The production of new knowledge about the religions of the world is central to our identity as a department of religious studies that operates within a major research university.
The faculty’s active research programs insure that our students are always at the cutting edge of the study of religion. Students are exposed to surprising local and global religious developments, both long-standing and novel ethical issues, new perspectives on religious history, and innovative approaches to the discovery and interpretation of ancient texts.
Our research commitments also enable us to remain an excellent, up-to-date resource for the public whose members realize the profound and immediate influence that religions around the globe can have on digitally-mediated lives.
Research and creative production in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
As part of a top-tier, AAU-accredited public research university, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences holds scholarly, scientific, and artistic discovery at the heart of our mission.
Throughout our departments and programs, our professors are at the forefront of their disciplines. They bring their world-class research and artistry into their classrooms, studios, and labs, giving students the unparalleled opportunity to learn right from the source of the latest innovations in knowledge and practice.
Graduate students and many undergraduates work side-by-side with faculty members, conducting breakthrough research and creative production that advances humanity’s understanding of ourselves and the complex, ever-changing world in which we live.
The creation of knowledge and understanding is an exhilarating and never-ending mission—and is at the core of every University of Iowa liberal arts and sciences education.