REL 100 Religions of the World. (3)
fall and spring
Introduces the history of religious traditions of the world, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and others. Credit is allowed for only REL 100 or 200.
General Studies: HU, G

REL 200 The Study of Religious Traditions. (3)
selected semesters
Writing-intensive course introducing analytical skills necessary for understanding religious traditions. Beliefs, practices, and communities of several religious traditions of the world. Credit is allowed for only REL 200 or 100. Prerequisite: ENG 101 or 105.
General Studies: L/HU, G

REL 201 Religion and the Modern World. (3)
once a year
Introduces the nature and role of religious beliefs and practices in shaping the lives of individuals and societies, with particular attention to the modern world. Prerequisite: ENG 101 or 105.
General Studies: L/HU

REL 202 Religion and Popular Culture. (3)
once a year
Explores various intersectors between religion and the popular media, including music, news, advertising, the visual arts, literature, performance, and film. Lecture, discussion.
General Studies: HU, C

REL 203 Saints and Sinners: Explorations in Sacred Biography. (3)
selected semesters
Comparison of the role of biography across religions to examine the process of categorizing people as saints or sinners. Lecture, discussion.
General Studies: HU, H

REL 205 Living and Dying. (3)
selected semesters
Ways that religions have understood birth, sexuality, death, and the passing of generations. Examples from traditions throughout the world. Lecture, discussion.
General Studies: HU

REL 210 Introduction to Judaism. (3)
once a year
Beliefs, ceremonies, festivals, and institutions of Judaism emphasizing the contemporary era. Assumes no previous knowledge about Judaism. Prerequisite: ENG 101 or 105.
General Studies: L/HU, H

REL 225 African American Religion. (3)
selected semesters
Introduces the history and development of the African American religious tradition. Lecture, discussion. Cross-listed as AFH 225. Credit is allowed for only AFH 225 or REL 225.
General Studies: HU, C

REL 240 Introduction to Southeast Asia. (3)
fall
Interdisciplinary introduction to the cultures, religions, political systems, geography, and history of Southeast Asia. Cross-listed as ASB 240/GCU 240/HST 240/POS 240. Credit is allowed for only ASB 240 or GCU 240 or HST 240 or POS 240 or REL 240.
General Studies: G

REL 260 Introduction to Islam. (3)
spring
Examines Islamic beliefs, ceremonies, festivals, and institutions. Assumes no prior knowledge about Islam. Lecture, discussion. Cross-listed as HUM 260. Credit is allowed for only HUM 260 or REL 260.
General Studies: HU, G

REL 270 Introduction to Christianity. (3)
once a year
Beliefs, ceremonies, festivals, and institutions of Christianity, emphasizing the contemporary era. Assumes no previous knowledge about Christianity.
General Studies: HU

REL 301 Comparative Mysticism. (3)
once a year
Comparative examination of Eastern and Western mystical traditions from antiquity to the present. Lecture, discussion. Prerequisite: REL 100.
General Studies: HU

REL 305 Ritual, Symbol, and Myth. (3)
fall and spring
Ritual, symbol, and myth as types of religious expression, with examples selected from the nonliterate religions of the world.
General Studies: L/HU

REL 310 Western Religious Traditions. (3)
fall and spring
Religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, comparing their doctrinal, institutional, and ritual systems and social histories. Lecture, discussion.
General Studies: HU, H

REL 315 Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). (3)
once a year
Nature, content, background, historical situation, and message of the books of the Hebrew Bible in English translation.
General Studies: L/HU, H

REL 317 Introduction to Rabbinic Judaism. (3)
selected semesters
Historical analysis of the thought, literature, and institutions of rabbinic Judaism.
General Studies: HU, H

REL 318 Contemporary American Jewish Identities. (3)
spring
Analyzes the complexity and diversity of the contemporary American Jewish community in religious and secular affairs. Lecture, discussion. Cross-listed as SOC 375. Credit is allowed for only REL 318 or SOC 375.
General Studies: HU/SB, C

REL 320 American Religious Traditions. (3)
fall and spring
Examines the formation, development, and interaction of major American religious traditions (indigenous, African American, Asian American, and Euro-American).
General Studies: HU, C, H

REL 321 Religion in America. (3)
fall and spring
History of religion in America with attention to issues of historiography, pluralism, gender, race, ethnicity, politics, and social reform.
General Studies: HU, C, H

REL 322 Malcolm and Martin. (3)
selected semesters
Examines and contrasts the lives, ministries, contributions, and legacies of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. Cross-listed as AFH 322. Credit is allowed for only AFH 322 or REL 322.
General Studies: HU, C

REL 323 Black Religion: A Biographical Approach. (3)
selected semesters
Examines the experiences, motivations, and contributions of a number of figures associated with African American religion. Cross-listed as AFH 323. Credit is allowed for only AFH 323 or REL 323.
General Studies: HU, C

REL 324 Spirituals and the Blues. (3)
spring
Multidisciplinary exploration of the African American religious and musical response to the North American diaspora experience. Lecture, discussion.

REL 326 U.S. Latin Religion and Culture. (3)
fall
Survey of the formative myths, rituals, and symbols of Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Cuban Americans. Lecture, discussion.
General Studies: HU, C

REL 330 Native American Religious Traditions. (3)
once a year
Presents world views and religious thought through the art, architecture, literature, music, mythology, ritual, and folklore of representative tribes in North America.
General Studies: HU, C

REL 331 History of Native American Religious Traditions. (3)
once a year
Role of religion in Native American history, including missionization; religious adaptation; and prophetic, messianic, and religious revitalization movements.
General Studies: L/HU, C, H

REL 332 South American Indian Religions. (3)
selected semesters
Introduces the sacred stories, ceremonies, and beliefs of Native South American peoples in their historical contexts.
General Studies: HU, G

REL 344 Religion and Values in Japanese Life. (3)
once a year
Japanese values expressed in the life and annual cycles of the family, local and national identities, and popular culture. Lecture, discussion.
General Studies: HU, G

REL 345 Asian Religious Traditions. (3)
once a year
Introduces the major concepts of religious beliefs, rituals, and practices in Hinduism and Buddhism. Lecture, discussion.
General Studies: HU, G

REL 350 Hinduism. (3)
once a year
Studies diverse forms of Hinduism through its institutions, literature, folklore, art, and architecture.
General Studies: L/HU, G

REL 351 Buddhism. (3)
once a year
Doctrines, practices, and institutions of the Buddhist religion, emphasizing its role in the history and culture of Asian societies.
General Studies: L/HU, G

REL 355 Japanese Cities and Cultures to 1800. (3)
once a year
Relations among ideas and literary, visual, and performing arts of the ancient aristocracy, medieval samurai, and early modern townspeople. Cross-listed as HUM 310. Credit is allowed for only HUM 310 or REL 355.
General Studies: L/HU, H

REL 365 Islamic Civilization. (3)
fall
Global historical survey of Islamic cultures and societies up to the modern period. Lecture, discussion.
General Studies: HU, H

REL 366 Islam in the Modern World. (3)
spring
Examines the worldwide transformations of Islamic religion, cultures, and societies in the modern period. Lecture, discussion.
General Studies: HU, G, H

REL 371 New Testament. (3)
once a year
Origins and literature of early Christian communities; historical investigations of the types of oral and written tradition in the New Testament.
General Studies: HU

REL 372 Formation of the Christian Tradition. (3)
once a year
Origins, development, and expansion of Christianity; major themes and tensions from the New Testament world to the beginning of the Middle Ages.
General Studies: HU, H

REL 373 Women in Judaism. (3)
spring
Studies the legal, social, and cultural status of Jewish women in various historical and contemporary societies. Cross-listed as WST 372. Credit is allowed for only REL 373 or WST 372.

REL 374 Witchcraft and Heresy in Europe. (3)
selected semesters
Background, origins, and development of the Inquisition; persecution of women and marginal groups. Cross-listed as HST 361. Credit is allowed for only HST 361 or REL 374. Prerequisite: upper-division standing or instructor approval.
General Studies: L, H

REL 377 Religion in Russia. (3)
selected semesters
Examines the history of the various religious traditions of Russia and the former USSR from an interdisciplinary perspective.
General Studies: HU, H

REL 379 Religion, Nationalism, and Ethnic Conflict. (3)
selected semesters
Examines the role of religion in national and ethnic conflict in the contemporary world.
General Studies: HU, G

REL 381 Religion and Moral Issues. (3)
once a year
Manner in which human religiousness relates to social concerns, e.g., sexuality, the environment, bioethical issues, and violence.
General Studies: L/HU

REL 382 Religion, Magic, and Science. (3)
once a year
Relationship and conflict between religion, magic, and science in the West from antiquity to the present. Lecture, discussion.
General Studies: L/HU

REL 383 Origins, Evolution, and Creation. (3)
selected semesters
Examines scientific, mythic, and religious ideas relating to origins (particularly human). Place of antievolutionism and “scientific creationism” in American culture. Lecture, discussion. Cross-listed as BIO 344/HPS 311/HUM 371. Credit is allowed for only BIO 344 or HPS 311 or HUM 371 or REL 383.

REL 385 Contemporary Western Religious Thought. (3)
selected semesters
Introduces contemporary Jewish and Christian thought. Topics include religion and politics, problem of evil, interpretations of God, and feminist theology.
General Studies: L/HU

REL 386 America and the Holocaust. (3)
fall
Analyzes the historical and sociopolitical factors that shaped U.S. policy decisions regarding Germany’s assault on Europe’s Jews.
General Studies: HU/SB

REL 390 Women and Religion. (3)
fall and spring
Role of women in several organized religions and/or religious sects, including a study of myth and symbols as they are used to establish, maintain, and enforce sex roles within specific religions.
General Studies: HU, G

REL 400 Approaches to Religion. (3)
fall
Examines the intellectual history of academic study of religion through various theoretical approaches, major themes, and thinkers. Seminar. Prerequisite: REL 305.

REL 405 Problems in Religious Studies. (3)
fall and spring
Selected topics in religious studies; involvement in research interests of instructor. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. Seminar. Prerequisite: at least 9 semester hours of REL courses or instructor approval.

REL 410 Judaism in Modern Times. (3)
selected semesters
Variety of expressions of Judaism and Jewishness in the modern period. Topics may include American Judaism or religious responses to the Holocaust.
General Studies: HU, H

REL 415 The Jewish Mystical Tradition. (3)
selected semesters
Examines some of the esoteric lore of Judaism. Studies movements and literature such as Hasidism and Kabalah.
General Studies: HU

REL 420 Religion in American Life and Thought. (3)
selected semesters
Influence of religion on American society, culture, and ideas; the distinctive character of religion in America. Prerequisite: REL 320 or 321 (or its equivalent).
General Studies: HU

REL 426 American Preachers and Preaching: The Sermon in America. (3)
selected semesters
Life and work of notable American preachers. Emergence of the preacher as representative of American religion. Prerequisite: REL 320 or 321 (or its equivalent).
General Studies: HU

REL 427 American Religious Thought. (3)
selected semesters
Thought of representative American religious thinkers, i.e., Jonathon Edwards, William Ellery Channing, Horace Bushnell, and Reinhold Niebuhr. Prerequisite: REL 320 or 321 (or its equivalent).
General Studies: HU, H

REL 444 Religion in Japan. (3)
once a year
Religion in Japanese history, especially the development of Japanese Buddhism, and religion in the modern transformation of Japan. Prerequisite: instructor approval.
General Studies: HU, G, H

REL 460 Studies in Islamic Religion. (3)
selected semesters
Issues in the interpretation and understanding of Islamic texts, history, society, culture, and rituals. Prerequisites: both REL 365 and Religious Studies major or only instructor approval.
General Studies: HU, G

REL 470 Religion in the Middle Ages. (3)
selected semesters
Religious aspects of medieval life and thought; variety of forms of dissent, heresy, and reform movements from the 4th to 13th centuries.
General Studies: HU, H

REL 471 Reformation and Modern Christianity. (3)
selected semesters
Protestant Reformation to contemporary Christian movements; includes factors in the dissolution of the Medieval Christian synthesis, variety of reform movements and reformation patterns, Catholic counter-reform measures, formation of liberal theology, ecumenical movement, and the World Council of Churches.
General Studies: HU, H

REL 480 Religion and Global Politics. (3)
once a year
Explores the nature and role of religion in international politics in the modern period. Lecture, discussion.
General Studies: G

REL 483 Religion and Science. (3)
spring
Investigates the correlation between science and religion as an interdisciplinary study from a historical perspective. Readings, film, lecture, discussion. Prerequisite: junior standing or instructor approval.

REL 494 Special Topics in Religious Studies. (3)
fall and spring
Open to all students. Topics may be selected from various areas. Prerequisite for freshmen: instructor approval.

REL 498 PS: Pro-Seminar in Religious Studies. (3)
selected semesters
For students with a major or minor emphasis in Religious Studies.

REL 499 Individualized Instruction. (1 – 3)
fall and spring

REL 501 Research Methods in Religious Studies. (3)
fall
Explores the major themes and methods in the study of religion, with primary focus on classical texts. Lecture, discussion.

REL 502 Research Methods in Religious Studies. (3)
spring
Explores the major themes and methods in the study of religion, with primary focus on contemporary texts. Lecture, discussion.

REL 591 Seminar. (3)
fall and spring
Topics on methodological issues in the study of religion. Prerequisite: Religious Studies graduate student or instructor approval.

REL 592 Research. (1 – 12)
fall and spring

REL 598 Special Topics. (1 – 4)
fall and spring
May be repeated for credit. Topics may include the following:

Omnibus Courses. For an explanation of additional courses offered but not specifically listed, see “Omnibus Courses.”

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