Department of Religion
The Department of Religion is a community of faculty members, staff, undergraduate and PhD students, who work together on issues of religious identity and the journey of faith in our world. We affirm Baylor’s mission for Christian higher education—our academic reputation highlights vigorous research and teaching, service to the church and the academy, and collegiality.
Programs
Our undergraduate program in religion invites students to inquire more deeply into the Christian faith, to gain an enhanced appreciation of the contributions of Christianity to the development of twenty-first century culture, and to prepare for life-long lay or career ministry. We offer courses of study in Biblical Studies, Historical Studies, Theological Studies, Practical Studies, and World Religions.
The Ministry Guidance program at Baylor University is designed to help students who are exploring careers in ministry - referred to as ministry students - to clarify and affirm their call to ministry and to introduce them to ministry as a vocation.
Our Religion Department provides the context for a flourishing Ph.D. program with concentrations offered in the Old Testament, New Testament, Historical and Theological Areas. Faculty are committed to a strong research agenda, and that agenda is tied to the Baylor tradition of providing the very finest in classroom instruction.
Featured Giving
This endowed scholarship fund provides assistance to deserving ministry students attending Baylor University, Waco, Texas. Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of merit and need.
The department of Religion is committed to honoring the hard work and dedication of our graduate students who actively engage in presenting at academic conferences and research, both nationally and internationally.
The Baptist Studies Center for Research will offer the James Melvin Washington Research Grant in Black Baptist History to support research on the Baptist experiences of African Americans.
Events
See More EventsNews
Read More NewsThe Religion Department will present a Black History Month Program at Toliver Chapel Missionary Baptist Church (1402 Elm Avenue, Waco, TX) on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 6:30pm. Dr. Nicole Myers Turner of Princeton University will share a talk entitled "Black Baptist History is Black History."
Dr. Mandy McMichael, Associate Director at Baylor University's Religion Department, addresses the ongoing disparities for women in ministry within Baptist life and the Religion departments commitment to ensuring they have a safe and supportive environment to nurture their calling and discover their full ministerial gifts. Read more here.
This year's annual department lecture will feature Dr. Natalie Carnes.