Cascade Campus
Cascade Hall (CH), Room 306
971-722-5251
Rock Creek Campus
Building 5, Room 245
971-722-7327
pcc.edu/programs/religious-studies/
Career and Program Description
Religious Studies, as an interdisciplinary field, investigates the variety of human religious experience. You will gain a broad understanding of religion in the classes as you critically reflect on the various founders, history, myths and doctrines, rituals and traditions, and social and personal ethics of the religions. Religious Studies classes use techniques from the arts, humanities, social, and physical sciences. Work in Religious Studies prepares you for work and study in disciplines such as religion and ministry, social services, archaeology, education, law, linguistics, and political science. Knowledge of religious belief and practice is helpful if you are going to work with people in any career, but is particularly recommended for those in health care.
PCC offers four Religious Studies courses. The basic course is World Religions, R 210, which fulfills both General Education and Cultural Literacy requirements, as does the more focused course, Asian Religions, R 201. Both classes can be used to meet requirements for the Asian Studies Focus Award. Introduction to Old Testament, R 211 and Introduction to New Testament, R 212 investigate the translated texts of the Hebrew (Jewish) and Greek (Christian) Bibles, and offer overviews of the religious background to Western culture, as well as meeting prerequisites for students transferring to several local private colleges and universities.
If you are an AAOT student interested in earning a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies, you should take related courses in areas such as anthropology, history, literature, and philosophy. Be sure to check for the specific requirements of the bachelor’s program to which you intend to transfer. The interdisciplinary nature of the field allows you to customize your educational goals while providing a solid foundation for future learning.
R 201. Asian Religions. 4 Credits.
Explores the religions of Asia, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, and Shinto. Includes readings of sacred texts and scholarly literature. Focuses on the founders and history, myths and doctrines, rituals and traditions, and social and personal ethics for each tradition. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Arts and Letters/AAS, Arts and Letters/AGS, Arts and Letters/AS, Arts and Letters/AAOT, Arts and Letters/ASOT-B.
R 210. World Religions. 4 Credits.
Examines the major religions of the world, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese religions, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Attention is given to their founders and history, myths and doctrines, rituals and traditions, and social and personal ethics. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Arts and Letters/ASOT-B, Arts and Letters/AAS, Arts and Letters/AGS, Arts and Letters/AS, Arts and Letters/AAOT.
R 211. Introduction to the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. 4 Credits.
Examines the biblical texts of the Old Testament from a distinctly academic perspective. Focuses on major historical events and interactions with various empires as they relate to the faith and definition of early Israel. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Arts and Letters/AAOT, Arts and Letters/AS, Arts and Letters/ASOT-B, Arts and Letters/AAS, Arts and Letters/AGS.
R 212. Introduction to the New Testament. 4 Credits.
Examines the historical antecedents of New Testament events and the context in which New Testament texts were written and the situations they were intended to address. Focuses on the placement of the texts within the development of the early Christian movement and the different genres represented within the writings of the New Testament canon. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Arts and Letters/AAOT, Arts and Letters/AS, Arts and Letters/AAS, Arts and Letters/AGS, Arts and Letters/ASOT-B.