MINORS in Comparative Religion  

Religious Studies

Christian Studies
Islamic Studies
Jewish Studies

   

"A minor is a means by which students can enrich their academic preparation through concentrated study of a discipline related to, or different from, their declared major... A minor is not required for the baccalaureate; however, students may elect to complete one or more minors from those available and have that noted on their records" (CSUF Catalog). Only one minor is noted on diploma.
 
"Double Counting" Minor and Major
"In completing the requirements for a minor, a minimum of twelve (12) units, of which at least six (6) must be upper division, must be distinct and different from the units used to complete the requirements for the major. Any units above this minimum requirement that can be used to satisfy both the requirements for the minor and for the major may be double counted" (CSUF Catalog).
 
"Double Counting" Minor and GE (General Education)
General Education courses may be used to meet minor requirements, not to exceed nine (9) units from any single department, excluding GE Category I (See CSUF Catalog).

Can I minor in the field of religion?
We offer three minors: religious studies, Christian studies, and Jewish studies.  

RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Students minoring in religious studies are required to take 21 units, distributed as follows:

Lower-Division Requirements (9 units):  

Introduction to the Study of Religion (3 units)

CPRL 105 Religion and the Quest for Meaning (3) or
CPRL 110 Religions of the World(3)  

Introduction to Western Religious Traditions (3 units)

CPRL 200 Introduction to Christianity (3) or
CPRL 201 Introduction to the New Testament (3) or
CPRL 210 Introduction to Judaism (3) or
CPRL 250 Introduction to Islam (3)

Introduction to Non-western Religious Traditions (3 units):

CPRL 270T Introduction to Asian Religions (3) or
CPRL 280 Introduction to Buddhism (3)

Upper-Division Requirements (12 units):

Core Requirement (3 units):

CPRL 300 Methods of Studying Religion (3)

Elective Courses (9 units):

Any nine units of upper-division courses in comparative religion.

 

CHRISTIAN STUDIES

Students minoring in Christian studies are required to take 21 units, distributed as follows:  

Required Courses (12 units):

CPRL 200 Introduction to Christianity (3)
CPRL 300 Methods of Studying Religion (3)
CPRL 345A History and Development of Early Christian Thought (3)
CPRL 345B History and Development of Modern Christian Thought (3)  

Elective Courses (9 units):

CPRL 201 Introduction to the New Testament (3)
CPLT/CPRL 312 The Bible as Literature (3)
AFRO/CPRL 325 African-American Religion (3)
CPRL 331T New Testament Studies (3)
CPRL 335 Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Compared (3)
CPRL 350T Major Christian Traditions (3)
CPRL 358 Comparative Mysticism (3)
CPRL 367 Latino(a) Spirituality and Religion (3)
CPRL 380 Religion and Violence (3)
CPRL 381 Religion and Politics in the U.S.A. (3)
CPRL 397 Religion and Science (3)
CPRL 400 Religion, the Media, and Contemporary Culture (3)
CPRL 401T Studies in Religious Texts (3)
HIST/CPRL 417B Roman Empire (3)
HIST/CPRL 420 The Byzantine Empire (3)
HIST/CPRL 421A History of the Christian Church to 1025 (3)
HIST/CPRL 421B History of the Christian Church From 1025 to the Present (3)
HIST/CPRL 425B The Reformation (3)
SOCI/CPRL 458 Sociology of Religious Behavior (3)
HIST/CPRL 483 American Religious History (3)
CPRL 485T Major Religious Thinkers and Concepts (3)**
CPRL 499 Independent Study (1-3)**

**When the content pertains to the Christian tradition.

 

JEWISH STUDIES

Students minoring in Jewish studies are required to take 21 units, distributed as follows:

Required Courses (12 units):

CPRL 210 Introduction to Judaism (3)
CPRL 300 Methods of Studying Religion (3)
CPRL 346A History and Development of Jewish Thought: Biblical and Rabbinical Eras (3)
CPRL 346B History and Development of Jewish Thought: Medieval and Modern Eras (3)  

Elective Courses (9 units):

CPLIT/CPRL 312 The Bible as Literature (3)
CPRL 330T Hebrew Scriptural Studies (3)
CPRL 335 Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Compared (3)
CPRL 358 Comparative Mysticism (3)
CPRL 380 Religion and Violence (3)
CPRL 381 Religion and Politics in the U.S.A. (3)
CPRL 400 Religion, The Media, and Contemporary Culture (3)
CPRL 401T Studies in Religious Texts (3)
HIST/CPRL 405 History of the Jews (3)
HIST 406 History of the Holocaust (3)
SOCI/CPRL 458 Sociology of Religious Behavior (3)
HIST 467 The Middle East in the 19th Century (3)
HIST 468 Middle East in the 20th Century (3)
CPRL 485T Major Religious Thinkers and Concepts (3)**
CPRL 499 Independent Study (1-3)**

**When the content pertains to the Jewish tradition.

 

ISLAMIC STUDIES

Students minoring in Jewish studies are required to take 21 units, distributed as follows:

Required Courses (12 units/4 courses):

CPRL 250 Introduction to Islam (3)
CPRL 300 Methods of Studying Religion (3)
CPRL 349A History and Development of Islamic Thought: The Beginning to 1258 (3)
CPRL 349B History and Development of Islamic Thought: 1259 to Modern Times (3)

Elective Courses (9 units/3 courses ):

CPRL 352T Topics in Islam (3) (New Course)
AFRO/CPRL 325 African-American Religion (3)  
 CPRL 335 Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Compared (3)
CPRL 380 Religion and Violence (3)
CPRL 400 Religion, The Media, and Contemporary Culture (3)
CPRL 401T Studies in Religious Texts*: The Qur'an and the Hadith(3)
SOCI/CPRL 458 Sociology of Religious Behavior (3)
HIST/CPRL 466A Islamic Civilization: Arab Era (3)
HIST/CPRL 466B Islamic Civilization: Imperial Age (3)
HIST 468 Middle East in the 20th Century (3)
CPRL 485T Major Religious Thinkers and Concepts (3)**
CPRL 499 Independent Study (1-3)**

**When the content pertains to the Islamic tradition

 

 

What courses will transfer from my community college?

Many of your courses will transfer as general education classes. In addition, any community college course that is the equivalent of one of our required religion courses is transferable. (Consult your college’s articulation document for details.)   

 

What activities can I join?

The Comparative Religion Student Association sponsors both academic and social program each year. Also, there are sometimes opportunities for senior-level religion majors to tutor students in introductory classes or to serve as teaching assistants.

 

How do I get departmental advisement?

Both the undergraduate advisers, Dr. James Santucci (714.278.3727/e-mail: jsantucci@fullerton.edu) and Dr. Paul J. Levesque (714.278.5902/e-mail: plevesque@fullerton.edu and the department chair, Dr. Benjamin J. Hubbard (714.278.3452/e-mail: bhubbard@fullerton.edu) are available during office hours or by appointment to advise students. Dr. Hubbard welcomes inquiries from prospective students. 

 

How do I get more information?

Please write the Department of Comparative Religion, California State University, Fullerton, Education Classroom 622, Fullerton, California 92834-6868; or call (714) 278-2442.