Dec 06, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Religion, Health, and Leadership, B.I.S.

The BIS program in Religion, Health, and Leadership explores the dynamic interplay between religious traditions, health, and leadership, offering a unique and comprehensive perspective on these interconnected areas. This program fosters critical thinking, empathy, and a global perspective, empowering graduates to address complex societal challenges. The program’s includes pathways focused on leadership and communication. Students may focus on courses in leadership and public life to gain skills in critical thinking, cultural competencies, problem solving, decision-making, and social understanding. Students who cultivate strong leadership skills will be ready to embark on careers in nonprofit, business, healthcare, or government, or to pursue advanced studies in a variety of professional or academic fields. Alternatively, students may integrate a Certificate in Health and Science Communication to enhance their ability to communicate complex health and scientific information to diverse audiences. By developing strong communication skills, students will be well-prepared to advocate for health and wellbeing initiatives, educate communities on important health issues, and contribute to evidence-based decision-making.

This interdisciplinary program integrates coursework from religious studies and a variety of humanities and social science disciplines. Students will explore the role of religion in promoting physical and mental health, fostering social cohesion, and inspiring ethical leadership, while also developing the skills necessary to effectively communicate health and scientific information. Graduates will be equipped with a unique blend of knowledge and skills that will prepare them for a variety of careers, including community organizing, non-profit management, health professions, religious leadership, spiritual care roles, and public health communication.

Program Admission

Students may enroll in a concentration upon admission to Georgia State University. Students who wish to change their major to this degree program should select a concentration in consultation with their academic advisor and the faculty coordinator. A 2.0 Georgia State University GPA is required. Students who enroll in a concentration will be required to submit a course plan checklist to demonstrate their understanding of the degree requirements. It is highly recommended that students develop a course of study with their specific faculty coordinator before taking coursework in the degree program to avoid taking courses that will not count towards graduation.

Academic Advisement for Undergraduate Students

Academic advisement for undergraduate students is provided by the department’s Director of Undergraduate Studies and through the University Advisement Center (freshman through junior status/fewer than 90 hours) and the college’s Office of Academic Assistance (senior status/90 or more hours). See Office of Academic Assistance for additional information.

Degree Requirements (120 Hours)

Please refer to the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies section 3030 of this catalog for academic regulations for this program.

Students must complete coursework in at least three disciplines (defined by course prefixes) in the Major Area and in at least two disciplines in the Allied Studies Area. The Major and Allied Studies areas should be constructed so that students take courses in distinct disciplines in each area (with some overlap expected); that is, the same prefix should not predominate in both the Major and Allied Studies areas.

In addition, per Georgia State University’s requirements, all undergraduate students must satisfy a common core curriculum. The requirements can be found in the current university Undergraduate Catalog (see Office of Academic Assistance and 1400 University Degree Requirements and Graduation).

University Grade-Point Average and Grade Requirements

Georgia State University undergraduate students must achieve an overall institutional gradepoint average of 2.0 and a major GPA of 2.0 in the Major and Allied Studies areas to receive a bachelor’s degree from the university. Grades of C- can be used to satisfy graduation requirements. However, some courses have prerequisites that require a grade of C or higher. (See 1460 GPA Requirement for additional information.)

Core IMPACTS Area

Institutional Foundations Area

The following is suggested but not required in the major:

PERS 2004 - Personal and Professional Development and Leadership 2 Credit Hours

Field of Study Area (18 Hours)

Required Courses (3 Hours)

RELS 2001 - Introduction to World Religions 3 Credit Hours

World Language Requirements (3 Hours)

• World language 1002 or higher course (3 Credit Hours)

Leadership Foundations (3 Hours)

Complete one of the following:

SCOM 1500 - Public Speaking 3 Credit Hours
SCOM 2400 - Interpersonal Communication 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 2105 - Workplace-Based Research and Writing 3 Credit Hours

Health Foundations (3-4 hours)

Complete one of the following:

BIOL 1104 - Introductory Biology II 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 2260 - Foundations of Microbiology 3 Credit Hours
CHEM 1050 - Chemistry for Citizens 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 2000 - Introduction to Neuroscience 3 Credit Hours
PHPB 2000 - Introduction to Public Health 3 Credit Hours
GERO 2000 - Introduction to Gerontology 3 Credit Hours
NUTR 2100 - Principles of Nutrition 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 1101 - Introduction to General Psychology 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 2060 - Introduction to Positive Psychology 3 Credit Hours

Field Electives (6 hours)

Complete two of the following:

AAS 1141 - Introduction to African and African American History to 1865 3 Credit Hours
OR
HIST 1141 - Introduction to African and African American History to 1865 3 Credit Hours
AAS 1142 - Introduction to African American History Since 1865 3 Credit Hours
OR
HIST 1142 - Introduction to African American History Since 1865 3 Credit Hours
AAS 2010 - Introduction to Africana Studies 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 1102 - Introduction to Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 2020 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
AL 2101 - Exploring Language 3 Credit Hours
AL 2102 - Languages of the World 3 Credit Hours
AH 1700 - Western Art from Antiquity to the Middle Ages 3 Credit Hours
AH 1750 - Western Art from the Renaissance to the Present 3 Credit Hours
AH 1850 - Art of the Global South 3 Credit Hours
AH 2000 - Survey of Art Since 1900 3 Credit Hours
ARBC 2001 - Intermediate Arabic I 3 Credit Hours
ARBC 2002 - Intermediate Arabic II 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 1104K - Introductory Biology II 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 2108K - Principles of Biology II 4 Credit Hours
BUSA 2300 - Personal and Career Development 3 Credit Hours
CHIN 2001 - Intermediate Chinese I 3 Credit Hours
CHIN 2002 - Intermediate Chinese II 3 Credit Hours
CPS 2500 - Career Development and Life Planning 3 Credit Hours
DATA 1501 - Introduction to Data Science 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 2105 - Workplace-Based Research and Writing 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 2110 - World Literature 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 2120 - British Literature 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 2130 - American Literature 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 2140 - African American Literature 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 2600 - Creative Writing 3 Credit Hours
FREN 2001 - Intermediate French I 3 Credit Hours
FREN 2002 - Intermediate French II 3 Credit Hours
GRMN 2001 - Intermediate German I 3 Credit Hours
GRMN 2002 - Intermediate German II 3 Credit Hours
GERO 2000 - Introduction to Gerontology 3 Credit Hours
HIST 2110 - Survey of United States History 3 Credit Hours
HIST 2200 - Women In American History 3 Credit Hours
JAPN 2001 - Intermediate Japanese I 3 Credit Hours
JAPN 2002 - Intermediate Japanese II 3 Credit Hours
KH 2022 - Personal Health and Wellness 3 Credit Hours
KH 2105 - Fundamentals of Health Coaching 3 Credit Hours
KH 2122 - Applied Health and Wellness 3 Credit Hours
KH 2130 - Introduction to Kinesiology and Health 3 Credit Hours
KH 2150 - Healthy Lifestyle Choices 3 Credit Hours
KORE 2001 - Intermediate Korean I 3 Credit Hours
KORE 2002 - Intermediate Korean II 3 Credit Hours
MATH 1401 - Elementary Statistics 3 Credit Hours
NUTR 2100 - Principles of Nutrition 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 2030 - Introduction to Ethics 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 2103 - Introduction to Lifespan Development 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 2618 - Introduction to Psychology of Women 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 1101 - Introduction to General Psychology 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 2050 - Introduction to Drugs and Behavior 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 2060 - Introduction to Positive Psychology 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 2070 - Introduction to Human Sexuality 3 Credit Hours
PHPB 2000 - Introduction to Public Health 3 Credit Hours
PHPB 2020 - Determinants of Health 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 1101 - Introduction to Sociology 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 1160 - Introduction to Social Problems 3 Credit Hours
SCOM 1000 - Human Communication 2 Credit Hours
SCOM 1500 - Public Speaking 3 Credit Hours
SCOM 2050 - Media, Culture, and Society 3 Credit Hours
SCOM 2400 - Interpersonal Communication 3 Credit Hours
SPAN 2001 - Intermediate Spanish I 3 Credit Hours
SPAN 2002 - Intermediate Spanish II 3 Credit Hours
WGSS 2010 - Introduction to Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies 3 Credit Hours

Major Area (30 Hours)

Interdisciplinary Course Selection

Students must complete coursework in at least three disciplines (defined by course prefixes) in the Major Area.

Study of Religions (6 hours)

To fulfill this area, students must take 6 CH in Religious Studies (RELS) at the 3000 or 4000-level from the list in the catalog.

Allied Studies Area (15 Hours)

Complete one of the two allied studies areas below:

1. Leadership and Public Life Affiliate Area (15 hours)

Complete 15 hours from the following options.

WomenLead Options:

Selecting one WomenLead course is strongly recommended for any student who meets the program’s application requirements. The Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions may require authorization from the instructor prior to registration.

Select one of the following:

PMAP 4150 - WomenLead in Policy and Politics 3.0 Credit Hours
ENI 3400 - WomenLead in Entrepreneurship and Innovation 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 3910 - WomenLead in Science 3 Credit Hours
BUSA 3400 - WomenLead in Business 3 Credit Hours
BUSA 3401 - WomenLead in Technology 3 Credit Hours

Leadership and Public Life Options

HA 3900 - Introduction to the US Health Care System 3 Credit Hours
GERO 4116 - Aging and Society 3 Credit Hours
JOUR 4800 - Media, Ethics & Society-CTW 3 Credit Hours
JOUR 3500 - Public Relations Techniques 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4760 - Ethics and Contemporary Public Policy - Ethics Bowl 3 Credit Hours
PMAP 3213 - Nonprofit Fundraising & Survival 3 Credit Hours
PMAP 3231 - Nonprofit Strategy & Growth 3 Credit Hours
PMAP 3411 - Contemporary Planning 3 Credit Hours
PMAP 3801 - Politics & Policy 3 Credit Hours
PMAP 3031 - Policy Leadership 3 Credit Hours
PMAP 3210 - Introduction to Nonprofits 3 Credit Hours
PMAP 4411 - Navigating Legal Landscapes 3 Credit Hours
PMAP 4451 - Economic Development Policy 3 Credit Hours
PMAP 4941 - Internship 3 Credit Hours
PMAP 4211 - People & Performance at Work 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3162 - African-American Family 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3180 - Housing and Inequality 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3201 - Wealth, Power, and Inequality 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3212 - Race and Ethnic Relations 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3216 - Gender and Society 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3101 - Families and Society 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4311 - African American Relationships 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4360 - Religion and Society 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4110 - Aging Policy and Services 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4119 - Global Aging and Families 3 Credit Hours
WGSS 4842 - Sexuality and Nationalism 3 Credit Hours
WGSS 4760 - Social Justice in the Present Moment 3 Credit Hours
WGSS 4820 - Queer Theory 3 Credit Hours
WGSS 4590 - Cultural Studies of Gender 3 Credit Hours
WGSS 4040 - Gender, Race, and Class in Complex Societies 3 Credit Hours
WGSS 3115 - Gender and Race in AI and Gaming Credit Hours

2. Science and Health Communication Affiliate Area (15 hours)

Complete the required course and the other certificate requirements as described below.

Required (3 hours):

RELS 4775 - Issues in Religion and Health 3 Credit Hours
OR
RELS 4150 - Religion and Aging 3 Credit Hours

Sciences and Health Advanced Issues (6 hours)

Select one course from the following:

ANTH 4460 - Health and Culture 3 Credit Hours
GERO 4200 - Health and the Older Adult 3 Credit Hours
HIST 3420 - Historical Aspects of Public Health and Medicine 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 3740 - Biomedical Ethics 3 Credit Hours
RELS 4770 - Religion and Health 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3352 - Mental Illness in the United States 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3358 - Environmental Sociology 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4230 - Sociology of Health and Illness 3 Credit Hours
WGSS 4110 - Black Women and Health 3 Credit Hours

Sciences and Health Communication Proficiency (6 hours)

Take two courses from the following:

JOUR 4460 - Health Communication 3 Credit Hours
SCOM 4700 - Health Communication in Interpersonal Contexts 3 Credit Hours
SCOM 4480 - Communication Campaigns 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 3930 - Experience in Science Outreach 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 3010 - Science Communication 3 Credit Hours

Capstone (0 hours)

INDS 4882 - Health and Science Communication Certificate Capstone 0 Credit Hours

Additional Courses Area

Students take elective courses beyond those specified in the Major and Allied Studies areas to reach the 120 hours needed to earn a bachelor’s degree (including 30 hours at the 3000-4000 level taken at Georgia State University). We encourage students to consider pursuing the Certificate in Language Ability or the Certificate in Workplace Intercultural Competence, which includes three RELS courses (2001, 3750, and 4650).

Graduation with Distinction in the Major

This program offers undergraduate students with the opportunity to earn the designation of graduation with distinction in the major. Please contact the undergraduate director for the specific criteria for this honor.