I first found out about the
Religion, Ethics, and World Affairs (REWA) certificate program after taking my first political philosophy class. I knew that I wanted to do something with some of the subjects we had treated, yet without it being so far removed from today’s issues and situation. After reading about the Berkley Center’s offer, I knew that REWA was for me.
The program has allowed me to explore pretty much anything I wanted to in global affairs, while taking a close look at the ethical and religious dimension of things. The capstone course helps you understand how to best enter this mindset while talking about key political topics such as democracy, fundamentalism, secularism, and human rights.
Furthermore, the key feature of the REWA certificate is that it grants much freedom to craft your own personal track. In my case, I had always wanted to take a specific look at organized religion and comparing different theological systems. Furthermore, I sought to juxtapose these with secularism, agnosticism, and atheism and their social implications. By allowing me to take a wide variety of courses, from Fr. O’Brien’s "Church in the 21st Century," to Professor Marshall’s "Practice and Ethics of International Development," the program consistently challenged my theories and fostered critical thinking.
Finally, the Berkley Center simply provides a very solid support system. Their doors are always open, and they constantly make a great effort to promote dialogue, events, and center-wide activities. As a result I have grown quite close to members of its faculty and staff.
