Faith and Culture
Faith and Culture Minor at William Jewell
The Faith and Culture minor examines religious and spiritual perspectives alongside questions about meaning, vocation, relationships, and social responsibility. Students engage with different traditions and ideas while developing the ability to thoughtfully evaluate beliefs and their impact on individuals and communities.
Interests & Attributes:
- Curious Thinkers
- Open-Minded Learners
- Community-Minded Students
Goals for Student Learning
Students explore a variety of religious and spiritual perspectives and develop the ability to describe, critique, and evaluate different approaches to belief. They consider foundational questions about the self and others, the material and immaterial, knowledge and practice, and inclusion and exclusion.
Students examine what it means to live a meaningful and flourishing life. Through engagement with philosophical, religious, historical, and cultural perspectives, they consider how individuals and communities understand purpose, fulfillment, vocation, and responsibility.
Students also investigate the historical, social, and ideological forces that shape relationships within and among communities. They consider how these forces can create division or contribute to reconciliation, restoration, and greater understanding.
Immerse Yourself
The Faith and Culture minor requires four courses from William Jewell’s CTI Sacred and Secular category. Students take CTI 229: Power, Tyranny, and the Good Life and CTI 249: The Bible: History and the Construction of History, along with two additional Sacred and Secular courses.
Students are encouraged to take at least one course that explores a religious tradition different from their own. This approach gives students opportunities to broaden their understanding of faith and culture while engaging seriously with perspectives beyond their own experiences.
The minor can also complement the Faith and Culture Fellows Program. Students who participate in the Fellows Program follow a specific course sequence, while students who are not Fellows can still complete the minor.
Center for Faith & Culture
The Center for Faith & Culture creates opportunities for students and the broader William Jewell community to explore questions of faith, meaning, vocation, and social responsibility. Through conversations, programs, and interdisciplinary experiences, the Center encourages thoughtful engagement across different perspectives and traditions.
What You’ll Explore
- Faith & Meaning — Examine questions of belief, purpose, identity, and human flourishing.
- Vocation & Calling — Consider how your values, talents, and commitments can shape a meaningful life and career.
- Culture & Community — Engage diverse perspectives and explore how faith can contribute to reconciliation, justice, and the common good.