Search / Life Requirements
All entering students must enroll in either “The Search for Values in the Light of Western History and Religion” or “Life: Then and Now.” The first Search courses – Humanities 101 and 102 – comprise an interdisciplinary study of the origins of Western culture, including the study of the Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman traditions. The first courses in the Life sequence are Religious Studies 101 and 102. These courses introduce the student to the academic study of the Bible and the diverse traditions based on the biblical texts.
What is the difference between the Search and the Life programs?
"The Search for Values in the Light of Western History and Religion" is a three-course sequence that is structured differently from the three-course "Life" sequence. Search (Humanities 101, 102, 201) combines insights from various disciplines, including religious studies, art, literature, philosophy, history, and political science, to approach "foundational" texts from Western culture. The courses are organized chronologically from earliest origins to the modern period. In the first year, in addition to the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament, texts from the Ancient Near East, Greece, Rome, and the early Christian church are read. Most students who choose this option do so because they are interested in a broad-based investigation of the ethical and religious traditions of the West.
The courses that one may choose to fulfill the "Life: Then and Now" option are in the Departments of Religious Studies, Philosophy, and Greek and Roman Studies. Like "Search," the "Life" option comprises three courses, but with a different structure and focus. All "Life" students take the same introductory courses in their first year at Rhodes. Religious Studies 101, "The Bible: Texts and Contexts" is taken in the first semester and introduces students to the academic study of the Bible in its historical context. This course is followed in the spring semester by Religious Studies 102, which follows the development of traditions based on the biblical texts from the first century CE to the present.
How do the second years of "Search" and "Life" compare?
Students who wish to complete the Search sequence will enroll in Humanities 201. Sections of Humanities 201 share several texts in common but each section is organized around a specific theme or discipline. Among the disciplinary tracks are history, literature, philosophy, politics, and religion. There is thus considerable variation in approach and content in the sections of 201.
The third course in “Life” explores particular areas of the study of religion or philosophy. To fulfill the Life requirement, students may choose from a range of courses in Religious Studies, Philosophy, and Greek and Roman Studies. These courses include in-depth studies in Bible, theology and ethics, philosophy, and the history of religions. Please consult the catalogue for a complete listing.
When must Search and Life courses be taken?
Either the first two Life courses or the first two Search courses must be taken in sequence during the first year a student is at Rhodes. Students may not switch from Search to Life or vice versa during the first year. The third Life course, however, may be taken any time after the completion of Religious Studies 101-102. It is recommended that students take the third course in Search in the fall of the sophomore year, as the courses are organized sequentially. There will be, however, a section or more of Humanities 201 offered in the spring semester.
May a student switch from the Search program to the Life program, and vice-versa?
A student who begins in “Search” and has completed Humanities 101-102 may complete the F1 requirement by taking a course that is designated as completing the Life program. By the same token a student who begins in Life and completes Religious Studies 101-102 may fulfill the F1 requirement by taking Humanities 201. Please see the note below on prerequisites for Search, however.
What caveats should a student keep in mind in registering for Search or Life?
1. Please note that not all courses in the Religious Studies or Philosophy departments are "Life" courses. 300-level courses in Religious Studies, for example, are not Life courses.
2. Humanities 101 is a prerequisite for 102, and 102 a prerequisite for 201, although these prerequisites may be overridden by the permission of the instructor.
3. Religious Studies 101 is normally a prerequisite for 102. Either Religious Studies 101-102 or Humanities 101-102 is a prerequisite for a 200-level life course.