USU religious studies in high demand
Yet as one of Utah State University's newest academic programs, religious studies is attracting broad interest from students, according to a Buddhist scholar who has watched the program grow from the ground up.
Charles Prebish, recently named director of religious studies at USU, said the demand for courses within the new department is "overwhelming. Every one is filled to capacity and beyond, and there are waiting lists for every course we've taught." Courses normally enroll about 40 students each.
The school is the first university in Utah to offer a bachelor's degree in religious studies, after the program was approved in 2005 and opened its doors to students in fall semester 2006. The school also offers a minor in religious studies, as does Utah Valley State College.
Patrick Williams with the USU public relations office said a total of eight students have declared religious studies as their major — three full majors and five secondary majors (for students with a double-major). Additionally, three students have formally declared it as their minor course of study.
Classes approved as part of the program include Introduction to Religious Studies, a course on methodologies for studying religion; the history and sociology of religion; Introduction to Buddhism; Introduction to Hinduism and a seminar on Buddhism in the West, he said.
A course on the history and culture of Mormonism is in the process of being certified as a religious studies course (it's now part of the history department), as is a seminar on the biography of Joseph Smith and a course on the history of American religions.
Several courses now taught in other departments are related to religious studies and are electives that students can choose to take as part of their 36 credits within the major.
As students continue to seek out the program, Prebish said, USU administrators are looking to "grow the faculty so we can cover the core of five major religious traditions. Phil Barlow now holds the endowed chair in Mormon studies, we have my chair in Buddhist studies, and we're looking to fund chairs in Hindu, Islamic and Jewish studies as well," he said.
A request has been submitted to the university for another position in one of the three remaining areas, but Prebish doesn't know whether it will be approved. If not funded directly through the university, Prebish said the department would look to secure private endowment money.
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The biggest problem with religious studies programs, whether at USU...
Jason the RGONot | May 3, 2008 at 1:59 p.m.
