Religion is a major force in shaping human culture, and religious factors are prominent in many current social, ethical, cultural and political issues. The study of religion in the university setting provides students with a broad knowledge of human culture, a specific knowledge of types of religious experience and expression, the variety of religious practices and doctrines, a background in the major religions of the world and an understanding of the interrelationship between religion and other areas of human experience. <br><br>Students of religion acquire the critical thinking and communication skills valued by employers in diverse fields, from finance to law to medicine to the nonprofit sector. Additional possible careers include those in secondary school teaching, publishing, social service, journalism and law.<br><br>The major in religious studies is designed to give graduates a sophisticated understanding of the forms and varieties of religion that have appeared in human culture. The program does not provide the sort of specialized religious training associated with seminary education. The curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is a rigorous academic program that draws from the humanities, arts and social sciences to provide a descriptive and analytical approach to religious traditions and phenomena. Emphasis is placed on the interrelations between religion and other aspects of human experience, such as politics, science, literature and the arts.