MINOR IN RELIGION & MEDIA

The minor in Religion and Media is designed to focus on the intersection of religion and media and to build critical skills in cultural and media literacy. Students are educated on the vital role that religion and media play, historically and in contemporary society, by introducing interdisciplinary perspectives.

The undergraduate minor in religion and media requires a minimum of 18 s.h., including 12 s.h. in courses taken at the University of Iowa. Students must maintain a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in all courses for the minor and in all UI courses for the minor. Coursework for the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass.

The Departments of Religious Studies and Communication Studies collaborate to offer the minor in religion and media. The minor is administered by the Department of Religious Studies. Students completing a communication studies major or a religious studies major also may complete this minor.

Students may count up to 6 s.h. of coursework for the religion and media minor with other programs of study. Courses with GE CLAS Core status are excluded from this policy.

The minor in religion and media requires the following coursework. Students must complete at least 6 s.h. in communication studies coursework (prefix COMM) and at least 6 s.h. in religious studies coursework (prefix RELS).

Methods and Approaches in Media Studies Course	3 sh
Methods and Approaches in Religious Studies Course	3 sh
Themes of Religion and Media Courses	6 sh
Religion and Media in Context Courses	6 sh
TOTAL HOURS	18 sh

Methods and Approaches in Media Studies

These courses convey major methodological approaches to the study of media. One of these:

RELS:1050/POLI:1050 Big Ideas: Introduction to Information, Society, and Culture	3 sh
COMM:1168 Music and Social Change	3 sh
COMM:1174 Media and Society	3 sh

 

Methods and Approaches in Religious Studies

These courses convey major methodological approaches to the study of religion. One of these:

RELS:1001 Judaism, Christianity, and Islam	3 sh
RELS:1015 Global Religious Conflict and Diversity	3 sh

 

Themes of Religion and Media

These courses raise broad thematic questions about the relationship of religion and media in diverse historical, geographical, and social contexts. At least 6 s.h. from these:

RELS:2182/CLSA:2482 Ancient Mediterranean Religions	3 sh
RELS:2272 Gods and Superheroes: Mythologies for a Modern World	3 sh
RELS:2930/COMM:2079 Digital Media and Religion	3 sh

 

Religion and Media in Context

These courses engage specific historical, geographical, and cultural contexts in which a relationship between religion and media is important. They teach students to think about the way religion and media matter in everyday life. At least 6 s.h. from these:

RELS:2260/GHS:2260 Hard Cases in Healthcare at the Beginning of Life	3 sh
RELS:2265/GHS:2265 Hard Cases in Healthcare at the End of Life	3 sh
RELS:2877/SPST:2077 Sport and Religion in America	3 sh
RELS:3243/CLSA:3443 Pagans and Christians: The Church from Jesus to Muhammad	3 sh
RELS:3247/CLSA:3247 Banned from the Bible: Pseudepigrapha and Apocrypha	3 sh

 

WORKSHEET AND EXCEPTION PETITION:

Click here for a worksheet for tracking coursework and petitioning for alternative courses to count toward this minor.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Double Counting of Coursework
When completing the requirements specified for multiple programs of study, such as for a minor, certificate, or major, double counting of course work is limited by the College to 6 s.h.

Residence Requirement
12 s.h. in courses must be taken at The University of Iowa.

For specific inquiries about the Minor in Religion and Media, please contact the following Advisory Board/Faculty:

Diana Cates, Director of Undergraduate Studies  

Jenna Supp-Montgomerie, Chair

Paul Dilley, Member