BA in Religious Studies in Arcata United States | California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt

The religious studies major achieves its goals most effectively within a liberal arts framework. This curriculum fosters scholarly abilities and structured thinking about religious topics. Beyond that, our program motivates students to explore religion as a pathway to personal growth, value reflection, and engagement with timeless spiritual questions. The approach rejects rigid doctrines as well as blind acceptance, treating religious inquiry with the same scholarly rigor expected in other humanities disciplines. We emphasize evidence-based fairness, appreciation for diverse perspectives, and abstaining from any form of religious persuasion.

Humboldt's religious studies program prioritizes comprehending religious traditions, covering both major world religions (such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism) and lesser-known aspects (like Goddess worship and shamanism). Significant attention is devoted to analyzing sacred texts (including the Bible, Quran, and Sutras), while also examining comparative themes (such as mysticism and psychology) and their manifestations in popular culture.