Dartmouth College

What you'll study

The Religion major at Dartmouth offers a broad survey of religious traditions alongside intensive study of particular religions, texts and theoretical approaches. Core areas you can expect across the curriculum include the history of religions, sacred texts and scriptural interpretation, philosophy of religion and theology, religion and ethics, ritual and material religion, and contemporary social and political dimensions of religion.

• Introductory courses exploring major world religions and methods for studying religion.
• Textual and language courses that may include Biblical Hebrew, Koine Greek, Classical Sanskrit or Arabic depending on course availability and student preparation.
• Thematic and regional courses such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, South Asian religions, East Asian religions, Indigenous religious traditions, and religion in modernity.
• Theoretical seminars covering religion and politics, religion and gender, anthropology of religion, cognitive approaches, and critical theory.
• Research methods and writing-intensive seminars that train students in archival work, ethnography, close textual analysis and comparative interpretation.
• An opportunity for a senior capstone experience: advanced independent research, typically culminating in a substantial research paper or honours thesis under faculty supervision.

Electives and cross‑listed courses in departments such as History, Anthropology, Philosophy, Classics, Near Eastern Languages and Literature, or Asian Languages and Literatures allow students to shape an interdisciplinary programme. Study abroad and off‑campus research projects are commonly used to gain language competence and regional expertise.

Entry requirements

Dartmouth admits undergraduates through a holistic review of academic achievement, personal qualities and extracurricular engagement. Successful applicants typically demonstrate a strong academic record across a broad curriculum, clear writing ability and intellectual curiosity. While there is no requirement to have studied religion at secondary level, evidence of preparedness for intensive reading, writing and critical thinking is important.

• Competitive high‑school grades and challenging coursework (for example, advanced, honours or international‑baccalaureate courses where available).
• Strong written work in English; sample essays or responses in the application can showcase analytical and interpretive skills.
• Demonstrated interest in humanities or social sciences—through coursework, independent projects, community activities or relevant employment—strengthens an application but is not mandatory.
• International applicants should demonstrate comparable secondary credentials and English language proficiency where required.

Career prospects

A Religion major from Dartmouth prepares graduates for a wide range of careers that value critical thinking, strong communication and cross‑cultural understanding. Alumni move into sectors such as higher education and research, law and public policy, journalism and publishing, non‑profit and international development, museum and heritage work, education and counselling, and religious leadership (which typically requires further professional training).

• Graduate study: many students continue to master's or doctoral programmes in religious studies, theology, history, law, social sciences or related fields.
• Public sector and NGOs: positions in community organisations, cultural institutions, human rights groups and policy research often draw on skills developed in the major.
• Private sector roles: employers in business, consulting and communications value the major's emphasis on interpretation, ethics and intercultural literacy.
• Careers in education, library and archival work, and museum curation, particularly when combined with language skills or internships.

Why study at Dartmouth College

Dartmouth is an undergraduate‑centred Ivy League college where Religion students benefit from close mentorship, small seminars and regular access to faculty. The department’s location within a liberal‑arts environment encourages interdisciplinary study across humanities and social sciences, and students can pair religious studies with language training or area studies to build regional expertise.

• Small class sizes and frequent opportunities for direct faculty supervision of independent research and senior theses.
• Access to college resources that support scholarly work, including special collections, museum holdings and language instruction.
• Strong institutional support for off‑campus study, internships and field research that complement on‑campus learning.
• An engaged campus community in Hanover that fosters discussion across disciplines and supports student initiatives in public programming, interfaith activities and community outreach.