As befits a singer whose fans greet him with religious fervour, whose songs often contain references to faith – and many of whose female characters are called Mary – Bruce Springsteen has become the subject of a theology course at Rutgers University in his home state of New Jersey.

Professor Azzan Yadin-Israel, who teaches courses in early rabbinic literature in the department of Jewish studies, is to host a one-semester course on the theological underpinnings of Springsteen's lyrics, looking at how he has interpreted biblical texts in his work.

"Interestingly, Springsteen refers more often to the stories of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) than the New Testament," Yaddin-Israel told Rutgers Today. "On a literary level, Springsteen often recasts biblical figures and stories into the American landscape. The narrator of Adam Raised a Cain describes his strained relationship with his father through the prism of the biblical story of the first father and son; Apocalyptic storms accompany a boy's tortured transition into manhood in The Promised Land, and the first responders of 9/11 rise up to "someplace higher" in the flames, much as Elijah the prophet ascended in a chariot of fire (Into the Fire).

"Theologically, I would say the most dominant motifs are redemption – crossing the desert and entering the Promised Land – and the sanctity of the everyday. Springsteen tries to drag the power of religious symbols that are usually relegated to some transcendent reality into our lived world. In his later albums he also writes very openly about faith."

As Consequence of Sound notes, it not the first time Springsteen has popped up on a college syllabus. Princeton offered a course on Sociology from E Street: Bruce Springsteen's America, and other institutions have also given students the chance to study The Boss.

Degrees that offer elements of pop music have become increasingly common in recent years, from courses analysing lyrics to the study of music business practices. In 2012, the University of Central Lancashire announced a course in music industry management that was to focus on the mismanagement of the Haçienda, the Manchester club established by Factory records and New Order, with student mentors including New Order's Peter Hook. Belle and Sebastian's debut album Tigermilk was originally released by the label set up by Stow College in Glasgow as part of its music business course.