Students

The Department of Religion has so much to offer. The wide range of courses allowed me to design a programme that catered to my specific interests. I was able to study the religions of the world, and even had a chance to travel to the Middle East to work on an archaeological excavation (Wadi ath-Thamad, Jordan). The culture within the Department of Religion is really the best aspect; the faculty are always accessible, friendly, and willing to offer advice on anything related to the programme and beyond. In short, my time as a Religion student at Bishop's has inspired me to continue on in the field, and I highly recommend the programme to anyone interested, even if they are only looking to take one or two courses.

My experience with the BU religion program was awesome! Small class sizes and an excellent faculty made it a truly enjoyable program. There was always a wide range of interesting courses to choose from and it was not a rare occurrence to leave the classroom mind-blown by what was discussed in class. Another great quality of the program is the variety of perspectives the courses offered as we studied religion from a historical, philosophical, psychological and sociological viewpoint. I was even able to make connections between religion and mathematics courses. The comparative religion courses I took have been particularly relevant as I am currently an English teacher on the Thai-Burmese border. I am teaching English to migrants from Burma in a Thai city, Mae Sot, which is very religiously diverse. I encounter Christians, Buddhists and Muslims and often people are impressed by the knowledge I have of the religion they practice. Not to mention that knowledge of the world religions is very important as a citizen of Canada, a multicultural nation. All in all, the BU religion program will offer anyone who is interested a spectacular undergraduate experience.

Being part of such a small department means that you get to know your peers and professors well. The support I received from the faculty was amazing! You form a sort of family; it’s been five years since I graduated, but I still keep in touch with friends from the department. Also, with smaller classes like these, you have the best discussions and you learn much more than you would in a room with 500 people.

Pursuing the study of religion at Bishop’s is a great choice for anyone interested in the world around them. From antiquity to modernity, the Department of Religion offers small, stimulating courses with high levels of discussion and student-teacher interaction. It is so simple to personalise your course of study by taking complementary courses from outside the department - I was able to apply Philosophy and Liberal Arts credits, and even a trip to Greece taught through Classics. The end result is a well-rounded education, and a wonderful preparation for further study. Religion at Bishop’s motivated me to continue on to graduate studies in the field, but even taking just a few classes in the department would be a rewarding experience. From excellent and accessible professors, to the Student Religion Club, to the famous religion parties, the Department of Religion at Bishop’s offers a supportive community and unique undergraduate experience.

Whether quaffing port with Dr Murray while studying magic (or should we say 'ritual power'??) or solving the problems of the world with Augustine and Dr. White, studying religion was a huge highlight for me while at Bishop's. No other field of study challenged me and surprised me more than this program and though I learned a lot, I also learned how little I know and how much more there is to discover. So, I look forward to returning to Bishop's and continuing my studies in religion after spending some time overseas.

Raise a glass to the BU religion department!

My experiences as a student at Bishop’s have led me to an exciting career in the field of international aviation customer service, traveling and working in over 40 countries and supporting commercial and private aircraft owners and operators in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

After entering Bishop’s in 1990, I originally struggled with selection of a Major. Like many other students in my year, a number of traditional options such as Political Studies, Economics and Business Administration were of interest to me. However, I followed my heart and selected a Major in Religious Studies, something that really interested me at the time. This choice was much to the dissatisfaction of my business-minded grandfather who frequently asked me, "what kind of a job will that degree get you?" Little did I know then that an understanding of the world’s religions would later enhance my understanding of many countries’ cultures, politics, and business practices and thus give me an advantage over others when it came to doing business in all parts of the world.

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