Students who major in religion are well equipped for many careers. Their skills in critical thinking, clear writing, close reading and insightful understanding of religion’s place in societies and social movements around the world enable them to pursue careers in:
- Law
- Non-profit organizations
- Health care
- Education
- Social services, and
- Religious leadership
The study of religion, in the context of a liberal arts education, draws upon multiple disciplines in the humanities and the social sciences. This is reflected in the variety of courses offered within the department:
- Some introduce a religious tradition and trace its development historically
- Others examine in a cross-cultural context the issues faced by various religious communities and individuals
- Still others explore and compare diverse theories and methods employed in the study of religions.
Carleton’s Religion Department is concerned with traditional and contemporary forms of both major and more marginal religions, and with both “elite” and “popular” forms of religious expression. We examine the existential, intellectual, and social problems to which religions respond. And we probe the dynamic and often ambiguous relationship between religious beliefs and practices and the social order in which they are embedded. Throughout the curriculum, religion is approached as a significant and pervasive expression of human culture, both in the past and the present.
The Religion Department is housed on the third floor of Leighton Hall. The Department Lounge is designed to be a comfortable and welcoming space where students can gather for informal class discussions, sit and read quietly, or enjoy a cup of tea as they wait for an appointment with one of their professors. Students will also find materials on graduate and off-campus programs, and books by Department faculty.
Not connected to the Religion Department but still an important part of campus life, the Carleton Chaplaincy, housed in Skinner Chapel, provides students, faculty, staff, and alums with opportunities to explore the integral relationship between faith and learning, connecting the work of the mind with the heart and soul. They serve everyone, regardless of background or belief.
