RELS - Religious Studies (RELS)

RELS 200 Religions of the World

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Introduction to academic study of religion and some of the world’s major religions; emphasis on the nature of religion, diversity of practice across religious traditions, religious appropriation and functions of religion.

RELS 201/JWST 201 Introduction to Jewish Studies

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Exploration of Jewish history, culture, identity, and art throughout the millennia and in the modern world; focus on material in multiple media and approaches from a variety of disciplines. Cross Listing: JWST 201/RELS 201.

RELS 202 Religion in America

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Survey of major themes in religion in America; examines how religion has influenced and been influenced by American history, culture, economics, politics and social consciousness.

RELS 209 Religions of the Ancient World

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Religious traditions, ideas and practices of ancient cultures; connections to modern religious traditions.

RELS 212/HIST 212 Holy War

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Concepts of holy war in Jewish, Christian and Muslim history; language and literature of holy war; motivations for waging holy war; the relationship between war, martyrdom, pilgrimage and sainthood; religious orders engaging in holy war; political aims of holy war; practices of holy war; perspectives of those attacked in holy wars. Cross Listing: HIST 212/RELS 212.

RELS 220 History of Christianity I - Origins to the Reformation

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. CONTENT. History of Christianity from its inception until the beginnings of European colonial expansion in the first half of the 16th century. Themes include the teachings of Jesus and his disciples; the growth of Christianity as it spread throughout the Mediterranean basin into Mesopotamia, Africa, Northern Europe and central Asia; variations in doctrinal development and religious practice in diverse social, political and geographical situations. Course content is selected to align with the course description and the current state of scholarship in the field. The presentation of course content fosters critical thinking in the context of scholarly consensus and debate, rather than instructors’ views, values or beliefs. Instructors may assign different readings and/or topics that fit within the course description and meet the learning objectives. BENEFITS. History teaches evaluation and synthesis of evidence, development of persuasive arguments in written and oral form, expansion of understandings of historical contexts that have contributed to human complexity past and present, including but not limited to the formation of group and individual identities, social and political dynamics, and debates about values and rights. Applying this knowledge produces more informed citizens, who are proficient in the abilities required by today’s workforce. Cross Listing: CLAS 220 and HIST 220.

RELS 221/HIST 221 History of Islam

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. CONTENT. Key themes in Islam and Islamic history; Orientalism; pre-Islamic Arabia; the Qur’an; Sunni-Shi’i sectarian divisions; Islamic law; theology; sciences; mystical traditions; rituals of the Muslim faith; cross-cultural and religious encounters; holy war; ritual practices; fundamentalism; women in Islam; Islam in the West. Course content is selected to align with the course description and the current state of scholarship in the field. The presentation of course content fosters critical thinking in the context of scholarly consensus and debate, rather than instructors’ views, values or beliefs. Instructors may assign different readings and/or topics that fit within the course description and meet the learning objectives. BENEFITS. History teaches evaluation and synthesis of evidence, development of persuasive arguments in written and oral form, expansion of understandings of historical contexts that have contributed to human complexity past and present, including but not limited to the formation of group and individual identities, social and political dynamics, and debates about values and rights. Applying this knowledge produces more informed citizens, who are proficient in the abilities required by today’s workforce. Cross Listing: HIST 221/RELS 221.

RELS 222/HIST 222 History of Christianity II - Reformation to Present

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. CONTENT. History of Christian religion from the era of the Reformation (16th century) to the present, with emphasis on social, cultural, political and economic history in relation to Christian structures and theological movements. Course content is selected to align with the course description and the current state of scholarship in the field. The presentation of course content fosters critical thinking in the context of scholarly consensus and debate, rather than instructors’ views, values or beliefs. Instructors may assign different readings and/or topics that fit within the course description and meet the learning objectives. BENEFITS. History teaches evaluation and synthesis of evidence, development of persuasive arguments in written and oral form, expansion of understandings of historical contexts that have contributed to human complexity past and present, including but not limited to the formation of group and individual identities, social and political dynamics, and debates about values and rights. Applying this knowledge produces more informed citizens, who are proficient in the abilities required by today’s workforce. Cross Listing: HIST 222/RELS 222.

RELS 251/CLAS 251 Classical Mythology

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Introduction to the most important myths of the Greeks and Romans; ancient and modern methods of interpreting myths; the role of myths in ancient literature; readings in English. Cross Listing: CLAS 251/RELS 251.

RELS 257/COMM 257 Communication, Religion and the Arts

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. COURSE OVERVIEW. Explores the study of art and religion as forms of communication, with attention to how visual and artistic expression conveys meaning across cultures and traditions. Surveys artistic and media practices in religious and secular contexts, considering how aesthetics mediate religious experience and shape public understanding. Examines the role of art in supporting, questioning and/or challenging religious and social perspectives. Focus on interpretation and critique and dialogue of artifacts across diverse traditions, including attention to issues of pluralism, inequality, power, class and/or representation. Includes engagement with perspectives that may be unfamiliar or challenging, reflecting the diversity of voices in contemporary public life. RELEVANCE AND APPLICATION. Develops competence in interpreting and discussing art and religion across diverse cultural and historical contexts. Builds skills for engaging respectfully with differences in belief, practice and/or worldview. Strengthens intercultural awareness, critical thinking and creative communication skills, which can be applied to dialogue across divisions in civic, professional and interpersonal settings. Enhances understanding of how art and media shape public awareness of religion and contributes to broader conversations about meaning, identity and social conflict. DEEPENING UNDERSTANDINGS. Clarifies how the study of art and religion in communication differs from devotional or confessional approaches. Expands understanding of religion as a cultural and communicative practice shaped by history, power and interpretation. Highlights how art functions not only to express belief but also to question, challenge or reframe religious ideas. Introduces perspectives that encourage critical analysis of how religion and art intersect with broader cultural, social and/or political contexts. Emphasizes reflection on pluralism and contested meanings, deepening awareness of how religion and art shape, and are shaped by, the wider human experience. TOPICS AND THEMES. May include study of communication, art and religion as interrelated cultural practices; exploration of how visual and artistic forms convey meaning within Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, secular humanism and other traditions; consideration of iconoclasm, pluralism and the role of art in shaping or challenging belief and practices; attention to aesthetics, power, inequality and representation in religious and secular contexts. Course materials may also engage with the profane or the obscene when relevant to understanding how religion, art and communication define, resist and/or reframe cultural boundaries. Content may include perspectives that are unfamiliar, contested or controversial, reflecting the diversity of ways art and religion intersect in public life. Cross Listing: COMM 257/RELS 257.

RELS 285 Directed Studies

Credits 0 to 3. 0 to 3 Other Hours. Readings and/or assigned projects for specific needs of students minoring in religious studies; directed independent or individual study in an identified area of religious studies. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.

RELS 289 Special Topics in...

Credits 1 to 4. 1 to 4 Other Hours. Selected topics in an identified area of religious studies. May be repeated for credit.

RELS 291 Research

Credits 0 to 3. 0 to 3 Other Hours. Research conducted under the direction of a faculty member in Liberal Arts. Prerequisites: Freshman or sophomore classification and approval of instructor.

RELS 304/HUMA 304 Asian Religions

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Beliefs and practices of Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Shinto with particular attention to their philosophical presuppositions. Cross Listing: HUMA 304/RELS 304.

RELS 312 Contemplation in the Modern World

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Interdisciplinary approach to examining contemplative practices: origins in philosophy and religious traditions, goals and techniques of contemplation, contemplation in relation to cultural and social problems or needs.

RELS 317/ANTH 317 Introduction to Biblical Archaeology

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. COURSE OVERVIEW. Introduces students to the archaeology and material culture of the Land of the Bible from the Epi-Paleolithic period through the first century A.D. The course examines the peoples, cities and societies of biblical times through material remains, integrating artifacts, iconography and texts to develop a holistic understanding of the ancient Near East. Students explore archaeological discoveries in relation to biblical narratives, including early agricultural communities, Canaanite city-states, Egyptian influence and Iron Age polities. The course also emphasizes the interpretation of archaeological evidence, historical context and the relationship of seafaring and trade to cultural development in the ancient biblical world. May incorporate topics that respond to current events, student interests or emerging issues in biblical archaeology. TOPICS AND THEMES. Epi-Paleolithic period; Neolithic period; first agriculturists; Chalcolithic period; Early Bronze Age; Early Bronze IV; Middle Bronze Age I-II; Late Bronze Age; Egyptian influence in Canaan; maritime trade and seafaring; Iron Age I; Sea Peoples; Philistines; United Monarchy (Saul, David, Solomon); Divided Monarchy; Persian period; archaeology of biblical texts; material culture; urbanism; Canaanite city-states; fortifications; religious architecture; iconography; ceramics; metallurgy; inscriptions; settlement patterns; excavation techniques; interpretation of artifacts; relationship between archaeology and biblical narrative; cultural geography and human-environment interaction. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: ANTH 317/RELS 317.

RELS 321 Political Islam

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Study of the interaction between Islamic movements and politics in various Middle Eastern countries; examination of the role of Islam as a tool for political and social mobilization. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor; INTA majors. Cross Listing: HUMA 321 and INTA 321.

RELS 326/SOCI 326 Sociology of Religion

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Institution of religion and religious-related behavior; relationship between dynamic and structural religion and contemporary society. Prerequisite: SOCI 205. Cross Listing: SOCI 326/RELS 326.

RELS 331/PHIL 331 Philosophy of Religion

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Philosophical problems of Western religion such as the existence of God, the problem of evil, types of theism, rational, empirical and mystical approaches to God. Cross Listing: PHIL 331/RELS 331.

RELS 347/HIST 347 Rise of Islam, 600-1258

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. CONTENT. Late-Antiquity; Pre-Islamic Arabia; the rise of Islam and a historical survey of the development of the Islamicate civilizations from c. 600 to the Mongol Conquests c. 1258. Course content is selected to align with the course description and the current state of scholarship in the field. The presentation of course content fosters critical thinking in the context of scholarly consensus and debate, rather than instructors’ views, values or beliefs. Instructors may assign different readings and/or topics that fit within the course description and meet the learning objectives. BENEFITS. History teaches evaluation and synthesis of evidence, development of persuasive arguments in written and oral form, expansion of understandings of historical contexts that have contributed to human complexity past and present, including but not limited to the formation of group and individual identities, social and political dynamics, and debates about values and rights. Applying this knowledge produces more informed citizens, who are proficient in the abilities required by today’s workforce. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: HIST 347/RELS 347.

RELS 350 Religions, Utopias, and Happiness

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Thematic exploration of the science of happiness; exploration and critique of self-help culture; consideration of religious contributions to happiness; evaluation of individual and collective notions of happiness. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification.

RELS 356 Ritual and Expression in Ancient Religions

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Expressive practices such as rituals, re-enactments, processions and dance in ancient religious traditions. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification.

RELS 360/ENGL 365 The Bible as Literature

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Narrative, structural and thematic study of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures in English translation. Instructors teaching this class will choose texts, assessments and approaches that represent current scholarship and satisfy course learning objectives. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: ENGL 365/RELS 360.

RELS 365/HIST 365 Religion in Early America

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Religion in North America from colonial beginnings to eve of Civil War; relations between European Christianity, Native Americans and African Americans; religious pluralism, reform movements, social and political change. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: HIST 365/RELS 365.

RELS 367 Christianity and American Identity

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Examination of interaction of religious ideas, especially Christian, with claims and conceptions of American identity and vice-versa; themes include American founding, civil religion and Americanization. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor.

RELS 390 Religion and the Secular

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Methods and approaches to inquiries in the study of religion; historical and contemporary topics and issues in the study of religion; analysis of artifacts, documents and primary sources; current scholarship in the study of religion. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

RELS 392/ENGL 392 Studies in Literature, Religion and Culture

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Exploration of literature treating significant religious topics in the context of cultural setting. Features topics such as writing as a spiritual practice, religious autobiography and memoir, poetry and rhetoric as a mode of religious inquiry. Instructors teaching this class will choose texts, assessments and approaches that represent current scholarship and satisfy course learning objectives. May be taken two times for credit. Prerequisites: 3 credits of literature at 200-level or above; junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: ENGL 392/RELS 392.

RELS 403/ANTH 403 Anthropology of Religion

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. COURSE OVERVIEW. Applies fundamental principles of cultural anthropology (the study of human variation and commonalities using a holistic mindset) to the analysis of religion. Examines the relationships connecting religion, culture, society and the individual through cross-cultural, theoretical analysis of religion as a cultural phenomenon. Investigates core questions regarding the existence and persistence of religion, analyzing how religious behavior manifests and connects with other cultural elements across diverse global settings. Develops skills to critically assess research findings, analyze differing viewpoints and perspectives and formulate hypothetical research agendas. Engages potentially charged topics in diverse settings, challenging students to explore their own assumptions and biases regarding their personal worldview. Fosters greater understanding of self-awareness and personal responsibility in society through exploration of the diversity of religious behaviors. TOPICS AND THEMES. Considers theoretical approaches to the study of religion; analyzes religious features including symbolism, myth and ritual; studies religious specialists, magic, divination and witchcraft; explores altered states of consciousness; evaluates beliefs regarding gods, spirits, souls, ghosts and death; assesses religious change and searches for new meaning; examines religious violence and fundamentalism; and investigates vernacular religion, secularism, atheism and irreligion. Includes analysis of religious practices, beliefs and institutions from a variety of cultures. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification; also taught at Galveston campus. Cross Listing: ANTH 403/RELS 403.

RELS 419/HIST 419 Intellectual History, 500 to 1600

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Political, social, cultural and religious histories of significant figures, groups, schools of thought and movements in western Afro-Eurasia from the rise of Islam to the Renaissance; developments in political theory, literature, sociology, arts, architecture, music, philosophy, law, sciences and education. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: HIST 419/RELS 419.

RELS 420 Nature, Sustainability and Religion

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Interaction between religion and the environment; examination of religious traditions and their concepts of the natural world; emphasis on cultural contexts and environmental sustainability. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.

RELS 425/HIST 425 The Sacred and Profane in History

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Case studies of the sacred in varied times and regions; holy persons; holy places; holy objects; language and literature of the sacred; competing concepts of the holy within society; gender and the holy; institutions promoting holy people and places; the impact of social, political, cultural and intellectual developments on the relationship between the sacred and the profane. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: HIST 425/RELS 425.

RELS 430/AFST 430 African American Muslim Culture

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Exploration of popular culture and its impact on African American Muslims' intersectional identity formation and faith tradition through films, documentaries, readings, and lectures on and about Muslims emanating from enslaved narratives and the colonial period to the contemporary era. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: AFST 430/RELS 430.

RELS 436/ANTH 436 Ancient Egypt I - The Rise of Egypt

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Archaeology and history of ancient Egypt from earliest times to the end of the New Kingdom period. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: ANTH 436/RELS 436.

RELS 438/ANTH 438 Ancient Egypt II - Egypt in Decline

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. COURSE OVERVIEW. Surveys the archaeology and history of ancient Egypt from the end of the New Kingdom through the Graeco-Roman period, focusing on the years 1185–30 BCE. Examines the decline of pharaonic power, the rise of foreign influences and the resilience of Egyptian society under Libyan, Nubian, Persian and Ptolemaic rule. Reviews the interplay between political, social and cultural dynamics, exploring Egyptian adaptations to Hellenistic dominance, while tracing continuity and change in art, religion, literature and urban development. Through lectures, readings and analyses of primary and secondary sources, students gain a humanistic understanding of Egyptian civilization during its final dynastic phases and develop skills in interpreting archaeological, textual and iconographic evidence. May incorporate topics that respond to current events, student interests or emerging issues pertaining to ancient Egypt. TOPICS AND THEMES. Decline of pharaonic authority; fragmentation of the Egyptian state; Libyan, Nubian and Persian interventions; internal political strife and social change; resilience of Egyptian cultural identity; Ptolemaic dynasty and Hellenistic influence; Cleopatra VII and the last Ptolemies; Alexandria as a cultural and economic center; Greco-Egyptian art, religion and literature; continuity and transformation of Egyptian traditions; interactions between foreign rulers and Egyptian elites; archaeological and textual methods for reconstructing late Egyptian history; humanistic approaches to interpreting material culture; synthesis of historical, artistic and archaeological evidence. Prerequisites: Completion of ANTH 436/RELS 436 or RELS 436/ANTH 436 recommended but not required; junior or senior classification or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: ANTH 438/RELS 438.

RELS 465/JWST 465 Civics After the Holocaust

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Analysis of the Holocaust as a challenge to previous theories of civics and civic engagement; investigation of theories developed in response to the Holocaust; exploration of comparisons of historical events following the Second World War to the Holocaust. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: JWST 465/RELS 465.

RELS 480/COMM 480 Religious Communication

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. COURSE OVERVIEW. Examines the role of religious communication in shaping public life through speeches, sermons, debates, campaigns and/or social movements. Considers how religious language, symbols and/or narratives influence cultural identity, moral reasoning and/or collective action. Surveys diverse approaches to studying religious communication, from historical traditions to contemporary debates, highlighting how meaning is constructed, contested and transformed in religious discourse. Considers interpretations of religious communication from multiple perspectives, fostering critical thinking. Explores a diverse range of scholarly frameworks, theories and methods employed in the academic study of religion and religious communication. RELEVANCE AND APPLICATION. Strengthens transferable skills in critical thinking, interpretation and evaluation of persuasive messages in contexts ranging from personal dialogue to civic engagement. Enhances adaptability across diverse religious and cultural frameworks. Supports academic preparation for analyzing communication at the intersection of religion, culture and public life. Engages skills applicable to leadership, education, public study of advocacy and professional fields, when understanding religious perspectives and their influence is relevant. DEEPENING UNDERSTANDINGS. Considers how religious communication functions not only as a vehicle of belief but also as a force shaping history, politics and/or social change. Provides reflection on ways speeches, symbols and/or campaigns can both unite and divide, reinforcing traditions or sparking transformation. Provides frameworks for critical analysis of religious discourse from first-person and third-person perspectives. Highlights the interpretive challenges posed by pluralism, competing meanings and differing assumptions about authority, sacredness and public expression. TOPICS AND THEMES. May include study of religious speeches and sermons; debates over doctrine and belief; campaigns and movements shaped by religious rhetoric; analysis of religious symbolism and storytelling; exploration of the role of communication in sustaining or challenging religious traditions. Course materials may address diverse and sometimes controversial perspectives, reflecting the ways religious communication has influenced cultural identity, social conflict and civic life across history. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: COMM 480/RELS 480.

RELS 481 Advanced Seminar in Religious Studies

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Intensive reading, study and discussion of topics in religious studies; interdisciplinary methods. May be taken four times for credit. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor.

RELS 484 Internship

Credits 0 to 4. 0 to 4 Other Hours. Directed internship in a public or private organization to provide students with applied experience; opportunity to observe first hand issues and problems covered in religious studies courses; designed to enhance and clarify the student's career objectives. May be taken for credit up to six hours. Prerequisites: Approval of instructor.

RELS 485 Directed Studies

Credits 0 to 6. 0 to 6 Other Hours. Readings and/or assigned projects for specific needs of students minoring in religious studies; directed independent or individual study in an identified area of religious studies. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification; approval of instructor.

RELS 489 Special Topics in...

Credits 1 to 4. 1 to 4 Lecture Hours. Selected topics in an identified area of religious studies. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor.

RELS 491 Research

Credits 0 to 3. 0 to 3 Other Hours. Research conducted under the direction of a faculty member in Liberal Arts. May be taken 3 times for credit. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification and approval of instructor.