Amanda Gelman ’09
Religion/Premed
F08-S09 D-plan: R-R-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: The department is constantly evolving, adding interesting, new classes to their repertoire. Although it has been frustrating when professors that I've wanted to take classes with have gone on a yearly sabbatical, the hiring of new profs and visiting profs with unique specialties compensates for this.

Important info for potential majors: If you come into the major with the desire to focus on one religion, definitely encourage yourself to take classes outside of this religion. Learning about religions other than the one you intend to focus on often can give you a different perspective and perhaps even shift your interest.

Talk to me if: you're concerned about the feared quantity of papers in religion classes.

Most valuable academic information learned: Don't be afraid to take upper-level classes early on. You definitely benefit from the insights of older majors.

Favorite class and professor: Seminar, "The Bible, Sex and Sexuality", Professor Ackerman

Major classes taken: REL 3, 5, 80, 40

Major journey: I came from a high school that had a religious-orientation, and hence did not know basically anything about other religions. This always seemed like a limitation and I immediately engaged with students on campus to find out their religious interests. I realized how much this kind of discussion interested me and I knew I should spend the majority of my time at Dartmouth figuring out the wide range of beliefs that people hold.

Major specific activities: am going on an FSP in the Fall

Off Campus Program: FSP in Edinburgh, Scotland Fall '07

Other activities: Chabad-Communciations Chair, Nathan Smith Society, Tabard

Katherine Cespedes ’10
Religion and Philosophy
F08-S09 D-plan: R-R-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: What I like most about the religion department is undoubtedly the faculty. All faculty members that I have met to date are highly accomplished in their specialty field, open and eager to engage students in their courses. I highly value this feature of the department because it has resulted in courses where the professor is always prepared to give effective lectures and in the possibility to build rapport with the instructor. Least favorite aspect of the department is that specialty courses are often discontinued, some faculty leave for sabbaticals, and some stable courses are sometimes not taught for long periods of time (for instance from 07F through 09S).

Talk to me if: you are interested in religious ethics and moral theory, want insider perspective about classes, need advice scheduling courses, or simply want to discuss ideas presented in your religion classes.

Most valuable academic information learned: Hold your judgment until you have all the relevant facts. As a religion major it is valuable to have an open yet critical mind. You will learn most if you entertain in your mind the ideas presented in your classes and then inspect them carefully with a critical eye for validity. Do not accept claims unthinkingly but also do not dismiss concepts or theories you do not like without a fair assessment of their evidence.

Favorite class and professor: Religion and Morality (Rel 11) with Professor Green. Prof Green is an outstanding lecturer and the concepts are presented in a pleasant, straightforward manner. I personally enjoyed this course because it gave me a solid foundation on moral theory and also allowed me to adopt a position on controversial social issues. I emerged more informed about controversial social practices and as a result more confident about my moral reasoning. I highly recommend this course.

Major classes taken: REL 5, 11, 35 (in progress)

Major journey: Religion has been the single most important shaper of my life. However my decision to major in religion derived from my interest in philosophy. My fascination for the way in which philosophy can build and deconstruct arguments systematically quickly showed me that religious belief could be critically examined. When I acted on my personal calling to reason critically and define my own coherent system of beliefs, I became a religion major.

Major specific activities: Faculty-directed study of Catholic Social Teaching (Off campus--Summer 2007); Independent research on environmental ethics (Off campus--Winter 2008)

Thesis status: Definitely planned but topic has not been finalized yet.

Other activities: Aporia (Undergraduate Journal of Philosophy), PE course of interest every term

Off Campus Program: FSP in Edinburgh, Scotland Fall '07