Study of Religion

The Department for the Study of Religion is home to one of the largest and most diverse undergraduate and graduate religion programs in the world.  Faculty is made up of sociologists and anthropologists of religion, historians, philosophers and psychologists, and they offer an intellectually stimulating environment in which to explore how religions have grown and developed, how they have been understood and how we can think about them in our pluralistic society. Religion is an essential aspect of human life, and how it intersects with social issues, ethics, philosophical questions and personal psychological considerations are at the forefront of DSR research. The department is highly regarded internationally for a range of strengths, especially: 

Ancient Mediterranean religions 

Buddhist Studies 

Hinduism and South Asian religions 

Islamic Studies 

Jewish Studies 

The anthropology of Christianity 

Religion, culture, and politics 

Religion, ethics, and modern thought, including modern Jewish thought. 

We also offer unique language courses in Sanskrit, Pāli, and Tibetan. 

On this page, you’ll find a few videos in which faculty and students explain what the DSR is and who they are, some course posters for courses we’re offering this year (course offerings may vary from year to year), and links to our social media platforms. 

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Phoebe at [email protected].