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 ashonours and joint honours programs in Religious Studies. Students frequently combine Majors and Minors in Religious Studieswith 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 Religionsmay 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 (60Credits)
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 Studieseffective 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” toadmincoord1.relg [at] mcgill.ca (Administrative Coordinator), including your name, student number, and program.
RELG 456Theories of Religion3 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 489Joint Honours Thesis3 Credits
Courses
200 level courses
200 level courses are themainintroductory coursesin 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.
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RELG 256
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RELG 280D1
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300 level courses
300 level courses areintermediate 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.
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RELG 315 Topics in Catholic Studies: Indigenous Religiosity and Spirituality |
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RELG 317 Special Topics in Religion 2: Varieties of Modern Buddhism |
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RELG 318 Catholicism in a Global Context: African Christianity |
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RELG 322 Church and Empire to 1300 |
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RELG 388
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400 level courses
400 level courses areadvanced coursesor 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.
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RELG 420
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RELG 423 Reformation Thought |
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500 level courses
500 level courses arehigh-level seminar courses, usually intended forstudents in Honours programs and graduate level students.
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RELG 553
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CATH courses
These are Catholic Studies courses.
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CATH 330 Catholicism in a Global Context: African Christianity |
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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.
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?
- Get yourself on thewaitlist. Waitlists open up after registration is complete foralldifferent 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.
- If the waitlist is full, you can alwaysto see if students drop. Meanwhile, be sure to have a back-up plan!
- If thereis a class that you really need/want to take, note that only thecourse instructorcan 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 鶹 policy for requesting a reread:/study/2019-2020/university_regulations_and_resources/undergraduate/gi_final_examinations#booknode-3699
And the Arts OASIS advising page on reassessments and rereads:/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 websiteprovides 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, theArts OASIS Faculty advisorsoffer a number of information sessions every term, such as degree planning workshops, study away workshops, and freshman information sessions.
Useful Links
- Academic Integrity
- Arts OASIS (Office of Advising and Student Information Services)
- Course Calendar
- Course Registration
- Course Equivalency/Transfer Credits
- Exams
- International Student Services (ISS)
- IT Services
- 鶹 Abroad
- 鶹 Writing Centre
- Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD)
- Reassessment Policy
- Service Point
- Student Rights and Responsibilities
- Student Services
- Undergraduate Admissions