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Degree Plan

Mission & Rationale

Rust College, founded in 1866 by the Freedman’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, has maintained a deep commitment to faith, character formation, and service throughout its history. As a United Methodist-affiliated HBCU and premier liberal arts institution, Rust is uniquely positioned to offer a Bachelor of Arts in Religion that honors this heritage while preparing students for diverse careers in ministry, social justice, graduate study, education, and community leadership.

Religion has been listed as an approved major on the Rust College academic programs page (status: approved, not yet implemented). This degree plan operationalizes that approval by providing a complete, credit-mapped curriculum consistent with Rust’s 124-credit-hour BA requirement, its 8-week modular calendar, and its institutional learning outcomes.

Program Goals

Graduates of the B.A. in Religion at Rust College will be able to:

• Analyze and compare major world religions, their texts, histories, and practices with critical rigor.
• Apply theological and ethical reasoning to contemporary social issues, with particular attention to the African American religious experience.
• Demonstrate research competency using primary religious texts, historical scholarship, and peer-reviewed sources.
• Articulate faith traditions in oral and written communication at a professional level.
• Engage constructively with interfaith dialogue and ecumenical perspectives.
• Pursue advanced academic study in religion, theology, divinity, or related fields, or enter professional roles in ministry, chaplaincy, nonprofit leadership, or education.

Career & Graduate Pathways

Graduates are prepared for careers and further study including:

• Seminary and graduate programs in theology, divinity, or religious studies (M.Div., M.A., Ph.D.)
• Ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church and other denominations
• Chaplaincy (hospital, military, prison, campus)
• Nonprofit and faith-based community organizations
• Religious education (K-12 and higher education, with Education minor/certification)
• Journalism and communications covering religion and culture
• Law school and social work (with appropriate minors)

Accreditation & Compliance

This degree plan is designed in conformance with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) standards, under which Rust College holds accreditation. The 124-credit-hour minimum, the residency requirement (at least 25% of hours at Rust), the minimum 2.0 GPA requirement, and the requirement of a minimum grade of C in all major courses all reflect Rust College’s existing graduation standards as published in the College Catalog.

All Rust College BA students complete the General Education core. The following courses fulfill that requirement and contribute to the Religion major’s foundational knowledge base. Credit hours are consistent with the college’s published modular curriculum.

The following courses constitute the required core of the B.A. in Religion. They are designed to be offered by a combination of existing Rust College Humanities faculty and newly recruited faculty with credentials in religious studies, theology, and philosophy. All courses are 3 credit hours unless otherwise noted.

Students choose five (5) courses from the following list, subject to advisor approval. Courses should be selected to form a coherent thematic concentration. Suggested thematic tracks appear below the elective list.

All Religion majors complete a two-module senior capstone sequence in their final year. The capstone is designed to demonstrate the integration of knowledge, research skills, and spiritual/ethical formation developed throughout the program.

The following recommended sequence maps all 124 credit hours across eight semesters (or sixteen 8-week modules, consistent with Rust College’s modular calendar). Module A = first 8-week module of the semester; Module B = second 8-week module.

Library & Learning Resources
The Leontyne Price Library should be equipped with the following to support the Religion major:
•   A curated collection of primary religious texts (Bible in multiple translations, Qur’an, Torah, Upanishads, Buddhist sutras, etc.)
•   Subscriptions to JSTOR, ATLA Religion Database, and Oxford Reference Online for peer-reviewed religious studies scholarship.
•   Access to ATLAS (American Theological Library Association Serials) through consortium agreements.
•   Display and reserve collection of foundational texts in Black theology, liberation theology, and African American religious history.

Community & Denominational Partnerships
Given Rust College’s deep ties to the United Methodist Church, the following partnerships can enrich the program:
•   Memphis Annual Conference, United Methodist Church — for internship placements, field education sites, and guest lecturers.
•   Local Holly Springs and Marshall County congregations — for service-learning and community ministry projects.
•   Memphis Theological Seminary and nearby seminaries — for graduate school articulation agreements and adjunct faculty.
•   HBCU Religious Studies Network — for collaborative curriculum development and faculty sharing.

Assessment & Continuous Improvement
The Religion program will assess student learning outcomes through the following measures:
•   Annual review of capstone thesis/project quality by a faculty committee.
•   Exit surveys of graduating seniors measuring goal attainment in each program learning outcome.
•   Tracking of graduate school admissions rates and employment outcomes.
•   External program review every five years by a panel including clergy, academics, and community leaders.
•   Integration with Rust College’s institutional assessment framework and SACSCOC compliance reporting.

Grade Requirements
•   A minimum grade of C is required in all Religion (REL) and Philosophy (PHI) courses counted toward the major.
•   Students who earn below a C in a required major course must repeat the course before advancing to dependent upper-division courses.
•   The minimum cumulative GPA for graduation is 2.00 (per Rust College policy).

Residency Requirement
Consistent with Rust College policy, at least 25% of the 124 total credit hours (31 hours) must be completed at Rust College. At least one-third of Religion major coursework must be completed at Rust.

Transfer Credit
Transfer credits in religion, theology, philosophy, or related fields will be evaluated by the Division of Humanities on a course-by-course basis. Students transferring with an Associate of Arts from an accredited institution may receive equivalency credit for up to 60 hours, subject to review.

Double Major & Minor Options
Religion may be combined as a double major or minor with many programs at Rust College. Particularly natural combinations include:
•   Religion + Social Work: Excellent preparation for faith-based human services careers.
•   Religion + Sociology: Strengthens sociological and community analysis skills.
•   Religion + Political Science: Ideal for students interested in public policy, advocacy, or law.
•   Religion + English: Prepares students for graduate study in religion and literature or cultural studies.
•   Religion + Education (Secondary): With Teacher Education coursework, qualifies students to teach social studies or humanities in secondary school.

Academic Advising
Each Religion major will be assigned a faculty advisor from the Division of Humanities upon declaration of the major. Students should meet with their advisor at minimum once per module (every 8 weeks) to review academic progress, course selection, and vocational discernment.