Religion and Culture (BA)

Explore the rich diversity of global faiths and their cultural interactions while studying crucial issues like human rights, religious freedoms, gender equality, and multicultural coexistence. Analyze ancient and modern spiritual experiences through sacred texts, oral narratives, and art.

This program equips you with the expertise to pursue careers in social justice, intercultural relations, community advocacy, and more, preparing you to tackle complex global challenges.

Program Details

Degree Highlights

Your future professors work hard to make sure your academic experience is current, complete and designed to open doors in your career. Here are a few things you can count on: 

  • Flexible Learning Options: Select between an on-campus degree or a fully online degree for the Religion and Culture program, allowing you to tailor your education to your lifestyle and preferences.
  • Earn Language Credits: Enroll in language courses to count up to 1.0 credit of advanced language study toward your Religion and Culture requirements, enhancing your academic experience and employability.
  • Senior Capstone Project: Our fourth-year capstone course allows you to develop an individualized research project connected to your professional interests.

Top Experiences

Here are just a few of our students’ favourite ways to apply their learning in the real world throughout their degree (check out the Experience Guide for even more):

  • Co-op : Apply to our co-op program and complete three-work terms of four months’ duration and gain valuable experience during their studies. Develop skills and gain real-world experience.
  • Study Abroad: The program facilitates studying abroad for one or two semesters by offering upper-level courses with no prerequisites, allowing language courses to count towards your honours major, and not requiring specific third-year courses.
  • Community Service Learning: Participate in Community Service-Learning (CSL) courses that blend outside-the-classroom experiences with academic content through placements or projects and guided critical reflection.

Courses, Options and Pathways

First-Year Core Courses

  • Evil and Its Symbols
  • Love and Its Myths
  • Religion and Cinematic Culture
  • Religion and Visual Culture
  • Religions of the Americas: Asian and Middle Eastern
  • Religions of the Americas: Indigenous, African and European
  • Sports and the Sacred

Sample First-Year Electives

  • Introduction to Global Studies
  • Cultures Today
  • Sociology I + II: Foundations and Social Life
  • Mediterranean Culture and Civilization
  • Modern Standard Arabic

Sample Upper-Year Courses

  • Canadian Religious Controversies
  • Religion and Popular Culture
  • Psychology and Religion
  • World Religions in Global Perspective
  • Stories and the Sacred

Options and Minors

These are a few of the many popular academic opportunities which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge:

  • Teaching Option
  • Leadership Minor
  • Management Option
  • Muslim Studies Option
  • Public Policy Minor
  • Sociology Minor

Check out other options to enhance your degree.

Graduate Degree Pathway

The BA+MA pathway allows to graduate in 5 years with a BA and Master of Arts at Laurier. Apply for the BA+MA and receive an offer of admission to the Honours BA and a conditional offer to graduate studies, where you’ll earn a MA. Apply directly on the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre.

Business Pathways

Enhance your degree with a Management Option or get a head-start on graduate studies by applying to the BA in Combination with a Master of Business Administration with co-op. Apply directly to either on the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre.

Admissions

  • Format: full time or part time
  • Duration: four years
  • Start: September (fall term) or January (winter term)

Your Career Awaits

It’s not only about the journey; it’s about the destination. Let us help you get to where you’re going.

Here are just some examples of our graduates' destinations. What’s yours?

Sample Career Options

Note: Additional training and education may be required.

  • activist/advocate
  • community program manager
  • filmmaker
  • foreign services worker
  • humanitarian aid worker
  • journalist/editor
  • lawyer
  • non-profit program facilitator
  • public administrator/policy analyst
  • social services director

Explore more careers.

Support After Graduation

Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.

Your Co-op Experience

Co-op is a way to integrate what you are learning in the classroom with practical experience in your field of study. Build your resume, earn money, develop your network, and graduate future-ready.

Future Laurier Arts students have two options to engage in co-op. You can apply in first-year to our co-op program and complete three-work terms of four months’ duration and gain valuable experience during their studies.

You can also get a head-start and apply for direct admission to our brand-new co-op program straight from high school in select Arts programs. In both pathways, you will gain 12 months of career experience.

Interested? Learn more about co-op in the Faculty of Arts.

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98%employment rate for co‑op students – 2023 / 2024

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Tuition and Scholarships

Getting a university education is an investment in your future.

At Laurier, we take financial health seriously by providing a wide variety of funding opportunities for you throughout your degree, such as scholarships and bursaries, and by equipping you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

 

Laurier is among the top 6 percent in the Global 2000 World University Ranking

 

Laurier students engaged in hands-on learning in 2023

 

Laurier graduates employed or in post-graduate studies in 2023

Waterloo Campus

The Waterloo campus is tucked into about one city block, so you’re steps away from your classes, food and your new favourite study spot.

There are many ways to tour our Waterloo campus, whether that's on a guided tour with one of our Laurier student ambassadors, on your own using virtual reality, or even on-demand through one of our pre-recorded tours. See our campus spaces and start to picture yourself at Laurier.

Chat with Current Students

Want to know what it’s really like to be in this program? U Community is our Discord server where future Golden Hawks like you can connect with current students to get their first-hand stories and tips on living and learning at Laurier.

Connect with Us

Questions? Email chooselaurier@wlu.ca, call 548.889.8888 or see all contact information.


You Belong Here

Think this program might be the perfect fit for you and your future?