Religion

A barrage of questions follows any Religion concentrator. Your peers and even your parents will wonder what you’ll do with your degree in the field of religion. Prepare answers ahead of time, but rest assured that plenty of graduates from this concentration opt for careers beyond the nunnery or local Buddhist monastery.

All religion concentrators choose a particular track, whether it be a religion (Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, etc.) or an area (East Asia, Modern West, etc.). The courses you take do not necessarily come from your focus; the whole department is essentially a free-for-all when it comes to plans of study.

Much of the appeal of the concentration rests upon the intimate relationship fostered between students and professors. Since the concentration as a whole averages between ten to fifteen concentrators per year, it makes for a cozy environment in the Barker Center. Students can expect some actual attention from their advisors when it comes time to talk about plan of study, and the attendant at the Barker Center café will know you very well by the end of your Harvard career.

Many courses within the Religion department, however, are populated by Harvard students with a more casual interest in the topic. With professors like Diana Eck and Peter Gomes, this concentration certainly boasts some of the most colorful and entertaining members of Harvard’s faculty. Gomes teaches Religion 42, “The Christian Bible and Its Interpretations” and Religion 1513, “History of Harvard and Its Presidents.” With his baritone voice and commanding presence, Gomes draws hundreds of students to each class, and his resounding popularity make him a popular (but elusive) choice for a thesis advisor.

A word of caution: you’ll be expected to take some courses at the nearby Divinity School, which is not the walk in the park that many claim. If the distance doesn’t kill you, then the glares you’ll receive from Div School students just might.

This smaller concentration is for a niche audience, one that craves individual attention and eschews the claustrophobic environment of Government or Economics. You’re going to read and write a ton, but you have a great team of advisors and professors to help you through it all. Oh, and you have the power of God on your side.