• RELC 3890

    Christianity in Africa
     Rating

    3.33

     Difficulty

    2.67

     GPA

    3.16

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Historical and topical survey of Christianity in Africa from the second century c.e. to the present. Cross listed with RELA 389. Prerequisite: a course in African religions or history, Christianity, or instructor permission.

  • RELG 3960

    Religion and the Black Freedom Struggle
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    This course will explore the role of religion in the black freedom struggle in the United States, with a focus on the twentieth century to the present. We will consider the question, how have black people harnessed religion to conceptualize and fight for various notions of black progress and the salvation of black people (broadly construed) amid the persistence of racial inequality?

  • RELG 4500

    Majors Seminar
     Rating

    4.00

     Difficulty

    4.00

     GPA

    3.64

    Last Taught

    Spring 2026

    Students in this course will fashion their own approach to studying religion and develop a retrospective project that interweaves the various strands of their prior study over the course of the major. Building on earlier courses in Religious Studies, this capstone seminar completes the major's sequence by applying questions and conversations in the study of religion to some advanced theme crafted by the instructor.

  • RELB 4520

    Advanced Topics in Buddhism
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    4.00

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    This topical course provides upper level undergraduate students in Religious Studies an opportunity for advanced coursework in Buddhism

  • RELG 4800

    Crafting a Research Project in Religious Studies
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Fall 2025

    This course offers third- and fourth-year Religious Studies majors resources for conceiving and executing a major research project. As a follow-up, students usually take RELG 4900 ("Distinguished Major Thesis"), which affords them an opportunity to write the research project they have conceived in this course. Whether you plan to write a thesis or not, RELG 4800 offers an accessible introduction to the craft of research in Religious Studies.

  • RELG 4900

    Distinguished Major Thesis
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2026

    Students write a thesis, directed by a member of the department, focusing on a specific problem in the theoretical, historical or philosophical study of religion or a specific religious tradition. The thesis grows out of the project proposal and annotated bibliography developed in the Research Methods seminar.Prerequisite: Selection by faculty for Distinguished Major Program and completion of RELG 4800.

  • RELS 4995

    Independent Research
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    4.00

    Last Taught

    Spring 2026

    Systematic readings in a selected topic under detailed supervision. Prerequisite: Permission of departmental advisor and instructor.

  • RELA 5094

    What is Love?: Reflections from the Islamic Tradition
     Rating

    4.67

     Difficulty

    4.00

     GPA

    3.93

    Last Taught

    Spring 2026

    This seminar will examine some of the most profound and influential writings about love from the Islamic intellectual and poetic traditions. Perhaps more than any other civilization, the literary and philosophical traditions of Islamic civilization have been "love-centric." In this course we will closely read and discuss various philosophies and theories of love from the mundane to the mystical.

  • RELI 5094

    What is Love?: Reflections from the Islamic Tradition
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.94

    Last Taught

    Spring 2026

    This seminar will examine some of the most profound and influential writings about love from the Islamic intellectual and poetic traditions. Perhaps more than any other civilization, the literary and philosophical traditions of Islamic civilization have been "love-centric." In this course we will closely read and discuss various philosophies and theories of love from the mundane to the mystical.

  • RELJ 5105

    Religion and Culture of the Rabbis
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Fall 2025

    An examination of religion and culture of the rabbinic movement (c. 70-600 CE) in the social and cultural contexts of Greco-Roman antiquity. Among the issues to be examined: rituals and institutions of the rabbis, social organizations within the rabbinic movement, engagement with other sectors of Jewish and gentile society.