Graduate Courses

The faculty has approval to offer the following courses in the academic years 2019–2020 and 2020–2021; however, not all courses are taught each semester or summer session. Students should consult the Course Schedule to determine which courses and topics will be offered during a particular semester or summer session. The Course Schedule may also reflect changes made to the course inventory after the publication of this catalog.

Religious Studies: R S

R S 180. Proseminar.

An introduction to the research methodology and ancillary disciplines used in current religious studies. One lecture hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

R S 380R. Topical Readings in Religious Studies.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 381. Conference Course in Religious Studies.

Conference course. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

R S 383C. Topics in Comparative Religion.

Advanced treatment of selected problems, topics, or themes concerning comparative approaches to the study of religion. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 383M. Theory and Method in the Study of Religion.

Introduction to the history of the discipline, discussion of classical interpretative works, and examination of current theoretical and methodological developments in the field. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Religious Studies 383 (Topic: Theory and Method in the Study of Religion) and 383M may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 383T. Topics in Theoretical Approaches to the Study of Religion.

Advanced treatment of selected problems, topics, or themes concerning theoretical approaches to the study of religion. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 384D. Doctoral Seminar in Religious Studies.

Advanced seminar designed to introduce students to the profession of religious studies. Includes development and preparation of a dissertation proposal, placing scholarship within a broader theoretical context,and pedagogical issues in teaching religious studies at the undergraduate college level. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 385K. Early Jewish and Christian Literature I.

A survey of major categories of early Jewish and Christian literature by genre in light of comparative historical research. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 385L. Early Jewish and Christian Literature II.

A survey of major categories of early Jewish and Christian literature by genre in light of comparative historical research. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 386C. Critical Issues in Christian Origins.

Studies of key scholarly works in and critical approaches to the study of Christian origins in their historical, social, and cultural contexts. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 386H. Critical Issues in the Hebrew Bible.

Advanced studies of critical issues in research on key areas of study in the Hebrew Bible and its environment. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 386M. Critical Issues in Ancient Mediterranean Religions.

Studies of key scholarly works in and critical approaches to the study of ancient Mediterranean religions in their historical, cultural, and archaeological contexts. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 387M. Seminars in Ancient Mediterranean Religions.

Advanced treatment of selected problems, topics, or themes in the study of the religions of the ancient Mediterranean world. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 388E. Core Readings in Religion in Europe.

Discussion of key scholarly works in and major approaches to the study of religion in Europe. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 388J. Core Readings in Jewish Studies.

Discussion of key scholarly works in and major approaches to Jewish studies. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 388M. Core Readings in Islamic Studies.

Discussion of key scholarly works in and major approaches to the study of Islam and Muslim societies. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 389R. Research Seminars on Religion in Europe and the Middle East.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 390T. Topics in European and Middle Eastern Religion.

Advanced treatment of selected problems, topics, or themes concerning religion in Europe and the Middle East. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

Topic 1: Islamic Studies: Discipline Intro. Only one of the following may be counted: Religious Studies 390T (Topic: Islamic Studies: Discipline Intro), 390T (Topic 1), Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 380 (Topic: Islamic Studies: Discipline Intro).
Topic 2: Sovereignty in Islam: Theory & Practice. Same as Asian Studies 391 (Topic 8). A historical and comparative survey of the concepts and rituals of sovereignty in Muslim societies across the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia, with an emphasis on the pre-modern era. Only one of the following may be counted: Asian Studies 391 (Topic: Sovereignty in Islam: Theory & Practice), 391 (Topic 8), History 381 (Topic: Sovereignty in Islam: Theory & Practice), Middle Eastern Studies 385 (Topic: Sovereignty in Islam: Theory & Practice), 386 (Topic: Sovereignty in Islam: Theory & Practice), Religious Studies 390T (Topic: Sovereignty in Islam: Theory & Practice), 390T (Topic 2).

R S 391L. Approaches to the Study of Religion in Latin America.

An introduction to the history of scholarship about religion in Latin America and the Caribbean. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 391N. Approaches to the Study of Religion in the United States.

An introduction to the history of scholarship about religion in the United States, including recent research on the Atlantic world, the Pacific world, and the Western Hemisphere. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 392T. Topics in Religion in the Americas.

Advanced treatment of selected problems, topics, or themes concerning religion in the Americas. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 393C. Core Readings in Religion in Asia.

Discussion of key scholarly works in and major approaches to the study of religion in Asia. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 393F. Topics in the Foundations of Asian Religions.

Introduction to and analysis of primary sources for the study of religion in Asia. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 394T. Topics in Religion in Asia.

Advanced treatment of selected problems, topics, or themes concerning religion in Asia. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

Topic 1: The Body in Indian Medicine and Myth. Same as Asian Studies 384 (Topic 8). Examines issues of embodiment in South Asia in various life stages, including conception, infancy, childhood, adulthood, and death drawn from various historical periods, medical traditions, religious narratives, and sociological and anthropological studies. Only one of the following may be counted: Asian Studies 384 (Topic: Body in Indian Medicine/Myth), 384 (Topic 8), Religious Studies 394T (Topic: Body in Indian Medicine/Myth), 394T (Topic 1).

R S 396E, 696E, 996E. Examination Preparation.

Designed for religious studies doctoral students preparing for qualifying examinations. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of graduate adviser.

R S 396P, 696P, 996P. Dissertation Prospectus.

Designed for Religious Studies doctoral students preparing a dissertation proposal. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 698. Thesis.

The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for two semesters. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: For 698A, graduate standing in religious studies and consent of the graduate adviser; for 698B, Religious Studies 698A.

R S 398R. Master's Report.

Preparation of a report to fulfill the requirement for the master's degree under the report option. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in religious studies and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 398T. Supervised Teaching in Religious Studies.

Weekly group meetings with the supervising instructor, individual consultations, and reports. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

R S 399W, 699W, 999W. Dissertation.

May be repeated for credit. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree.