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Religious Studies (120 credits)

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Offered by: Religious Studies     Degree: Bachelor of Theology

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) degree requires 120 credits. Many students enter the program with advanced standing, and their credit requirement for the degree is adjusted accordingly.

All students must discuss their course selection with their program adviser.

The required and complementary course requirements below describe the program for students who enter in Year 1 (U1) with 30 credits of advanced standing based on a Quebec Diploma of Collegial Studies (DEC).

Students admitted directly from high school into U0 must consult their program adviser regarding appropriate courses for their first year of study.

Students admitted on the basis of a bachelor degree will have advanced standing and should consult their program adviser to determine any course equivalencies completed during their first degree and how these affect their program requirements for the Bachelor of Theology. Normally, these students start in Year 2 (U2) and follow the requirements below starting with Year 2.

The normal course load in the degree for full-time students is 15 credits per term, five 3-credit courses.

By permission of the Dean and the Chair of the B.Th. Committee, students may also enrol for courses at any university in the province of Quebec. For further information, see "Quebec Inter-University Transfer Agreement: McGill Students" in the "University Regulations and Resources" section under "Registration."

Professional and vocational courses (e.g., leading to ordination) are available through the In-Ministry Year (Master of Divinity (M.Div.)) upon the completion of the B.Th. degree.

First Year (U0) - Courses (30 credits)

Courses are to be selected in consultation with the student's program adviser for students admitted from high school into U0.

Required Courses (9 credits)

  • PHIL 200 Introduction to Philosophy 1 (3 credits) *

    Offered by: Philosophy (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Philosophy : A course treating some of the central problems of philosophy: the mind-body problem, freedom, scepticism and certainty, fate, time, and the existence of God.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Blome-Tillmann, Michael (Fall)

    • Philosophy students may use either PHIL 200 or PHIL 201 towards their program requirements, but not both. Students may, however, take both for credit (using the second as an elective), as the content in PHIL 201 does not overlap with PHIL 200

  • PHIL 201 Introduction to Philosophy 2 (3 credits) *

    Offered by: Philosophy (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Philosophy : An introduction to some of the major problems of philosophy. This course does not duplicate PHIL 200.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Carson, Emily J (Winter)

    • Philosophy students may use either PHIL 200 or PHIL 201 towards their program requirements, but not both. Students may, however, take both for credit (using the second as an elective), as the content in PHIL 201 does not overlap with PHIL 200

  • RELG 203 Bible and Western Culture (3 credits)

    Offered by: Religious Studies (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Religious Studies : To provide students of the humanities with knowledge of the Bible as a tool for interpreting religious references in Western literature, art and music. Biblical stories (e.g. Creation, Exodus), key figures (e.g. David, Job, Mary), and common motifs (e.g. Holy City, Pilgrimage, Bride) are explored, then illustrated by later cultural forms.

    Terms: Fall 2012, Winter 2013

    Instructors: Keiser, Jeffrey (Fall) Keiser, Jeffrey (Winter)

    • Fall and Winter

  • RELG 207 The Study of World Religions 1 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Religious Studies (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Religious Studies : An introduction to the study of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Primal Religions.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Sharma, Arvind (Winter)

    • Winter

* Students may select either PHIL 200 or PHIL 201.

Complementary Courses (21 credits)

3 credits in History and Classical Studies at the 200 or 300 level
3 credits in Catholic Studies, Jewish Studies, or Islamic Studies at the 200 or 300 level
6 credits in languages (ancient or modern), literature (other than biblical), Art History, or Music at the 200 or 300 level
9 credits to be determined in consultation with the B.Th. program adviser

Note: All courses at the 300 level require Faculty approval.

Year 1 (U1) - Required Courses (12 credits)

Students admitted to U1 on the basis of a Quebec Diploma of Collegial Studies (DEC) will normally take the following required courses in their first year.

By permission of the B.Th. Committee, students may substitute courses for any of the required courses if they have already taken them or similar courses for credit elsewhere.

  • RELG 204 Judaism, Christianity and Islam (3 credits)

    Offered by: Religious Studies (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Religious Studies : An introduction to the beliefs, practices, and religious institutions of these three world religions.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Warren, Meredith; Fletcher, Charles Douglas; Kirkpatrick, Patricia (Winter)

    • Winter

  • RELG 210 Jesus of Nazareth (3 credits)

    Offered by: Religious Studies (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Religious Studies : A critical study of selected ancient and modern accounts of the aims and person of Jesus. Attention will be given also to the question of the historical sources and to the relationship between faith and history.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Henderson, Ian H (Fall)

    • Fall, Winter and Summer

  • RELG 321 Western Intellectual Tradition (3 credits)

    Offered by: Religious Studies (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Religious Studies : Introduces essential sources in western philosophy and theology; examines the interdependence of these disciplines in their historical development; exposes students to the means and methods of argumentation that will allow them to compare and contrast these sources, and to develop and defend their own positions with respect to them.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Green, Garth (Winter)

    • Prerequisite: U0 students must obtain permission from instructor

  • RELG 334 Christian Thought and Culture (3 credits)

    Offered by: Religious Studies (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Religious Studies : Explores the Christian narrative and theological worldview, in relation to western religion, ethics, philosophy, science, and culture, with reference to both primary and secondary literature.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Farrow, Douglas B (Winter)

    • Winter and Summer

    • Prerequisite: One prior course in Christianity, or History of Western Thought or by permission of the instructor.

Year 1 (U1) - Complementary Courses (18 credits)

3 credits selected from the following list (or another approved course in ethics):

  • PHIL 230 Introduction to Moral Philosophy 1 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Philosophy (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Philosophy : A survey of a number of historically important and influential theories. Philosophers to be discussed may include Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Bentham, Mill, and Moore.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Stroud, Sarah (Fall)

  • PHIL 240 Political Philosophy 1 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Philosophy (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Philosophy : An introduction to contemporary philosophy of politics by concentrating on a number of contested concepts, such as freedom, justice and equality, in contemporary political philosophy and practice.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Weinstock, Daniel (Fall)

  • RELG 371 Ethics of Violence/Non-Violence (3 credits)

    Offered by: Religious Studies (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Religious Studies : Forms of violence and the reaction of religious groups are assessed both for their effectiveness and for their fidelity to their professed beliefs. Different traditions, ranging from the wholesale adoption of violent methods (e.g., the Crusades) to repudiation (e.g., Gandhi; the Peace Churches).

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    • Summer

  • RELG 376 Religious Ethics (3 credits)

    Offered by: Religious Studies (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Religious Studies : A discussion of ethical theory will provide the background for an analysis of the relationship between religious world views and moral reason. Attention will be given to the way in which the dominant religious traditions view the exemplars of religious virtue, and to how the virtues exemplified are related to and justified by the faith tradition in which they operate.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

3 credits selected from the following list (or 3 credits in Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, or Philosophy and Western Religions):

  • RELG 331 Religion and Globalization (3 credits)

    Offered by: Religious Studies (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Religious Studies : An exploration of the distinctive ways in which the world's religions are shaping and are shaped by the dynamics of globalization. It examines the multiple intersections of religion and globalization through a variety of themes and case studies in human rights, development, education, ecology, gender, and conflict

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Cere, Daniel M; Aitken, Ellen (Fall)

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken RELG 319 when topic was "Religion and Globalization"

  • RELG 375 Religion, Politics and Society (3 credits)

    Offered by: Religious Studies (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Religious Studies : A study of contemporary religious traditions in the light of debates regarding secularization, the relation of religion and politics, and the interaction of religion with major social institutions.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Cere, Daniel M (Fall)

    • Fall

    • Restriction: U2 and U3 students

12 credits to be determined in consultation with the B.Th. program adviser

Year 2 (U2) - Required Courses (24 credits)

Students entering the B.Th. as a second degree program would normally take 60 credits and begin with Year 2 (U2) courses. These students should verify with their program adviser regarding course substitutions if they have completed similar courses elsewhere.

Year 2 (U2) - Complementary Courses (6 credits)

To be chosen from among the 300- or 400-level courses offered in the B.Th. or B.A. Religious Studies programs (or RELG 280D1/RELG 280D2) in consultation with the B.Th. program adviser.

Year 3 (U3) - Required Courses (12 credits)

* Note: RELG 420 may be replaced with another course if recommended by the program adviser.

Year 3 (U3) - Complementary Courses (18 credits)

18 credits selected as follows:

One 3-credit course in a religious tradition other than Christianity, such as the courses listed below.

Students who have previously completed a university-level course in world religions may replace this with another complementary course.

  • ISLA 380 Islamic Philosophy and Theology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Islamic Studies (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Islamic Studies : A survey of the most important philosophers and theologians in Islamic intellectual history, with a focus on the theories they articulated and the movements they engendered. The impact of European thought on 19th and 20th century Islamic intellectual history is also examined.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Wisnovsky, Robert (Fall)

    • Prerequisite: ISLA 200 or permission of instructor.

    • Note: Reading and discussion in English.

  • RELG 252 Hinduism and Buddhism (3 credits)

    Offered by: Religious Studies (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Religious Studies : The interaction of Hinduism and Buddhism in India with special reference to the law of Karma, caste, women, ritual, death, yoga, and liberation. Determination of interpretative principles for understanding the religious psychology of Hindus and Buddhists.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Braitstein, Lara E; Kachroo, Meera Jo (Fall)

    • Fall

  • RELG 253 Religions of East Asia (3 credits)

    Offered by: Religious Studies (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Religious Studies : Harmony with nature, society, and cosmos to be explored through the religions of the Far East (Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism and Shinto).

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Hori, G (Winter)

    • Winter

  • RELG 352 Japanese Religions (3 credits)

    Offered by: Religious Studies (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Religious Studies : A study of early Shinto mythology, Shinto-Buddhist syncretism, Neo-Confucianism and its influence upon the resurgence of Shinto during the Tokugawa period, folk religion and the New Religions.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Hori, G (Fall)

    • Fall

    • Prerequisite: RELG 253 or permission of instructor

  • RELG 354 Chinese Religions (3 credits)

    Offered by: Religious Studies (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Religious Studies : This course studies the Confucian classics, philosophical and religious Taoism, and Neo-Confucianism and also examines the syncresis between the Chinese religions and Indian Buddhism.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    • Fall

9 credits, one 3-credit course in each of the following areas:

Old Testament

3 credits from:

New Testament

3 credits from:

Christian Theology

3 credits from:

6 credits, to be chosen from among the 300- or 400-level courses offered in the B.Th. or B.A. Religious Studies programs (or RELG 280D1/RELG 280D2) in consultation with the B.Th. program adviser.

Faculty of Religious Studies—2012-2013 (last updated Dec. 20, 2012) (disclaimer)
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