The Philosophy and Religious studies department at UW-Eau Claire has decided to bring the Religious Studies major to a close. After this year, students will no longer be able to declare a religious studies (RELS) major, however current majors will be able to graduate with their degrees.

Although the major is disappearing, the religious studies department will stay and students can pursue a minor or certificate in this department, and RELS classes will continue to be an elective for students of all majors. 

Students and staff involved with this major have expressed sadness at the decision but also understanding.

“I am sad about the major leaving because it feels like my degree is devalued,” Emalie Huggins, a second-year religious studies student, said. “But I can understand the pragmatic point of view, since there are so few students in this major.” 

The number of majors has indeed gone down drastically, as Sean McAleer, the chair of the philosophy and religious studies department confirmed. Less than 10 years ago, there were 15 majors and 24 minors in the department, and this year there are five majors and five minors enrolled.

McAleer said he and the department had talked about this decision for at least a year in department meetings, and he made the decision for the department rather than Aleks Sternfeld-Dunn, dean of the college of arts and sciences.

One of the things  MacAleer wanted to make clear was that there was no ‘bad guy’ to blame for the loss of the major. 

“It’s not a matter of if they don’t respect religious studies,” McAleer said. “It’s funding.”

Part of the reason why it made sense to end the religious studies major was that the department was slowly shrinking. 

The religious studies major used to have four tenured professors and that number has slowly shrunk down to one. McAleer said it didn’t seem fair to put all the responsibility of the major on one professor, Steven Fink. 

Fink has been teaching at UWEC for 18 years. He also said he is sad about the major leaving.

“It feels like a huge loss,” Fink said. 

Fink has already stepped up a lot to help out the department. Since the position for an Asian religions teacher was cut, Fink has started teaching courses on Asian religions.

Fink’s expertise is on Islam, so this has been a learning experience for him.

“It’s been a huge amount of work to prepare for Hinduism and Buddhism, but it’s also been an incredible pleasure,” Fink said. “I’ve realized I like learning about the Asian religions more than the monotheistic ones.”

All the staff members agreed that the end of the religious studies major in UW-Eau Claire was only indicative of the general trend in the humanities nationally.

“Nationally,  we are seeing humanities programs close right and left, which is probably going to be a real problem for society,” said dean of the college of arts and sciences Aleks Sternfeld-Dunn. 

He said this may be because of a utilitarian view of college. 

“The national rhetoric is that you go to college to get a job,” Sternfeld-Dunn said. 

“People struggle with understanding how a Religious Studies major leads to a job –- but it absolutely does,” Sternfeld-Dunn said. “It gives you skills in research, writing, compassion and global awareness.”

The value of religious studies goes beyond jobs as well.

“What I think religious studies is doing is suggesting imagining different ways to live.” Fink said. 

The professor also expressed that learning about other religions is a crucial part of understanding other people.

“I want our students to leave as better human beings and these kinds of programs are important for that.” Sternfeld-Dunn said. 

Sonnek can be reached at [email protected].