Interreligious Leadership

2024-25 catalog

Director: Khalil Andani, Assistant Professor of Religion B.Math., University of Waterloo; M.Acc., University of Waterloo., MTS, Harvard Divinity School; Ph.D., Harvard University

The Interreligious Leadership Experiential Minor (IRLD) allows students at Augustana to explore various religious traditions, interreligious dialogue, and the application of such knowledge to private, government, non-profit, and advocacy work. Classes in the minor program also focus on intercultural awareness and leadership skills. Students with an IRLD minor should be able to display interreligious competency in both an academic and practical sense.

Students must apply to the program by sending a letter of intent to Dr. Khalil Andani or another advisor in Religion. The letter must include a description of ways in which study and leadership in interreligious dialogue will contribute to the student’s potential career goals.

The requirements are as follows:

1. Any REF Course (four credits)

2. Two courses (eight credits) from two of the following three categories:
a. World Religions: RELG-150
b. Asian Religions: RELG 284, 287, 384, or 387;
c. Islam: RELG 285 or 385

3. One course (four credits) in either BUSN 304, COMM 210L, or COMM 260.

4. One area of practicum:

• Participation in 0-4 credits of internship work done through CORE (Careers, Opportunities, Research and Exploration), “CORE-INTR.” This will be for a minimum of 80 hours.  A proposed description of this internship work, mapped out by the student and an advisor in CORE, must be submitted to Dr. Khalil Andani or another advisor in Religion for approval.  Applicants are free to consider any relevant option for this internship, as long as the work involved advances interreligious awareness.  

Students completing IRLD will be required to have passed each class in the program with a “C” or higher. Students majoring in any discipline are encouraged to participate. IRLD is housed in the Religion department. The minor will be granted to students after a 30-minute exit interview attended by two faculty members in Religion, conducted after submission of a short essay in which the student articulates knowledge and skills acquired in the program.

Grade Point Average Notation: All courses listed in the catalog as required courses for any major and/or minor, including those courses outside of the department or with a different subject coding, are considered part of the major and will count in the grade point average. Some departments may have additional grade requirements for the courses offered within their department. Recommended supporting courses that are optional and not required may also count in the major depending on the program. For more information see your department chair or the degree requirements for Bachelor of Arts and information on Majors/Minors.