Academic Programs Catalog

College of Arts and Letters

Department of Religious Studies

Undergraduate Program
Nonprofit Leadership, Religion, and Social Change

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Nonprofit Leadership, Religion, and Social Change will provide students the opportunity to develop deeper knowledge of national and international nonprofit organizations, NGOs, philanthropic enterprises, charitable actions, and careers in service in the context of global cultural knowledge, religious engagements, and spiritual orientations. There are five areas of primary focus: (1) nonprofit, philanthropic, and charity governance, leadership, and legal structures; (2) NGOs, global civil society, and theories, methods, and examples of social change; (3) values, virtues, ethics, and justice in relation to global cultural and religious knowledge; (4)human, ecological, and societal flourishing in civil society, particularly in contexts that may be labeled as “religious” or “spiritual”; and (5) organizational innovation and leadership theory/practice in global religious and cultural contexts. Practical application, experiential learning, and social engagement are emphasized.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Nonprofit Leadership, Religion, and Social Change

  1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Nonprofit Leadership, Religion, and Social Change.

    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Nonprofit Leadership, Religion, and Social Change major is met by completing Religious Studies 485 or 490 or 491 or 499. Those courses are referenced in item 3. e. below.
  2. The requirements of the College of Arts and Letters for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
  3. The following requirements for the major (minimum of 40 credits):
    Foundations of Religious Studies (6 credits)
    a. One of the following courses (3 credits):
    REL 101 Exploring Religion  3
    REL 102 Exploring Spirituality 3
    REL 150 Exploring Biblical Literature 3
    REL 206 Spirituality, Belonging, and the Quest for Purpose 3
    REL 301 Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion  3
    b. One of the following courses in global religion (3 credits): 
    REL  306 Native American Religions 3
    REL 308 Black Spirituality and Religion 3
    REL 310 Judaism 3
    REL 320 Christianity 3
    REL 325 East Asian Buddhism  3
    REL 330 Islam 3
    REL  335 East Asian Religions 3
    REL  340 Hinduism  3
    REL  350 Buddhism in South Asia 3
    REL  355 Southeast Asian Religions 3
    REL  360 African Religion  3
    REL  365 Evangelicalism in the U.S.  3
    REL  414 Jewish Identity (W) 3
    REL  420 Birth of Christianity (W) 3
    REL  425 Apocalypse Then and Now (W)  3
    REL  430 The Qur'an and Its Interpreters (W)  3
    REL  432 Modern Muslim Thought (W)  3
    REL  441 Devotional Hinduism (W)  3
    c. All of the following nonprofit leadership courses (15 credits):
    REL  185 Introduction to Religion and Nonprofits 3
    REL  207 Intercultural Competence, Religious Diversity, and Self-awareness 3
    REL  285 Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship and Religion 3
    REL  455 Introduction to Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning for Nonprofits 3
    REL  485 Religion and Nonprofit Leadership (W) 3
    d. Nine credits from the following religious studies nonprofit courses. At least 3 credits must be at the 300 or 400 level.
    REL  210 Religion and the Environment 3
    REL  250 Religion and the Arts 3
    REL  305 Spirituality, Peacebuilding, and Social Change 3
    REL  311 International Development and NGO Management 3
    REL  385 Religion, Health, and Healthcare 3
    REL  456 Indigenous Environmental Stewardship, Ontologies, and Governance 3
    REL  457 Indigenous Research Methodologies and Ethics 3
    e. Two of the following nonprofit courses from the following (6 credits):
    AAAS  300 Communities in Action 3
    AAAS  401 Social Media and New Journalism 3
    ACM  461 Financial Management and Planning of Arts, Cultural, and Museum Management 3
    ACM  462 Marketing and Public Relations in Arts, Cultural, and Museum Management 3
    ACM  465 Leadership and Innovation for Arts, Cultural and Museum Management 3
    ACM  467 Development and Fundraising for Arts, Cultural Management, and Museums 3
    CSUS  322 Leadership for Community Sustainability 3
    CSUS  429 Program Evaluation for Community Sustainability 3
    CSUS  430 Nonprofit Organizational Management for Community Sustainability 3
    CSUS  433 Grant Writing and Fund Development 3
    WRA  260 Writing, Rhetoric, Cultures, and Community 3
    WRA  331 Writing in the Public Interest (W) 3
    WRA  337 Writing and Public Policy 3
    WRA  401 Rhetoric, Leadership, and Innovation 3
    WRA  441 Social Justice as Rhetorical Practice 3
    WRA  453 Grant and Proposal Writing 3
    f. Complete 3 credits of Experiential Learning through one or more of the following experiences:
    Study Away or Study Abroad  1 to 4
    REL  490 Independent Study (W) 1 to 4
    REL  493 Religious Studies Internship 1 to 4
    REL  499 Senior Thesis or Project (W) 1 to 4