该区域使学生有机会设计自己的学习课程。追求这一领域的学生将被要求掌握一定程度的跨学科以及理论和认识论的复杂性。由于该系的许多教职员工都具有宗教和文化专长，因此，希望集中精力于该领域的学生可以通过提出一份学习计划，并得到其所提议的论文主持人，论文委员会成员和博士审查员的批准。经学生委员会批准的计划应使用Alpha表格提交部门批准。鼓励有意入学的学生在撰写“目的陈述”论文的同时，就此领域的拟议研究向教职员工咨询。由于此领域的集中学习并不能替代在宗教传统或地区中全面发展的基础，因此鼓励学生在实质性领域中至少写两
The Religion and Culture area provides students the opportunity to focus on materials not described or bounded by other department areas of emphasis. Students pursuing their studies in this area are expected to master a level of interdisciplinary as well as theoretical sophistication appropriate to their research interests and to the study of religion. Religion and Culture students also receive thorough grounding in relevant traditions and regions through substantive coursework taken in consultation with a faculty advisor. Prospective applicants to this area are strongly advised to consult with faculty regarding their proposed research program before submitting the 'Statement of Purpose for the application. <br><br> Students in this area successfully propose a plan of study with a potential advisor, or a group of faculty that demonstrates a rigorous and cohesive set of courses, ideas, themes, and data. Study in this area may center on the exploration of texts, performances, archives, organizations, built environments, and spaces. It may include new media, visual art, film, literature, drama, dance, music, games, sports, and food. In general, students are encouraged to focus on the analysis of specific cultural forms and semiotic formations in and of themselves and in their contexts of production and fruition. Students may design projects through a variety of interpretive/analytic perspectives and methods in consultation with the advisor and faculty within and affiliated with religious studies. The aim of this area is to guide innovative students to the most appropriate methods and theories for their particular research topic as conditioned by symbolic systems, constituted by practices, mediated by cultural forms, ideologies, and lived experientially.