Student Research
Many of our majors and minors undertake research projects under the supervision of Religious Studies faculty members. We encourage students to take advantage of the opportunities for summer study offered by the Foundation for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity (FURSCA). Many of our students have written honors theses based on original research and presented at the College’s Elkin R. Isaac Student Research Symposium. Some have gone on to present their work at the Midwest American Academy of Religion Conference, held annually in Chicago.
Below are some examples of recent research was undertaken by Religious Studies students.
FURSCA Projects
Honors Theses
Elkin Isaac Symposium Presentations
- Tyler Eyster (McWhirter): Religion, Immigration and Industry: The Role of Christian Communities in Shaping 20th Century Albion (2018)
- Troy Trombley (McWhirter): Old Testament Interpretation in Hebrews (2018)
- “Responding to the Hermeneutics of Suspicion in Christian Theology” Erica Dudas
- “The Effects of Forceful Takeovers on Religion in India and Greece” Christina Wade
- “Religious Studies and the Pro-Ana Movement” Sarah Hewitt
- “Christian Apologetics and Kantian Moral Influences” and“Evangelicals and Environmentalism” Jon Reynolds
- “From Martyr to Dragon-Slayer: The Myth of St. George” Steven Maisel
- Desiree Comer (Valdina), “Mainstream Tensions and Alternative Spiritualities: Making Sense of NRMs” (2020)
- Mickey Benson (Valdina), “Pastel Spirituality: Finding Religion in the Online Spiritual Marketplace” (2020)
- Binderya Munkhjargal (Valdina), “Iran’s Regional Politics” (2019)
- Leaha Sinneave (Valdina), “Greek Orthodox and Hindu Diaspora Communities in the United States.” (2019)
- Troy Trombley (McWhirter), “Messianic Exegesis in the Epistle to the Hebrews” (2019)
- Cameron Voss (McWhirter), “Post-genocide Understanding within Rwandan Families” (2019)
- Madison Kase, (Valdina) “Killing the Sacred Cow: Ecology and Religion in South Asia” (2018) (honors)
- Kenton McCosh (Valdina): “Buddhist Meditational Practices in a Western Biomedical Context” (2017)
- Desiree Comer (Valdina), “Mainstream Tensions and Alternative Spiritualities: Making Sense of NRMs” (2020)
- Mickey Benson (Valdina), “Pastel Spirituality: Finding Religion in the Online Spiritual Marketplace” (2020)
- Tyler Eyster (McWhirter): “Religion, Immigration and Industry: The Role of Christian Communities in Shaping 20th Century Albion” (2019)
- Leaha Sinneave (Valdina): “The Greek Orthodox and Hindu Diasporas in the United States” (2019)
- Troy Trombley (McWhirter): “Messianic Exegesis in the Letter to the Hebrews” (2019)
- Cameron Voss (McWhirter): “Post-genocide Understanding within Rwandan Families” (2019)
- Madison Kase (Valdina): “Holy Cow! The Beef behind Political and Religious Controversy in India” (2018)
- Chelsea Adams (Harnish): “NAGPRA and the Zuni Ahayu:da” (2017)
- Kenton McCosh (Valdina): “Buddhist Meditational Practices in a Western Biomedical Context” (2017)
- Olivia Alfano (Mourad): “Factors Affecting Mock Juror’s Criminal Sentencing Decisions” (2017)