Return to Philosophy and Religion | Religious Studies | Courses Index
[1] Courses in Religious Studies (RELG)
1320 WORLD RELIGIONS A UCA Core elective in the diversity in world cultures area and required for all students majoring or minoring in the religious studies program. This course introduces students to the study of great religions of the world–Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and others–by examining their history, beliefs, moral teachings, rituals, and practices. Combines lecture and discussion.
1330 EXPLORING RELIGION A UCA Core elective in the humanities area. This course explores religion and the meaning of religion in its various forms as an expression of human culture. Students will be introduced to basic themes concerning the nature and function of religion and how religion expresses and relates to matters of ultimate concern for human beings. Combines lecture and discussion.
3300 RELIGION IN THE UNITED STATES An optional core (or elective, if not taken as a core) course for all students majoring or minoring in religious studies, and an elective for other interested students. The course examines ways in which various religions are adapting to contemporary circumstances in the United States. Combines lecture and discussion. This course is part of the Religion in Self and Society Pathway, and the Religion in the Professions Pathway. [UD UCA Core: D]
3301 THEORIES AND METHODS IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES A required course for all students majoring or minoring in religious studies, an elective for other interested students, and counts toward the major or minor in philosophy. Introduces students to the study of religion focusing on methodological approaches, forms of religious expression, perennial issues in religious world views, and issues facing religion in the modern world. Combines lecture and discussion. [UD UCA Core: I, C]
3302 RELIGION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE An elective course for all students majoring or minoring in religious studies, and an elective for other interested students. The course examines ways in which various religions frame and respond to issues of social justice. Combines lecture and discussion. This course is part of the Religion in Self and Society Pathway, and the Religion in the Professions Pathway. [UD UCA Core: D, I]
3315 TOPICS IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES An elective course for all students majoring or minoring in religious studies or philosophy, and an elective for other interested students. An examination of relationships between religious thought and experience and various other forms of cultural expression. For any given semester one area of interest in religion and culture will be explored. Combines lecture and discussion. May be repeated for credit. This course is part of the Religion in Self and Society Pathway, the Religion in the Professions Pathway, and the Religion and the Arts Pathway.
3318 RELIGION, POP CULTURE, AND FILM An elective course for all students majoring or minoring in religious studies or philosophy, and an upper-division elective for other interested students. This course examines the relationships between religious thought and experience, and various forms of cultural expression labeled “popular culture.” Students will become familiar with methods for studying popular culture from a variety of religious and cultural perspectives and will explore and analyze religious themes in and functions of different elements of popular culture, including television, music, social media, and film. Combines lecture and discussion. This course is part of the Religion in Self and Society Pathway, and the Religion in the Arts Pathway. [UD UCA Core: I, R]
3320 MODERN RELIGIOUS THOUGHT An elective course for all students majoring or minoring in religious studies or philosophy, and an elective for other interested students. This course studies the development of philosophical and theological thinking about religion and the modern world from the European Enlightenment to the 20th century. Combines lecture and discussion.
3325 BUDDHISM An optional core (or elective, if not taken as a core) course for religious studies majors and minors, and elective for philosophy majors and minors, and an elective for other interested students. This course surveys and examines critically the major traditions of Buddhism and Buddhist thought, from the advent of Buddhism in India 2,500 years ago to contemporary expressions in Asia and the West. Combines lecture and discussion. This course is part of the Religion in Self and Society Pathway, the Religion in the Professions Pathway, and the Religion and the Arts Pathway. [UD UCA Core: D, R]
3326 ASIAN RELIGIONS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY AND CULTURE An optional core (or elective, if not taken as a core) course for all students majoring or minoring in religious studies, and an elective for other interested students. The course examines ways in which Asian religions are developing in and influencing American society and culture. Combines lecture and discussion. This course is part of the Religion in Self and Society Pathway, the Religion in the Professions Pathway, and the Religion and the Arts Pathway. [UD UCA Core: D, I]
3330 RELIGION AND GENDER An elective course for all students majoring or minoring in religious studies or philosophy, an elective for students minoring in Gender Studies, and an elective for other interested students. An examination of the ways in which religion has impacted historical and contemporary understandings of gender and sexuality, as well as the roles of women and men in religious organizations and society. Combines lecture and discussion. This course is part of the Religion in Self and Society Pathway, and the Religion in the Professions Pathway. [UD UCA Core: D, R]
3332 JEWISH SCRIPTURES An optional core (or elective, if not taken as a core) course for all students majoring or minoring in religious studies, an elective for other interested students, and counts toward the major or minor in philosophy. This course critically studies the Jewish Scriptures. Combines lecture and discussion. This course is part of the Religion in Self and Society Pathway, the Religion in the Professions Pathway, and the Religion and the Arts Pathway. [UD UCA Core: I, D]
3333 CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES An optional core (or elective, if not taken as a core) course for all students majoring or minoring in religious studies or philosophy, and an elective for other interested students. This course critically studies the Christian Scriptures. Combines lecture and discussion. This course is part of the Religion in Self and Society Pathway, the Religion in the Professions Pathway, and the Religion and the Arts Pathway. [UD UCA Core: I]
3335 JUDAISM An optional core (or elective, if not taken as a core) course for all students majoring or minoring in religious studies or philosophy, and an elective for other interested students. This course surveys and critically examines major Jewish traditions from the ancient world to the present. Combines lecture and discussion. This course is part of the Religion in Self and Society Pathway, and the Religion in the Professions Pathway. [UD UCA Core: D, R]
3340 RELIGION, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY An elective course for all students majoring or minoring in religious studies or philosophy, and an elective for other interested students. This course critically examines the development and interaction of religion, science, and technology from the early modern period to the present. Combines lecture and discussion. This course is part of the Religion in Self and Society Pathway, and the Religion in the Professions Pathway. [UD UCA Core: D, R]
3342 NEW AND ALTERNATIVE RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS An elective course for all students majoring or minoring in religious studies, and an elective for other interested students. The course critically examines a variety of new and alternative religious movements in the United States today. Combines lecture and discussion. [UD UCA Core: D]
3345 AFRICAN-AMERICAN RELIGIOUS THOUGHT An optional core (or elective, if not taken as a core) course for all students majoring or minoring in religious studies or philosophy, students majoring or minoring in African/African American Studies, and an elective for other interested students. This course studies various historical and contemporary figures and movements in African-American religious thought. Combines lecture and discussion. This course is part of the Religion in Self and Society Pathway, the Religion in the Professions Pathway, and the Religion and the Arts Pathway. [UD UCA Core: D, R]
3350 RELIGION AND PSYCHOLOGY An elective course for all students majoring or minoring in Religious Studies. This course examines the development of psychology and psychoanalysis in the 20th and 21st centuries and their impact on and significance for religion. Combines lecture and discussion. This course is part of the Religion in Self and Society Pathway, and the Religion in the Professions Pathway.
3380 INTERNSHIP IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES For Religious Studies majors and minors to fulfill an elective requirement. Each internship is tailored to the needs of the employer and the interests of the student. Internships require 120-150 hours of work with the employer for three hours of elective credit. Prerequisites: junior or senior standing and consent of departmental internship coordinator. This course is part of the Religion in Self and Society Pathway, the Religion in the Professions Pathway, and the Religion and the Arts Pathway. [UD UCA Core: Z]
4300 RELIGIOUS STUDIES FOR HONORS TUTORIAL Independent study designed to provide the exceptional student with an opportunity to do advanced research in religious studies and graduate in the undergraduate scholars program. May count as an elective toward the major. Prerequisites: 3.25 GPA overall, 3.50 GPA in the major, and invitation by the religious studies faculty.
4305 CHINESE PHILOSOPHIES AND RELIGIONS An optional core (or elective, if not taken as a core) course for all students majoring or minoring in religious studies or philosophy, and an elective for other interested students. This course provides a survey and history of the development of Chinese philosophies and religions. The course focuses on key ideas, texts, and figures of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. Combines lecture and discussion. This course is part of the Religion in Self and Society Pathway, the Religion in the Professions Pathway, and the Religion and the Arts Pathway.
4320 CONTEMPORARY RELIGIOUS THOUGHT An elective course for all students majoring or minoring in religious studies or philosophy, and an elective for other interested students. This course studies the thought of some of the most significant religious thinkers and movements of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Combines lecture and discussion. This course is part of the Religion in Self and Society Pathway, and the Religion in the Professions Pathway. [UD UCA Core: Z]
4325 POSTMODERN THEOLOGY An elective course for all students majoring or minoring in religious studies or philosophy, and an elective for other interested students. This course examines the development of postmodern theology. It explores the emergence of Continental French philosophy in the 20th century, and how it relates to currents of American academic theology. Combines lecture and discussion. This course is part of the Religion in Self and Society Pathway, and the Religion in the Professions Pathway. [UD UCA Core: Z]
4330 READINGS IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES Independent studies course designed to deal in depth with specific problems and individuals in religious studies. An elective course for major and minor. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. This course is part of the Religion in Self and Society Pathway, the Religion in the Professions Pathway, and the Religion and the Arts Pathway.