»Religious Studies Minor

Religious Studies at Chapman University introduces students to the diverse cultures and religious traditions of the world, past and present, and to a global range of human understandings of life’s meaning and purpose and the nature of reality itself, of what it means to be truly human and how we relate to “heaven and earth and the myriad things."

The Religious Studies minor is designed to address some of the most compelling issues in human life and to foster global citizenship through interreligious literacy and an interdisciplinary understanding of the power and impact of the world’s religious traditions.

Through this interdisciplinary study, students develop a range of methodological tools to understand our complex world, hone their critical thinking and analytic skills, and acquire interreligious literacy, an essential competency enhancing understanding of contemporary politics, history, art and culture and providing a valuable professional asset for serving clients, patients, students, customers, or constituents.

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Studying religion prepares you for life, exploring a whole world of values and ideas and fostering cross-cultural understanding, evidenced-based reasoning, and ethical awareness. These are vital professional assets for relating to diverse patients, clients, students, and co-workers, whatever your future may hold!

What can you do with a Religious Studies minor?

Conflict Resolution/Management
Faith Based Diplomacy
Disaster/Disease Relief
Foreign Affairs
Humanitarian Services
International Law
International Security
Peace Keeping or Peace building
Policy Development
Program Administration

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Associate Professor; Religious Studies, Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Dr. Julye Bidmead (Ph.D., Vanderbilt University) is the Director of the Office of Fellowships and Scholar Programs and an Associate Professor of Religious Studies in Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Science.

Theta Alpha Kappa is the National Honor Society for Religious Studies students which seeks to encourage and recognize excellence in the academic study of religion. This club is also dedicated to learning about and celebrating the diversity of religions at Chapman University and throughout the world.

TAK sponsors Chapman's religious studies club, which is a non-devotional and non-denominational group dedicated to creating a community of students, professors and faculty members who are willing to support one another in intellectual exploration.

As a member of the Interfaith Council, TAK actively engages with Chapman's diverse religious community, hosting events such as, the Hunger Banquet, Interfaith Dialogue Series, and Speed Faithing.

Honorary membership is open to all, but members must meet certain requirements to be part of the national honor society. Benefits of being a national member include the opportunity to apply for scholarships and to submit papers for publication in TAK's academic journal.

For more information, please visit the national website or contact Professor Julye Bidmead.

At Chapman, students can study religion in the classroom, but they are also encouraged to experience religion in local, national and international communities through study abroad programs and internships.

Study Abroad
Religious Studies at Chapman University is committed to global education and considers travel abroad a vital part of their students’ undergraduate education. Study abroad gives students the opportunity to enrich their study further by studying in different cultures, experiencing living religions and the people who practice them in diverse global contexts.

Did you know that Chapman offers a course on “Religion, Race, and Gender in Harry Potter” (REL 333) that includes travel to England? Rel 335a offers students the opportunity travel to India to study the diverse religions there, and students can actively engage in archeology in Israel in Rel 415! Visit the Center for Global Education for more information on other study abroad opportunities.

Internships
We encourage Religious Studies minors to engage in internships as part of their academic program. Here are some examples of recent internships our majors have participated in.

Shared Hope International in Washington DC.
United Nations Association of Orange County
Child Abuse Prevention Center in Orange County
Orange County Equity Coalition

Learn more information about internships.

The Griset Chair in Bible and Christian Tradition was the first endowed chair at Chapman University, established in 1984 in the name of Belle Griset, whose son Francis Griset served as a Chapman Trustee for many years. This Chair was held formerly by our esteemed colleague Prof. Marvin Meyer until his untimely passing in 2012. Now as a visiting position, this Chair allows Chapman students the unique opportunity to take courses with leading biblical scholars from around the world. Below is a list of those that have served in the position.

2020: Karen Jo Torjesen
2019: Dale Allison
2018: James Charlesworth
2017: Paul Anderson
2016: Lee MacDonald
2014-2015: Donald Hagner

Learn more about these scholars ...

Marilyn Harran Holocaust Event Religious Studies at Chapman extends far beyond the courses offered by the Religious Studies department. Chapman is also home to a number of Centers and Institutes that intersect with the study of religion and offer a variety of programs on campus:

»Religious Studies Minor

Program Director: Dr. Julye Bidmead

Theta Alpha Kappa: National Honor Society

Religious Studies Across the Campus

Visiting Griset Chair in Bible and Christian Tradition

Religious Studies Across the Campus

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