Religious Leadership, BA

Requirements for the Religious Leadership Major

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Foundational Requirements (18 Hours)

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• TI 250-RL - Religions of the World Min Units: 3

• OR

• SW 260-RL - Religions, Cults, and (In)Tolerance in America Min Units: 3

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• RL 405 - Internship Min Units: 3

• OR

• RL 406 - Internship Min Units: 6 to be fulfilled in a role related to religious leadership (including practical training in a religious community)

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• RL 381 - Theory and Method in the Study of Religion Min Units: 3 (or approved alternative capstone course or independent study)
• RL 403 - Independent Study Min Units: 3
• 3 additional hours in Religion at the 300 level or above

Focus Areas (at least 15 Hours)

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In addition to completing the track’s core requirements, students must complete at least 15 hours in the following specialization areas. Students may count no more than 3 courses in any one specialization area (other than interreligious engagement) towards the minimum of 15 hours. Note: Some courses on the list below have prerequisites. Religion majors on the Religious Leadership Track will not receive special exemption from these prerequisites (though they may request exemption like any other student).

Non-Profit Management and Finance

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• AA 301 - Principles and Practices of Arts Administration Min Units: 3
• EI 201 - Real Business Experience Min Units: 3
• EI 315 - Creativity and Innovation Min Units: 3
• EI 325 - Social Entrepreneurship Min Units: 3
• EI 346 - Entrepreneurial Finance Min Units: 3 (Note: This one has a particularly high number of prerequisites)
• EI 470 - Entrepreneurial Consulting Min Units: 3
• EI 480 - Corporate Entrepreneurship Min Units: 3
• EI 485 - Entrepreneurial Accelerator Min Units: 3

Communication

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• COM 101 - Rhetoric and the American Demo Min Units: 3
• ORG 253 - Interpersonal Communication Min Units: 3
• ORG 351 - Small Group Communication Min Units: 3
• ORG 362 - Leadership and Communication Min Units: 3
• ORG 453 - Relational Communication
• ORG 454 - Persuasion, Compliance, & Social Influence Min Units: 3
• ORG 462 - Advanced Leadership Communication Min Units: 3
• ORG 470 - Advanced Organizational Communication Min Units: 3
• CCM 398 - Argumentation and Advocacy Min Units: 3
• CCM 482 - Voices of Dissent & Social Change Min Units: 3
• STR 128 - Promotional Writing I Min Units: 3
• STR 222 - Principles of Strategic Communication Min Units: 3

Interreligious Engagement

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• RL 340 - Islam in America Min Units: 3
• RL 347 - History of Christianity Min Units: 3
• RL 350 - Topics in Judaism Min Units: 3
• RL 353 - Buddhism: Past and Present Min Units: 3
• RL 354 - Islam: Religion, Culture, Society Min Units: 3
• RL 358 - Hinduism: Past and Present Min Units: 3
• RL 363 - Religion, Politics, and Conflict in South Asia Min Units: 3
• RL 372 - Mysticism Min Units: 3
• RL 377 - Hinduism, Gender, and the Goddess Min Units: 3
• RL 383 - Christian Approaches to Religious Diversity Min Units: 3
• RL 391 - Seminar on Religion and Global Affairs Min Units: 1.5
• OR
• RL 392 - Seminar on Religion and Global Affairs Min Units: 1.5

Counselling/Psychology

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• SW 250 - Psychological Inquiry
• PS 320 - Life Span Developmental Psychology Min Units: 3
• PS 350 - Social Psychology Min Units: 3
• PS 360 - Industrial/Organizational Psychology Min Units: 3
• Select courses at Christian Theological Seminary

Social Work

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• SO 353 - Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Min Units: 3
• SO 347 - Urban Community Min Units: 3
• SO 323 - Racial and Ethnic Relations Min Units: 3
• SO 381 - Social Work and Social Policy Min Units: 3
• SO 383 - Social Work Methods Min Units: 3
• SO 385 - Practice Skills in Social Work Min Units: 3

Music

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• AM 125 - Guitar Class 1 Min Units: 1
• AM 127 - Voice Class 1 Min Units: 1
• Or any other music course approved by the student’s official advisor in the Religion program and relevant to the student’s leadership goals

Language (At Second-year Level With Reading Relevant to Religion and/or Ministry)

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• Greek
• Latin
• Other languages offered at Butler (such as Spanish) as well as others not offered here but which might be taken elsewhere over the summer or through an independent study (such as Hebrew, Arabic, or Sanskrit) may also be counted, if an explanation is provided of how they relate to one’s faith tradition or ministry goals.

Creative Writing

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• EN 203 - Intro to Professional Writing Min Units: 3
• EN 219 - Intro to Creative Writing: Prose Min Units: 3
• EN 386 - Studies in Rhetoric Min Units: 3

Journalism

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• JR 112 - Introduction to Multimedia Journalism Min Units: 3
• JR 113 - Introduction to Broadcast Journalism
• JR 210 - Reporting and Writing Min Units: 3
• JR 213 - Broadcast Journalism Min Units: 3
• JR 312 - Multimedia Journalism Min Units: 3
• JR 313 - Advanced Broadcast Reporting Min Units: 3
• JR 325 - Gender and News: Global Views Min Units: 3
• JR 409 - Media Economics and Regulation
• JR 412 - In-depth Journalism Min Units: 3
• JR 414 - Media Law Min Units: 3
• JR 417 - Global Media Min Units: 3
• JR 420 - Media Ethics Min Units: 3

Study Abroad:

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Coursework or research related to religion or religious leadership in study abroad programs may be counted towards the required Focus Area hours so long as the student goes through the usual process of having study abroad courses approved for transfer by the department chair (and allocated a relevant course number).

This information is the same as for the existing track as found on the Butler website:

https://bulletin.butler.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=1&poid=71&returnto=18