100 Introduction to the Religions of the World
3 crs (3-0). F, Sp.
GE-IVB; CD1; FC
Basic teachings of the world's major religions including
tribal traditions, Western religions (Judaism, Christianity,
and Islam), Indian religions (Hinduism and Buddhism), and
Far Eastern religions (Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto).
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110 Basic Issues in Religion
3 crs (3-0). F, Sp.
GE-IVB
A study of the meaning of religion, the nature of religious
thought, and an examination of such issues as God,
salvation, evil, and selected topics in the relation between
religion and the secular world.
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210 Religion and Morality
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB; CD1; FC
Relations between religious meanings and moral values among
majority and minority religions of Eastern and Western
cultures.
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230 Old Testament
3 crs (3-0). F.
GE-IVB
Scriptural heritage from ancient Israel which has profoundly
influenced Western civilization; the resources of recent
Biblical studies utilized.
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240 New Testament
3 crs. Sp.
P: One course in religious studies.
GE-IVB
A unified study of the New Testament from historical,
theological, and literary perspectives. Contributions of
recent Biblical scholarship included.
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281 Research and Writing in Philosophy or Religious
Studies
3 crs (3-0). Sp, odd-numbered years.
P: One course in religious studies or philosophy
Not for GE
See also PHIL281
Limited to philosophy or religious studies majors and minors
Credit may not be earned in both PHIL 281 and RELS 281
An introduction to the principles and practices of research
and writing in the disciplines of philosophy and religious
studies. Students construct essays; emphasis is placed on
both expositional quality and scholarly quality of the
essays within the discipline. Essays will be rewritten and
improved, and students will participate in peer review of
the essays.
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290 Sacred Earth: Religion and Nature
3 crs (3-0). F.
GE-IVB; CD1; FC
Sacred Earth explores the historical, cultural, religious,
and spiritual concerns of humanity's relationship with
"Nature" and environments, converging varieties or cultural
expressions of the "sacred earth" in religious traditions,
contemporary society, environmentalism, and science.
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291 Special Topics
1-3 crs (3-0).
Not for GE
Topics, issues, literature, or movements not typically
covered in regular religious study courses and of special
interest to students and faculty.
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303 Early Christianity
3 crs (3-0). F.
P: One course in religious studies or philosophy.
GE-IVB
Principal ideas, movements, and persons in the development
of Christianity from the New Testament Church to the
Reformation.
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304 Modern Christianity
3 crs (3-0). Sp.
P: One course in religious studies or in philosophy.
GE-IVB
Principal ideas, movements, and persons in the development
of Christianity from the Reformation to the 21st century.
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307 /507 Judaism
3 crs (3-0). Sp.
GE-IVB
Judaism from its earliest times to the 21st century,
including its history, literature, and life-styles.
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309 Islam
3 crs (3-0).
P: One course in religious studies.
GE-IVB; FC
Introduction to the main elements of Islam, through study of
its history, the role of Muhammed, the Koran, basic beliefs
and observances, the dynamics of the movement, and its
current world status and influence.
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312 Buddhism: Past and Present
3 crs (3-0). Sp.
P: One course in religious studies or in philosophy.
GE-IVB; FC
Study of central teachings, practices, and institutions of
major sects of Buddhism, both past and present. Emphasis on
development of Buddhist thought in India and on Buddhism as
practiced by several contemporary forms of Buddhism.
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314 Hinduism
3 crs (3-0). F.
P: One course in religious studies or in philosophy.
GE-IVB; FC
A survey of aspects of Hinduism utilizing secondary and
primary sources. The Upanishads, Yoga, Tantrism, village and
temple Hinduism. Emphasis on philosophical developments and
life-styles.
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315 Psychology of Religion
3 crs (3-0). Sp.
P: One course in philosophy or religious studies, or
consent of instructor.
GE-IVB
An examination of the human experience, using languages of
psychology and religion to understand what religion means.
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323 Chinese and Japanese Religions
3 crs (3-0). F, Sp.
(Formerly RELS320 )
P: One course in religious studies or philosophy or
consent of instructor
GE-IVB; FC; CD1
No credit if taken after RELS 317, RELS 319, and/or RELS 320
Examines the formative religions of China and Japan,
including Chinese and Japanese folk religions, the Religion
of the I Ching (Yin/Yang), Confucianism, Taoism, Neo-
Confucianism, and Shinto.
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326 Asian Religious Philosophies
2 crs (2-0). F, odd-numbered years.
P: One course in philosophy, or Rels 312, 314, or 323
Not for GE
See also PHIL326
Philosophical approaches to major religious traditions of
India, China, and Japan. Included will be Shankara's
nondualistic absolutism (Hindu), Nagarjuna's dialectical
paradoxology (Buddhist), Wang-yang Ming's idealism (Neo-
Confucian), and Nishida's synthesis of Western and Eastern
thought.
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330 Indigenous Religions of the Americas
3 crs (3-0). F.
P: One course in RELS, PHIL, AIS or consent of instructor
GE-IVB; FC; CD3
See also AIS 330
Credit may not be earned in both RELS 330 and AIS 330
This course will introduce indigenous religions in the
cultural contexts of Latin America and North American Indian
nations. It will study historical religious development from
Pre-Columbian, through colonial experience, to present day
cultural movements. Field trips include going to museums.
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348 Religious Themes in Literature
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB; CD3
An exploration of religious themes in the works of African
American, Native American, Hispanic, and Southeast Asian
American authors. Students will learn to understand the
belief systems and world-views of diverse people through
literature.
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350 Modern Religious Thought
3 crs (3-0).
P: One course in philosophy or religious studies or
consent of instructor
GE-IVB; FC
Major thinkers and ideas that have influenced modern
religious thought, both Eastern and Western, in the
nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
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353 Emancipating Eve and Adam: The Women's Movement in
Religion
3 crs (3-0).
P: One course in religious studies or in women's studies.
GE-IVB
See also WMNS353
Credit may not be earned in both RELS 353 and WMNS 353
Study of the treatment of women throughout history in Jewish
and Christian religions. In-depth discussions of both
current women's movement transforming those religions and
proposed alternatives to those traditions.
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355 Women and World Religions
3 crs (3-0).
(Formerly RELS351 )
P: One course in religious studies or in women's studies,
or a minor in family studies.
GE-IVB; CD1; FC
See also WMNS355
Credit may not be earned in both RELS 355 and WMNS 355.
No credit if taken after ANTH 354/554 or RELS 354/554
Surveys women's religious lives historically and cross-
culturally, focusing on pre-patriarchal religions and non-
Western traditions. Attention will be given to goddesses in
world religions. The course will end with feminist issues in
world religions.
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378 The Holocaust, 1933-19455
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB
The destruction by the Nazis of Jewish life in Europe, with
reference to its sociological and political dimensions.
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381 Writing Essays in Philosophy or Religious Studies
3 crs (3-0). Sp.
P: Two courses in philosophy or two courses in religious
studies.
Not for GE
See also PHIL381
Limited to philosophy or religious studies majors and minors
Credit may not be earned in both PHIL 381 and RELS 381
Students construct essays based upon assigned readings in
the disciplines of the department. Emphasis is placed on
expositional quality, not merely upon scholarly or research
quality. Essays will be rewritten and improved, and
participants will critique each other's essays.
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390 Religion in America
3 crs (3-0). F, even-numbered years.
P: One course in religious studies.
GE-IVB
The major religious ideas in America from the colonial
period to the present; the interplay of theological, social,
and cultural factors in the formation and development of
religious thought.
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395 Directed Studies
1-3 crs. F, Sp.
Not for GE
Minimum sophomore standing
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
Get form from department office
Study of a particular problem or special area in the field
of comparative religion studies.
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396 Research Apprenticeship in Religious Studies
1-3 crs. F, Sp.
P: One course in religious studies
Not for GE
Course may be taken for a maximum of 6 credits
Get form from department office
Qualified students, recruited and closely supervised by an
instructor, engage in a research project with the faculty
member.
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397 Teaching Apprenticeship in Religious Studies
1-3 crs. F, Sp.
P: One course in religious studies
SL-Optional/Half; Not for GE
Course may be taken for a maximum of 6 credits
Get form from department office
Qualified students, selected and supervised by an
instructor, assist teaching and learning in a course within
the department while working closely with a faculty member.
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399 Independent Study - Juniors
1-3 crs.
Not for GE
Minimum junior standing
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
Get form from department office
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450 Critiques of God
3 crs (3-0). even-numbered years.
GE-IVB
Minimum sophomore standing
Criticisms and objections to the concept of a Supreme Being,
leading either to atheism or to non-theistic religions.
Movements, systems of thought, and major thinkers who for
various reasons have rejected the idea of a God.
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480 Methodologies of Religious Studies
3 crs (3-0). F.
P: Five courses in religious studies
Not for GE
Limited to religious studies majors and minors
Examines five major methodologies used by scholars of
religion today-namely, the historiographical, the
hermeneutical, the comparative, the philosophical, and the
psychological/anthropological.
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490 Seminar in Religious Studies
3 crs (3-0).
Not for GE
Limited to religious studies majors and minors
Minimum sophomore standing
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
The content of the seminar is determined by the department
in designating the instructor.
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491 Special Topics
1-3 crs (3-0).
Not for GE
Minimum sophomore standing
May be repeated if topics differ with permission of adviser
or department chair.
Content will be determined by initiative of students and
department, such as topics in comparative religions,
scriptural research, historical and systematic theology,
sects, and movements.
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498 Internship in Religious Studies
1-3 crs. F, Sp, Su.
SL-Optional/Half; Not for GE
Limited to religious studies majors and minors
Course may be taken for a maximum of 3 credits
Get form from department office
Assignment in an area of religious studies emphasizing
practical experience in the technical or professional
aspects of the discipline. Interns will work closely with a
professional in the field.
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499 Independent Study - Seniors
1-3 crs.
Not for GE
Minimum senior standing
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
Get form from department office
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710 Religious Studies in School Curriculum
3 crs.
Recent developments, problems, and possibilities for
religious studies in the school curriculum. For teachers,
administrators, and undergraduates who intend to teach.
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797 Independent Study
1-3 crs.
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