A major declared by sophomore year
Dartmouth says students do not need to declare a major until sophomore year. The pages read describe no separate admission to Religion.
Undergraduate · Dartmouth College
Dartmouth Religion: ten courses, a Non-Western rule and a senior colloquium
Dartmouth lets students wait until sophomore year to declare a major. The Religion Department's Major Worksheet, issued for class years 2020 and later, sets out a ten-course major: two introductory courses, one theories course, two intermediate courses, a seminar, a senior colloquium and three electives, with two courses required to meet the Non-Western requirement. The department page tells students to check the catalogue for their matriculation year, so the worksheet is the best guide, not a 2028-entry confirmation.
Official information · read 2 November 2026, no entry-year label
What Dartmouth says about Dartmouth Religion
Taken from the Dartmouth Religion Department's Major and Minor page and its Major Worksheet for class years 2020 and later, Dartmouth Admissions' Majors & Minors and Testing Policy pages, read on 2 November 2026. The pages carry no entry-year label, so for a 2028-entry application every statement below is evidence for the previous cycle and may change; check Dartmouth's pages for the 2028-entry details.
Ten courses in a set pattern
Introductory, theories, intermediate, seminar, colloquium and elective courses, as listed on the worksheet.
A Non-Western requirement
Two of the courses must fulfil it.
Check your matriculation year
The department refers students to the catalogue of their matriculation year.
The SAT or ACT, or an international alternative
US high school students submit the SAT or ACT. Students outside the US can meet the requirement in one of five ways, including predicted or final A-level or IB results.
Official sources
- Dartmouth Admissions: Majors & Minorsadmissions.dartmouth.edu
- Dartmouth Religion: Major and Minorreligion.dartmouth.edu
- Dartmouth Religion: Major Worksheet (class years 2020 and later, PDF dated 17 August 2023)religion.dartmouth.edu
- Dartmouth Admissions: Testing Policyadmissions.dartmouth.edu
Read on 2 November 2026 on the Dartmouth Religion Department's Major and Minor page and its Major Worksheet for class years 2020 and later, Dartmouth Admissions' Majors & Minors and Testing Policy pages, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. Dartmouth's Organization, Regulations and Courses catalogue, the full requirement worksheet, deadlines and financial aid were not read and are not stated.
The major
What the department says the Religion major is
The department presents the academic and comparative study of religion as critical to a liberal arts education. Its worksheet for class years 2020 and later lists two introductory courses, one theories course, two intermediate courses, one on-campus seminar, a culminating senior colloquium and three electives, with two courses meeting the Non-Western requirement and no more than two iterations of the introductory course counting. Transfer credit is limited to three courses approved by the chair. The department's page says requirements should be checked against the matriculation-year catalogue.
Is it the right major?
Religion beside Philosophy and Anthropology
Dartmouth lists these as separate majors, so the choice is made after admission. Avandy's comparison is general.
Religion fits if
you want the comparative study of religious traditions, with a Non-Western requirement built in.
Philosophy fits if
you want argument and reasoning as the method. Avandy's Dartmouth Philosophy guide covers it.
Anthropology fits if
you want cultures studied through fieldwork and material evidence. Avandy's Dartmouth Anthropology guide covers it.
Admission and testing
A Dartmouth application, an SAT or ACT and A levels or the IB
Dartmouth requires students who attended high school in the United States to submit the SAT or ACT. Students who attended high school outside the United States may fulfil the requirement in one of five ways, which include predicted or final results from British A-Levels or the IB Diploma. The major is not a separate application. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Dartmouth's.
Does the Non-Western requirement suit your interests?
Two courses must fulfil it.
Would a senior colloquium appeal?
The culminating experience is a senior colloquium.
Which testing route would you use?
Students outside the US can meet Dartmouth's requirement in one of five ways, including predicted or final A-level or IB results.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Dartmouth's pages carry no entry-year label, so nothing on them is confirmed for 2028 entry. Use them to understand the structure of the application, then check Dartmouth's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The requirements and descriptions on the pages read on 2 November 2026, which carry no entry-year label
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Dartmouth has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, fees, financial aid and any department prerequisites not quoted here: not stated
This guide has not read them. Check Dartmouth for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Read the department's Religion page and decide which testing route you will use for Dartmouth.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with Dartmouth College or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here is limited to understanding the requirements and planning the applicant's own work; Avandy does not write or edit essays, does not submit any materials and has no partnership with Dartmouth College. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply directly to Dartmouth Religion?
The pages read describe admission to Dartmouth. Students do not need to declare a major until sophomore year.
How many courses does the Religion major need?
The worksheet for class years 2020 and later lists ten courses: two introductory, one theories, two intermediate, one seminar, one senior colloquium and three electives.
Are these requirements confirmed for my entry year?
No. The department page says to refer to the catalogue of your matriculation year, and the worksheet read is for class years 2020 and later.
Do A levels and the IB count for testing?
Dartmouth lists predicted or final British A-Level and IB Diploma results among five ways to meet the requirement for students who attended high school outside the United States.
Is the SAT or ACT required?
For students who attended high school in the United States, yes: they must submit either test.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Dartmouth's wording with no entry-year label. Check Dartmouth's pages again when Dartmouth publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Dartmouth Religion
Tell us about the student's curriculum, whether they want a comparative study of religion, how the non-Western requirement fits and their testing route, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.