Religious Studies
Religious Studies is an academic discipline that examines religions and religious experiences through historical, literary, and social-scientific perspectives. Students explore how religion shapes cultures, societies, and individual lives, and how those same forces influence religion in return.
Motlow offers two degree options in Religious Studies: the Associate of Science (A.S.) Tennessee Transfer Pathway (TTP) and the Associate of Arts (A.A.) TTP. Both options allow you to complete your degree at Motlow and transfer to a four-year university in Tennessee. Completion of either pathway indicates the student has completed a course of study equivalent to the first two years of a bachelor’s degree.
As a student in this program, you will use comparative methods to explore similarities and differences across religious traditions while also engaging each tradition on its own terms. Coursework may include analyzing religious texts, studying rituals and symbols, and examining religion’s role in shaping human meaning and identity. Some courses may also include visits to houses of worship or discussions with religious leaders to better understand how individuals practice and experience their beliefs.
From interpreting life’s biggest questions to understanding cultural traditions and global perspectives, religious studies helps you develop critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills that apply to a wide range of careers and real-world settings.
