Philosophy major w / religious studies concentration

Minor

Courses

Academic standards

Faculty: C Dempsey, D Fadner, A Keefe; J Lewis (adjunct)

Courses in religious studies are administered by the Philosophy Department.

Definition: Religious Studies is the cross-cultural and comparative examination of humanity’s diverse religious traditions, without privileging the truth-claims of any particular tradition.

Philosophy Major with Concentration in Religious Studies
Consists of a minimum of 33 credits including:

1. Philosophy core, 12 credits.

1. Logic: Phil 121 or 322.

2. Content areas: Three additional courses in philosophy. Two must be at 300 level.

2. Religious studies concentration, 21 credits. At least 12 must be 300 level or above.

1. Non-Western religions: One course from Rel Std 100, 105, 316, 333 if not used in 2c, 340, 341, or Phil 105.

2. Western religions: One course from Rel Std 101, 303, 304, 311, or 330.

3. Approaches to the study of religion: One course from Rel Std 301, 302. 321, 333 if not used in 2a, or Anthropology 320.

4. Senior seminar: Rel Std 450.

5. Electives: A minimum of 9 additional credits from religious studies or collateral courses in anthropology, history, and philosophy. Collateral courses must be approved by religious studies coordinator or department chair.

Religious Studies Minor
Consists of a minimum of 18 credits.  At least 9 credits must be at the 300 level.

1. At least one course selected from each group:

1. Non-Western religions: Rel Std 100, 105, 316, 333 if not used in 1c, 340, 341, or Philosophy 105.

2. Western religions: Rel Std 101, 303, 304, 311, or 330.

3. Approaches to the study of religion: Rel Std 301, 302, 321, 333 if not used in 1a, or Anthropology 320.

2. Electives: A minimum of 9 additional credits from religious studies and one or more from the following areas: anthropology, history, and philosophy. Collateral courses must be approved by religious studies coordinator or department chair.

Academic Standards

1. To ensure that your program is as well planned as possible, you must have a religious studies advisor.

2. You must have your advisor’s approval for all courses you select to apply to the major or minor.

3. To be accepted and retained as a major or minor and approved for graduation, you must have a minimum grade point average of 2.50 (2.75 to student teach) in courses counted toward the major or minor, including transfer courses and regardless of any declaration of academic bankruptcy. Courses taken pass/ fail or with a grade lower than C- may not be counted toward the major or minor. The chair of the department may allow exceptions. You may repeat a course in the major or minor only if you follow the policy on repeating courses found in the Academic Information section of this catalog.

4. Courses in religious studies are open to all students who meet the prerequisites.

Courses in Religious Studies

REL 100(NW). Religions of Asia. 3 cr. Survey religious traditions of Asia with special attention to Hinduism and Buddhism. GDR:HU3

REL 101. Judaism, Christianity, Islam. 3 cr. Survey religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam including origins, issues of inter-religious conflict, other comparative themes. GDR:HU3

REL 102(MNS). The Ways of Religion. 3 cr. Cross-cultural survey of common patterns in religious experience and expression, with specific consideration of creative adaptations to American culture made by ethnic and religious minorities. GDR:HU3

REL 105(NW). Myths of Creation. 3 cr. Study sacred stories of people living before or outside the Judeo-Christian spheres of influence that represent the creation of their physical and social worlds. GDR:HU3

REL 107(NW). Religious Autobiographies. 3 cr. Autobiographical accounts of religious persons to introduce stories representing a diverse and multicultural cross section of the world’s religions, including Native American religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Latin American Catholicism, African-American Protestantism, and Islam. GDR: HU3

REL 199. Reading in the Discipline. 1 cr; pass/fail. Improve critical reading and thinking skills.  Taken in conjunction with designated sections of religious studies courses.

REL 301. Contemporary Religious Thought. 3 cr. Major themes of Western religious traditions as addressed in the works of significant 20th century thinkers. GDR:HU3

REL 302. Religion and Cultural Conflict. 3 cr. Explores questions of the nature and function of religion in a context of situations of cultural conflict and change. May include colonialism and post-colonialism, millenarian movements, religion and violence, religion and politics, and global fundamentalism. GDR:HU3

REL 303. Jewish Scriptures. 3 cr. Study of Jewish scriptures (known to Christians as the Old Testament) in context of historical and cultural background, and issues of interpretation. GDR:HU3

REL 304. New Testament and Early Christianity. 3 cr. Study selected New Testament and extra-biblical texts to discern religious perceptions shaping various early Christian movements. GDR:HU3.

REL 305(NW). Prophets and Prophecy. 3 cr. A comparative study of ancient and modern prophecy in a variety of cultures, including Israelite, American Indian, African, and East Indian. GDR: HU3

REL 311(MNS). Religion in America. 3 cr. Examine beliefs, practices, and interactions of diverse religious traditions represented in the United States (e.g. Native American, Hispanic, Protestant, African, American, Catholic, Jewish, Asian, Muslim). GDR:HU3

REL 316(NW)or(MNS). Native American Religions. 3 cr. Examine religious ideas and practices of selected Native American tribes. GDR:HU3

REL 321. Studies in Religion. 3 cr. Topics in the study of religion in human life and culture. Subtitle will designate area. May repeat for credit with different subtitles. GDR:HU3

REL 330. Women and Religion. 3 cr. Explore intersections of religion and sexism, including historical development of attitudes toward women and human sexuality in Western religious traditions. GDR:HU3

REL 333(NW). Women and Goddesses in India. 3 cr. Study of women’s roles, notions of female power, and goddesses in Hindu tradition. GDR:HU3

REL 340(NW). Buddhism. 3 cr. Study of Buddhist religious traditions in their historical and cultural contexts. Relevance of Buddhism for addressing problems in the modern world such as war, environmental degradation, and social injustice. GDR:HU3

REL 341(NW). Religions of India. 3 cr. Study Hindu deities, practices, and philosophies including comparison of Indian and U.S. Hinduism, and Hinduism’s influences on Indian Christianity. GDR:HU3

REL 342. Islam. 3 cr. Study of Islam in variety of historical, cultural, political contexts. Overview of Islamic beliefs and practices including issues of women, politics and war, and mysticism in Islam. GDR:HU3.

REL 392. Religious Studies Internship. 1 cr; pass/fail. Intern provides small group writing and reading assistance in selected religious studies courses. Prereq: Cons instr.

REL 399. Independent Study. 1-3 cr. Individual work in religious studies on special problem, theme, thinker, or period may be arranged with instructor and cons chair. Credit based on scope of project.

REL 450. Senior Seminar. 3 cr. Major issues in academic study of religion and culture. Subtitle will designate topic. May repeat under different subtitles. Prereq: Cons instr.

Religious Studies Latent Courses:  Not offered recently. See full course description in indicated (xx-xx) catalog.

• 300          The Development of Christian Thought, 3 cr, (83-85)

• 315          Religion in Literature, 3 cr, (95-97)