Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Bachelor of Arts programs in the School of Religious Studies explore the many cultural, historical and political issues related to both Eastern and Western religions, and to religion in comparative perspective. Majors and minors in Religious Studies are available, as well as honours and joint honours programs in Religious Studies. Students frequently combine Majors and Minors in Religious Studies with a wide range of other B.A. concentrations, highlighting the importance of the rigorous study of religion to many other areas of inquiry.

Any course that needs approval to register please e-mail admincoord1.relig [at] mcgill.ca and include your student ID number.

Programs

Major

Please note that due to a technical issue, it is not possible to add the Major concentration in Religious Studies via Minerva. Please submit a request via the Major Concentration Change Webform for program selection issues related the major concentration in Religious Studies.

Please note that there is a new B.A. Major Concentration in Religious Studies which is effective Fall 2020. Students enrolled in the Major starting Fall 2020 and after will follow this course of study.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) -  Major Concentration Religious Studies (36 Credits)

Students already registered in the Major in World Religions may continue on this path, or choose to switch to the Major Concentration in Religious Studies.

Program requirements:

RELG 207 Introduction to the Study of Religions

RELG 456 Theories of Religion

Students in a Religious Studies Major, Honours or Joint Honours programme have to take RELG 456, ideally in their final, graduating year.

To register for RELG 456, please e-mail admincoord1.relig [at] mcgill.ca for an 'approval code', including your student number, and program.

Minor

Please note that there is a new B.A. Minor Concentration in Religious Studies which is effective Fall 2020. Students enrolled in the Minor starting Fall 2020 and after will follow this course of study.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Minor Concentration Religious Studies (18 Credits)

Students already registered in the Minor in World Religions or Religion and Globalization may continue on these paths, or choose to switch to the Minor Concentration in Religious Studies.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Minor Concentration Religion and Globalization (18 Credits)

Honours

Please note that there is a new B.A. Honours in Religious Studies which is effective Fall 2020. Students enrolled in the Honours starting Fall 2020 and after will follow this course of study.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Honours Religious Studies (60 Credits)

Students already registered in the Honours Religious Studies - Asian Religions or Honours Religions Studies - Western Religions may continue on this path, or choose to switch to the Honours in Religious Studies.

Program requirement:

RELG 456 Theories of Religion

Students in a Religious Studies Major, Honours or Joint Honours programme have to take RELG 456, ideally in their final, graduating year.

To register for RELG 456, please e-mail admincoord1.relg [at] mcgill.ca (Administrative Coordinator) for an 'approval code', including your student number, and program.

Joint Honours

Please note that there is a NEW B.A. Joint Honours in Religious Studies effective Fall 2023. Students enrolled in the Joint Honours starting Fall 2023 and after will follow this course of study.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Joint Honours Component Religious Studies

Students  registered in the Joint Honours Religious Studies - Asian Religions or Joint Honours Religions Studies - Western Religions prior to Fall 2021 may continue on this path, or choose to switch to the Joint Honours in Religious Studies.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Joint Honours Component Religious Studies - Asian Religions (36 Credits)

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Joint Honours Component Religious Studies - Western Religions (36 Credits)

Program requirements:

RELG 456 Theories of Religion

Students in a Religious Studies Major, Honours or Joint Honours programme have to take RELG 456, ideally in their final, graduating year.

To register for RELG 456, e-mail a request for an “approval code” to admincoord1.relg [at] mcgill.ca (Administrative Coordinator), including your name, student number, and program.

RELG 456 Theories of Religion 3 Credits

RELG 489 Joint Honours Thesis

Students in a Religious Studies Joint Honours programme will also have to take RELG 489 in the Winter Term of their final year, graduating year.

No permission is required to register for RELG 489.

RELG 489 Joint Honours Thesis 3 Credits

Courses

200 level courses

200 level courses are the main introductory courses in all departments. Most courses do not have pre-requisites and are often ‘survey’ courses. These sometimes split into smaller conferences that go into depth about class topics.  The two additional characters (D1, D2) at the end of the seven-character course number identifies multi-term courses.

Course Syllabi
RELG 201 Religions:Ancient Near East 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 202 Religion of Ancient Israel 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 203 Bible and Western Culture 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 204 Judaism, Christianity&Islam 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 205 Death and Dying 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 207 Intro to Study of Religions 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 210 Jesus of Nazareth 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 222 World Christianity 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 252 Hinduism & Buddhism 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 253 Religions of East Asia 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 254 Intro to Yoga Traditions 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 256 Course not available
 
RELG 257D1 Introductory Sanskrit 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 264 Introductory Tibetan 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 265 Introductory Tibetan 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 270 Religious Ethics & the Environ 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 271 Religion and Sexuality 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 280D1 Course not available
 
RELG 288 Introduction to Sikhism 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 

300 level courses

300 level courses are intermediate courses, meaning they are typically smaller and provide a more in-depth look at a subject than a 200 level introductory course. Often, there will be 200 level pre-requisites you must complete before you are allowed to register for the 300 level courses. The two additional characters (D1, D2) at the end of the seven-character course number identifies multi-term courses.

course Syllabi
RELG 300 Second Temple Judaism 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 302 Literature of Ancient Israel 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 303 Lit of Ancient Israel 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 307 Bible, Quran & Interpretations 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 309 World Rel&Cultures They Create 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 311 Formation of the New Testament 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 312 The Gospels 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 315 Special Topics in Religion 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Winter 2023
RELG 315 Topics in Catholic Studies: Indigenous Religiosity and Spirituality
RELG 317 Special Topics in Religion 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Winter 2023
RELG 317 Special Topics in Religion 2: Varieties of Modern Buddhism
RELG 318 Special Topics in Religion 3 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Fall 2022
RELG 318 Catholicism in a Global Context: African Christianity
RELG 321 Western Intellectual Tradition 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 322 Church and Empire to 1300 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Fall 2022
RELG 322 Church and Empire to 1300
RELG 323 Church and State since 1300 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 325 Varieties Rel Exp in Christnty 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 326 Christians in the Roman World 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 331 Religion and Globalization 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 333 Principles of Theology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 334 Theology of History 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 336 Contemp Theological Issues 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 337 Themes in Buddhist Studies 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 338 Women& the Christian Tradition 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 341 Intro:Philosophy of Religion 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 348 Classical Hinduism 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 352 Japanese Relig: Hist & Thought 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 353 Gandhi: His Life and Thought 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 354 Chinese Religions 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 357D1 Sanskrit 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 358 Religion and Cinema in India 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 364 Intermediate Tibetan 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 366 Rivers,Religion,&Enviro S-Asia 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 370 Religion and Human Rights 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 372 Hindu Goddesses 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 373 Christian Ethics of Love 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 375 Religion, Politics and Society 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 381 Adv. New Testament Greek 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 388 Introduction to Sikhism 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 390D1 Elem Biblical Hebrew 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 399 Christian Spirituality 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 

400 level courses

400 level courses are advanced courses or seminar courses. There will often be 300 level pre-requisite courses you must complete before you are allowed to register for the 400 level courses.

course Syllabi
RELG 407 The Writings 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 408 The Prophets 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 411 New Testament Exegesis 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 420 Course not available
 
RELG 423 Reformation Thought 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Fall 2022
RELG 423 Reformation Thought
RELG 434 Advanced Theology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 442 Pure Land Buddhism 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 444 Indian Ocean Relig Networks 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 456 Theories of Religion 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 457D1 Advanced Sanskrit 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 464 Advanced Tibetan 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 470 Theological Ethics 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 479 Christianity in GlobalPerspect 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 482 Exegesis of Greek New Testamnt 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 489 Joint Honours Thesis 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 491 Biblical Hebrew Narratives 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 492 Biblical Hebrew Poetry 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 496 Special Studies 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 

500 level courses

500 level courses are high-level seminar courses, usually intended for students in Honours programs and graduate level students.

course Syllabi
RELG 502 Greco-Roman Judaism 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 532 History of Christian Thought 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 533 History of Christian Thought 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 544 Ethnography as Method in RelSt 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 545 Ramayana: Multiple Lives 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 546 Indian Philosophy 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 547 Special Topics in Hinduism 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 549 Japanese Buddhism: Hist Cont 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 551 Special Topics in Buddhism 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 552 Advaita Vedanta 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 553 Course not available
 
RELG 556 Issues in Buddhist Studies 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 558 Indian Tantric Traditions 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 560 Buddhist Poetry 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 571 Ethics, Medicine and Religion 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
RELG 572 Religion and Global Politics 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

CATH courses

These are Catholic Studies courses.

courses Syllabi
CATH 200 Introduction to Catholicism 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
CATH 325 Mystery and the Imagination 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
CATH 330 Catholicism in a Glob. Context 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Fall 2022
CATH 330 Catholicism in a Global Context: African Christianity
CATH 370 Topics in Catholic Studies 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Winter 2023
CATH 330 Catholicism in a Global Context: African Christianity

RELG 456 Theories of Religion

Students in a Religious Studies Major, Honours or Joint Honours programme have to take RELG 456, ideally in their final, graduating year.

To register for RELG 456, e-mail a request for an “approval code” to samieun.khan [at] mcgill.ca (Ms. Samieun Khan), including your name, student number, and program.

RELG 456 Theories of Religion 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Special studies courses

Students in B.A. Religious Studies programs may apply special studies courses to their programs ONLY with the prior written approval of their program advisor. The student is responsible to provide the advisor with written evidence of a thorough, practical plan for a course of study deserving 3 credits in Religious Studies.

Additional information

Frequently asked questions:

The class I want to take is full. What should I do?

  1. Get yourself on the waitlist. Waitlists open up after registration is complete for all different registration groups, which might mean you have to wait and check back if the waitlist is not open. These dates vary from year to year, but typically waitlists open up in late June.
  2. If the waitlist is full, you can always check Minerva to see if students drop. Meanwhile, be sure to have a back-up plan!
  3. If there is a class that you really need/want to take, note that only the course instructor can grant you special permission to enroll in the course. Many instructors will tell you to wait until the semester gets going to see if students drop the course.

I do not have the prerequisites for a course but Minerva let me register. Is this okay?

No, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have completed all of the listed course prerequisites (or have special permission from the instructor) before enrolling in the course. 

I disagree with my grade in a RELG course. What can I do?

In accordance with the Charter of Students' Rights, and subject to the conditions stated therein, students have the right to consult any written submission for which they have received a mark and the right to discuss this submission with the examiner. Before initiating a formal reassessment or reread, students are advised to request an informal review of any graded material.

If dissatisfied with the informal review students can proceed to request a formal review.

Please see the following websites on the McGill policy for requesting a reread: https://www.mcgill.ca/study/2019-2020/university_regulations_and_resources/undergraduate/gi_final_examinations#booknode-3699

And the Arts OASIS advising page on reassessments and rereads: https://www.mcgill.ca/oasis/academic/exams-evaluations/reassessments-and-rereads

Advising

More information about undergraduate advising including advisors and advising sheets can be found here.

The Arts OASIS website provides Arts students with general academic information and advice about issues such as faculty and degree requirements, registration issues, inter-faculty transfer, study away, academic standing, or graduation. In addition to advising students about such issues, either by appointment or on a daily drop-in basis, the Arts OASIS Faculty advisors offer a number of information sessions every term, such as degree planning workshops, study away workshops, and freshman information sessions.

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