed the NKU’s interdisciplinary religious studies minor program for students who are especially interested in religious studies or who wish for career purposes to add to their general education background. An important dimension of religious studies at NKU is its incorporation of cognate courses from other disciplines, including philosophy, history, geography, sociology, psychology, literature, anthropology, and women’s and gender studies. Religious studies is the scholarly examination of the widespread and diverse phenomena of human religious experiences, the expression of these experiences in systems of belief and in institutions, and their interaction with culture and society.

Religion embodies some of humanity’s most profound and enduring attempts to answer perennial questions about the nature of ultimate reality and about human nature and destiny. Religious studies provides a factual and analytical understanding of religion; sympathetic understanding of a wide range of religious traditions, cultures and values; and an introduction to the relevant literature, vocabulary, and methods used in the scholarly study of religion.

This sort of an appreciation of religion is an important component in an individual’s education. It is also relevant to many professions and fields including education, law, medicine, nursing, ministry, and human services, and to students interested in graduate studies in religious studies. The Religious Studies minor is housed within the philosophy program in the sociology, anthropology and philosophy department.

Program Contacts

Augustine Yaw Frimpong-Mansoh
Landrum Academic Center 240
859-572-7546
frimpongma1@nku.edu

Students in the Spotlight

Brexton Cromer

Graduating Year: Senior student

Education: Philosophy major; Religious Studies minor; Ancient Civilizations minor

“I'm proudly from a small town in Eastern KY and graduated from high school in 2020. I came to NKU as a STEM major but quickly transferred to philosophy, with minors in religious studies and ancient civilizations. I hope to become a professor, teaching about communitarianism, animism, and eco-philosophy. I chose religious studies because it brought together topics from multiple disciplines. The religious studies program and the interdisciplinary approach it fosters has helped me to develop spiritually and academically. Religious studies isn't just about memorizing facts and regurgitating them; it's about tussling with the difficult, uneasy, and hard to understand parts of existence from all academic perspectives, and that's a deeply fulfilling experience for anyone.” 

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Find Your Passions & Build Your Future

Co-curricular Opportunities: We offer various opportunities for you to actively engage with faculty and your fellow students through our vibrant SAPiens Student Society, Phi Sigma Tau national honor society in philosophy, Ethics Bowl Team (which participates annually in regional intercollegiate competitions), Philosophers’ Café (where issues of contemporary interest are raised and discussed in a public forum), Philosophy and Films Series (where feature films with philosophical themes are screened and discussed).
Career Explorations: Our innovative, interdisciplinary courses, such as REL 306 Introduction to Judaism, REL 307 Survey of Christianity, REL 305 Islam, PHI 324 African Philosophy, WGS 361 Gendering God, WGS 386 Women in the Bible, PHI 371 Death and the Afterlife, provide a glimpse into various career paths that religious studies offers. Or you might be interested in one of the study abroad programs in our department (e.g. Belize, Thailand, Ireland, Kenya, and Fiji) to learn and experience other cultures, and expand your cultural competency.
Supportive Learning Community: With organizations and clubs like our Ethics Bowl Team, Philosophers’ Café, Philosophy and Films Series, SAPiens Student Society, you’ll find a supportive learning community to help prepare you for success in your academic studies and career aspirations.