加州州立大学长滩分校

The Religious Studies M.A. at CSULB is the only M.A. in Religious Studies offered in the entire CSU system. That make it the least expensive Religious Studies M.A. in the entire state of California. It is a “stand-alone” M.A. program–one of about fifteen in the U.S. –which means that it is not an afterthought or consolation prize in some other degree program. We are going to give you personal attention that prepares you for the next level. An M.A. from CSULB can do what the gravitational field of Mars can do for a space probe on the way to Pluto. You can use our gravitational field to sling you into orbit for a better graduate program (if you want a Ph.D. or some other advanced degree) or career.

Second, you learn how to learn things fast, well, and critically. In the world of knowledge-based economies, you have the basic skills for any knowledge-based career. You can discern quickly what is garbage, what is fact-based, and what is possible. Our graduates have become entrepreneurs, writers, social activists, and religious innovate and adapt.

Third, we take your interest in Religion seriously and know that you want to grow as a person while you are learning. That means, whatever your religious position–from Atheist to Zoroastrian, Christian, Muslim, or Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, or Sikh, Neo-pagan or “None,” Fundamentalist or Progressive–you are welcome here. This means that you will meet people with religious positions that are different from your own and have conversations that you could not have imagined in a parochial program.

Student Learning Outcomes

The Department seeks to achieve the following learning outcomes through its curriculum:

Discipline Specific Knowledge

Demonstrate a comprehension of the historical origins, central teachings, and practices of the major religious and spiritual traditions of the world within global and localized contexts.
Evaluate the functions of world religious and spiritual traditions within their political, economic, and cultural contexts.

Higher Order Thinking Skills

Apply interdisciplinary theories and methodologies to the study of religion and spiritual traditions.
Compare myths, rituals, and practices across diverse religious and spiritual traditions.

Liberal Arts and Beach 2030

Analyze how diverse religions and spiritualities inform, and are informed by, other dimensions of human experience, such as gender, sexuality, class, race, ethnicity, ability, and immigration status.

Career Readiness

Develop an academic skill set that is transferable to a variety of careers, which includes critical thinking, higher level research and writing, textual analysis, and visual and oral presentation.

RST MA Program Student Learning Outcomes

The Department seeks to achieve the following learning outcomes through its curriculum: Discipline-Specific Knowledge:

Competent knowledge of classical and contemporary approaches to the study of religion.
Competent knowledge of the beliefs, practices and institutions of religion related to the thesis or examination area.

Higher-Order Thinking Skills:

Critical reading and interpretations of religious texts and representations.
Thematic comparison of at least two religious traditions.
Critical evaluation of arguments arising from diverse forms of religious expression.

Liberal Arts & Academic Values:

A capacity for autonomous learning.
An informed appreciation for diverse cultures and religions.
An understanding of the broader social and cultural implications of focused research in religious studies.

Academic Skills:

Critical reading skills.
Higher order writing skills.
Scholarly research skills.