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[1] Courses in Religion (RELG)

1320 WORLD RELIGIONS A general education elective in the world cultural traditions area and encouraged 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. Fall, spring, summer.

1330 EXPLORING RELIGION 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. This course satisfies the humanities requirement in the General Education program. Combines lecture and discussion. Fall, spring.

2300 RELIGION IN THE UNITED STATES This course examines ways in which various religions are adapting to contemporary circumstances in the United States. Religions to be studied include, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and various new religious movements. This course satisfies the Western Religious Traditions core requirement or may serve as an elective for the Religious Studies major or minor. It also serves the Foundation core requirement or may serve as an elective for the Interdisciplinary Studies major. It may also serve as a general elective for other interested students. Combines lecture and discussion. On demand.

2332 JEWISH SCRIPTURES An optional core (or elective, if not taken as a core) 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. Fall, odd years.

2333 CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES An optional core (or elective, if not taken as a core) 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 Christian Scriptures. Combines lecture and discussion. Fall, even years.

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. Every third semester.

3315 RELIGION AND CULTURE An optional core (or elective, if not taken as a core) for 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. On demand.

3320 MODERN RELIGIOUS THOUGHT An optional core (or elective, if not taken as a core) 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. On demand.

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. Lecture, discussion. On demand.

3330 RELIGION AND GENDER An optional core (or elective, if not taken as a core) 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. On demand.

3335 JUDAISM An optional core (or elective, if not taken as a core) course for religious studies majors and minors, an elective for philosophy majors and minors, and an elective for other interested students. This course surveys and critically examines major Jewish traditions from the ancient world to the present. Lecture, discussion. Fall, even years.

3340 RELIGION, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY An optional core (or elective, if not taken as a core) 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. On demand.

3345 AFRICAN-AMERICAN RELIGIOUS THOUGHT An optional core (or elective, if not taken as a core) course for religious studies majors and minors, an elective for philosophy majors and minors and 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. Lecture, discussion. On demand.

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. Fall, spring and summer.

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 toward the major. Prerequisites: 3.25 GPA overall, 3.50 GPA in the major, and invitation by the religious studies faculty. On demand.

4320 CONTEMPORARY RELIGIOUS THOUGHT An optional core (or elective, if not taken as a core) course for religious studies majors and minors, an elective for philosophy majors and minors, 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. Lecture, discussion. On demand.

4325 POSTMODERN THEOLOGY 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. What does it mean to think about theology in a non-confessional or non-ecclesiastical context? Students will conduct research, write papers, and participate in discussion dealing with the interrelationships among postmodernism. Continental philosophy, and theology. This course satisfies the Religious Thought Core requirement and counts as an elective for the major or minor in Religious Studies. Combines lecture and discussion. Spring, even years.

4330 READINGS IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES Independent studies course designed to deal in depth with specific problems and individuals in religious studies. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. On demand.