Department of Sociology
Program Curriculum
Purdue's sociology of religion program includes five courses.
Sociology 367, "Religion in America" is an introductory level survey of America's religious landscape. Students are introduced to the social dimensions of individual religious commitment, changes in religious groups, and religion's impact on other social institutions.
Sociology 368, "The Social Significance of Religion" also is for undergraduate students. Course content varies from semester to semester (students can take this course up to two times). Recent topics include religion and Generation X, and religion and ethics.
Sociology 567, "Religion in Social Context" is for advanced undergraduates and graduate students. Treating religion as a "dependent variable," this course examines historical and contemporary research having to do with the social bases of religion at the micro, meso, and macro levels of analysis.
Sociology 568, "Religion and Society" also is for advanced undergraduates and graduate students. It treats religion as an "independent variable," reviewing research related to religion's impact on families, the economy, politics, and other spheres of social life.
Sociology 667, "Seminar in the Sociology of Religion" is for graduate students wanting to pursue original research related to religion. The content of the seminar depends on the shared interests of the faculty and students participating in the course.