Department of Religious Studies
Division of Humanities and Fine Arts
Humanities and Social Sciences 3001E
Telephone: (805) 893-7136
E-mail: relst@religion.ucsb.edu
Website: www.religion.ucsb.edu (will
open in a new browser window)
Department Chair: Catherine L. Albanese
Contents:
Ahmad A. Ahmad, Ph.D., Harvard University, Assistant Professor (Islamic intellectual history, Islamic law,and Islamic political philosophy)
Catherine L. Albanese, Ph.D., The University of Chicago, Professor (American religious history, religion and American culture)
Rudy V. Busto, Ph.D., UC Berkeley, Associate Professor (Chicano/Latino religions, Asian American/Pacific Islander religions, American religions)
José Ignacio Cabezón, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Professor (Tibetan Buddhism, Indo-Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, Buddhism and popular culture, sexuality and gender studies, theoretical issues in the study of Tibet)
Juan E. Campo, Ph.D., The University of Chicago, Associate Professor (history of religions - Islam, Arabic)
Magda Campo, M.A., American University in Cairo, Lecturer (Arabic)
Thomas A. Carlson, Ph.D., The University of Chicago, Associate Professor (Christianity and culture; religion and philosophy)
Racha M. el Omari, Ph.D., Yale University, Assistant Professor (Arabic, Islamic theology, Islamic Intellectual history)
Roger Friedland, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Professor (sociology and religion, cultural analysis)
W. Randall Garr, Ph.D., Yale University, Professor (Northwest Semitic languages, Hebrew Bible, ancient Near East)
Richard D. Hecht, Ph.D., UC Los Angeles, Professor (history of religions, Judaic studies)
Barbara A. Holdrege, Ph.D., Harvard University, Associate Professor (comparative history of religions, South Asian religions, Judaic studies)
Gurinder Singh Mann, Ph.D., Columbia University, Professor (Sikh studies, South Asian religions)
William Powell, Ph.D., UC Berkeley, Associate Professor (history of religions - China)
Dwight F. Reynolds, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, Professor (Arabic languages and literatures, folklore and folklife)
Wade Clark Roof, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Professor (sociology and psychology of religion, American religion)
Ann Taves, Ph.D., University of Chicago, Professor (Catholic Studies, history of modern Christianity, American religious history)
Inés Talamantez, Ph.D., UC San Diego, Associate Professor (Native American religions)
Stanley Tambiah, Ph.D., Cornell University, Distinguished Visiting Professor (Buddhism, comparative religion, religion and politics)
Christine M. Thomas, Ph.D., Harvard University, Associate Professor (Hellenistic religions, early Christianity, archaeology of religions)
Stephania Tutino, Ph.D., Scuola Normale Superiore, Assistant Professor (early modern Europe, Reformation, religious and politcal thought)
Vesna A. Wallace, Ph.D., UC Berkeley, Associate Professor (Sanskrit languages and literature, Buddhism)
David G. White, Ph.D., The University of Chicago, Professor (South Asian religions)
Mayfair Yang, Ph.D., UC Berkeley, Professor (Anthropology, China, critical theory, media, gender, state)
W. Richard Comstock, Ph.D., Union Theological Seminary, Professor Emeritus (religion in western culture)
Phillip E. Hammond, Ph.D., Columbia University, Professor Emeritus (sociology of religion)
Nandini Iyer, M.A., Oxford University, Lecturer Emerita (Sanskrit)
Gerald J. Larson, Ph.D., Columbia University, Professor Emeritus
Charles H. Long, Ph.D., The University of Chicago, Professor Emeritus
Raimundo Panikkar, Ph.D., D.Sc., University of Madrid; Th.D., University of Rome, Professor Emeritus
Birger A. Pearson, Ph.D., Harvard University, Professor Emeritus
Geraldo Aldana, Ph.D. (Chicana and Chicano Studies)
Sarah Cline, Ph.D. (History)
Harold Drake, Ph.D. (History)
Ronald Egan, Ph.D. (East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies)
Robert Erickson, Ph.D. (English)
Simonetta Falasca-Zamponi, Ph.D. (Sociology)
Sharon Farmer, Ph.D. (History)
Mario Garcia, Ph.D. (History, Chicana and Chicano Studies)
Giles Gunn, Ph.D. (English)
Lisa Hajjar, Ph.D. (Law and Society)
Mary Hancock, Ph.D. (Anthropology)
R. Stephen Humphreys, Ph.D. (History)
Mark Juergensmeyer, Ph.D., (Global and International Studies and Sociology)
Nuha N.N. Khoury, Ph.D. (History of Art and Architecture)
Claudine Michel, Ph.D. (Black Studies)
Marianne Mithun, Ph.D. (Linguistics)
Anne Marie Plane, Ph.D. (History)
Stuart T. Smith, Ph.D. (Anthropology)
Jon R. Snyder, Ph.D. (French and Italian)
Paul R. Spickard, Ph.D. (History)
Elisabeth Weber, Ph.D. (Germanic, Slavic, and Semitic Studies)
The Department of Religious Studies at UCSB is unique among California universities, state universities, and colleges. The courses it offers address the critical issues relating to the subject of religion in its many facets: historical, cultural, literary, aesthetic, sociological, experiential, and philosophical. In introductory and advanced courses, its faculty - respected in their fields nationally and internationally - regularly teach about the religions of the world, and about the complex relationships between religion and politics, society, war, and everyday life. It is the only such department in the University of California system to offer B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees.
The Department of Religious Studies at UCSB houses the prestigious Capps Center for the Study of Ethics, Religion, and Public Life; maintains close ties with the Center for Middle East Studies; boasts several endowed chairs located within it–the XIV Dalai Lama Chair in Tibetan Studies, the Virgil Cordano Chair in Catholic Studies, and the Tipton Distinguished Visiting Chair in Catholic Studies. The department teaches a plethora of research languages, including Arabic, Aramaic, Coptic, Hebrew, Hindi, Persian, Punjabi, Sanskrit, and Tibetan; oversees, besides its undergraduate major in Religious Studies, undergraduate minors in American Indian and Indigenous Studies, Jewish Studies; and offers Ph.D. students the opportunity to choose program emphases in Global Studies, Translation Studies, European Medieval Studies, or Women’s Studies to add to their degree.
All students who take a religious studies course learn both to appreciate the importance of religion to human thought, action, and creativity and to judge its character and historical impact in cultural context. Moreover, they discover how the critical study of religion leads to increased understanding of the relationships among the various fields of knowledge that constitute the humanities and social sciences. A departmental major gains sound general knowledge about religion east and west, ancient and modern. Careful selection of upper-division electives allows the undergraduate major to pursue a concentration in a variety of religious traditions. Students also become familiar with the ideas and methods employed in the critical study of religious phenomena. Enterprising students can qualify for a double major in religious studies and some other major field such as English, history, anthropology, political science, philosophy, art, or economics.
The bachelor of arts degree in religious studies is a solid liberal arts degree, providing graduates an excellent basis from which to pursue careers requiring imagination, problem-solving and communication skills, and awareness of human diversity. International studies and graduate work in the humanities and certain areas of the social sciences are other strong possibilities. Students with a bachelor’s degree in religious studies who are interested in pursuing a California Teaching Credential should contact the credential advisor in the Graduate School of Education as soon as possible.
Religious studies majors are encouraged to meet with the department’s undergraduate advisor periodically for assistance in planning their curriculum. Also, the department chair and other faculty are available to consult about programs and academic plans. The department provides an information sheet for undergraduate majors, an up-to-date major requirement list, and a description of courses to be offered each quarter.
Many of the greatest ideas and writings concerning the study of religions, or of a religious character, were formulated in languages other than English. Majors are strongly urged to acquire proficiency in one or more European (e.g., French, German, Spanish, Greek, Latin) or non-European (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, Arabic, Hebrew, Sanskrit) languages. Election to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society requires proficiency in one foreign language, usually demonstrated by completion of the fifth quarter or its equivalent. Students should consult with their departmental advisor to select the most appropriate language. (Languages taught in the department of Religious Studies include Arabic, Coptic, Hebrew, Hindi, Pali, Persian, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Syriac, Targumic Aramaic and Tibetan.)Also, majors should seriously consider participating in the university’s Education Abroad Program, particularly in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
The department offers honors sections in lower-division survey courses such as Religious Studies 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, and 15. Upper-division College Honors Program students may design their own contract courses and independent studies courses with religious studies faculty. Candidates for the religious studies honors program must be in residence at UCSB for at least one year (three quarters) as religious studies majors, have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5, and a grade-point average of 3.75 in religious studies. During their senior year, students work closely with department faculty to prepare an honors thesis. The honors seminar, Religious Studies 195, is designed to facilitate research and writing of the thesis. Honors program graduates are identified separately each year at the head of the graduation list for religious studies, and receive the award of Distinction in the Major upon graduation.
Students who complete the departmental honors program are eligible for induction into Theta Alpha Kappa, the national honor society in religious studies.
The Edward C. Truman award is presented annually to a freshman, sophomore, or junior major deemed outstanding by the department and the UCSB Affiliates.
Undergraduate Program
Bachelor of Arts - Religious Studies
Preparation for the major. One lower-division religious studies course, excluding language courses.
Upper-division major. Forty-four units, distributed as described below. The same course units may not be used to fulfill the requirements in more than one of the areas listed below. Only one language course (4 units) may apply toward credit for the upper division major. A maximum of 12 units from related fields may apply towads credit for the major.
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Methodological Approaches. Eight units from Religious Studies 106, 110, 110B, 110C, 113, 116C, 131H, 141A-B-C, 143, 145, 153, 162A, 162C, 179, 180, 183, 183B 184B; Anthropology 116B, 196; Comparative Literature 183; French 169EX; History 114A-B-C-D, 114P, 117D, 119Q; Philosophy 112.
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Cultural Areas and Traditions. Twenty-four units divided into 12 units in an area of emphasis and 12 units in three other areas.
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South Asian Religious Traditions. Religious Studies 111A, 111B, 135A-B-C-D-E-F, 146E, 158A-B-C, 159D-E-F, 160A, 161A-B-C, 162A, 162C-D, 164A-C, 169, 171A-B-C-D, 184A-B.
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East Asian Religious Traditions. Religious Studies 120, 161B, 164B, 166A-B-C-E-F-H, 167A-B-D, 178, 183, 183B.
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Jewish, Islamic, and Near Eastern Religious Traditions. Religious Studies 115A-B-C-D-E-F, 118J, 129, 130, 131A-B-C-D-E-F-H-J, 133, 140, 140A-B-C-D-E-F, 142A-B-C, 149A, 173A-B, 185, 186A-B, 189A-B-C History 117D, 119
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Christian, Mediterranean, and European Religious Traditions. Religious Studies 116A-B-D-E, 118J, 127A-B-C, 128A-C, 138A-B-C-D, 139A-B-C-D-E; Classics 108, German 187; History 114A-B-C-D-P, 117D, 119, 119Q.
(5) Religions of the Americas. Religious Studies 101, 110B, 110D, 114B-C, 116E, 123, 124R, 141B-C, 147, 150, 151A-B-C, 152, 153, 155, 176, 191A, 192, 193.
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Topics in the Study of Religion. Eight units from Religious Studies 100A, 100A-B, 101, 103B, 106, 108, 110B-C, 112, 113, 118A, 125, 128, 131H, 132, 134, 136, 143, 145, 153, 154, 155, 162C, 173, 175, 182, 190AA-ZZ, 191A, 193B; Classics 108; French 169EX; German 143, 187; History 117D, 119, 119Q, Interdisciplinary Studies 150.
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Problems in the Study of Religion. Four units. Religious Studies 104, or a Senior Project: Religious Studies 195, or Independent Studies: Religious Studies 199.
For major regulations refer to the Religious Studies major requirement sheet on the department’s website www.religion.ucsb.edu.
Minor - American Indian and Indigenous Studies
All courses to be applied to the minor must be completed on a letter-grade basis. This includes preparation and upper-division courses and both courses offered by the Department of Religious Studies and those offered by other departments.
Preparation for the minor. Religious Studies 14 and History 8.
Upper-division minor. Twenty upper-division units from at least two different departments from the following list: Anthropology 104H, 116, 127, 131, 131CA, 133, 135, 136, 139, 141, 150A-B-C, 155, 163, 175, 187; Chicana/o Studies 117, 119, 120, 136, 139, 140, 144, 150, 154F, 160, 168A-B-F-R, 180, 183, 184B, 186A-B, 189B; Comparative Literaure 153; English 122NE, 134NA; Environmental Studies 104, 122NE, 189; Film Studies 127, 140; History 151FQ, 151I, 154LA-LB, 156A-B-I, 168A-B-F-R, 179A-B, 189E; Law and Society 123, 124; Linguistics 134, 180; Religious Studies 110D, 114B, 124R, 191A, 193; Sociology 130LA, 130SW, 144, 154F.
Note: Substitutions and waivers are subject to approval by the chair of the department. Please see "Academic Minors" for special conditions governing minors in the College of Letters and Science.
The Jewish Studies program provides the possibility for students to complete an interdisciplinary minor in Jewish Studies. Within the minor, there is the opportunity to study either biblical Hebrew or modern Hebrew, the centrality of the Hebrew Bible in Jewish History, culture and society, the literature and society of the Jews, and history and religion of the Jews.
The program also encourages students to take advantage of the Education Abroad program, especially the Jerusalem Study Center at the Hebrew University. Other study centers may also be appropriate for the program.
Undergraduate program: All courses to be applied to the minor must be completed on a letter-grade basis. This includes both courses offered in Jewish Studies and those offered by other departments and applied to the minor.
Preparation for the minor. Religious Studies 17A-B-C or, Hebrew 1, 2, 3 (or equivalent), or, GSS 95A-B-C
Upper division minor: Twenty-four units, including:
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One course in Hebrew Bible: RS 115A or English 116A (4 units)
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Two courses in Jewish history and religion (8 units): History 117D, 131F, 133D, 133Q, 146T, Religious Studies 105, 115B, 115D, 115E, 115D, 115E, 115F, 116A, 118J (same as Soc 118J), 130, 131B, 131C, 131D, 131E, 133
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Two courses in Jewish literature, culture, and society (8 units): Comparative Literature 113, 122A, 122B (same as French-Ital 122X ) English 134JB, 134JL, 197 History 118B; Political Science 149; Religious Studies 131F, 131H (same as Soc 131H), 131J
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One additional course form either of the above lists: Area B, Jewishhistory and religion or C, Jewish literature, culture and society (4 units).
Students wishing to concentrate in Hebrew should complete the lower-division language preparation and two of the following language courses: Hebrew 4, 5, 6, 114A-B-C, or Religious Studies 142A-B-C. In addition, students concentrating (i) in Biblical Hebrew (ii) in Yiddish may complement their work by Completing Religious Studies 121A-B or Linguistics 194, respectively.
Note: Substitutions and waivers are subject to approval by the chair of the department. Please see "Academic Minors" for special conditions governing minors in the College of Letters and Science.
Graduate Program
The Department of Religious Studies offers courses in the religious dimensions of the human experience in diverse traditions and cultures around the world and through time.
All programs emphasize a cross-cultural comparative study of religions and use multi-disciplinary approaches as appropriate to religious studies, incorporating such disciplines as philology, history, anthropology, sociology, comparative literature, psychology, and philosophy. Undergraduate and master’s programs provide a general orientation toward religious studies; the doctoral program offers specialized training leading to professions in teaching and research.
In addition to departmental requirements, candidates for graduate degrees must meet the university degree requirements described in the section "Graduate Education at UCSB."
The department has available a number of fellowships to support graduate study, including the J.F. Rowny Endowment Fellowship, the Japan Bamboo Foundation Fellowship, and the Walter H. Capps Dissertation Fellowship.
Admission
Applicants are admitted on a competitive basis. Undergraduate grade-point average counts heavily, and scores from the aptitude test of the Graduate Record Examination are required. In addition to departmental requirements for admission, applicants must fulfill university requirements for admission to graduate status described in the section "Graduate Education at UCSB." Applicants interested in pursuing a Ph.D. who have completed the M.A. degree in religious studies (or its equivalent) elsewhere may apply directly to the Ph.D. program. Others should apply to the M.A./Ph.D. program, which entails completion of the M.A. Plan 1. Applications for the M.A./Ph.D. program are accepted for fall quarter only; the deadline is December 15. The same schedule is normally required for M.A. Plan 2 applicants.
Master of Arts - Religious Studies
Plan 1 (M.A./Ph.D.). Students admitted to the M.A./Ph.D. program will undertake the M.A. Plan 1. Students are required (1) to complete Religious Studies 200A-D, Proseminar in History and Theory of Religion; (2) to pass a language exam in French or German; (3) to complete 36 units, including no fewer than 24 graduate units; and (4) to write a research thesis under the guidance of the religious studies faculty. In addition, M.A./Ph.D students are required to enroll in six quarters of the Religious Studies Research Colloquium, RG ST 593: three quarters before the completion of their M.A., and three quarters before the defense of the Ph.D. Each quarter of participation will earn one unit of credit.
The department awards financial aid only to those students in the M.A./Ph.D. program (and not necessarily to all of them, depending upon departmental resources). Students receiving financial aid from the department must meet their degree requirements in a timely fashion. Those who do not fulfill the requirements within a two-year period may be granted a terminal M.A. provided they have completed the 36-unit requirement.
Plan 2 (M.A. only). Students entering the M.A.-only program are required (1) to complete at least 36 units, of which at least 24 must be graduate-level units; (2) to complete Religious Studies 201, Core Issues in the Study of Religion; and (3) to pass a comprehensive examination following Religious Studies 201. The Department of Religious Studies considers the M.A.-only program to be most appropriate for individuals seeking professional or career development in fields not exclusively related to university teaching and research.
Doctor of Philosophy - Religious Studies
The Ph.D. program in the Department of Religious Studies comprises a cross-cultural and multidisciplinary approach to the study of religion. The cross-cultural component of the program is concerned with the comparative study of religious traditions from among five cultural areas: Christian, Mediterranean, and European religious traditions; East Asian religious traditions; Jewish, Islamic, and near Eastern religious traditions; religions of the Americas; and South Asian religious traditions. Students are expected to engage with the multiple disciplinary approaches to the study of religion, and their concomitant methodologies: philosophical, historical, anthropological, and sociological.
All Ph.D. students must take Religious Studies 200A, 200B, 200C, and 200D. They must also take a 4-unit course to meet a methodology requirement prior to advancing to candidacy. Ph.D students are required to enroll in three quarters of Religious Studies Research Colloquium, RG ST 593, before the defense of the Ph.D. Each quarter of participation will earn one unit of credit. Other courses in fulfillment of the Ph.D. requirement will be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor. Students admitted directly into the doctoral program without the M.A. or its equivalent are required to take 36 units of advanced work. Doctoral students must complete a second examination in a modern or classical language in which a substantive religious studies bibliography exists: either French or German (depending on the language chosen to fulfill the M.A. requirement), or a language appropriate to their cultural area of concentration. Programs in certain cultural areas will require additional language competency. With the completion of these requirements, students will, in consultation with a doctoral advisor and committee, sit for no less than three field examinations in their areas of specialization. Students will also prepare a dissertation prospectus and pass an oral qualifying exam. In addition to required coursework and language competency, advancement to candidacy (C. Phil.) is dependent on the satisfactory completion of these three requirements.
Candidates must then write a dissertation, under the supervision of the doctoral committee, demonstrating an ability to do significant research and scholarly analysis and to present findings and conclusions with precision and clarity. The dissertation must normally be completed within two to three years after passing the qualifying examination.
Optional Ph.D. Emphasis in Women's Studies
The Women’s Studies Program, with over 30 core and affiliated faculty members in over eleven disciplines, serves as a mode of interdisciplinary work and scholarly collaboration at UCSB. Women’s studies doctoral emphasis students are required to complete successfully four seminars that will enhance their understanding of feminist pedagogy, feminist theory, and topics relevant to the study of women, gender, and/or sexuality. Using an interdepartmental set of conversations and intellectual questions, women’s studies support a multifaceted undergraduate curriculum at UCSB. Graduate emphasis students are encouraged to apply to teach women’s studies courses as teaching assistants and associates as part of their women’s studies training.
Applicants must first be admitted to, or currently enrolled in, a UCSB Ph.D. program participating in the women’s studies graduate emphasis: Anthropology; Comparative Literature; Dramatic Art and Dance; English; French and Italian; Germanic, Slavic, and Semitic Studies; History; History of Art and Architecture; Religious Studies; Sociology; or Spanish and Portuguese. Candidates complete four graduate courses and select a member of the women’s studies faculty or affiliated faculty to serve on their Ph.D. exam and dissertation committees. Applications to the Women’s Studies Doctoral Emphasis may be submitted at any stage of Ph.D. work; and applications deadlines are November 1, 2007 and May 1, 2008.
Students pursuing the emphasis in women’s studies will successfully complete four graduate courses. Only one may be taken in the student’s home department.
1. Issues in Feminist Epistemology and Pedagogy (Women’s Studies 270). A one-quarter seminar that considers women’s studies as a distinct field. It offers an interdisciplinary exploration of feminist theories of knowledge production and teaching practices. Readings cover past and present critical debates and provide theoretical approaches through which to analyze interdisciplinary epistemological and pedagogical issues.
2. Special Topics in Women’s Studies (594 AA-ZZ). A one-quarter seminar offered by a women’s studies faculty member on topics of central concern to the field of women’s studies.
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Research Practicum (Women’s Studies 280). A cross-disciplinary seminar in which fundamental questions in contemporary feminist research practice are considered in light of students’ own graduate projects. Students may fulfill the Area 2 requirement by taking either a Special Topics Seminar or the Research Practicum.
3. Feminist Theories. A one-quarter graduate seminar in feminist theory offered by any department, including women’s studies.
4. Topical Seminar. A one-quarter graduate seminar, outside the student’s home department, that addresses topics relevant to the study of women, gender, and/or sexuality.
Optional Ph.D. Emphasis in Global Studies
Students pursuing a Ph.D. in certain departments may petition to add an emphasis in global studies. The departments for which the emphasis is available include anthropology, English, history, political science, religious studies, and sociology. To be eligible for admission to the Ph.D. emphasis, students must be admitted to the Ph.D. program in one of the departments choosing to offer this emphasis with their existing Ph.D. program and petition successfully to add the optional emphasis.
The student’s dissertation committee must have one member from a participating department other than the student’s own department. The student may also elect a global emphasis for his or her department field/area/specialization exam, if such an emphasis is offered within the department. The chair of the Coordinating Committee will determine when the student has successfully completed all of the requirements for the emphasis.
By “global” we refer to transnational economic, political, environmental, social, and cultural interactions and flows that operate at a global (i.e., trans-continental) scale. “Global studies” views the world as comprised of increasingly interdependent processes, rather than as shaped exclusively or even primarily by the interplay of discrete nation-states.
Petitions for adding the emphasis can be made at any time in a student’s graduate career, but typically will be made after at least one successful year of study in the home department. Work completed prior to admission in the emphasis that meets emphasis requirements (as determined by the Ph.D. Emphasis Coordinating Committee) may be counted towards completion.
To satisfy the Ph.D. emphasis in global studies, students are required to take four one-quarter graduate-level courses. One course is Global 201, the introductory gateway seminar, offered by the Global and International Studies Program. Three additional courses must be chosen from among qualifying global theory and global issues courses offered by participating departments. These courses will be selected from an approved list of global theory and global issues graduate courses prepared by the Ph.D. Emphasis Coordinating Committee each spring, for the following academic year. At least one of these three courses must be a global theory course, and at least one must be a global issues course. Courses will typically be taken for a letter grade.
At least one of these three courses will be taken from the student’s home department, and at least two must be taken from the six other participating departments or the Global and International Studies Program. No more than one of the three seminars (excluding Global 201) can be taken from a single instructor.
For additional information, please contact the graduate advisor in one of the participating departments or Global Studies.
Optional Ph.D. Emphasis in European Medieval Studies
The Medieval Studies Program offers an interdisciplinary doctoral emphasis to students previously admitted to a Ph.D. program in the Departments of Dramatic Art, English, French and Italian, History, History of Art and Architecture, Music, Religious Studies, and Spanish and Portuguese. Students pursuing the emphasis in European medieval studies must receive a grade of B or better in each of the following: Medieval Latin (Latin 103); one course in a vernacular, western European or Middle Eastern medieval language (English 205, English 230, French 206, Spanish 222A, Spanish 222B, Portuguese 222, Religious Studies 148A, Religious Studies 148 B, Religious Studies 210); Paleography and/or Diplomatics (History 215S, History 215T); Medieval Studies 200A-B-C; and 8 additional units in graduate courses on medieval topics. Students may petition to have appropriate courses from other institutions, or independent study, substituted for these requirements. Medieval Studies 200A-B-C is the program’s colloquium series; graduate students in the emphasis attend the series and write brief papers on each colloquium (one per term), to be reviewed by the chair of the program (2 units). To qualify for the emphasis, at least one member of a Ph.D. candidate’s dissertation committee must be an affiliated faculty member of the European Medieval Studies Program. Contact the European Medieval Studies Program for additional information on faculty interests, course offerings, and program requirements, or visit our website at www.medievalstudies.ucsb.edu.
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Religious Studies Courses
Check the Department of Religious Studies website at www.religion.ucsb.edu for courses not currently listed in this publication.
Lower Division
1. Introduction to the Study of Religion
(4) Staff
A consideration of major themes, issues, types of figures and phenomena, and traditions - all selected from the history of religion so as to illustrate the great variety of religious phenomena and to suggest some of the ways such things may be responsibly studied.
2. Islam and the West from 700-1850
(4) Ahmad
Covers Western encounters with Muslims from Islam’s spread in the Near East and Europe until the mid-nineteenth century, including the depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in Western literature, positive and negative Muslim/European interactions, and their rivalry.
3. Introduction to Asian Religious Traditions
(4) Powell, Wallace
Same course as East Asian Cultural Studies 3.
An introduction to the basic texts, institutions, and practices of the religious traditions of South Asia and East Asia.
4. Introduction to Buddhism
(4) Staff
Same course as East Asian Cultural Studies 5.
The historical and cross-cultural exploration of Buddhism through the examination of basic texts, institutions, and practices of diverse Buddhist traditions.
5. Introduction to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
(4) Staff
An introduction to the basic texts, institutions, and practices of western religious traditions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
7. Introduction to American Religion
(4) Albanese
Religion and religions in America. Survey of the variety of religions or religious traditions in America, including Native American, Asian American, African American, Jewish, Roman Catholic, Muslim, and notably Protestant. Focus also on such common features as “civil religion.”
9. Ethnicity and Religion
(4) Busto
An overview of the themes, problems and theories at the intersection of race/ethnicity and religious traditions in the United States. Focus is on racially ethnic communities and traditions.
Any two courses in the series Religious Studies 10A through 10F must be taken in sequence and not simultaneously. Also, students may not enroll in a lower level Arabic course than was previously taken in the Arabic 10A-10F series or more advanced Arabic.
10A. Elementary Arabic I
(5) Reynolds, Campo
Introductory modern standard Arabic: pronunciation, script, conversation, and oral comprehension. Weekly sections involve cultural materials such as elementary calligraphy, Middle Eastern cooking, Arabic television shows, films, singing, and folk dance.
10B. Elementary Arabic II
(5) Reynolds, Campo
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 10A.
Continuation of Arabic I.
10C. Elementary Arabic III
(5) Reynolds, Campo
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 10A-B.
Continuation of Arabic II.
10D. Intermediate Arabic IV
(5) Reynolds, Campo
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 10A-B-C.
Intermediate Arabic: complex grammar and vocabulary, readings in classical and modern Arabic literature, including short stories, newspaper articles, and poetry. Extensive use of audio-visual materials including news broadcasts, television shows, and films. Weekly conversation section.
10E. Intermediate Arabic V
(5) Reynolds, Campo
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 10D.
Continuation of Arabic IV.
10F. Intermediate Arabic VI
(5) Reynolds, Campo
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 10E.
Continuation of Arabic V.
10X. Egyptian Colloquial Arabic I
(2) Campo
Introduction to the spoken colloquial Arabic of Egypt, the most widely understood dialect in the Arab world. Covers pronunciation, basic grammar, and vocabulary taught through conversation and selected viewing of television programs and film. Emphasis is on spoken communication.
10Y. Egyptian Colloquial Arabic II
(2) Campo
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 10X.
Continuation of Egyptian Colloquial Arabic I.
10Z. Egyptian Colloquial Arabic III
(2) Campo
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 10Y.
Continuation of Egyptian Colloquial Arabic II.
Any two courses in the series Religious Studies 11A through 11F must be taken in sequence and not simultaneously. Also, students may not enroll in a lower level Hindi course than was previously taken in the Hindi 11A-11F series.
11A. Elementary Hindi I
(4) Staff
The beginning course in Hindi. Survey of grammar. Graded exercises and readings drawn from Hindi literature, leading to mastery of grammatical structures and essential vocabulary and achievement of basic reading and writing competence.
11B. Elementary Hindi II
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 11B.
Continuation of Hindi I.
11C. Elementary Hindi III
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 11B.
Continuation of Hindi II.
11D. Intermediate Hindi IV
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 11C.
Intermediate Hindi. Selected readings in Hindi fiction and nonfiction, with exercises in grammar, composition, and conversation.
11E. Intermediate Hindi V
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 11D.
Continuation of Hindi IV.
11F. Intermediate Hindi VI
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 11E.
Continuation of Hindi V.
12. Religious Approaches to Death
(4) White
Surveys twenty world religious traditions in their approaches to the problem of death, care for the dead, and death-related doctrines and practices within their broader cultural, historical, and social contexts from a cross-cultural perspective.
14. Introduction to Native American Religious Studies
(4) Talamantez
This course is designed as an introduction to the contribution that Native American religions make to the general study of religion. Metaphysical and philosophical aspects of North American native culture. Major concepts of belief systems, religion, and medicine. Theories of balance, harmony, knowledge, power, ritual, and ceremony.
15. Religion and Psychology
(4) Roof
A survey of theories and approaches to the study of religion from the perspective of psychology, with an emphasis on psychoanalytical, analytical, and humanistic psychology as well as on other theorists and trends emerging out of or relating to these traditions in psychology.
16. Chicano/Latino Religious Traditions
(4) Busto
The religious and philosophical traditions that created and continue to influence Chicano/Latino communities.
Any two courses in the series Religious Studies 17A through 17C must be taken in sequence and not simultaneously. Also, students may not enroll in a lower level Hebrew course than was previously taken in the Hebrew 17A-17C series.
17A. Introduction Biblical Hebrew I
(4) Garr
Introduces the student to the orthography, phonology, grammar, and lexicon of Tiberian Biblical Hebrew as found in most printed Bibles. There will be extensive grammatical exercise in recitation and written forms in which the student learns the bulk of Hebrew grammar. The course will conclude with selected Pentateuchal readings when the student applies grammatical knowledge to actual texts.
17B. Introduction to Biblical Hebrew II
(4) Garr
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 17A.
Continuation of Religious Studies 17A.
17C. Introduction to Biblical Hebrew III
(4) Garr
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 17B.
Continuation of Religious Studies 17B.
19. The Gods and Goddesses of India
(4) Holdrege
Not open for credit to students who have completed Relgious Studies 158A.
An introduction to the gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. Consideration is given to mythological, iconographic, and pilgrimage traditions as well as to the various types of movements - ascetic, devotional, and Tantric - associated with each deity.
21. Zen
(4) Staff
Same course as East Asian Cultural Studies 21.
An introduction to the history and texts of the major lineages of Ch’an Buddhism in China, and Zen Buddhism in Japan.
24. Teachings of Jesus in Comparative Perspective
(4) Thomas
Exploration of key interpretations of the life and teachings of Jesus, and analysis of the sources from which these are reconstructed, in historical, comparative, and contemporary perspectives.
Any two courses in the series Religious Studies 30A through 30F must be taken in sequence and not simultaneously. Also, students may not enroll in a lower level Tibetan course than was previously taken in the Tibetan 30A-30F series.
30A. Elementary Tibetan I
(4) Staff
An introduction to literary and spoken Tibetan, including study of classical and modern grammar, with examples drawn from a wide variety of literature. Also introduces students to the use of new digital instructional materials to develop proficiency in spoken Tibetan.
30B. Elementary Tibetan II
(4) Hillis
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 30A.
Continuation of Tibetan I.
30C. Elementary Tibetan III
(4) Hillis
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 30B.
Continuation of Tibetan II.
30D. Intermediate Tibetan IV
(4) Hillis
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 30C.
Intermediate literary and spoken Tibetan, including study of advanced Tibetan grammar and readings in a variety of genres of Tibetan literature. Use of programs in colloquial Tibetan to develop verbal fluency, acquire vocabulary, and master advance topics in spoken Tibetan.
30E. Intermediate Tibetan V
(4) Hillis
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 30D.
Continuation of Tibetan IV.
30F. Intermediate Tibetan VI
(4) Hillis
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 30E.
Continuation of Tibetan V.
31. The Religions of Tibet
(4) Cabezon
Survey of Tibetan religions focusing on Tibetan Buddhism (from its origins to the present) but also touching on the Tibetan indigenous religion Bon and on Tibetan Islam. Special attention is paid to the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, their history, doctrines, and meditation practices.
41. Heresies
(4) Thomas
Study of a selection of heretical movements from a variety of religious traditions in the ancient and medieval periods. Illustrates the sociological, political, economic, and philosophical dimensions of heresy formation and self-definition within religious traditions.
42. Religion and Sexuality
(4) Staff
Examination and analysis of how various religious communities in different cultural settings define and prescribe sexuality and related moral issues.
43. Origins: A Dialogue Between Scientists and Humanists
(4) Tutino, Hecht, Treu
Same course as Physics 43.
Introduction to the ways in which different disciplines have addressed the concept of origins. This course is organized as a dialogue between science, religion and history or more broadly construed between science and the humanities.
Any two courses in the series Religious Studies 57A through 57F must be taken in sequence and not simultaneously. Also, students may not enroll in a lower level Persian course than was previously taken in the Persian 57A-57F series.
57A. Elementary Persian I
(5) Staff
Introduction to Persian pronunciation, script, and basic grammar, and vocabulary. Includes lessons in reading, writing, conversation, and oral comprehension. Sections involve audio-visual materials and a general introduction to the literatures and cultures of Persian-speaking Iran, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan.
57B. Elementary Persian II
(5) Staff
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 57A.
Continuation of Persian I.
57C. Elementary Persian III
(5) Staff
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 57B.
Continuation of Persian II.
57D. Intermediate Persian IV
(5) Staff
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 57C.
Continuation of Persian III.
57E. Intermediate Persian V
(5) Staff
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 57D.
Continuation of Persian IV.
57F. Intermediate Persian VI
(5) Staff
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 57E.
Continuation of Persian V.
Any two courses in the series Religious Studies 60A through 60F must be taken in sequence and not simultaneously. Also, students may not enroll in a lower level Punjabi course than was previously taken in the Punjabi 60A-60F series.
60A. Elementary Punjabi I
(4) Staff
Introduction to Punjabi, a major language of northern India and Pakistan. Beginning with the Gurmukhi script, the course offers an intensive study in the speaking, reading, and writing of the language.
60B. Elementary Punjabi II
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 60A.
Continuation of Punjabi I.
60C. Elementary Punjabi III
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 60B.
Continuation of Punjabi II.
60D. Intermediate Punjabi IV
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 60C.
Continuation of Punjabi III.
60E. Intermediate Punjabi V
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 60D.
Continuation of Punjabi IV.
60F. Intermediate Punjabi VI
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 60E.
Continuation of Punjabi V.
61A. Survey of Afro-American Religious Traditions
(4) Strongman
Same course as Black Studies 60A.
A historical examination, beginning with West African heritage of Afro-American religious leaders and organizations in the United States during slavery and until the end of the nineteenth century.
61B. Religion in Black America (Part II)
(4) Strongman
Same course as Black Studies 60B.
A historical survey of major black religious figures, organizations, movements, philosophies, and issues. Emphasis on contemporary religious phenomena in the black religious community of the United States during the twentieth century.
70. Topics in Religious Experience
(4) Taves
An examination of a selected type of religious experience -such as possession, conversion, or mysticism - in comparative and cross-cultural perspectives. Methodological issues related to definition, comparison, and explanation of the phenomenon in question are considered.
80A. Religion and Western Civilization I: Ancient
(4) Hecht, Thomas
The religions of classical antiquity; myths, rituals, and cults of Greece and Rome; religious dimensions of Greek and Roman philosophy; beginnings and development of Christianity to time of Theodosius the Great (379-395 C.E.)
80B. Religion and Western Civilization II: Medieval
(4) Campo, Hecht
The decline of classical antiquity; the emergence of medieval Christendom; religion and culture of the Middle Ages (eleventh-thirteenth centuries); subsequent development of the Renaissance and Reformation.
80C. Religion and Western Civilization III: Modern
(4) Carlson
Religious responses to the emergence of modern science in the seventeenth century; religion in eighteenth century Europe; religion in America; the challenges of the twentieth century.
90AA-ZZ. Topics in Religious Studies
(4) Staff
May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 12 units provided letter designations are different.
Lectures in special areas of interest in Religious Studies. Specific course titles to be announced by the department each quarter offered.
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Upper Division
Please note that the letter suffixes attached to the numbers of many of the upper-division courses do not necessarily indicate a prerequisite sequence.
100A. From Ape to Cyborg: New Debates on Human Nature
(4) Weinberger-Thomas
Prerequisite: A prior course in religious studies or anthropology.
Same course as Anthropology 106A.
Drawing from recent publications from the fields of ethnology, primatology, palaeoanthropology, neurobiology, cognitive science, evolutionary psychology, Neo-Darwinian studies, and robotics, artificial intelligence, genetic engineering and artificial life, this seminar examines the fundamental question of what makes us human.
100B. Ritual and Violence
(4) Weinberger-Thomas
Prerequisite: A prior course in religious studies or anthropology.
Same course as Anthropology 106B.
Focuses on the link between ritual and violence in archaic and/or traditional societies. Attention is also given to the persistence of this link in the contemporary context.
101. New Religious Movements
(4) Staff
Looks at new religious movements over the past several decades, both sectarian movements within religious traditions and other movements that are combinative and eclectic in nature. Focus is primarily on the United States, though not exclusively.
103B. Marriage in the Ancient World
(4) Staff
Same course as Classics 115 and Women’s Studies 115.
Examines marriage customs and rituals in Archaic and Classical Greece, Ptolemaic Egypt, and in the Roman Republic and Imperial Periods within the context of social history, literary, historical, and epigraphic sources.
104. Problems in the Study of Religion
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: open to Religious Studies majors only.
Advanced research seminar treating selected topics in the study of religion. Offered at least twice a year by various faculty, and organized largely around the instructor’s own work and/or intellectual interests.
105. The Teachings of Jesus
(4) Thomas
Exploration and analysis of the teachings of Jesus, the significance of his person, and the sources of our knowledge about him, in historical, comparative, and contemporary terms.
106. Modernity and the Process of Secularization
(4) Carlson
A study of sociological, psychological, and philosophical attempts to define the modern West in terms of the marginalization and/or transformation of traditional Christian thought and institutions.
108. Global Religion
(4) Juergensmeyer
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
Same course as Global Studies 102 and Sociology 118GR.
Examines the globalization or religious traditions in the modern world. Topics include the polarities between homeland and diaspora, the relationships between transnational religions and nation states, and how these dynamics change the very nature of religious traditions.
110. Religion and Literature
(4) Staff
Not open for credit to students who have taken Religious Studies 110A.
An examination of the interaction between religion and literature through the study of literary works. Figures like John Milton, William Blake, and T.S. Eliot are among those considered.
110B. Religion and Journalism
(4) Hecht
Explores how the place of religion has changed in American journalism, how journalists are involved in the articulation of religion, and how journalism of religion is related to the larger issue of the changing nature of American religious pluralism.
110C. Religion and Art
(4) Hecht
Exploration of the relationships between religion and twentieth-century art. Special attention on the symbolisms of space, body, time, word, and memory in modern artists such as Mondrian, Chagall, and O’Keefe, and in contemporary artists like Bill Viola, James Turrell, Marina Abramovic, Wolfgang Laib, Anselm Kiefer, Anish Kapoor and Christian Boltanski.
110D. Ritual Art and Verbal Art of the Pacific Northwest
(4) Talamantez
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 14.
Religious ethos of selected peoples of the Pacific Northwest, as is expressed in masking, body paint, art, and architecture. Study of mythology, ritual, symbolism, and contemporary developments.
111A. Religions of the Silk Road
(4) Wallace
A study of the transformation of religious ideas and practices along the Central Asian trade and missionary routes that constitute the Silk Road, including an analysis of patterns of religious exchange and contestation among Buddhist, Islamic, Christian, and Hindu communities.
111B. Religions of Mongolia
(4) Wallace
A historical analysis of the development of Shamanic, Buddhist, Islamic, and Christian traditions in Mongolia, including a consideration of the ways in which the mutual interactions of these traditions have shaped and transformed the religious and political climate of Mongolia.
113. Religion and Film
(4) Staff
An examination of religious themes and forms as they appear in significant works of modern film. The nature of man, the problem of suffering, the quest for meaning are among the topics considered.
114C. Myths, Symbols, and Transitions in Native American Religions
(4) Talamantez
An exploration of the nature, structure, and meaning of ritual act and ritual language in the religious life of native cultures of the southwest. Intensive study of selected ritual oratory with particular attention to myth and symbol. The relevance of linguistic models for interpreting ritual. Approaches to symbolism including the interrelations between different media (oral, aural, tactile, plastic), and to features of formalism, redundancy, and condensation in ritual. Examination of a select number of monographs.
114D. Religion and Healing in Native America
(4) Talamantez
An interdisciplinary and comparative study of representative Native American cultures and their religio-medico system. Emphasis on understanding the experimentation, evaluation, and sacralization of the biosphere in culture to meet human physical and spiritual needs. Examination of the special place of language in well-being. Attention is given to changes which are a result of contact with European culture.
114X. Dante’s “Divine Comedy”
(4) Snyder
Dante’s masterpiece, The Divine Comedy, remains among the most astonishing works of world literature. This course follows the pilgram’s progress through Inferno, Pergatorio and Paradiso in search of “love that moves the sun and the other stars.” In English.
115A. Literature and Religion of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
(4) Hecht, Garr
Introduction to the varieties of literature, traditions, and institutions of ancient Israel through the prophetic period.
115AX. Religious Texts of the Hebrew Bible
(1) Hecht
Prerequisite: concurrent enrollement in Relgious Studies 115A.
Recommended preparation: one year of either Classical or Modern Hebrew.
An oppertunity to read selected texts from the Hebrew Bible coordinated with the lectures for Religious Studies 115A. Texts include I-II Samuel, I-II Kings, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Amos, Esther, Ruth, and Ezra.
115B. The Prophets
(4) Hecht
The origins, development, and enduring significance of the prophetic movement in ancient Israel.
115E. Seminar of the Pentateuch
(4) Garr
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 115A.
An analysis of select Pentateuchal texts from a variety of critical perspectives.
115F. Seminar on the Hebrew Bible
(4) Garr
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 115A.
An examination of select books and topics in the study of the Hebrew Bible.
116A. The New Testament and Early Christianity
(4) Thomas
Study of the varieties of early Christian traditions and literature of the first century, with special (but not exclusive) attention to the New Testament.
116B. Second-Century Christianity
(4) Thomas
Recommended preparation: Religious Studies 116A or any lower-division course in religious studies.
Study of the various religious trends in developing Christianity as represented in the writings of the early Fathers, the later books of the New Testament, the New Testament Apocrypha, and “heretical” movements.
116C. Archaeology and the Study of Religion
(4) Thomas
Prerequisite: a prior upper-division course in Religious Studies.
An examination of the uses of archaeological materials to reconstruct the history of religions in the ancient world, with special attention to the relationships between material culture, religious iconography, epigraphy, and sacred texts.
116E. Evangelical Christianity in the U.S.
(4) Busto
Interdisciplinary approach to the experience, history, culture, and politics of “born again” religion. Topics include development of doctrine, Pentecostalism, fundamentalism, millenial views, expressive cultural forms (music, fiction, film), subcultures and political activism.
117A-B. The Language and Religion of the Mishnah and Talmud
(4-4) Garr, Hecht
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 115A or 115B or 115C (for 117A): Religious Studies 117A (for 117B).
Examination of the religious traditions of Mesopotamia, the Hittites, and the peoples of Syria-Palestine as seen through their literary and archeological remains.
118A. Religious Nationalism
(4) Friedland
Examines the conditions, course content, and consequences of religious nationalisms. Countries examined include such cases as Israel, Palestine, India, Iran, and the United States. Religious nationalism is examined in light of theories of the nation, religion, and societal organization more generally.
119A. Introduction to Islamic Law
(4) Ahmad
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
Addresses the Islamic legal concepts of rights and responsibilities and the relationship between the individual and the state in Islamic law. The course also provides an overview of the history and development of Islamic law and legal theories.
119B. The Qur’an and Its Interpretations
(4) Ahmad
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
Introduces the Qur’an from different perspectives: A source of spiritual guidance, a political document, a source of law and philosophy, an inspiration for visual and acoustic arts, and a piece of literature of interest to literary criticism.
119C. Jihad and Just War Theory
(4) Ahmad
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
Compares the notion of jihad in Islamic law to its counterpart (just war theory) in Western traditions and compares the conditions for a (theoretically) legitimate war in Islamic law and the actual application of war in Islamic history.
120. Shugendo: Japanese Mountain Religion
(4) Grapard
Same course as Japanese 119.
Historical study of texts and practices of Japanese mountain ascetics (Yamabushi), and of their role in the formation of Japanese culture, from 700 to present.
121A. Introduction to Targumic Aramaic I
(4) Garr
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 17A-B-C.
The grammar and basic vocabulary of Targumic Aramaic, concentrating on Targum Onkelos - the “official” Jewish Aramaic translation of the Old Testament. Students memorize the nominal and verbal paradigms of the dialect, and read selected passages from the Joseph story.
121B. Introduction to Targumic
Aramaic II
(4) Garr
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 17A-B-C and 121A.
Continuation of Religious Studies 121A.
122A-B-C. Syriac (I, II & III)
(4-4-4) Garr
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 17A-B-C; Religious Studies 122A (for 122B); Religious Studies 122B (for 122C).
Introduction to the grammar and literature of the Syriac language. Emphasis on on the acquisition of Syriac language skills.
123. Asian American Religions
(4) Busto
Same course as Asian American Studies 161.
Recommended preparation: a prior course in Asian American studies.
Historical and interdisciplinary approach to the themes and issues in the religious traditions of Asian Americans. Topics: the civil religious context, the transplantation of “Asian” traditions into the U.S., Asian American Christianity, Asian American theology.
124R. Latino Religious Traditions in Historical Perspective
(4) Garcia
Same course as History 168R and Chicano Studies 168R.
Focuses on the role of religion in the Chicano/Latino historical experience. Includes pre-Columbian traditions, Spanish colonial traditions, religion of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands, immigrant religious traditions, the changing nature of Latino religions in the twentieth century.
125. Special Topics
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: upper-division standing or one prior course in Religious Studies.
No more than 8 units of major credit will be given, but course may be repeated up to a 12-unit maximum.
Lectures in special areas of interest in Religious Studies. Specific course titles to be announced by the department each quarter.
126. Roman Catholicism Today
(4) Staff
A survey of the history of Roman Catholic Christianity, leading to Vatican II and subsequent changes in the church.
127A. Christian Thought and Cultures of the Ancient World
(4) Thomas
Outline of the primary philosophical, sociological, and cultural trends in the first four centuries of Christianity: The changing relationship to imperial government, the “parting of the ways” with Judaism, the cultural inheritance of paganism, problems of self-definition against heresies.
127B. Christian Thought and Cultures of the Middle Ages
(4) Carlson
Exploration of some of the major intellectual and cultural developments defining medieval Christian Europe. Materials considered include both contemporary historical studies and selected primary sources in theology, philosophy, literature, and the arts.
127C. Christian Thought and Cultures of the Reformation
(4) Carlson
Addresses major intellectual and cultural developments relating to the disintegration of medieval Christianity and the birth of modern Europe. Attention given to both contemporary historical studies and selected primary sources in theology, philosophy, literature, and the arts.
128A. Religion and Spirituality in the Roman Empire
(4) Thomas
Not open for credit to students who have completed Religious Studies 128.
Introduction to “pagan” spirituality: rites marking the seasonal and life cycles, syncretism and multiculturalism, initiation into religious associations, dreams and oracles, with attention both to religious texts and to the symbolic, iconographic, and structural evidence offered by archaeological data.
128C. The Sacred Geography of the Ancient Mediterranean World
(4) Thomas
A survey of religious sites in polytheism and early Christianity. After general introduction to the sites, the topos of sacred space and ritual, and the methods of secondary research for archaeological materials, students produce audiovisual presentations in seminar format.
129. Religions of the Ancient Near East
(4) Campo, Garr
Examination of the religious traditions of Mesopotamia, the Hittites, and the peoples of Syria-Palestine as seen through their literary archeological remains.
130. Judaism
(4) Hecht
Elements of traditional Judaism in biblical and rabbinic times.
131A. Palestinian Judaism from Ezra to Akiba
(4) Hecht
Study of the various religious trend in Palestine from the time of Ezra to the second revolt, with special attention to the rise and development of the apocalyptic.
131B. Judaism in the Graeco-Roman World
(4) Hecht
Study of the cultural and religious interactions of Judaism with Hellenism among the Greek-speaking Jews of the diaspora. Special attention will be given to the writings of Philo of Alexandria.
131C. Judaism in the Medieval World
(4) Hecht
Course covers period from 650 to 1500 CE and topics: Karaite movements; biblical and Talmaudic commentaries; growth of mystical movements; disputations between Christians and Jews.
131D. Judaism in Modern Times
(4) Hecht
Challenge of the Enlightenment and emancipation movements to traditional Jewish life in Western and Eastern Europe. Religious and secular responses to these challenges (orthodox, conservative, reform, Zionism, socialism) in Europe and the United States.
131E. Contemporary Trends in Judaism
(4) Hecht
An examination of the variety of trends in Judaism from the first world warto the present. Major areas of study include the following: the philosophies of Franz Rosenzweig, Martin Buber, and Abraham Heschel, the growth of the conservative and reform movements in America, the Holocaust, the postwar disorientation and responses to the Holocaust.
131F. The History of Anti-Semitism
(4) Hecht
A systematic examination of the history of anti-Semitism, beginning with the emergence of anti-Judaism in the world of late antiquity, its transformation into theological anti-Semitism in the middle ages, and the emergence of racial anti-Semitism in the modern world. The central focus will be anti-Semitism as a religio-historical category.
131H. Politics and Religion in the City: The Case of Jerusalem
(4) Hecht
Prerequisite: upper-division standing or a prior course in Religious Studies.
Examines relationships between religion and politics in Jerusalem. As a sacred center for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and national center for Israelis and Palestinians, Jerusalem provides the unique opportunity to examine co-existing groups holding opposite world views.
131J. Introduction to Rabbinic Literature
(4) Holdrege
An introduction to the basic texts of rabbinic literature through an analysis of representative passages from the Mishnah, Talmud, and Midrash. Particular attention will be given to the various types of Midrash and the principles and methods of Midrashic interpretation. (Knowledge of Hebrew not required.)
132. The Contemplative Life
(4) Hecht
A comparative study of the role of contemplation in religious traditions. Exploration of the relationships between contemplation and prayer, ethics, the arts, mysticism, and community.
133. Introduction to Jewish Mysticism
(4) Holdrege
An introduction to the schools and texts of Jewish mysticism, with particular attention to the Zohar, Lurianic Kabbalah, and Hasidism. Examination of conceptions of god and the Sefirot, Torah, creation, and redemption, along with consideration of the role of meditative techniques.
134. Religion and Violence
(4) Hecht
This course examines the capacity of religion to both mobilize and legitimate human destructiveness. A number of theoretical perspectives will be explored alongside of historical case studies from India, northern Ireland, Egypt, Lebanon, Israel-Palestine, and Sri Lanka.
135. Readings in Tibetan Buddhist Texts (4) Cabezon
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 30F.
May be repeated for credit.
Close readings of the different genres of the classical texts of Tibetan Buddhism in the original Tibetan: philosophy, history, autobiography, religious poetry, ritual, etc. Also provides a hands-on introduction to available digital tools.
136. Creation Myths
(4) White
Survey of cosmogonic myths within the world’s mythological traditions with special attention to pervasive mythemes, historical connections between cognate traditions, and major scholarly theories relating cosmogony to broader social, psychological, ethical, and theological constructs.
138A. Church, State, and Orthodoxy
(4) Taves
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
A survey of the emergence and development of the Roman Catholic Church as an institution with particular attention to the ways in which church leaders defined, maintained, and transmitted a distinctively Catholic understanding of Christian orthodoxy.
138B. Catholic Practices & Global Cultures
(4) Taves
An examination of the ways in which Catholic spirituality and religious practice have been shaped historically by encounter with various cultures and traditions, e.g. classical Greek, Old Saxon (German), Chinese, Nahua (Mexican), Cuban, Central African, South Asian, Japanese.
138C. Catholicism and Modernity
(4) Taves
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
Examination of key concepts in the history of Catholic thought (e.g., sacrifice, revelation, authority, supernaturalism, & mysticism) with attention to the way that these concepts were interpreted and reinterpreted by Catholic thinkers and scholars of religion in the modern era.
138D. Catholicism and U.S. History
(4) Taves
An examination of the emergence and development of Catholicism in the U.S. from a transnational and comparative perspective with particular attention to the impact of the Catholic tradition on the cultural, political, and social life of the U.S.
139A. Early Christian Literature in Greek
(1-4) Thomas
Not open for credit to students who have completed Religious Studies 139.
Recommended preparation: two quarters of Greek.
Reading of the New Testament and other first and second-century works as illustrations of Greek style, with attention to the development of Koine Greek, the influence of the Septuagint, textual apparatuses, and interpretational tools available to the reader of Greek.
139B. Greek and Latin Religious Texts
(1-4) Thomas
Recommended preparation: knowledge of Greek or Latin.
Readings illustrating the range of religion in the Roman empire, from the Septuagint to Epictetus to Tertullian, from dream interpretations to the Hermetica, with attention to the texts as examples of the development of Koine Greek and later Latin.
139C. Religious Literature in Coptic
(4) Thomas
Not open for credit to students who have completed Religious Studies 138A.
Recommended preparation: at least one year of Greek language.
An introduction to Sahidic-Coptic grammar, with special reference to the Coptic Gospel of Thomas.
139D. Religious Literature in Coptic
(4) Thomas
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 139C.
Not open for credit to students who have completed Religious Studies 138B.
Readings from the Gospel of Thomas and the Sahidic New Testament.
139E. Religious Literature in Coptic
(4) Thomas
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 139C-D.
Not open for credit to students who have completed Religious Studies 138C.
Readings from selected Subakhmimic Coptic texts.
140A. Islamic Traditions
(4) Campo
Introduction to history, doctrines, and practice of the Sunni, Shi’i, and Sufi expressions of Islam. Includes study of Qur’an, Hadith literature, religious law, and holy places.
140B. Religion, Politics, and Society in the Persian Gulf Region
(4) Campo
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
History of Islam and politics in societies of Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq since 1500. Emphasis on topics such as Shi’i and Sunni movements, religion and the state, Iranian revolution, economic development, and modernity.
140BX. Readings in Persian Gulf Religious Texts
(1) Campo
Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment in Religious Studies 140B.
Reading and analysis of selected texts in Arabic dealing with topics covered in Religious Studies 140B, with focus on religion and politics in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and with Shi’I Islam in the Gulf region.
140C. Islamic Mysticism and Religious Thought
(4) Campo
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
Sufi mystics, ideas, practices, and movements. The relationship of Sufism to other currents of religious thought, such as theology and philosophy in the middle east, Africa, and Asia.
140D. Islam in South Asia
(4) Campo
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
Examines the religious, cultural, social, and political formation of Islam in India, from the twelfth century to the present. Special consideration is given to patterns of Islamization and Hindu-Muslim encounters in pilgrimage, mysticism, and music. Religious aspects of Indian nationalist movements and the 1947 partition are also discussed.
140DX. Readings in South Asian Islamic Texts
(1) Campo
Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment in Religious Studies 140D.
Reading and analysis of selected texts in Arabic dealing with topics covered in Religious Studies 140D, with focus on Islam in India and Hindu-Muslim relations in the pre-modern era.
140E. Islam in America
(4) Campo
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
Examines Islam in American setting, from introduction by African slaves andimmigrants from Islamic countries, to transformation into the black Muslim movement, to rise as one of the leading non-Christian religions in the United States during the 1970s and 80s.
140F. Modern Islamic Movements
(4) Campo
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
Analysis of the variety of movements that have emerged in the modern Muslim world: Sufi, reformist, and revolutionary. Includes comparison of Islamic political movements, leaders, and ideologies in Arabia, Africa, Iran, India, and South East Asia.
140FX. Modern Islamic Texts
(1) Campo
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 10E or equivalent; concurrent enrollment in Religious Studies 140F.
Reading and analysis of brief Islamic texts in Arabic selected from the authors and intellectual traditions covered in Religious Studies 140F, withfocus on the most famous reformers, ideologues, and activist organizations of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
141A. Sociology of Religion: The Classical Statements
(4) Staff
Religion as it is treated by major social theorists, including Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Freud, Simmel, Malinowski.
141B. Sociology of Religion: Religious Organizations in Contemporary Society
(4) Staff
Religion as it appears in formal institutions, including the study of religious beliefs, religious professionals, and the dynamics of religious organizations. Emphasis is on contemporary U.S.
142A. Religious Literature in Hebrew
(4) Garr
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 17A-B-C.
May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 8 units.
An application of grammatical and analytic skills acquired in introductory Hebrew to the rapid reading of Biblical Hebrew texts, complemented by an emphasis on critical and interpretive approaches to the Hebrew Bible. Texts change with each offering of the course.
142B. Religious Literature in Hebrew
(4) Hecht, Garr
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 17A-B-C.
Introduction to poetry of the Hebrew Bible with special reference to cultic songs. Texts will be selected from Psalms, Song of Songs, and Koheleth in order to examine the varieties of poetic style.
142C. Religious Literature in Hebrew
(4) Hecht, Garr
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 17A-B-C.
Introduction to Palestinian midrashic literature with special emphasis upon the development of reading skills. Texts to be selected from Bereshit Rabbah, Wayyikra Rabbah, and Pesikta de-Rav Kahana.
145. Patterns in Comparative Religion
(4) Holdrege
Study of major religious issues as addressed by more than one religious tradition. The problem of comparative religion as an academic discipline.
146E. Hindu Mysticism
(4) White
The history of Hindu mysticism and the lived experience of the Hindu mysticfrom the Vedas through the Tantras in doctrinal literature, mythology, ritual, and art.
147. Religion and the American Experience
(4) Albanese
May be repeated for credit in combination with Religious Studies 147A-J to a maximum of 8 units.
Study of one selected topic in U.S. religious history in cultural context. Examples include Evangelism, Revivalism, Fundamentalism, Millennialism, Communalism, Trancendentalism, new religions past and present, metaphysical traditions, religion and ethnicity, religion and healing, nature religion, New Age.
148A. Advanced Arabic
(4) Reynolds
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 10F.
Advanced study of grammar and vocabulary; readings in the major genres of classical and modern Arabic literature, including Qur’an, medieval poetry and prose modern short story and novels, etc.
148B. Advanced Arabic
(4) Reynolds
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 148A.
Continuation of Religious Studies 148A.
148C. Advanced Arabic
(4) Reynolds
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 148B.
Continuation of Religious Studies 148B.
149A. Introduction to Islamic Theology
(4) el Omari
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
Survey of major trends and schools in Islamic theology throughout the early, formative classical and post-classical periods. Attention given to formulations of Islamic theology as expressed in doctrinal, heresiographical, theological, philosophical and mystical texts in historical and social contexts.
150. American Spiritualities
(4) Albanese
Study of different forms of spirituality in the United States past and present. Topics include relation of past to present and relation of spirituality to religion in the context of American culture.
151A. Religion in American History to 1865
(4) Albanese
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
Principal figures, groups, trends, and issues in religion in America to 1865.
151B. Religion in American History Since 1865
(4) Albanese
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Principal figures, groups, trends, and issues in religion in America since 1865.
151C. Religion in the American West
(4) Busto
Interdisciplinary approach to understanding religion in the western United States. How does a regional approach alter our view of American religion? Case studies of traditions transplanted to or having origin in the American west.
152. Religion in America Today
(4) Roof, Hammond
Recent trends in American religion and in interrelationships between religion and American society.
153. The Religious Cultures of the Beat Generation
(4) Hecht
Examines the religious worlds of the Beat generation and the ongoing literary tradition of rebellion against conformity, the outsider, and rebel.
154. Ethics in Leadership and Enterprise
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
Students must have a cumulative 3.0 for the proceeding 2 quarter(s).
Focus on ethical principles in eastern and western civilizations as reflected in philosophical and religious texts and writings in social science and literature. Against this backdrop ethical dilemmas for leaders in business and corporate life today are examined.
155. Religion and the Impact of Vietnam
(4) Hecht
Impact of the Vietnam War upon American values, religion, and senses of national purpose.
156. African Religions in the Americas
(4) Michel, Strongman
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
Same course as Black Studies 138.
A study of Neo-African religions in the Americas, with special emphasis on Haitian Vodou, myths, philosophical perspectives, moral order, rituals, and practices. Social and political dynamics are examined in contemporary religious communities including women’s roles and sexuality issues.
158A. Hindu Myth and Image
(4) Holdrege
Not open for credit to students who have completed Religious Studies 158.
A study of the myth complexes and images associated with the major gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. Consideration will be given to the appropriation and transformation of the mythology and iconography in the context of living devotional traditions.
158B. Pilgrimage Traditions of South Asia
(4) Holdrege
A multimedia exploration of Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic pilgrimage traditions associated with sacred sites in South Asia, including an investigation of models of sacred space, patterns of religious exchange and contestation, mythological representations, pilgrimage accounts, ritual performances, and iconographic traditions.
158C. Consciousness and the Body in Hindu Traditions
(4) Holdrege
An exploration of Hindu constructions of embodiment and the relationship of the mind-body complex to consciousness. Critical analysis of discursive representations and practices in various Hindu traditions, including ritual traditions, ascetic movements, legal codes, medical discourses, devotional movements, and Tantric traditions.
Any two courses in the series Religious Studies 159A through 159F must be taken in sequence and not simultaneously. Also, students may not enroll in a lower level Sanskrit course than was previously taken in the Sanskrit 159A-159F series.
159A. Elementary Sanskrit
(4) Hillis
An introduction to the phonology, morphology, and syntax of classical Sanskrit.
159B. Elementary Sanskrit
(4) Hillis
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 159A.
Continuation of Elementary Sanskrit.
159C. Elementary Sanskrit
(4) Hillis
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 159B.
Reading and analysis of classical Sanskrit religious texts.
159D-E-F. Intermediate Sanskrit
(4-4-4) Hillis
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 159A-B-C.
Courses need not be taken in sequence.
Selected reading in intermediate level Sanskrit religious texts:
D. Bhagavad-Gita
E. Upanisads
F. Epics
159G. Religious Literature in Sanskrit
(4) Holdrege, Wallace, White
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 159D-E-F.
Readings in religious literature in Sanskrit.
159H. Religious Literature in Sanskrit: Vedic Literature
(4) Holdrege, Wallace, White
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 159D-E-F.
Readings in Vedic literature in Sanskrit.
159I. Religious Literature in Sanskrit: Mahabharata
(4) Holdrege, Wallace, White
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 159D-E-F.
Readings in the Mahabharata in Sanskrit.
159J. Religious Literature in Sanskrit: Puranas
(4) Holdrege, Wallace, White
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 159D-E-F.
Readings in the Puranas in Sanskrit.
159K. Religious Literature in Sanskrit: Yoga Literature
(4) Holdrege, Wallace, White
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 159D-E-F.
Readings in Yoga literature in Sanskrit.
159L. Religious Literature in Sanskrit: Philosophical Literature
(4) Holdrege, Wallace, White
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 159D-E-F.
Readings in philosophical literature in Sanskrit.
159M. Religious Literature in Sanskrit: Tantric Literature
(4) Holdrege, Wallace, White
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 159D-E-F.
Readings in Tantric literature in Sanskrit.
159N. Religious Literature in Sanskrit: Buddhist Literature
(4) Holdrege, Wallace, White
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 159D-E-F.
Readings in Buddhist literature in Sanskrit.
159O. Religious Literature in Sanskrit: Jain Literature
(4) Holdrege, Wallace, White
Prerequisites: Religious Studies 159D-E-F.
Readings in Jain literature in Sanskrit.
160A. Religious Traditions of India
(4) Holdrege, Wallace, White
Not open for credit to students who have completed Religious Studies 160.
An introduction to the classical religious traditions of India, with particular attention to three major areas of Indian religion and culture: the ritual, moral, and social order; philosophical perspectives and traditions; and traditions of mythology and devotion.
161A. Yoga Traditions of India
(4) White
Religio-historical analysis of classical Samkhya and yoga, Jain and Buddhist yoga, and Tantric yoga. Study of the role and function of meditation in Indian religion.
161B. Buddhist Meditation Traditions
(4) Grapard
Same course as East Asian Cultural Studies 161B.
A consideration of major forms of Buddhist meditation, from both the South Asian and the East Asian traditions, with special attention given to determining the nature of meditation as a variety of religious experience.
161C. Buddhist Tantric Traditions
(4) Wallace
Recommended preparation: background in South or Central Asian Buddhist traditions.
A comparative historical study of Buddhist Tantric traditions in South and Central Asia.
162A. Indian Philosophy
(4) Wallace, Cabezon
An overview of the six classical philosophical schools (darshanas) of Hinduism. May also include analysis of selected portions of the Jain and Buddhist philosophical traditions.
162C. Sikhism
(4) Mann
Focusing on the beliefs, history, literature, and society. Traces the development of the Sikh community from its inception in the sixteenth century Punjab to its present day status as a global religious community.
162D. Introduction to Jainism
(4) Staff
Focuses on the Jain tradition with its historical roots in South Asia. Surveys the sacred writings, beliefs, religious figures, and practices integral to the Jain tradition from the time of Mahavira (fifth century B.C.E.) to the present day.
164A. Buddhist Traditions of South Asia
(4) Wallace
A historical analysis of Buddhist ideas and practices in South Asia from the inception of Buddhist traditions to the fifteenth century CE.
164B. Buddhist Traditions in East Asia
(4) Powell
Same course as EACS 164B.
Recommended preparation: background in Indian Buddhism.
A consideration of the Buddhist tradition and its evolution in China, with emphasis on the changes which Buddhism underwent in its encounter with Chinese traditions and historical circumstances.
164C. Buddhist Ethics
(4) Wallace
A study of Buddhist ethical traditions, including a consideration of soteriological, social, political, environmental, and gender issues. Critical analysis and assessment of various ethical perspectives based on Buddhist textual sources and ethnographic evidence from the lives of contemporary Buddhist practitioners.
166A. Religion in Chinese Culture
(4) Powell
Same course as Chinese 166A.
A survey of major periods and themes in the history of the Confucian, Taoist, and Chinese Buddhist traditions, with particular emphasis on the differences and tensions among them and on the contributions of each to the formation of the Chinese civilization.
166AX. Chinese Texts
(1) Staff
Prerequisites: Chinese 6 or equivalent; concurrent enrollment in Religious Studies 166A.
Readings from some of the primary texts associated with various Chinese religious traditions considered in Religious Studies 166A. Texts from which selections will be drawn include the Lun Yu, the Tao Te Ching, and the Lotus Sutra.
166B. Taoist Traditions of China
(4) Powell
Same course as Chinese 166B.
A study of the classical sources of Taoism, followed by a consideration of the varieties of religious practice which developed from those sources.
166C. Confucian Traditions: The Classical Period
(4) Powell
Same course as Chinese 166C.
A treatment of the origins of Confucianism and of its development through the Han dynasty (to A.D. 200), with special attention to the variety of humane and spiritual disciplines which came to be called “Confucian.” Emphasis on the interpretation of primary texts like the Analects, the Mencius, the Hsun Tzu, etc.
166E. The Flowering of Chinese Buddhism
(4) Powell
Same course as Chinese 166E.
Recommended preparation: Religious Studies 164B.
A study of the distinctively Chinese forms of Buddhism which emerged in the sixth and seventh centuries A.D. Emphasis will be on the Hua-Yen, T’ien-t’ai, and Ch’an traditions, and on the features of those traditions which distinguish them most clearly from Indian Buddhism.
166F. Religious Literature in Chinese: Buddhist Texts
(4) Powell
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Same course as Chinese 166F.
Selected readings in important Buddhist texts which were either originally written in Chinese or translated into that language. Only texts not available in western language translation are chosen. Attention not only to the content but to the grammatical, syntactical, and terminological peculiarities of Buddhist Chinese.
166H. Religious Literature in Chinese: Taoist Texts
(4) Powell
Same course as Chinese 166H.
Readings in the Lao Tzu (Tao-Te-Ching) and the Chuang Tzu and their latter commentaries.
167A. Religion in Japanese Culture
(4) Grapard
Same course as Japanese 167A.
A historical analysis of the major components of the classical and medieval religious systems of Japan, through investigation of texts, rituals, and institutions.
167B. Religion in Japanese Culture
(4) Grapard
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 167A or Japanese 167A.
Same course as Japanese 167B.
A historical analysis of the major components of premodern Japanese ideology through investigation of texts, institutions, and rituals.
167D. Shinto
(4) Grapard
Same course as Japanese 167D.
A systematic analysis of the principle institutions, texts, and rituals of the Shinto traditions of Japan, in historic perspective.
169. Hindu Devotional Traditions
(4) White
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
An introduction to the devotional schools and poet-saints of the Saiva, Vaisnava, and Sakta traditions. Particular attention will be given to the different paradigms of devotion represented, respectively, by the images of servant-master, child-parent, friend-companion, and lover-beloved.
171A-B-C-D. The Schools of Tibetan Buddhism
(4-4-4-4) Cabezon
A detailed treatment of one (or a combination) of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, focusing on their history, major figures, texts, institutions, doctrines, and principal practices:
A. Nyingma
B. Sakya
C. Kargyu
D. Gelug
172B. Religion, Science, and the Problem of Consciousness
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
A comparative exploration of the nature of consciousness as presented by Western scientists and philosophers and by Hindu and Buddhist philosophers and contemplatives.
173. Religious Myth and Language
(4) Staff
A survey of contemporary studies about the nature and function of religious symbol and language.
173A-B. Aramaic Seminar
(4-4) Garr
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 17C or equivalent.
A focus on grammar and readings in select dialects of premodern Aramaic.
177. Religion and Law
(4) Hecht, Powell
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
A comparative study of the interrelationship of law and religion within society. Examples selected from the legal traditions of small-scale societies, the great civilizations of the past, and modern societies.
179. Religion and Humanistic Psychology
(4) Staff
Religion from the perspective of humanistic psychology. Emphasis on William James, Gordon Allport, Abraham Maslow, and on trends emerging out of this tradition in psychology.
182. Ethics of the Life Cycle
(4) Staff
A study of contrasting models of the life cycle; rites of passage; moral problems associated with birth, growth, sex, work, leisure, aging, and death.
183. The Quest for Narrative in Late Imperial China
(4) Powell
Same course as Comparative Literature 183.
An exploaration of quest themes, narrative forms and performative modes in the culture of Late Imperial China based on a reading of an English translation of the sixteenth century masterpiece, The Journey to the West (Monkey).
183B. Religious Practice and the State in China
(4) Yang
Same course as Chinese 183B.
Historical and anthropological approaches to the interaction between religious practice and state forces, with emphasis on popular religion and the decline and revival of religion in Chinese modernity.
184B. Tibetan Buddhist Thought
(4) Cabezon
May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 12 units, but only 4 units may be applied to the major.
A detailed thematic and text-centered investigation of an aspect of the Tibetan Buddhist religious/philosophical tradition. In any given year, focuses on a given genre of the Tibetan religious/literary corpus; e.g., the “stages of the path,” “great perfection,” Madhyamaka, or Tantric literature.
185. Food, Religion, and Culture in the Middle East
(4) Campo
Prerequisites: a prior course in global studies, Religious Studies, history, anthropology, or sociology; upper-division standing.
Explores the significance of foods in the religious and cultural life of Middle Eastern peoples. Focuses on Jewish, Christian, and Muslim feasting, fasting, and dietary rules. Includes culinary traditions of Arab, Persian, Turkish, and Israeli ethnic groups, and related topics.
186A. The Qur’an and the Bible
(4) Campo
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
Introduction to the Qur’an in relation to Jewish and Christian scriptures. Includes critical study of key themes including God, creation, sacred history, human nature, salvation, and mortality in comparative perspective. Also examines textual origins, structures, and practices.
189A. History of Arabic Literature in Translation
(4) Reynolds
Survey of the history of Arabic poetry and prose from the pre-Islamic era to the 20th century with emphasis on the development of specific genres and styles and changing historical perspectives on enduring themes in Arabic literature.
189AX. Arabic Texts
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: Religious Studies 10E or equivalent; concurrent enrollment in Religious Studies 189A.
Reading and analysis of brief literary texts in Arabic selected from the authors and genres covered in Religious Studies 189A with a focus on the most famous figures and masterpieces of Arabic literary history from the fifth to twentieth centuries.
189B. Critical Readings in Medieval Arabic Literature in Translation
(4) Reynolds
Critical readings from a selection of medieval poetical and prose works in translation including love manuals, spiritual allegories, encyclopedias, collections of comic erotica, autobiographies, travel accounts, and others.Lectures and readings in English.
189C. Critical Readings in Modern Arabic Literature in Translation
(4) Reynolds
Critical readings from a selection of 19th- and 20th-century works in translation including autobiographies, novels, short stories, and poems from the Arab world. Readings will focus on issues central to modern Arab society. Lectures and readings in English.
190AA-ZZ. Topics in Religious Studies
(4) Staff
May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 8 units.
Recommended preparation: upper-division standing.
This course features lectures by various visiting professors or adjunct lecturers on topics pertaining to the study of religions using various methodological approaches to subjects which are the speciality of the instructor. Course content will vary.
191A. Latino Religious Thought
(4) Busto
Examination of the indigenous, Iberian and North American sources and influences for distinctly Latino forms of religious thought, speculation, and spiritual constructions. Topics include: Nahua wisdom traditions, colonial Nepantla religion, Chicano move