Undergraduate Religious Studies Courses
Course Descriptions
Explore Religious Studies courses and related courses offered across the University of 榴莲视频. Courses are organized by academic discipline to make it easier to find areas of interest.
Please note: This page is provided for reference. Consult the current Undergraduate Catalog and class schedule for official course descriptions, prerequisites, online availability, and degree requirements.
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Religious Studies | African and African American Studies | Anthropology | Classical Studies | Communication | English | History | Jewish Studies | Public Administration | Philosophy | Political Science | Sociology | University College | Additional Courses
Religious Studies (RLGN)
RLGN 1100 - Religions of the World
Introduction to the world鈥檚 major spiritual traditions from ancient times to the present.
RLGN 3001 - Christianity
Exploration of the history and development of Christianity.
RLGN 3002 - Islam
This course provides an introduction to the religion of Islam. Students will explore the various ethnic, theological, and cultural diversity in Islam. The course will cover an introductory history of Islam in America and evidence of early Muslims in the U.S.
Prerequisite: None
RLGN 3100 - Perspectives on Religion
Continued study of religion using a range of comparative and theoretical perspectives; exploration of perennial themes in religion, drawing on the different traditions as examples.
Prerequisite: RLGN 1100
RLGN 3101-3105 - Special Topics in Religious Studies
Topics are varied and in online class listings. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours credit.
RLGN 3515 - Women, Gender, and Religion
This course will examine the treatment of women within major religions of the world, theories for that treatment, and patterns of women's response, both resistance and adaptation, to their treatment within religions.
RLGN 3550 - Clash of Cultures
Multi-leveled, complex, and consequential clashes that have shaped American culture and much of the modern world.
RLGN 3565 - Comparative Christianity
Commonality in Christianity; major turning points in Christian history; the tradition's variety of subgroups, starting with the three great groupings: Eastern Christianity, Roman Christianity, and Protestant Christianity; examination of future of Christianity.
RLGN 3585 - Old Testament Empires & Interpretations
Thematic, interdisciplinary approach to the academic study of the Old Testament, including some of the complex historical, literary, and cultural contexts of the ancient production and contemporary interpretation of these texts.
Prerequisites: ENGL 1010, ENGL 1020
RLGN 3590 - New Testament
Main events, background, characters and teaching of the New Testament and how it relates to the Old Testament and to today.
Prerequisites: ENGL 1010, ENGL 1020
RLGN 3592 - Religious Perspectives on Death and Afterlife
(Same as UNIV 3592). Explore religious rituals and beliefs about death, burial, and afterlife from various global, historical, cultural, and social perspectives.
Prerequisites: ENGL 1010 and ENGL 1020
RLGN 3595 - Gods and Monsters in Ancient Religions
In our world of entertainment, monsters are everywhere. They frighten us, intrigue us, and disorient us. But monsters can also inform us. Our monsters, and our gods, tell us a lot about ourselves and how we process the world. In fact, the difference between gods and monsters, heroes and villains, is a matter of perspective. In this course, we turn our gaze to ancient religious traditions鈥攖he Bible, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Norse, Greek, Hindu, Buddhist, and others鈥攁nd explore the complex relationship between gods, monsters, and humanity.
RLGN 4010 - Directed Readings
Reading on particular topic in religious studies under the supervision of faculty member.
Prerequisite: Permission of program coordinator.
RLGN 4050-4065 - Special Topics in Religious Studies
Topics are varied and in online class listings. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours credit.
RLGN 4990 - Capstone Project
Continues study of religion requiring individual investigation of specific topic in religious studies leading to completion of significant research paper.
Prerequisites: RLGN 3100 and permission of instructor.
African and African American Studies (AAAS)
AAAS 4251 - African Religions/Diaspora
Transplantation of African religions to the Western hemisphere; change in religions over time; African religious thought; retention, adaptation, hybridity in religious movements.
Anthropology (ANTH)
ANTH 3253 - Anthropology of Religion
Explores theories of magic and religion around the world; lived experience of magic and religion; links between belief and ritual in broader cultural context; roles of magical and religious specialists; impact of culture change on religion. Designed for both majors and non-majors.
Classical Studies (CLAS)
CLAS 2481 - Mythology
Thematic study of classical myths and their function in ancient literature; emphasis on reading myths in ancient sources in translation.
Communication (COMM)
COMM 3100 - Communication Ethics
Exploration of principles, theories, and philosophical approaches to ethics of human communication; emphasis on decision-making, critical thinking and awareness of personal responsibilities as a sender and receiver of messages.
English (ENGL)
ENGL 4461 - Bible as Literature
Survey of both Old and New Testaments.
Prerequisites: ENGL 1010, 1020, and 2201 or 2202 with a "C-" or better, or their equivalent.
History (HIST)
HIST 3273 - Islamic History to 1405
Survey of religious, social, political, intellectual, and cultural developments in Muslim communities from the 7th century until the death of Timur in 1405. Geographical focus is the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
HIST 3274 - Islamic History Since 1405
Survey of religious, social, political, intellectual, and cultural developments in Muslim communities from the death of Timur in 1405 to the 21st century. Focus is mainly on the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, with some attention to the emergence of Muslim communities in Europe and the Americas.
HIST 3275 - History of Jewish People
History of Jewish people from antiquity to present; emphasis on their changing relationships to larger cultures in which they participated.
HIST 3320 - Ancient Empires
A global history of ancient empires in the Americas, Mediterranean, Near East, and Asia. This comparative study explores political, religious, and social experiences of ancient people across time and space, seeking both points of convergence and divergence. Investigates ideas and structures of gender, social hierarchy and identity, family, slavery, economics, and law.
HIST 3881 - African American History
History and culture of African Americans in light of their experiences; aspects of African American life and attitudes of dominant society within which African Americans lived; ways African American men and women shaped and nurtured their own lives, culture and history in U.S. [G]
HIST 4276 - The Arab-Israeli Conflict
Study of the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis through analysis of religious, social, political, and cultural developments from the 19th century until the present day. Topics include Zionism in late Ottoman Palestine, the creation of the Jewish state of Israel and of the Palestinian refugee crisis, the Lebanese Civil War, and numerous Arab-Israeli wars.
Jewish Studies (JDST)
JDST 2850 - Religions of Abraham
Survey of development of several Near Eastern religious traditions; consideration of intellectual relationships among them.
JDST 3601 - Judaism
Fundamental principles of Judaism, its role in the cultural life of the Jewish people, and its influence on human civilization.
JDST 3661 - Perspectives on the Old Testament
Interdisciplinary examination of portions of Hebrew Bible, Mishnah, Midrash, and other texts along with commentaries. All texts will be read in translation.
Cross listing: Same as LALI 3661.
JDST 3801 - Ancient & Medieval Jewish Thought
Thinkers and texts that shaped Jewish thought and life in ancient and medieval times; Talmud, the Midrash, the Kabbalah, and such thinkers as Saadia Gaon, Solomon ibn Gabriel, Judah Halevi, Maimonides.
JDST 3802 - Modern Jewish Thought
Continuation of JDST 3801, from 16th century until modern times; concepts of God, humanity, nature, good and evil, making meaning out of life, and others.
JDST 4511 - Holocaust Studies
Interdisciplinary study of issues that arise out of the Holocaust; questions of good and evil, divinity and humanity, truth and responsibility. [W, I]
Cross listing: Same as UNIV 4511.
JDST 4801 - Jewish Mysticism
Fundamental principles of Jewish mystical tradition; development of basic concepts; medieval mysticism, Kabbalah, Lurianic mysticism, Chasidism, modern mystical movements.
Public Administration (PADM)
PADM 3501 - Civic Engagement, Voluntarism
Critical introduction to voluntary action and civic engagement in U.S. society; exploration of concepts such as democracy, community, leadership, and civil society. This course is intended for all students interested in voluntarism, community service, and public participation.
PADM 4226 - Intro Nonprofit Organizations
Critical understanding of historical development and impact of public sector, dynamic environment of nonprofit organization and current issues of importance to nonprofit decision makers.
Prerequisites: ENGL 1020 or equivalent; junior or senior standing.
Philosophy (PHIL)
PHIL 3701 - Human and the Divine
Examination of one or more major religious movements with regard to their origins, doctrines, and philosophical significance; contrasting conceptions of deity, worship, and role of religion in how we think about ourselves and our roles in society.
PHIL 3702 - Philosophy of Religion
Selected religious doctrines and practices from standpoint of philosophy. Topics vary from semester to semester. Sequel to PHIL 3701, but may be taken independently.
PHIL 3720 - Asian Philosophy
Exploration of the origins and developments of South and East Asian philosophical traditions in India, China and Japan (Brahminism, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and Shintoism).
PHIL 3721 - Chinese Philosophy
Introduction to Chinese philosophy; readings from primary source of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, supplemented by commentary from contemporary scholarship.
PHIL 3722 - Buddhist Philosophy
This course will examine the origins of Buddhist thought, and explore some of its developments as it spread throughout Asia and eventually into North America. We will begin by examining Buddhist thought during and shortly after the Buddha's lifetime, and then we will turn our attention to the two principal schools of Mah膩y膩na Buddhism: Madhyamaka and Yog膩c膩ra. The Madhyamaka school is characterized by the view of emptiness (the view that all things are devoid of independent, inherently existing essences). The Yog膩c膩ra school reinterprets the concept of emptiness, emphasizing the idea that nothing is ultimately separate from the mind. We will then turn our attention to the Chan/Zen lineage as they originated in China and developed in Japan through Dogen's S艒t艒 Zen characterized by seated meditation and Hakuin's Rinzai Zen characterized by k艒an recitation. We will then turn our attention to modern interpretations of Buddhist thought. This course may cover India, Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, North America and Brazil.
Political Science (POLS)
POLS 3102 - Religion and Politics
Survey of role of religion and religious belief in politics; emphasizes role of religious institutions in international arena and national politics and effects of religion on behavior and political beliefs.
Prerequisites: POLS 1030, or POLS 1101, or POLS 1102, or permission of instructor.
Sociology (SOCI)
SOCI 3860 - Religion and Society
This course employs a sociological lens to examine the role of religion in modern society. We view religion as a social institution situated among other social institutions and unpack how religious beliefs, practices, and communities shape our society, both within religious communities and in our world more generally.
University College (UNIV)
UNIV 3565 - Comparative Christianity
Commonality in Christianity; major turning points in Christian history; the tradition's variety of subgroups, starting with the three great groupings: Eastern Christianity, Roman Christianity, and Protestant Christianity; examination of future of Christianity.
UNIV 3580 - Hebrew and Greek Legacy
Interdisciplinary examination of salient ideas, values, and traditions of ancient Hebraic and Greek cultures, with emphasis on those ideas and values that have most significantly influenced the modern world; understanding of ideas and values enhanced through comparison with selected non-Western traditions.
Prerequisites: ENGL 1010 and ENGL 1020. [G]
UNIV 3581 - Faith/Reason/Imagination
Interdisciplinary examination of religious, rationalist, and aesthetic viewpoints as distinctive ways of understanding what is fundamental to human experience. Exploration of historical development of each of these modes of understanding and examination of tensions that exist among them in modern world.
Prerequisites: ENGL 1010 and ENGL 1020.
UNIV 3585 - Old Testament Empires & Interpretations
Thematic, interdisciplinary approach to the academic study of the Old Testament, including some of the complex historical, literary, and cultural contexts of the ancient production and contemporary interpretation of these texts.
UNIV 3590 - New Testament
Main events, background, characters and teaching of the New Testament and how it relates to the Old Testament and to today.
UNIV 3592 - Religious Perspectives on Death and Afterlife
This course explores religious rituals and beliefs about death, burial, and afterlife from various global, historical, and social perspectives.
Prerequisites: ENGL 1010 and ENGL 1020.
UNIV 4110 - Internship
Supervised training to provide learning experiences and coursework related to student's area of study. Permit Required (S/U).
Additional Courses for the Major and Minor
The following courses appear in the Religious Studies major or minor listings but did not have descriptions on the previous version of this page. Please consult the Undergraduate Catalog for current course descriptions, prerequisites, and information about which courses count toward your degree.
African and African American Studies
- AAAS 3805 - Race and Religion in the US (Minor)
Criminal Justice
- CJUS 4230 - Restorative Justice: Theory, Principles, and Application (Major and Minor)
Classical Studies
- CLAS 3413 - Greek Lit in Translation (Minor)
- CLAS 3414 - Latin Literature in Translation (Minor)
Communication
- COMM 4373 - Interracial Communication (Major)
- COMM 4375 - Intercultural Communication (Major)
History
- HIST 3290 - Traditional East Asia (Minor)
- HIST 3291 - Modern East Asia (Minor)
- HIST 3321 - Ancient Near East (Major and Minor)
- HIST 3323 - The Ancient Greek World (Major and Minor)
- HIST 3324 - The Ancient Roman World (Major and Minor)
- HIST 3371 - Dark Age Kingdoms: Europe and the Mediterranean, 500-1000 CE (Minor)
- HIST 3372 - Crusade, Conquest, and Plague: Europe and the Mediterranean, 1000-1500 CE (Minor)
- HIST 3884 - Civil Rights Movement (Major and Minor)
- HIST 3910 - Witchcraft, Magic, and Sorcery in Early America (Major and Minor)
- HIST 4146 - History of the Holocaust (Major and Minor)
- HIST 4272 - Modern Middle East (Major and Minor)
- HIST 4292 - Modern China 1800-Present (Minor)
- HIST 4294 - Modern Japan 1800-Present (Minor)
- HIST 4327 - Life and Death in Ancient Egypt (Major and Minor)
- HIST 4329 - Imperial Rome (Major and Minor)
- HIST 4361 - History of Byzantine Empire (Major and Minor)
- HIST 4380 - Renaissance and Reformation Europe, 1400-1650 (Major and Minor)
- HIST 4381 - The Enlightenment, 1650-1815 (Major and Minor)
Philosophy
- PHIL 3723 - Confucianism (Minor)
Psychology
- PSYC 3120 - Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination (Minor)
Religious Studies
- RLGN 3805 - Race and Religion in the US (Minor)
Sport and Leisure Studies
- SLS 4509 - Christianity Culture Sport/Rec (Minor)
Sociology
- SOCI 3805 - Race and Religion in the US (Major and Minor)
University College
- UNIV 3540 - Ethics & Professionalism (Major)
- UNIV 4995 - Senior Project (Major)
World Languages and Literatures
- WDLL 4441 - Dante (Minor)
Women's Studies
- WMST 3515 - Women, Gender, and Religion (Major and Minor)
Official Course Information
Course availability, prerequisites, and delivery formats may change. Students should consult the current University of 榴莲视频 Undergraduate Catalog and class schedule and work with an academic advisor to confirm degree requirements.