Intercultural-Interfaith Leadership Minor

Intercultural-Interfaith Leadership Minor

BECOME A CROSS-CULTURAL, CROSS-RELIGION BRIDGE BUILDER WITH THE INTERCULTURAL-INTERFAITH LEADERSHIP MINOR

Today professionals in various sectors–healthcare, law, business, education, NGO's, government service, public policy, and beyond –are beginning to recognize the need to address the religious/spiritual dimensions of their work. As an Interfaith Leadership Minor, you’ll learn how to serve more compassionately and effectively, contributing to the evolution of a more inclusive and just society.

Our interdisciplinary program will provide you with a set of competencies and perspectives to begin understanding the stakes of our religiously diverse world. In small, discussion-based classes, guided by our world-renowned faculty, you learn how to be a force for cooperation in our polarized world. 

You will graduate well-equipped to make an impact in whatever career you pursue.

 

Apply Request Info

Intercultural-Interfaith Leadership, Minor

Requirements

Required Core Course

  • The following course and Engaged Learning component is required
  • Intercultural-Interfaith Leadership (3 units)
  • Intercultural-Interfaith Leadership EL (1 units)

Breadth Requirement

  • Take one of the following courses. ANTH 373 requires permission of the instructor if the student does not have the usual prerequisites.
  • Intro to Social & Cultural Anthropology (4 units)
  • Anthropology of Religion (4 units)
  • Introduction to Ethnic Studies (4 units)

Communication Requirement

  • Take one of the following courses.
  • Intercultural Communication (4 units)
  • Interpersonal Communication (3 units)
  • International Communication (4 units)

Leadership Requirement

  • Take one of the following courses
  • Advanced Leadership Theory (3 units)
  • Managing & Leading Organizations (4 units)
  • Groups, Organizations and Societies (4 units)

Elective

  • Take electives from the following list to reach at least 18 total units for the minor.
  • Intro to Social & Cultural Anthropology (4 units)
  • Anthropology of Religion (4 units)
  • Intercultural Communication (4 units)
  • Interpersonal Communication (3 units)
  • International Communication (4 units)
  • Introduction to Ethnic Studies (4 units)
  • Revolutionary Movements in Modern China (3 units)
  • Ethnic Identity and Conflict in China (4 units)
  • Advanced Leadership Theory (3 units)
  • Managing & Leading Organizations (4 units)
  • Intercultural-Interfaith Leadership (3 units)
  • Intercultural-Interfaith Leadership EL (1 units)
  • Theories of Justice (4 units)
  • Groups, Organizations and Societies (4 units)

Elective by permission of program

  • The following courses may be allowed as an elective only with permission of the Intercultural-Interfaith Leadership Minor program director to ensure that they do not overlap with the Theological Understanding Core Curriculum requirement.
  • Anthropology of Religion (4 units)
  • Judaism (3 units)
  • Islam: Beliefs and Practices (3 units)
  • Asian Religions (3 units)
  • Hinduism (3 units)
  • Buddhism (3 units)

Program Notes

  • JCL 350 and ANTH 373 require permission of the instructor if the student does not have the usual prerequisites, and entry into one of those courses will depend on how far along students are in this minor and/or their overall education.
  • Only one course can overlap (double-dip) with another minor.
  • The following courses will count as an elective only if they were not already taken as a part of the Intercultural-Interfaith Leadership Minor Program Core: ANTH 373, ES 101, JCL 350, ORB 231, PSYCH 363, COMM 405, COMM 306, COMM 312
  • Theology and Religious Studies (TRS) courses for the Intercultural-Interfaith Leadership Minor will not overlap (double-dip) with the Theological Understanding Core Curriculum Requirement. To count as an Elective for this minor, these courses must be taken in addition to the two courses required for the Theological Understanding requirement: ANTH 373, TRS 351, TRS 352, TRS 353, TRS 354, TRS 355

Center for Engaged Religious Pluralism

many religion icons

Interfaith Opportunities

Founded 2008, the center regularly hosts events and guest speakers, engaging religiously diverse and non-faith perspectives to foster interreligious understanding and leadership.

Learn more

What's Happening Now

Mia Franceschi poses by Ballers mural at Raimondi Stadium
NewsCenter
Making Contact: For Mia Franceschi ’27 and the Oakland Ballers, It’s About Community
Learning the tools of the trade is only part of her experience in Saint Mary’s Media Production...
six Dante club students standing with Italian Professor De Angelis
School of Arts and Sciences
Dante Club earns National Grant from the Italian American Foundation
Saint Mary's Italian Club selected as one of twenty clubs in the nation for NIAF Campus Partnership...
Student Lauren Cardinale, right, with theatre manager of the Roxie during SF Film Festival 2026
NewsCenter
Beyond the Screen: Gaels Discover Inspiration at San Francisco International Film Festival
For those studying media production at Saint Mary’s, behind-the-scenes access to the...
Jaden De Souza portrait
NewsCenter
Making Family History: Jaden De Souza ’25, MA ’26 on Her Route to Teaching and Surfing Around the World
She’s a “first-gen” college student and runner from Kauai. She left a record-breaking legacy with...

School and Department Information

School of Economics and Business Administration
SEBA Faculty

© 2026 Saint Mary’s College of California