The Department of Religious Studies examines religious beliefs, institutions and practices using approaches from the humanities, arts, social sciences and sciences. The academic study of religion, combined with appropriate courses in other fields, provides an excellent background for any professional career—including law, engineering, medicine and health care professions, journalism, social work and others—and for graduate studies in a number of fields.
A major in religious studies provides a well-rounded liberal arts education or can be combined conveniently with a second major. Minors or sequences in religious studies complement and broaden any field chosen as a major.
New Course for Fall 2026: “Sharp Edges/Tender Bodies: Religion, Health and Resilience.”
Religious Studies is offering a new course this Fall 2026, RLGN 225: “Sharp Edges/Tender Bodies: Religion, Health and Resilience,” created and taught by Professor Michele Tracy Berger on Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:30-12:45.
This course examines how women of color understand, negotiate, and practice health through religious belief, spirituality, and embodied knowledge. Through interdisciplinary texts, narratives, and case studies, students explore how faith traditions shape experiences of illness, healing, wellness, activism, and care in the context of race, gender, and power.
This course satisfies the Human Diversity and Commonality requirement and can count toward the Africana Studies Minor.
Dr. Deepak Sarma quoted in Huff Post
Dr. Deepak Sarma, inaugural distinguished scholar in the public humanities, quoted as expert in recent article, “Sarah Huckabee Sanders Leveled This Dig After Restaurant Drama. An Expert Says It’s A Tactic.” (HuffPost, March 23, 2026). Sarma said that ‘Sanders’ statements are a “blatant attempt to gaslight and hijack the narrative.” It’s ‘ironic’ that “MAGA has been a small and borderline group that has commandeered the U.S. government and the media, and has claimed to speak on behalf of all Americans.”’
Religious Studies Courses for the Fall 2026 Semester
Registration for the Fall 2026 semester begins on April 6th, are you ready to beat the crowd and build your dream schedule? Now is your chance to plan ahead; fall courses are officially live on SIS!
See the complete list with descriptions and UGER for all RLGN classes offered, here.
For JWST (and HBRW), visit here.
For AFST, visit here.
Dr. Sarma quoted in HuffPost
Dr. Deepak Sarma, inaugural distinguished scholar in the public humanities, quoted as expert in recent article, “MAGA Attacks James Talarico Over Views on Christianity. There’s 1 Reason Why, Expert Says.” (HuffPost, March 12, 2026). Sarma said that ‘they believe the right-wing attacks against Talarico are motivated by one reason: “They hope to gaslight Christians across the United States to believe that their views that Christ defended the oppressed is not correct, and that having such beliefs is neither American nor Christian.”’
Highlights
Reisacher Summer Fellowship
Up to $3,000 in Summer Funding for Students in Religious Studies
Applications for the annual Reisacher Summer Fellowship are due Wednesday, April 1st 2026. To apply, complete the application cover sheet and additional requirements, then send to jesse.friedman@case.edu
Winners will be announced Friday, May 1st 2026. Good Luck!