Rollins

Religion has dramatically shaped cultures, politics, and economies across time and around the world. As a religious studies major at Rollins, you’ll explore how the search for meaning impacts people and societies. By reading, discussing, and writing about challenging texts, you’ll learn to analyze, interpret, and communicate ideas—skills that employers highly value across a wide array of fields.

You’ll practice balancing an open mind with critical thinking, giving you a well-rounded approach to work and relationships. And while studying how other people view the world, you’ll cultivate curiosity, awareness, and empathy—key ingredients for a meaningful life.


Why Study Religious Studies at Rollins

  1. Faculty Mentorship

    Religious studies at Rollins is a small, close-knit program, so your professors will get to know you well throughout your time in the major, tailoring their feedback to your needs and goals.

  2. Classroom Dynamics

    Another benefit of a small program is getting to know your classmates through meaningful discussion. You’ll get comfortable exchanging perspectives and expressing yourself in a supportive yet challenging environment.

  3. Reading, Writing, and Speaking

    Forget standardized tests and rote memorization. You’ll stretch your mental muscles by engaging with original texts and learning to write and speak in a clear and compelling way.

Interested in Studying Religious Studies at Rollins?

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Madeleine Scott ’19 speaks in her seminar class.

“The thing I took away the most was the personal relationships with faculty mentors. Things like the small class sizes and having seminars rather than lectures made a world of difference. They taught me how to care about what I’m learning rather than just go through the motions. The courses taught by Dr. French and Dr. D’Amato were as good as you’d get at an Ivy League school, and I hope the education I receive in the future will be as good as Rollins.”

Madeleine Scott ’19

MTS Candidate, Harvard Divinity School


Rollins Religious Studies Careers

Rollins religious studies grads are making tomorrow happen at some of the world’s most innovative organizations.

  • Isabella Beham

    Isabella Beham ’16

    Director of Recruitment, Elite Private Search

  • Self portrait of Aislinn Betancourt.

    Aislinn Betancourt ’12

    Chief Impact Officer, Equity Meets Design

  • Self portrait of Alexander Earl.

    Alexander Earl ’14

    History and Theology Teacher, Pacifica Christian High School

  • Camilo Garzón

    Camilo Garzón ’15

    Editor, Digital Producer, and Contributing Writer, National Geographic Society

  • Prea Persaud

    Prea Persaud ’10

    Lecturer, Religious Studies, University of North Carolina-Charlotte

  • Ashton Lange

    Ashton Lange ’15

    Associate, Healthcare Services, Spencer Stuart


Real World Experience

From internships and community service to prestigious leadership conferences, religious studies majors hone their knowledge and skills through real-world experience.

  • JFS Orlando
  • Harvard Kennedy School
  • Tel Aviv University
  • United Nations
  • Unicef
Professor and students in a class discussion at a Rollins outdoor classroom

See for Yourself

Get a feel for Rollins’ unique brand of engaged learning and personalized attention through one of our virtual or in-person visit experiences.

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Beyond the Classroom

Collaborative Research Work side by side with a professor on an original, grant-funded research project through the Student-Faculty Collaborative Scholarship Program. Along the way, you’ll develop the kind of research experience that is typically reserved for graduate school and have the opportunity to publish and present your findings.

Philosophy and Religion Club This popular forum brings you together with faculty, visiting experts, and other students for dialectical conversation. A speaker introduces a theme, provides background, and then opens a lively discussion.

Study Abroad From China and Japan to India and Israel, Rollins religious studies majors see their course material come to life and observe how faith shapes people and cultures around the globe through dozens of faculty-led field studies and semester-long study abroad programs.


Religious studies professor and students engage in student-faculty research.

Keep Exploring

Take a deeper dive into religious studies at Rollins by meeting your future professors, seeing our grads in action, and sitting in on a class.

Greenberg Publishes Book on Religion and the Body

The Routledge Handbook of Religion and the Body is the first comprehensive volume of its kind to feature multi-religious perspectives on the body and embodiment.

Tars Taking Action

A trio of Tars are putting the “act” in “activist” through educational outreach and the creation of the first-ever Take Action Institute.

Jacqueline Bengtson ’22

Bengtson ’22 Earns Fulbright and Critical Language Scholarships

Jacqueline Bengtson ’22 will pursue passions for cross-cultural exchange, education, and foreign languages in India and Nepal.

Greenberg Publishes Response to Online Hate

Religion professor Yudit Greenberg responds to recent synagogue attacks with an article addressing the issue of online hate.

Rollins Launches New Graduate Certificate in Racial Reconciliation & Community Restoration

This innovative certificate program is built to empower those seeking to make a difference in the community and addressing racial inequality.

Greenberg speaks at Harvard University Symposium

Religion professor Yudit Greenberg speaks at the Harvard University Symposium on topics related to Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.


Expert Faculty

All of our religious studies faculty hold terminal degrees in the field and boast expertise in a broad spectrum of specializations. Our expert professors are also dedicated mentors who elevate learning through personalized attention inside and outside the classroom.

Department of Philosophy & Religion

French House
1000 Holt Ave. – 2773
Winter Park, FL 32789

Telephone: 407.646.2139

Visit the Department of Philosophy & Religion Website

Contact Religious Studies Professors

  • Todd French

    Todd French, PhD

    Associate Professor of Religion
    Director, Master of Liberal Studies Program

    Research interests: Early Christianity, Byzantine hagiography, Syriac, Islam, mysticism, gender, poverty, and extremes in religion

  • Yudit Greenberg

    Yudit Greenberg, PhD

    George D. and Harriet W. Cornell Chair of Religion; Director of Jewish Studies Program

    Research interests: Modern and contemporary Jewish thought; cross-cultural concepts of love, eros, and the body; feminist philosophy and theology; and comparative religion