BA Religious Studies at The Ohio State University

Programme overview

Religious studies is a uniquely comparative, cross-cultural and interdisciplinary way to study the world’s religions. Students develop a broad knowledge of the world’s religions past and present, along with the opportunity for critical analysis of the role of religion in relation to other social and cultural domains: history, politics, art, literature, science, technology and the media.

Faculty: Arts and Sciences | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbus, OH, United States

What you will study

The religious studies major requires 36 semester hours in comparative studies and in fields related to the student’s area of concentration, including at least 24 credit hours at the 3000 level and above. Depending upon their interests, students may choose some courses offered by various participating units, including the departments of African American and African studies; classics; history; history of art; philosophy; women’s, gender and sexuality studies; and language and literature departments.

Career pathways

Students majoring in religious studies develop strong skills in analytical and critical thinking and in written and spoken communication. These skills are essential to many positions in both the public and private sector: government; the law; local, national and international service organizations; business and industry; and all levels of education.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission to the university (and the Arts and Sciences college where applicable) applies; no separate programme-specific requirement published. Upon admission to the university, students can declare a major in religious studies within the College of Arts and Sciences. Students are often unfamiliar with this field and decide upon the religious studies major after taking a course such as Introduction to Comparative Religion or Comparative Sacred Texts.

Domestic applicants: USD 12,921 a year (2026-27). Columbus campus on-campus Instructional Fee (tuition) for students beginning Autumn 2026: $6,460.50 per semester at 12-18 credit hours, shown as two semesters (Autumn and Spring). The Ohio State Tuition Guarantee fixes this rate for four years for Ohio re Source

Entry terms for first-year applicants to the Columbus campus: Autumn 2027 and Spring 2027 (Spring 2027 deadline November 1, 2026). Summer first-year applications are not accepted.

Transfer applicants can start in Spring, Summer or Autumn 2027.

First-year, Columbus campus, Autumn 2027: early action (non-binding) deadline November 1, 2026; regular decision deadline January 15, 2027; financial aid priority date February 1; acceptance fee deadline May 1, 2027. Early action decisions: December 11 (Ohio residents and Stamps Eminence applicants) and January 22 (non-Ohio residents and international applicants); regular decision decisions March 5.

First-year applicants apply with the Common Application. ACT or SAT scores are required for first-year Columbus applicants (superscored; sent directly by the testing agency); applicants out of high school two or more years are not required to submit scores. The essay is not required.

Transfer applicants (Columbus campus): Spring 2027 deadline November 1, 2026; Autumn 2027 deadline March 1, 2027; Summer 2027 deadline May 15, 2027. Regional campuses: December 1, 2026, April 15, 2027 and July 15, 2027 respectively.

International transfer applicants: Spring 2027 deadline October 1, 2026; Autumn 2027 deadline March 1, 2027.

Apply through the official page: https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply

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