Religion (REL)

Courses

REL 1010. Topics In: First-Year Seminar. 3 Credits.

Intensive first-year seminar focused on specific themes and/or disciplinary perspectives. Emphasis on developing critical reading and writing skills, substantive revision, information literacy, and analytical thinking. First-year seminars are frequently organized to meet one of the disciplinary Catamount Core requirements. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Catamount Core: WIL1.

REL 1011. Topics In: FYS: Race in US. 3 Credits.

Intensive first-year seminar focused on specific themes and/or disciplinary perspectives. Emphasis on developing critical reading and writing skills, substantive revision, information literacy, and analytical thinking. First-year seminars are frequently organized to meet one of the disciplinary Catamount Core requirements. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Catamount Core: D1, WIL1.

REL 1012. Topics in: FYS: Div Human Exp. 3 Credits.

Intensive first-year seminar focused on specific themes and/or disciplinary perspectives. Emphasis on developing critical reading and writing skills, substantive revision, information literacy, and analytical thinking. First-year seminars are frequently organized to meet one of the disciplinary Catamount Core requirements. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Catamount Core: D2, WIL1.

REL 1020. Topics In: LASP Seminar. 3 Credits.

Intensive course in a broad disciplinary area (humanities, social sciences, arts, or natural sciences). Part of an integrated first-year experience in which students take 2-4 classes exploring aesthetic, humanistic, social, linguistic, environmental, or scientific issues. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Co-requisite: Enrollment in the appropriate Liberal Arts Scholars Program. Catamount Core: WIL1.

REL 1050. Religion, Politics, & Power. 3 Credits.

Introduction to major themes in the study of religion, tracing their development over time. Special emphasis is placed on material effects of the category of religion, including case law, current events, analysis of social constructs (gender, race, sexuality, time), and engagement with key theoretical texts in the study of religion. Catamount Core: AH3, GC1.

REL 1210. Introducing Hinduism. 3 Credits.

Introduction to some of the major topics and themes in Hindu religious traditions, tracing their development from Vedic times to the present day. Catamount Core: AH3, D2, GC1.

REL 1230. Introducing Islam. 3 Credits.

Introduces Islam in the context of the study of religion, focusing especially on its variation over time and location, as evidenced by texts, rituals, festivals, and competing interpretations. Catamount Core: AH3, D2, GC1.

REL 1240. Jews and Judaisms. 3 Credits.

An introduction to Jewish history, religious thought and practice, ethics, and law. Cross-listed with: JS 1500. Catamount Core: AH3, D2.

REL 1250. What is the Bible?. 3 Credits.

An introduction to the study of religion through an examination of the creation of biblical and related texts of ancient Babylon, Israel, and the early Christian movement. Investigate their diverse religious practices and our own assumptions about unfamiliar cultures. Catamount Core: AH3, D2.

REL 1310. Religions in Asia. 3 Credits.

Study of the Hindu, Buddhist, and East Asian religious traditions as expressed in their basic symbolisms, writings, practices, and cultural forms. Catamount Core: AH3, D2.

REL 1355. Topics in Rel & Race in US. 3 Credits.

Exploration of themes in religion in the United States, with an emphasis on race. Representative topic: African American Religion. May be repeated for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Catamount Core: AH3, D1.

REL 1605. Comparing Religions. 3 Credits.

Comparison of diverse practices and beliefs from selected religious traditions and cultures. Catamount Core: AH3, D2.

REL 1620. Religion and Globalization. 3 Credits.

Study of the global dimensions of religion, including the impact of globalization on religious communities, and the effect of religious movements on global processes. Catamount Core: AH3, D2.

REL 1650. Religion, Health, & Healing. 3 Credits.

Comparative and cross-cultural exploration of the relationships between religion, health, and healing. Catamount Core: AH3, D2, GC1.

REL 1700. Topics in Rel & Environment. 3 Credits.

Exploration of themes involving religion and the natural environment. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years.

REL 1990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.

See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

REL 2050. Interpretation of Religion. 3 Credits.

Examination of major theories and methods used in studying and interpreting religious phenomena. Prerequisite: Three hours in Religion. Catamount Core: AH3, GC1.

REL 2060. Religious Literacy. 3 Credits.

Religious literacy entails understanding the history and contemporary manifestations of religion, including the central texts, beliefs and practices as they are shaped within specific contexts. Introduces ways of thinking about the public expression of religion and profession-specific engagements with religion. Prerequisite: Three hours in Religion.

REL 2065. Religious Literacy Practicum. 1 Credit.

Students pursuing the Religious Literacy in Professions certificate will develop research and reflection projects integrating theories of religious literacy with research methods specific to their disciplines. Pre/Co-requisites: REL 2060.

REL 2220. Buddhist Traditions. 3 Credits.

A survey of Buddhist beliefs and practices in a diversity of cultures, including some modern developments. Prerequisite: Three hours in Religion. Catamount Core: AH3, D2.

REL 2235. Islam and Modernity. 3 Credits.

An exploration of Muslims' responses to various challenges in the modern era. Examines the ways in which religious actors shaped and altered religious ideals, identities, and ideologies via theoretical texts and case studies. Prerequisites: Three hours in Religion. Catamount Core: AH3, D2, GC1.

REL 2238. Islam and Race. 3 Credits.

Islam is not a race (religions are not races) but Islam and religions are racialized. Examines how Islam and Muslims come to be seen as a race and the effects thereof in the North American context. Prerequisite: Three hours in Religion. Catamount Core: AH3, D1.

REL 2245. Topics in Jewish Traditions. 3 Credits.

Focus on the diversity of Jewish Traditions in the US and elsewhere, exploring subjects such as lived Jewish traditions, stories told in Jewish communities, and the diversity of Jewish experiences. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisite: Three hours in Religion or Jewish Studies. Catamount Core: AH3.

REL 2310. Religion & Modernity in E Asia. 3 Credits.

Examination of the role religions played in the emergence of the modern nation-states of China and Japan over the course of the last two centuries. It examines how religion shaped responses to imperialism, as well as the effort to establish a modern nation-state. Prerequisite: Three hours in Religion. Catamount Core: AH3.

REL 2350. Religion in America. 3 Credits.

Study of the relationship between religion, the cultural ethos, and identity in America. Prerequisite: Three hours in Religion. Catamount Core: AH3, D1.

REL 2355. Topics In Rel & Race in US. 3 Credits.

Exploration of aspects of the relationship between race and religion in the United States. May be repeated for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisite: Three hours in Religion.

REL 2550. Christianity. 3 Credits.

Historical study of the Christian tradition examining major religious movements of early, medieval, and Reformation Christianity, and the spirituality of Christians during these periods. Prerequisite: Three hours in Religion.

REL 2600. Topics in Problems in Religion. 3 Credits.

Exploration of questions and debates in the field of religion. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisite: Three hours in Religion. Catamount Core: AH3.

REL 2625. Religion, Law, & Discipline. 3 Credits.

While it is common for people in the United States to understand legal spheres as distinct from religious ones, they are in fact deeply entangled with one another. An examination of these entanglements by examining dynamics of freedom of religion and comparing secular and religious legal regimes. Prerequisite: Three hours in Religion.

REL 2630. Religion & Pop Culture in US. 3 Credits.

Introduces concepts and theories developed in Religion about the intersection of religion and popular culture in contemporary America. Prerequisite: Three hours in Religion.

REL 2652. Mysticism & Shamanism. 3 Credits.

Comparative study of ways in which the inward dimension of religious life finds expression. Prerequisite: Three hours in Religion.

REL 2654. Sacred Sounds. 3 Credits.

Examines the sonic aspects of religious life, paying particular attention to musical phenomena. Prerequisite: Three hours of Religion.

REL 2700. Topics in Rel & Environment. 3 Credits.

Exploration of themes involving religion and the natural environment. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisite: Three hours of Religion.

REL 2990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.

Intermediate courses or seminars on topics beyond the scope of existing departmental offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

REL 3620. Religion and Empire. 3 Credits.

An exploration of the definitions of religion as they relate to, were impacted by, and fostered the expansion of empires and imperialism. Topics include: history & definitions of religion; race & racialization; gender; colonialism; imperialism. Prerequisite: Nine hours in Religion.

REL 3625. Religion, Nation, and State. 3 Credits.

Exploration of religion in the public life of the modern nation-state. Focusing on the relationship of nationalism and religion, examines how religion is both a source of mobilization by the state and a means of resistance to it. Prerequisite: 9 credit hours in Religion.

REL 3630. Religion and Secular Culture. 3 Credits.

Comparison of religious and secular systems of meaning, value, and practice. Prerequisite: Nine hours in Religion, with three hours at the intermediate level.

REL 3990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.

See schedule of courses for specific titles.

REL 3991. Internship. 1-18 Credits.

On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.

REL 3993. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.

A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.

REL 3994. Teaching Assistantship. 1-3 Credits.

Undergraduate student service as a teaching assistant, usually in an introductory level course in the discipline, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.

REL 3995. Undergraduate Research. 1-18 Credits.

Undergraduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.

REL 4050. Senior Colloquium. 1 Credit.

Capstone course for Religion majors. Prerequisites: Religion major; Senior standing.

REL 4990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.

Intermediate courses or seminars on topics beyond the scope of existing departmental offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles. Prerequisite: Three hours in Religion.

REL 4996. Honors. 1-6 Credits.

College honors thesis or other department/program honors, under the supervision of a faculty member. Offered at department discretion.