BA in Religious Studies in Evanston United States | Northwestern University

Our religion department pioneered the shift from exclusively Christian biblical studies to comparative religion studies in the U.S. This transition began in 1926-27 with the introduction of world religions courses. Over time, our faculty expanded offerings to include Buddhism, comparative religious ethics, and similar subjects.

Students can choose from diverse undergraduate courses, from introductory lectures to specialized seminars, along with independent study options and an honors thesis opportunity for eligible candidates. Our curriculum explores Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Native American spiritual traditions, emerging religious movements, and American religious culture.

The Religious Studies major provides two pathways: a broad Global Study of Religion (GSR) degree or one of three specialized interdisciplinary concentrations.