Religion

Departmental Information

Director of Undergraduate Studies
Jonathan Schorsch
Room 209, 80 Claremont
(212) 851-4128
js1167@columbia.edu

Departmental Administrator
Annie Barry
Room 103A, 80 Claremont

Departmental Office
Room 103, 80 Claremont
(212) 851-4122

Departmental Web Site
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/religion/

The contemporary approach to study of religion is both multidisciplinary and multicultural. Religious traditions that were formerly associated with particular social, historical, and cultural contexts, and could be neatly parceled out in area studies, are now in daily interaction with other traditions that might differ in their approaches to belief, ritual, scripture, or sacrifice.

The commitment of the Religion Department at Columbia to comparative and interdisciplinary investigation is reflected not only in the areas of research covered by its faculty, but also in its integrated curriculum, which draws substantially from other resources at the University and neighboring institutions. Faculty members subscribe to a variety of methods and theoretical approaches, from text-based criticism, and philological and linguistic analysis, to theoretical insights drawn from engagement with other disciplines including history, philosophy, sociology, and anthropology.

A solid foundation in the study of religious traditions in their historical context is an essential part of the department’s teaching. This firm grounding in traditions also reinforces our students’ ability to engage in current theoretical debates in the field of religious studies with a deeper awareness of the issues involved. They are thus able to draw upon the department’s strength in comparative study, philosophy, history, and theory to balance in-depth study of religion in a particular focus area with a critical introduction to a wide range of religious practices, ideas, histories, and texts. Students are expected to pursue a course of study that develops this “double vision,” so that they learn and develop the tools and knowledge with which to pose important questions about religious phenomena. Breadth, like depth, can be defined along various parameters. A student with a background in philosophy and ethics might be encouraged, for example, to pursue courses that offer an historical approach to religious traditions; a student who develops a specialization in Hinduism might take courses in Christianity or Islam. A major in the study of religion provides a broad-based liberal arts education.

The study of religion at Columbia is enhanced by the University’s wide offerings in the languages of the major religious traditions of the world: Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Latin, Persian, Sanskrit and other Indic languages, and Tibetan, among others.

The Jewish Theological Seminary of America and Union Theological Seminary are located near the campus. Students are encouraged to use the resources that they offer, including their world-renowned libraries.

Students are encouraged to declare their major/concentration by the end of the sophomore year, or the beginning of their junior year. Prospective majors should first arrange to meet with the director of undergraduate studies. All students are then allocated a faculty adviser, and must submit a copy of the Declaration of Major form to the director of undergraduate studies. Those students interested in applying for the honors track should see the appropriate section below. After meeting with their adviser, and agreeing upon a plan for the major or concentration, students must obtain final approval and confirmation from the director of undergraduate studies.