CAS: Religion
Sample Pathway
Below is an example of a four-year plan of a College of General Studies student pursuing a degree in religion. Students will work with their CGS academic advisors and the CAS Religion department to plan their own pathway to a religion degree.
| Semester I | Semester II | |
| Freshman Year | CGS Required Courses* Second Language (if needed) |
CGS Required Courses (London or Boston-New England semester) |
| Sophomore Year | CGS Required Courses CAS RN 100-level course* Second Language (if needed) |
CGS Required Courses CAS RN 100-level course Second Language (if needed) |
| Junior Year | CAS RN 200 (offered every fall) CAS RN 200-level course Elective** Second Language (if needed) |
CAS RN 300-level course CAS RN 300-level course Elective** Elective** |
| Senior Year | CAS RN 300-level course CAS RN 400-level course Elective** Elective** |
CAS RN 300-level course CAS RN 300-level course Elective** Elective** |
*Students who complete CGS HU 103 with a grade of ‘C’ or higher may substitute it for one of the required 100-level RN courses.
**Choose your electives carefully to fulfill any remaining BU Hub requirements. You will find a list of all of the courses that carry Hub units on the University’s BU Hub website. CAS Religion courses inventory with Hub units can be found here. External courses are not eligible for Hub general education credit.
College of General Studies Program Requirements
- Two rhetoric courses: CGS RH 103 and CGS RH 104
- CGS RH 104 is taken during the London semester
- Two natural science courses: CGS NS 201 and CGS NS 202
- Three social science courses:
- CGS SS 104 is required and is taken during the London semester
- Students select at least two additional SS courses and will work with their academic advisor to determine course selection
- Three humanities courses:
- CGS HU 104 is required and is taken during the London semester
- Students select at least two additional HU courses and will work with their academic advisor to determine course selection
Major Requirements
Students majoring in Religion are required to complete 10 four-credit courses, which they are encouraged to choose with the help of their departmental advisor. Majors are encouraged to take courses that acquaint them both with comparative themes and with individual religious traditions:
- Two 100-level RN courses
- CAS RN 200 Theoretical Approaches to the Study of Religion, ideally taken in the sophomore year or, if the major is declared later, as soon as possible thereafter.
- Two additional 200-level RN courses.
- Five courses at the 300-level or higher, one of which must be at the 400-level or above.
Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all courses for the major.
CGS students may, with the approval of their Religion advisors, count toward the major a maximum of one related course taken in other departments.
For more information, please see the CAS Bulletin. Please contact Anthony Petro (apetro@bu.edu), Director of Undergraduate Studies, with any questions.
Continuation Requirements
- Completion of the CGS required courses and appropriate electives
- Cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.00
Graduation Requirements
Boston University students completing a degree in CAS must also complete the following requirements.
- BU Hub requirements
- CAS requirements:
- Religion major requirements
- CAS requires a minimum of 128 credits, excluding PDP, ROTC, and CAS FY and SY courses.
This is a sample pathway to be used in consultation with your CGS Academic Advisor.
It is subject to change according to course availability and individual circumstances.
Last revised: 02/07/2025