The University may soon resurrect the religious studies program.
A letter of intent to re-establish a Bachelor of Arts in religious studies was recently approved by the Board of Regents Academic and Student Affairs Committee.
Rodger Payne, religious studies chair, said even though the letter of intent was passed, implementing the program may be delayed because of the current budget freeze and the halt on new programs as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
A religious studies program had been created in the mid-1980s, but because of the low number of graduates in the program, the University made a “budgetary decision” to make it a concentration of the philosophy degree rather than its own program, Payne said.
“Since that time we’ve been hopeful to restore the separate bachelor’s degree in religious studies,” Payne said. “We’ve been working on it for about 10 years.”
Payne said the religious studies program may be able to get around the freeze on new programs because it currently operates as its own major, so the changes would be minimal.
“It looks good, but it won’t be done right away,” Payne said.
Students would still be required to take courses in Western religions including Christianity, Judaism and Islam; Eastern religions including Hinduism and Buddhism; and theoretical study classes which approach religion through psychology, sociology and anthropology.
According to the letter of intent, about 12 students per year have graduated with a concentration in religious studies since 2000 which is a level usually deemed appropriate for a separate major.
Payne said there are 55 students with a religious studies concentration.
Payne said the way the current program is set up, many philosophy majors never have to take a course in philosophy because their focus is religion.
He said he hopes this separation will “clear up the confusion” and “allow degrees to accurately reflect the areas of study.”
Ryan Bravata, philosophy junior, said he has a concentration in religious studies.
He said he wanted to double major in philosophy and religious studies but was not able to because religious studies is currently within philosophy.
“It’s really messed up the way they do it,” Bravata said.
Bravata said he thinks it’s a good idea to distinguish the two degrees.
“They’re really separate and distinct areas of study,” Bravata said. “I don’t think they should be linked together.”
Payne said when the program is implemented, LSU will be the only university in the state that offers a bachelor in religious studies “which would be a major attraction.”
Payne also said the religious studies program currently and would continue to stress interdisciplinary classes which are an emphasis of the University’s Flagship Agenda.
Payne said additional hiring would be unnecessary for the program.
“Certainly we’d like to expand the program, but we have enough professors now to function without additional hiring,” Payne said.
 
Contact Rebekah Allen at [email protected]