All human cultures reflect on the meaning of life through myth, symbol and abstract reflection. Studying the religions and theologies of different cultures, within a variety of historical contexts, is both an important intellectual exercise and a fascinating process that provokes many questions about the past, the present and the future. The religious studies program is devoted to the critical study of a wide range of religious traditions, as interpreted both in the past and in the contemporary world. It is also concerned with thinking about the ways in which specific religious traditions engage in intellectual reflection on a wide range of specific issues, such as the nature of God, ethics, social issues, gender, the environment and the meaning of life.
You can choose from a great range of topics related to religion, spirituality, belief and non-belief. You will be exposed to the history, core teachings and central practices of many of the world's religions. Topics investigated may include religion in relation to colonisation, environmental degradation, gender and sexuality and religious responses to modernity.
In the Arts faculty, we strongly encourage students to engage in international study and broaden their view of the world. Religious studies subjects can be taken as part of a study overseas or exchange experience, or in intensive mode between semesters at our Prato Centre in Italy - where students can immerse themselves first-hand in the unit Dante's medieval world: politics, religion and the city.
Availability
Religious studies is listed in A2000 Bachelor of Arts at Clayton as a major or minor, and A0502 Diploma of Liberal Arts at Clayton as a major.
Outcomes
In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of their course, students successfully completing this major will:
- be aware of current philosophical, historical and cultural debates about religion in both past and present society
- think reflectively about how religions are represented and interpreted in contemporary society.
Major requirements (48 points)
No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited to the majormajor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) and at least 18 points must be at level 3.
Students complete:
- Two level 1 gateway units (12 points):*
- One level 2 cornerstone unitcornerstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS2586 Islam: Principles, civilisations, influences
- ATS2610 Ancient religions
- ATS2907 Islamic responses to the post-colonial age
- One level 3 capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points), chosen from:
- ATS3157 Sources of religious violence: Texts and contexts
- ATS3611 Imagining God: The mystic quest in Judaism, Christianity and Islam
- ATS3862 Thinking about religion
- Four units (24 points) from the remaining cornerstone or capstones units or the elective list, with at least two units at level 3
Minor requirements (24 points)
No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited towards the minorminor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html).
Students complete:
- Two first-year gateway units (12 points):*
- Two level 2 or 3 units (12 points) as listed within the major. It is a highly recommended that students complete a level 2 unit before enrolling in a level 3 unit.
Elective list
Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.
- ATS2185 Biblical texts and contexts
- ATS2359/ATS3359 Hearing the country: Studies in Indigenous Australian ethnoecology
- ATS2600 The Holocaust
- ATS2603 The age of crusades: Cultures and societies
- ATS2629 Religion and spirituality in a globalising world
- ATS2860 After the death of God: Continental philosophy of religion from Nietzsche to today
- ATS2861 God, freedom and evil
- ATS2872 Topics in Indian philosophy
- ATS2957/ATS3957 Medieval Italy: Sites of encounter (12 points)
- ATS3194 Sacred cities: Between co-existence and persecution
- ATS3288 Renaissance Rome: The papacy and the world
- ATS3573 The Renaissance Codes: Art, magic and belief
- ATS3599 Modern Israel: History, politics and society
- ATS3608 Myth and meaning in ancient worlds
- ATS3611 Imagining God: The mystic quest in Judaism, Christianity and Islam
- ATS3636 Sacred and profane: Religion, the secular and the state
- ATS3852 Contemporary issues in social science research
- ATS3870 Philosophy of religion
- ATS3884 Foundations of modern philosophy: Love and other passions
Intending honours students
Students intending to enter honours in this area of study must have completed a major in the discipline, with a minimum of 24 points of study at level 3 to be eligible.
Diplomas
- A0502 Diploma of Liberal Arts
Bachelors
Single degrees
Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the following single degree:*
Students in other single bachelor's degrees may be eligible to complete the minor or major by using 24 or 48 points of their free electives.
Double degrees
Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts component in the following double degrees:*
- A2005 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Art
- A2004 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music
- B2019 Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Arts
- B2012 Bachelor of Business Specialist and Bachelor of Arts
- B2020 Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts
- B2024 Bachelor of Commerce Specialist and Bachelor of Arts
- D3002 Bachelor of Education (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- E3002 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- C2002 Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Arts
- L3003 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- S2006 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts
