Courses

Intensive study of a selected area or problem in religious studies. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours as topics change. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomore, Junior or Senior) only.

A critical examination of the received cultural, religious, and academic understandings of dancing and the body; the construction of a richer theory of dancing that will more adequately support comparative studies; the study of dancing in cultures and religions in a diverse representation of cultures; and a more in depth social study of Latin American dancing including actual dancing experience.

Studies various religious movements in the U.S. and other parts of the Americas. Includes American religion and religions, religion and nationalism, revitalization and religion, and Asian religions in America. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours within a term as topics change. Prereq., 6 hours RLST or instructor consent. Same as RLST 5030.

Studies a particular topic in Christian theology and culture such as early Christianity, medieval Christianity, Christianity in the United States, women and Christianity, liberation theologies, Christianity and literature, and modern Christian thought. Maybe repeated up to 9 total credit hours as topics change. Prereqs., 6 hours of RLST courses at any level or instructor consent. Same as RLST 5050.

Examines in depth central themes, schools of thought, and movements in Hinduism, such as myth and ritual, renunciation, Vedanta, and 19th century Renaissance. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours as topics change. Prereqs., 6 hours of RLST courses at any level or instructor consent. Same as RLST 5200. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomore, Junior or Senior) only.

Examines in depth central themes, schools of thought,and movements in Buddhism, such as Theravada in Southeast Asia, Mahayana and Tantrayana thought, Zen, and Buddhism in America. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours as topics change. Prereqs., 6 hours of RLST courses at any level including RLST 3300 or instructor consent. Same as RLST 5250. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomore, Junior or Senior) only.

Examines in depth central themes, schools of thought, and movements in Judaism across a range of historical periods. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours as topics change. Recommended prereqs., 6 hours of RLST courses at any level including RLST/JWST 3100, RLST/JWST 2600, HIST/JWST 1108 or HEBR/JWST 2350 or instructor consent. RLST 4260, JWST 4260, and 5260 are the same course.

Examines a topic (varies at different offerings) focusing on religions of peoples indigenous to the Americas. May consider mythology; shamanism and medicine; trickster, clown, and fool; and crisis cult movements. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours as topics change. Prereqs., RLST 2700 and 3 additional credit hours of RLST course work or instructor consent. Same as RLST 5300.

Studies theories of nonviolence developed by major thinkers and movements, especially in the U.S., in the context of their religious commitments and beliefs and their historical circumstances.

Globally surveys Islam, covering religion and politics; Islam and the West; the Islamic revival and its varied forms in Iran, Indonesia, Libya, and Pakistan; development and change; the status of women; and media and academic stereotyping. Prereq., 6 credit hours of religious studies at any level or instructor consent. Same as RLST 5650.

Detailed examination of the history and current state of Daoism, China's indigenous organized religion. Focusing on its origins and development, ethnical teachings, ritual activities, and world view. Topics created include the relationship of Daoism to popular religion, the practice of alchemy and self cultivation, beliefs concerning death and the afterlife, and the structure of the Daoist pantheon. Prereq., RLST 3800 or instructor consent. Same as RLST 5750 and CHIN 4750.

Focuses on a current issue or area of research in the study of religion. Students analyze the way theories develop and learn to develop their own critical analysis. Topics vary, e.g., comparative kingship, colonialism, ritual theories, feminist analysis. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Restricted to RLST majors. Prerequisites: Restricted to Religious Studies Majors only.

Students write an honors thesis based on independent research under the direction of a faculty member. Required for students who elect departmental honors.

Variable topics in religion, drawing from a variety of disciplines and methodologies as they shed light on specific traditions and issues. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours as topics change. Prereq., 6 credit hours of religious studies at any level or instructor consent. Same as RLST 5820. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomore, Junior or Senior) only.

Topics and instructors vary. Brings advanced majors together in order to focus their major experience onsignificant topics and issues of common interest. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 87-180 credits (Senior, Fifth Year Senior).

May be repeated up to 8 total credit hours.

Same as RLST 4030 Prerequisites: Restricted to Graduate Students only.

Same as RLST 4050.

Same as RLST 4200.

This is an advanced Sanskrit reading course, requiring at least two years of prior Sanskrit training. Students will read texts in the original. Class time is devoted to parsing out difficult grammatical structures, discussing the philosophical import of the readings and addressing the historical contexts that assist in interpreting the texts. The topic varies according to student interest. Prereq., SNSK 2120 or 2 years of Sanskrit training.

Same as RLST 4250. Prerequisites: Restricted to Graduate Students only.

Examines in depth central themes, schools of thought, and movements in Judaism across a range of historical periods. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours as topics change. Recommended prereqs., 6 hours of RLST courses at any level including RLST/JWST 3100, RLST/JWST 2600, HIST/JWST 1108 or HEBR/JWST 2350 or instructor consent. RLST 4260, JWST 4260, and 5260 are the same course. Prerequisites: Restricted to Graduate Students only.

Same as RLST 4300.

Same as RLST 4350.

Same as RLST 4650.