Double Majors and Dual Degrees

Religious Studies at the University of Arizona collaborated with other units to make it easier for students to graduate with double majors and/or dual degrees. Through special agreements, some courses can count for both degrees, allowing students to complete two majors within four years and be more marketable graduates on the global job market. 

Even outside of the particular combinations shown below, students who pursue a double major in Religious Studies or Religious Studies for Health Professionals (RSHP) and another discipline often have the opportunity to double-count two or more courses towards the completion of both majors. Check with your advisors for more information. 

Students earning double majors stand out to employers and graduate and professional schools as having a more comprehensive education, providing the skills to think creatively, navigate complex projects, take initiative, provide innovative solutions, lead collaborative teams, and communicate effectively with a diverse range of people. 

Popular combinations for Religious Studies and RSHP Majors

Religious Studies allows students to double-count up to 15 units (up to 5 courses) between the Religious Studies or RSHP major and another major, as long as the courses are crosslisted or otherwise approved, and the other major allows double dipping. Note that some majors shown below allow only 6 units of double dipping. The following double major/dual degree combinations represent a selection of pre-approved agreements that allow students to share some course requirements (note that other combinations are also possible - please ask our advising team!):

Students who wish to double major in Religious Studies/RSHP and Anthropology may take up to 6 credit hours (2 courses) that will count toward satisfying the requirements of both majors. The student will still need to fulfill all the core and area distribution requirements for both majors.

RELI/ANTH double majors may double-dip up to 6 credits (2 courses) for both majors from any course crosslisted between ANTH & RELI, including the following courses:

  • ANTH/RELI/CLAS 313 - Health and Medicine in Classical Antiquity
  • ANTH/RELI/AFAS 344 - African American Religion
  • ANTH/RELI/JUS 382A - Archaeology and the Bible: Iron Age Israel (1200 - 587 BCE)
  • ANTH/RELI/JUS 382B - Jesus, Judaism and Archaeology
  • ANTH/RELI/MENA 389 - Middle Eastern Ethnic and Religious Minorities
  • ANTH/RELI 411 - Anthropology of Religion
  • ANTH/RELI/CLAS 420 - Archaic Greek Sanctuaries
  • RELI/ANTH 428A - Globalization, the Environment, and Indigenous Religions
  • ANTH/CLAS 464 - Archaeology of Greek Religion and Ritual
  • Any other course crosslisted between ANTH and RELI

Students who wish to double major in Religious Studies/RSHP and Classics may take up to 15 credit hours (5 courses) that will count toward satisfying the requirements of both majors. These 15 credit hours can count toward the “Electives” and/or “Languages” part of the Classics major and toward the emphasis, global religions, and/or elective parts of the Religious Studies or RSHP major (emphases could include Mediterranean Religions, Biblical Texts and Contexts, or other Classics-related emphasis). The student will still need to fulfill all the core and area distribution requirements for both majors.

RELI/CLAS double majors may double-dip up to 15 credits (five courses) for both majors from the following courses:

  • RELI 280 - Introduction to the Bible: New Testament (Can count toward the Classics major only for double majors in Classics and Religious Studies)
  • CLAS/RELI 305 - Greek and Roman Religion
  • CLAS/RELI 306 - Christianity in the Greco-Roman World
  • CLAS/RELI 313 - Health and Medicine in Classical Antiquity
  • CLAS/RELI 401A - Early Christian Literature: Greek Texts
  • CLAS/RELI 401B - Early Christian Literature: Latin Texts
  • CLAS/RELI 420 - Archaic Greek Sanctuaries
  • CLAS/RELI 464 - Archaeology of Greek Religion and Ritual
  • RELI 481 - Jews in the Roman Empire
  • One Greek or Latin language course at the 200 level or higher. (Can count toward the RELI major only for double majors in Classics and Religious Studies)
  • Any other course that is crosslisted between RELI and CLAS.

 

Students who wish to double major in East Asian Studies and Religious Studies/RSHP may take up to 15 credit hours (5 classes) that will double count toward satisfying the requirements of both majors. Students will still need to fulfill all the requirements for both majors.

RELI/EAS double majors may double-dip up to 15 credits for both majors from the following courses with EAS, CHN, JPN, and/or RELI prefixes:

  • CHN/RELI 241 - Intro to Chinese Religions
  • CHN/RELI 331 - Taoist Traditions China
  • CHN/RELI 483 - Confucianism: Classical Period
  • EAS/RELI 130 - Asian Religions
  • EAS/RELI 222 - Introduction to Zen Buddhism
  • EAS/RELI 333 - Buddhist Meditation Traditions
  • EAS/RELI 484A - History of East Asian Buddhism
  • EAS/RELI 484B - History of East Asian Buddhism
  • JPN/RELI 220 - Religion in Japanese Society
  • JPN/RELI 485 - History of Japanese Religions: Ancient
  • JPN/RELI 486 - History of Japanese Religions: Medieval
  • JPN/RELI 489 - History of Japanese Religions: Modern
  • RELI/EAS 358 - Tibetan Buddhism
  • RELI/EAS 359 - Buddhism and Healing
  • RELI/EAS 482 - Tantric Buddhism
  • Any other course that is crosslisted between RELI and EAS/CHN/KOR/JPN.

Students who wish to double major in Judaic Studies and Religious Studies/RSHP may take up to nine credit hours (3 courses) that will count toward satisfying the requirements of both majors. Eligible courses must be crosslisted between JUS and RELI at the 300 level or higher. The student will still need to fulfill all the core and area distribution requirements for both majors.

Religious Studies majors who wish to pursue a Judaic Studies/Judaism emphasis may do so only if they add Judaic Studies as a second major.

JUS/RELI double majors may double-dip up to 9 credits (three courses) for both majors from courses with JUS/RELI prefixes at the 300 level or higher, including the following:

  • JUS/RELI 310 - Apocalyptic Imagination
  • JUS/RELI 321 - Women in Judaism
  • JUS/RELI 322 - Modern Jewish Thought
  • JUS/RELI 325 - Jewish Philosophy
  • JUS/RELI 329 - Jewish--Christian Relations
  • JUS/RELI 332 - Jewish Response to the Holocaust
  • JUS/RELI 370A - History of the Jews: Modern Jewish History
  • JUS/RELI 370B - History of the Jews: Cultural Loss and Resilience from the Middle Ages to the French Revolution
  • JUS/RELI 372A - History and Religion of Israel in Ancient Times -- The Biblical Period
  • JUS/RELI 372B - History & Religion of Israel in Ancient Times: Ezra-Nehemiah to the Roman Empire
  • JUS/RELI 374 - The Holocaust
  • JUS/RELI 382A - Archaeology and the Bible: Iron Age Israel (1200-587 BCE)
  • JUS/RELI 382B - Jesus, Judaism and Archaeology
  • JUS/RELI 387 - The History of Anti-Semitism
  • JUS/RELI 389 - Middle Eastern Ethnic and Religious Minorities
  • RELI/JUS 415 - God and the Problem of Evil
  • JUS/RELI 426 - The History of Heaven
  • JUS/RELI 435 - Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism
  • JUS/RELI 438 - The Book of Psalms
  • JUS/RELI 449 - Women in Ancient Israel
  • JUS/RELI 454 - The Spanish Inquisition
  • JUS/RELI 456 - Jews of the Islamic World in the Modern Period (1840-Present)
  • RELI/JUS 481 - Jews in the Roman Empire
  • Any other course that is crosslisted between RELI and JUS.

Students who wish to double major in Religious Studies/RSHP and History may take up to 12 credit hours (4 courses) that will count toward satisfying the requirements of both majors. The student will still need to fulfill all the core and area distribution requirements for both majors.

HIST/RELI double majors may double-dip up to 12 credits (4 courses) for both majors from crosslisted courses, including the following:

  • HIST/RELI 271 - The History of Christianity
  • HIST/RELI 277A - History of the Middle East
  • HIST/RELI 277B - History of the Middle East: Modern Middle East
  • HIST/RELI/CLAS 313 - Health and Medicine in Classical Antiquity
  • HIST/RELI 320 - Reformations and Revolutions in Early Modern Britain, 1485 - 1714
  • HIST/RELI/JUS 329 - Jewish-Christian Relations
  • HIST/RELI/JUS 370A - History of the Jews: Modern Jewish History
  • HIST/RELI/JUS 370B - History of the Jews: Cultural Loss and Resilience from the Middle Ages to the French Revolution
  • HIST/RELI/JUS 372A - History and Religion of Israel in Ancient Times -- The Biblical Period
  • HIST/RELI/JUS 372B - History & Religion of Israel in Ancient Times: Ezra-Nehemiah to the Roman Empire
  • HIST/RELI/JUS 374 - The Holocaust
  • HIST/MENAS 381A - History of Muslim Societies
  • HIST/MENAS 381B - History of Muslim Societies
  • HIST/RELI/MENAS 383 - Religion and State in Islam
  • HIST/RELI/JUS 387 - The History of Anti-Semitism
  • HIST/RELI/MENAS 389 - Middle Eastern Ethnic and Religious Minorities
  • HIST/RELI 405A - Medieval Europe
  • HIST/RELI 405B - Medieval Europe
  • HIST/RELI 408 - The Renaissance
  • HIST/RELI/MENAS 408A - Islamic Movements in the Contemporary Muslim World
  • HIST/RELI 409 - The Reformation
  • HIST/RELI/JUS 426 - The History of Heaven
  • HIST/RELI/MENAS 444 - Islamic Mysticism
  • HIST/RELI/MENAS 445 - Women in Islamic History
  • HIST/RELI 454 - The Spanish Inquisition
  • Any other course that is crosslisted between RELI and HIST

 

Students who wish to double major in Middle East & North African Studies and Religious Studies/RSHP may take up to 15 credit hours (5 classes) that will count toward satisfying the requirements of both majors. The student will still need to fulfill all the core and area distribution requirements for both majors.

Students double majoring in Religious Studies and MENAS may count 4 credits of Arabic or Hebrew at the 200 level or higher toward completing the Religious Studies major (as an elective).

Finally, Religious Studies majors who are double majoring with MENAS have the option to select “Islamic Studies” as the concentration area for the Religious Studies major. In other words, in order to choose “Islamic Studies” as the concentration area for the Religious Studies major, students are required to pursue a double major with MENAS.

Of the 15 credits used for both majors, 9 credits (3 courses) must include :

  • MENA/RELI 277A History of the Middle East
  • MENA/RELI 277B History of the Middle East - Modern Middle East
  • MENA/RELI 334 Islamic Thought

In addition to the above courses, RELI/ MENAS double majors can choose an additional 6 credits (2 courses) from the following list to count toward both majors:

  • RELI 280 - Introduction to the Bible: New Testament
  • MENA/RELI 365 - Muslim Views of the West
  • MENA/RELI 372A - History and Religion of Israel in Ancient Times -- The Biblical Period
  • MENA/RELI 372B - History & Religion of Israel in Ancient Times: Ezra-Nehemiah to the Roman Empire
  • MENA/RELI 381A - History of Muslim Societies
  • MENA/RELI 381B - History of Muslim Societies
  • MENA/RELI 382A - Archaeology and the Bible: Iron Age Israel (1200 - 587 BCE)
  • MENA/RELI 382B - Jesus, Judaism and Archaeology
  • MENA/RELI 383 - Religion and State in Islam
  • MENA/RELI 384 - Introduction to Conflict in the Middle East
  • MENA/RELI 385 - Introduction to Political Islam
  • MENA/RELI 389 - Middle Eastern Ethnic and Religious Minorities
  • MENA/RELI 408A - Islamic Movements in the Contemporary Muslim World
  • MENA/RELI 435 - Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism
  • MENA/RELI 438 - The Book of Psalms
  • MENA/RELI 444 - Islamic Mysticism
  • MENA/RELI 445 - Women in Islamic History
  • MENA/RELI 456 - Jews of the Islamic World in the Modern Period (1840 - Present)
  • MENA/RELI 496G - Islamic Law and Society
  • 4 credits of Arabic or Hebrew at the 200 level or higher. (Can count toward the RELI major only for double majors in MENAS and Religious Studies)

Students who wish to double major in Religious Studies/RSHP and Philosophy may take up to 9 credit hours (3 classes) that will count toward satisfying the requirements of both majors.  These 9 credit hours will count toward the “Electives” part of the Philosophy major and toward the emphasis or elective parts of the Religious Studies major (emphases options could include Ethics emphasis, Philosophy of Religion emphasis, Religious Studies for Health Professionals emphasis, or other emphasis designed in consultation with a Religious Studies faculty advisor) The student will still need to fulfill all the core and area distribution requirements for both majors.

RELI/PHIL double majors may double-dip up to 9 credits for both majors from the following courses:

  • PHIL/RELI 233 - Philosophy of Religion
  • PHIL/RELI 245 - Existential Problems
  • PHIL 261 - Medieval Philosophy
  • PHIL 262 - Early Modern Philosophy
  • PHIL 263 - From Hegel to Nietzsche: 19th Century Philosophy
  • PHIL 321 - Medical Ethics
  • PHIL 323 - Environmental Ethics
  • PHIL/JUS 325 - Jewish Philosophy
  • PHIL 410 - History of Ethics
  • RELI/PHIL 326 - God, Humanity & Science
  • RELI/PHIL 415 - God and the Problem of Evil

Students who wish to double major in Religious Studies/RSHP and World Literature may take up to 15 credit hours (5 courses) that will count toward satisfying the requirements of both majors. The student will still need to fulfill all the core and area distribution requirements for both majors.

WLIT/RELI double majors may double-dip up to 15 credits (5 courses) for both majors from the following courses:

  • RELI/ENGL 220A - Literature of the Bible
  • RELI/ENGL 220B - Literature of the Bible
  • RELI 300 - Christian Literature and Thought
  • RELI 309 - Epistles of Paul
  • RELI 310 - Apocalyptic Imagination
  • RELI 350 - Hindu Mythology
  • RELI 412 - Religion and Literature in Latin America
  • RELI 431 - The Divine Comedy by Dante
  • RELI 435 - Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism
  • RELI 438 - The Book of Psalms

Other double major combinations popular with students include:

  • Religious Studies (BA) and Applied Humanities
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Art History
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Business Administration
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Care, Health, and Society
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Communication
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Computer Science
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Creative Writing
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Criminal Justice Studies
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Economics
  • Religious Studies (BA) and English
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Film and Television
  • Religious Studies (BA) and German Studies
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Global Studies
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Journalism
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Law
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Music
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Neuroscience & Cognitive Science
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Nursing
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Nutritional Sciences
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Philosophy, Politics, Economics, & Law
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Physiology
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Political Science
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Psychology
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Public Health
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Sociology
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Spanish
  • Religious Studies (BA) and Speech, Language & Hearing Science
  • Religious Studies for Health Professionals (BS) and Biochemistry
  • Religious Studies for Health Professionals (BS) and Biology
  • Religious Studies for Health Professionals (BS) and Medicine
  • Religious Studies for Health Professionals (BS) and Neuroscience & Cognitive Science
  • Religious Studies for Health Professionals (BS) and Nursing
  • Religious Studies for Health Professionals (BS) and Nutritional Sciences
  • Religious Studies for Health Professionals (BS) and Physiology
  • Religious Studies for Health Professionals (BS) and Psychology
  • Religious Studies for Health Professionals (BS) and Public Health
  • Religious Studies for Health Professionals (BS) and Speech, Language & Hearing Science
  • And more!

If you are interested in any of these combinations or would like information on a grouping that is not listed above, please schedule an appointment with one of our advisors who can guide you through the process.

Ready to Declare?

Thank you for your interest in Religious Studies and/or Religious Studies for Health Professionals. There are many benefits of majoring in Religious Studies or Religious Studies for Health Professionals. Learn More 

Declare a major or minor in one of the following ways:

In Person

Meet in person with the Religious Studies faculty advisor or make an appointment with the College of Humanities Academic Advising Center

Online form

Complete the online Major/Minor declaration form (NetID required). A faculty advisor will follow up to schedule a meeting. If you do not hear from a faculty advisor within a week, please contact the College of Humanities Academic Advising Center.