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A introductory course in religious studies, designed both to introduce students to ways of understanding religion as a phenomenon in human culture and history and also to survey a wide variety of the religions of the world.

This class introduces students to critical approaches to the study of religion. Students are exposed to a variety of social scientific, scientific, philosophical, indigenous, and critical literary approaches to the study of wide-ranging religious beliefs and practices. The course is required for majors and recommended for minors in Religion as well as others with high interest in the field of Religious Studies.

Prereq: 3 hours in Religion or permission of instructor.

This course introduces students to the intersection of religion and human rights. It takes human rights as a moral tradition and asks how it impacts and is impacted by religious moral thought.

Who were Jesus, Peter, Mary, and Paul in the Roman empire of the early first century? How did these Jews of the Second Temple Period become the earliest generation of a 2,000 year history of Christianity? How did early Christian understandings of God and humanity shape or constrain their interpretations of and responses to affliction, healing, and death, both conceptually and in practice? Finding answers to these questions requires students to study the literature of the New Testament and other early Christian literature, along with scholarly analyses of key issues related to authorship, dating, textual analysis, literary genres, historical contexts, and varying interpretations. The purpose of the course is to train students in the content of the texts as well as critical tools related to documentary analysis, archaeological methods, and various literary and social scientific approaches, interdisciplinary tools which also enhance one's skills in a variety of careers and professions.

This course provides an introduction to the emerging field of spirituality and wellness. Utilizing perspectives from multiple disciplines and incorporating both third-person (research, theory) and first-person (experiential, reflective) approaches, students will explore topics such as: the nature of spirituality; mindfulness, meditation and wellness; spirituality and public health; spiritual wellness on campuses; and ecospirituality.

Prereq: Not open to non-degree graduate students.

The Black Spiritual Experience course examines the trajectory of early African religions and philosophies, and their syncretization with European settler religions in America that have been practiced and embraced by Blacks in the U.S. since slavery. Students will survey the historical development of the Black church in America, and the emergence of liberation and Black theologies to combat white supremacy, oppression, and exploitation. This course will explore the cultural importance of music, dance, and art in worship and Black spiritual expressions; the role of religion and theology in empowering and uplifting African Americans, particularly during the Black Power and Civil Rights movements; the political impact of Black religious institutions in the long fight against systemic racism, racial violence, police brutality, and voter suppression in America; and the challenges of inclusion, equity, and intersectionality within the Black church around issues of gender, class, and sexual orientation. (Cross-listed with BLST 2730).

Study of the forms and techniques of shamanic experience from its Paleolithic and Neolithic origins to its contemporary practice among Indigenous peoples worldwide, including its role in the development of human religious traditions and systems of healing.

A study of the major religions that originate in South, Southeast, and East Asia, considering their origins, foundational doctrines, practices, beliefs, rituals and contemporary expressions. Included are the religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Daoism, Confucianism and Shintoism. Knowledge of the religious and spiritual traditions of South, Southeast, and East Asia will help students who intend to travel or work in those regions or who may have friends and colleagues from those regions of the world. A broad grasp of these critical cultural traditions will enhance international, cross-cultural understanding for any career or professional track.

What do Muslims believe? How do they practice their faith? What role does Islam and what roles do Muslims play in the 21st century? This course provides an introduction to the history, beliefs, and practices of Islam and Muslim communities, including both Sunni and Shi'i traditions, Sufis and Salafis, from the time of Muhammad ibn Abdullah to the 21st century. Students will examine the ways in which we come to 'know' about Islam and how to approach mediated sources with a critical lens. Thus, in addition to highlighting the many important cultural, scientific, medical, artistic, and architectural contributions of Muslim societies throughout the past millenium, critical contemporary issues will also be addressed, including the role of women in Islam, the meaning of jihad, the legal traditions (shari'a and fiqh), the relationship between religion and politics in Islam, and issues of law, gender, myth, violence, colonialism, modernity, and Islamophobia.

This course will examine the various ways in which religion and film connect, including the representations of religious groups in films, ways in which films replicate or alter religious concepts, and ways in which film as an aspect of popular culture functions analogously to religions in society. Methods used will include the analysis of film technique, auteur criticism, and audience reception analysis.

Prereq: Not open to non-degree graduate students.

The content of this course varies from semester to semester, giving instructor and students an opportunity to investigate various subjects of interest in religious studies. Typically, students will learn through reading, viewing, discussing, and writing about the topic under study. Some sections may include service learning and other forms of experiential learning. (May be repeated for credit as long as the topic is different, up to 18 hours of credit.)

A supervised internship enabling students to develop and apply knowledge and gain expertise related to the field of Religious Studies while working at a non-profit, educational, non-governmental or related organization. The host organization for the student must be approved in advance in consultation with the internship coordinator and the Chair of Religious Studies. This course may be repeated for a maximum of six credit hours.

Prereq: Junior or senior. Religious Studies major or minor. Permission of internship coordinator. Not open to non-degree graduate students.

The development of Christian theological, ritual, and social practice from the beginnings of Christianity through the Reformation. History of Christianity from its origins in the first century through the sixteenth century movements for reform. (Cross-listed with RELI 8176).

This course examines the intersections among public health, religion, and human rights. It considers how human rights impact public health and vice versa; how human rights and religious thought impact each other; how religious communities approach issues of public health; and how religious thought and practice affects people's health. Topics include infectious diseases such as HIV and COVID-19; issues of stigma and discrimination in public health; social determinants of health such as poverty and environmental quality; and women's and LGBTQ+ health. Students will gain skills of textual analysis, dialogue, and argumentative reasoning in both written and verbal form. (Cross-listed with RELI 8216, CACT 8216)

Prereq: Prerequisites: junior standing OR prior completion of either RELI 1010 or MEDH 1000.

This course examines the intersections among public health, religion, and human rights. It considers how human rights impact public health and vice versa; how human rights and religious thought impact each other; how religious communities approach issues of public health; and how religious thought and practice affects people's health. Topics include infectious diseases such as HIV and COVID-19; issues of stigma and discrimination in public health; social determinants of health such as poverty and environmental quality; and women's and LGBTQ+ health. Students will gain skills of textual analysis, dialogue, and argumentative reasoning in both written and verbal form. (Cross-listed with RELI 4210, CACT 8216)

Prereq: Graduate standing.