Religion (RELG)

RELG 1010:   Introduction to Religion  
Philosophy and Religion  
Survey of religion and of the major world religions.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 1020:   Intro. to Asian Religions  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course introduces students to the religious and philosophical traditions arising from India, China, and Japan, which include Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shintoism. The course does not require previous knowledge of Asian languages or history, and provides a convenient starting point for those who want to explore Asian cultures.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
WRIT 0940 OR 0970 if required.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 1030:   Intro to Jdsm, Chr. and Islam  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course offers students an introductory overview of the beliefs, traditions, and practices of the three Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In addition to a survey of the historical development of each of these religions, the course will address, from a comparative perspective, several larger themes relevant to all three, including theology, sacred texts, ritual, violence, and sexuality. This course has no prerequisites and requires no prior familiarity with the respective religions.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
WRIT 0940 OR 0970 if required.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3000:   Comparative World Religions  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course examines major themes that appear in many of the major world religions, exploring how these overlapping ideas are treated in similar or unique ways. Content varies. May be repeated once for credit.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3100:   Philosophy of Religion  
Philosophy and Religion  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3110:   Philos. Iss.: Sci. & Religion  
Philosophy and Religion  
Investigation of philosophical relationships between religion and science from the Renaissance to the present day, emphasizing methodological and conceptual issues.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3120:   Philosophical Top. in Religion  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course explores various religious issues using philosophical methods and theories. Topics may vary. This course may be repeated once for credit with a different topic.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3150:   Hebrew Bible/Old Testament  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course is a historical and literary survey of the texts contained in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament/Tanakh) and examines the development of Judaism from its origins until the second century BCE.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3170:   The Dead Sea Scrolls  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course gives an overview of the discovery and contents of the Dead Sea Scrolls.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3190:   The Book of Job  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course introduces students to the Book of Job and explores the connection between religiosity, material success, and suffering.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3210:   The NT & Early Christianity  
Philosophy and Religion  
A survey of the New Testament writings in their role in the development of early Christianity.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3220:   Jesus and the Gospels  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course is an advanced investigation of the Jesus tradition, focusing on the portrayal of Jesus in both canonical and noncanonical Gospels, as well as the scholarly search for the historical Jesus.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3240:   St. Paul and His Letters  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course examines the life and times of St. Paul with a special focus on his involvement in politics.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3260:   Revelation and End Times  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course explores how beliefs about the end of the world have motivated religious groups in America, past and present.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3280:   Angels and Afterlife  
Philosophy and Religion  
The course examines the diverse and wide-ranging understandings of angels and the afterlife in ancient Judaism and early Christianity.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3290:   Rise of Christianity  
Philosophy and Religion  
An examination of the rise and proliferation of Christian thought and ritual from the ancient world to the ancient world. Special emphasis will be paid to scriptural formation, the role of martyrdom, and writings of the early Church Fathers.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3300:   Hinduism  
Philosophy and Religion  
Survey of Hinduism and its cultural impact on the Indian subcontinent.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3310:   Buddhism  
Philosophy and Religion  
Survey of Buddhism in its historical and contemporary contexts.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3320:   Islam  
Philosophy and Religion  
An introduction to the sacred litcrature, basic beliefs, history, and culture of Islam.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3330:   Jews, Jdsm, and Anti-Semitism  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course examines Judaism's history, beliefs, and practices, and its response to anti-Semitism.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3340:   Biomedical Ethics  
Philosophy and Religion  
Ethical issues in contemporary biomedicine, e.g., death and dying, patient rights, and the challenges of new medical technology.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3390:   Religious Eth.: Iss. and Meth.  
Philosophy and Religion  
A survey of comparative religious ethics, including an examination of the methods of moral reasoning within religious traditions and religious ethical perspectives on major moral issues such as the use of violent force, sexuality and marriage, and economic justice.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3410:   Christianity in America  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course explores the different forms of Christianity in America as well as how Christian trends have changed over time. It will especially consider how specific Christian understandings and practices have been shaped by American cultural and historical contexts, including interactions with other Christians and with non-Christians.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3430:   Global Christianity  
Philosophy and Religion  
An exploration of Christianity as a global religion locally rooted in Asia, Africa, or the Americas. Diverse practices and beliefs are surveyed, primarily after the 15th century, that demonstrate how indigenous Christians creatively engaged culture, colonialism, and new frameworks for community. May be repeated once for credit with a change in topic.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3440:   Saints and Sexuality  
Philosophy and Religion  
A survey of holy figures within Christianity and Islam with an emphasis on gender and the body.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3450:   Racism and Religion  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course examines the intersections between racism and religion in relationships between Christianity and African Americans in the U.S.; Jews in the U.S. during the 19th and 20th centuries; and the treatment of Muslims in the U.S. since Sept. 11, 2001.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
SOCY 1010.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3460:   Self-Harm in Religion  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course examines several forms of voluntary self-harm (asceticism) as practiced in Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3470:   Travel and Tourism in Religion  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course explores Christian and Islamic pilgrimage in the ancient, medieval, and contemporary world.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3490:   Jesus and Muhammad  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course explores the foundational periods of early Christianity and Islam by following the charismatic careers of Jesus and Muhammad as recorded in scripture, sacred histories, and hagiographies.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3500:   Chi Relig.s: Confucianism & Da  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course examines the indigenous Chinese religions of Confucianism and Daoism. Students will explore the philosophical beliefs and cultural practices of these religions from their inception two millennia ago to the present day  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3510:   Nature & Env. in Asian Relig.  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course investigates the way in which Asian religions conceive of the environment and the relationship humans have to the natural world.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3530:   Great Books in East Asian Reli  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course carefully studies foundational texts of East Asian religions, including Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. Students will explore the philosophical content and religious meanings of these texts, examine the texts’ influence on their respective religions, and explore their continuing relevance in the contemporary world.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3580:   Relig. Impli. of the Holocaust  
Philosophy and Religion  
A study of the Holocaust with a focus on the religious perspectives that led up to it and the religious responses to this historical event, including acts of resistance inspired by various religious traditions.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3630:   Topics in Medieval Philosophy  
Philosophy and Religion  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3650:   Digital Religion  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course explores how religion functions in contemporary media platforms, how practitioners engage virtually with their beliefs and rituals, and the history of the interaction of religion and technology.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3660:   Sex, Gender, and the Bible  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course examines sexuality in the biblical corpus, analyzes the biblical writer's construction of gender, and explores feminist-critical and masculinist-critical readings of biblical texts.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3670:   Global Female Prophecy  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course explores the topics of gender, spirituality, and history by considering the experiences of prophetic women around the globe.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3680:   Feminism, Women, and Religion  
Philosophy and Religion  
An exploration of the commonalities and differences in feminist issues, strategies and methodologies across a number of religious traditions. Readings from a variety of contemporary feminist religious scholars.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3690:   Religion and Film  
Philosophy and Religion  
This course explores religious issues through the visual narrative of film. Methodologies from film studies and religious studies are utilized to analyze such themes as tragedy and suffering, truth and justice, beauty and love, sacrifice and redemption in domestic and international cinema.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3700:   Topics in Biblical Studies  
Philosophy and Religion  
An intensive investigation of selected topics or texts in the Christian Bible. Content varies. May be repeated once for credit.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3950:   Topics in Religious Studies  
Philosophy and Religion  
An investigation of a specialized topic in religious studies. Content varies. May be repeated once for credit.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 3960:   Community-Based Internship  
Philosophy and Religion  
Students complete an internship in an approved community-based work setting. Written work on internship is required, including weekly journal and final research paper.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Internship  
RELG 3990:   Topics in Religion Abroad  
Philosophy and Religion  
Students do departmentally approved course work at a foreign university. May be repeated with permission of the chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion.  
1 - 6 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 4900:   Directed Readings in Religion  
Philosophy and Religion  
Individual research into selected issues in religious studies; content varies. May be repeated once for credit.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Independent Study  
RELG 4970:   Adv. Seminar in Religious St.  
Philosophy and Religion  
Development of advanced skills in analysis and criticism through writing and presenting papers. May be repeated once for credit.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
9 Credits in Religion Courses and 24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar  
RELG 4997A:   Honors Thesis  
Philosophy and Religion  
Honors students engage in individual research and writing for their thesis project. Consent of instructor required. May be repeated once for credit.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
RELG 6010:   Topics in Religious Studies  
Philosophy and Religion  
An investigation of a specialized topic in religious studies. Content varies. May be repeated for credit.  
1 - 3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture