Department of Religious Studies -- Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University

Recent Faculty Publications

First-year Students

Find answers to questions like these: What sort of transferable professional skills will I learn as a Religious Studies major? What sorts of careers do Religious Studies majors choose? What courses can I get into my first year? Plus, check out how high Religious Studies majors rank in national LSAT scores. You may be surprised!

Graduate Studies

If you crave personalized attention in a flexible, interdisciplinary program supported by all the resources of a top research university, the Department of Religious Studies may be the best fit for you.

News & Bulletins

COURSE SCHEDULE 2012-2013

Robert Orsi has received McCormick Professorship, a university-wide teaching honor
Jewish Messianic Thoughts in an Age of Despair by Kenneth Seeskin
The Ethical Vision of Clint Eastwood by Sara Anson Vaux
Cristina Traina's and Barry Wimpfheimer's new books were featured in the Fall 2011 issue of CenterPiece magazine published by the Office for Research.
Cristina Traina’s book Erotic Attunement: Parenthood and the Ethics of Sensuality between Unequals is available from the University of Pennsylvania Press.

» More news

Upcoming Events

TGS Professional Development Grant: Non-Tenure Track Creer
May 22, 2013 • 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

The Birth of Buddhist Studies at Northwestern
May 23, 2013 • 1:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Religious Studies Graduate Students Event
May 29, 2013 • 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Lecture by Tanya Luhrmann
October 2, 2013 • 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM

» Past events

Overview

The Department of Religious Studies at Northwestern University is a diverse community of scholars, comprising outstanding professors, graduate students and undergraduate majors and minors, who study the history, texts and lived religious practices that have shaped our world. Home to 14 full time faculty and numerous other visiting faculty and joint appointments, the department is known for its breadth, interdisciplinary emphasis, excellence in teaching and award winning faculty scholarship.

» Full department overview

Religious Studies Photos

Professor Taylor's Religious Studies 261 American Religion, Ecology, and Culture 'think tanks' in action solving the earth's environmental problems out on NU's lakeshore.
Cairn for local mountain god propitiations, Drong ri Mountain, Serta, Eastern Tibet, 2005. Photo: S. Jacoby.
Rood screen, St. Giles Church, Staffordshire, England. Photo: R. Kieckhefer.
Reflected view of Istanbul. Photo: R. Kieckhefer.
Ephesus, Turkey. Photo: R. Kieckhefer.
Temple Mount, Jerusalem. Photo: L. Zoloth.
Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, 2007. Photo: S. Jacoby.
Idol, Helskinki. Photo: R. Kieckhefer.
Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque), Istanbul. Photo: R. Kieckhefer.
Tertrom Nunnery, Central Tibet, 2007. Photo: S. Jacoby.
Confucian Shrine, China, 2005. Photo: S. Jacoby.
Hanging prayer flags in Tibet, 2007. Photo: S. Jacoby.
Labyrinth, Sipoo, Finland. Photo: R. Kieckhefer.
16th century Mughal Emperor Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi, India, 2009. Photo: S. Jacoby.
Sarah Jacoby lighting prayer lamps at Jokhang Monastery, Lhasa, Tibet, 2007. Photo: Antonio Terrone.
Semana Santa (Holy Week) procession in Guanajuato, Mexico, 2010. Photo: M. Molina.
Church in Thira (Santorini), Greece. Photo: S. Taylor.
Window at Heilig-Geist, Wismar, Germany. Photo: R. Kieckhefer.
York Minster, York, England. Photo: R. Kieckhefer.
St. Henry's Ecumenical Art Chapel in Turku, Finland. Photo: R. Kieckhefer.