BA Religious Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Programme overview

Religious Studies is an academic discipline that looks at religious phenomena worldwide from different perspectives to understand the many roles that religion plays in human life. To this end, students of religion learn to use a variety of theoretical analyses and methods: historical methods to understand how religions develop in time; aesthetic methods to understand religious art and material culture; social-scientific methods to understand the relationship between religion, society and culture.

Faculty: College of Letters & Science | Department: Religious Studies | Duration: 120 credits | Study mode: full-time | Location: Madison, WI, United States

What you will study

The degree requires 120 credits in total. Courses listed in the requirements include RELIG ST 101 Religion in Global Perspective; RELIG ST 102 Exploring Religion in Sickness and Health; RELIG ST 103 Exploring Religion and Sexuality; RELIG ST 105 Religion and Popular Culture-Local and Global; RELIG ST 280 Witches and Wizards: from Hecate to Harry Potter; RELIG ST 300 America and Religions.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applies to College of Letters & Science, not specific to this major: No application required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to declare. For information on how to declare, visit Advising & Careers. Courses required to get in None GPA requirements to get in None Credits required to get in None Other None Students declared in the Religious Studies certificate may not be declared in the Religious Studies major at the same time. Students who do wish to declare this major must first cancel their declaration in the certificate.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

First-year entry terms: Fall (Early Action and Regular Decision) and Spring. Transfer entry terms: Fall (Priority and Regular Decision) and Spring.

First-year Fall Early Action: application deadline November 1, materials deadline November 9, decision on or before January 31. Fall Regular Decision: application deadline January 15, materials deadline January 22, decision on or before March 31. Spring Regular Decision: application deadline October 1, materials deadline October 15, decision on or before December 31. First-year fall and spring applications open August 1. Early Action is non-binding.

Transfer Fall Priority: application deadline February 1, materials deadline February 16, decision on or before March 31. Fall Regular: application deadline March 1, materials deadline March 15, decision on or before April 30. Spring Regular: application deadline October 1, materials deadline October 15, decision on or before December 31. Fall transfer applications open December 1; spring transfer applications open August 1.

Apply via the Common Application or the Universities of Wisconsin Application. The application fee is $80 US and is non-refundable; fee waivers are available for applicants with financial hardship. ACT and SAT scores are optional for students applying for admission through the spring 2028 term (application deadline October 1, 2027).

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