Course Overview:
The BA in Comparative Religion is an interdisciplinary program that explores the religious traditions of the world, their cultural implications, philosophical foundations, and the comparative study of different belief systems. The course covers a wide range of topics including theology, ethics, history of religions, religious texts, and their influence on societies. It encourages a critical understanding of the similarities and differences between religious traditions globally.

Duration:

3 years (6 semesters)

Syllabus (Semester-wise)

Semester 1:

1. Introduction to Comparative Religion

2. History of Religions I: Hinduism and Buddhism

3. Ethics in Religious Traditions

4. Religious Texts and Scriptures I: Vedas and Upanishads

5. English Language Skills

6. Intercultural Communication

Semester 2:

1. History of Religions II: Islam and Christianity

2. Philosophy of Religion

3. Religious Texts and Scriptures II: Quran and Bible

4. Sociology of Religion

5. Environmental Studies

6. Elective (Introduction to Psychology or Anthropology)

Semester 3:

1. Indian Religions: Jainism and Sikhism

2. Rituals and Symbols in Religion

3. Comparative Mythology

4. Women and Religion

5. Elective (Art and Religion or Religion and Politics)

6. Elective (Basic Sanskrit or Arabic)

Semester 4:

1. Western Religions: Judaism and Zoroastrianism

2. Religion and Globalization

3. Mysticism and Spirituality

4. Comparative Religious Ethics

5. Elective (Philosophical Foundations of Religion or World Literature and Religion)

6. Internship in a Religious/Cultural Organization

Semester 5:

1. African and Indigenous Religions

2. Religion, Conflict, and Peace

3. Religion and Modernity

4. Research Methodologies in Religious Studies

5. Elective (Religion and Ecology or Religion and Science)

6. Project Work

Semester 6:

1. Interfaith Dialogue

2. Religion and Society in India

3. Theories of Secularism

4. Dissertation or Thesis

5. Internship/Fieldwork

6. Elective (Religious Heritage and Tourism or Religion and Media)

Average Fees:

INR 20,000 to 1,20,000 per year depending on the institution.

Exams to Attend:

1. University-specific entrance exams (e.g., Delhi University Entrance Test, Banaras Hindu University Entrance Test, etc.)

2. Personal interviews or written assessments may also be required by some universities.

Ten Most Ranking Institutions Combined Ranking in India:

1. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi

2. University of Delhi, Delhi

3. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

4. Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

5. Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

6. University of Madras, Chennai

7. Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara

8. St. Xavier's College, Mumbai

9. Christ University, Bangalore

10. Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan

Top Ten Institutions in Kerala:

1. University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram

2. Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam

3. Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady

4. Calicut University, Kozhikode

5. St. Teresa's College, Ernakulam

6. Farook College, Kozhikode

7. Union Christian College, Aluva

8. Loyola College of Social Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram

9. St. Joseph’s College, Devagiri

10. Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram