Headline
To graduate with honors in the religious studies major, students must have a UI cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.33, a minimum requirement set by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Students also must maintain a UI religious studies GPA of at least 3.50.
Beyond the 30 semester hours required for the major, students must take a 3 semester hour course called RELS:4975 Honors Essay, under the supervision of a faculty advisor, and complete an approved honors thesis. Students often choose to take RELS:4960 Individual Study: Undergraduates or RELS:4970 Honors Tutorial in preparation for taking RELS:4975 Honors Essay, but this is not a requirement.
Copies of the thesis are submitted to the Department of Religious Studies and may be published through Iowa Research Online.
Students do not have to be members of the University of Iowa Honors Program to graduate with honors in the religious studies major.
University of Iowa Honors Program
In addition to honors in the major, students may pursue honors study and activities through membership in the University of Iowa Honors Program. University honors students must maintain a 3.33 grade-point average, complete 12 semester hours of coursework designated as honors courses, and complete 12 semester hours of an experiential learning project. Visit Honors at Iowa to learn about the university's honors program.
NOTE: Membership in the UI Honors Program is not required to earn honors in the major.