Religious Studies Major

Portfolio Guidelines

Revised July 2002 H. Schell

As part of the requirements for the major in Religious Studies, the department asks you to submit a portfolio of your work for evaluation of your potential for progress in the program.  The portfolio consists of three pieces of work that you have already completed in courses relevant to the academic study of religion.  Usually these will be in the form of a traditional college essay, however in special cases you may submit creative work (writing, dance, etc.).  Each paper should be at least five pages in length; a group of take-home exam essays will be accepted, provided that they meet this minimum page requirement. You should choose essays that exemplify your strongest works thus far in the area of religious studies. Preferably, the essays will come from various courses within the discipline, but in certain cases papers from courses in other departments may be appropriate. We recommend that you consult with your advisor about the selection of essays.

The portfolio should demonstrate your readiness to embark on more advanced coursework in religious studies as well as the independent research required of the senior project.  More specifically, the papers will be evaluated on the following criteria:

<                    clarity of the thesis and organization of the essays

<                    depth and accuracy of the engagement with the relevant concepts

<                    engagement with several issues in the field

<                    degree to which the materials in the portfolio show progress toward the objectives of the major (see below).

<                    competence in scholarly writing: correct spelling, proper use of punctuation, appropriate citation, well-constructed sentences and paragraphs.

<                    The portfolio will be evaluated in terms of the objectives of the program in Religious Studies.

Students are strongly advised to proofread and possibly revise the essays before turning in the portfolio. The portfolio will be read by a committee of faculty in the department, including your anticipated senior project advisor. If the portfolio does not reflect an adequate level of intellectual rigor, you will be asked to rewrite the papers in consultation with the senior project advisor. The portfolio will also be used as the basis for advising regarding future coursework.

DEADLINE: All three essays must be turned in at the same time and are due no later than March 1st of the junior year.