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UWM Undergraduate Catalog 2012-2013


College of Letters and Science


Religious Studies



Judith Beall, Adjunct Asst. Prof., Associate Director

The interdisciplinary major in religious studies draws on the resources of UWM faculty members with a teaching and research interest in religion. This program provides students with a broad humanistic background in religion and an opportunity to develop special concentrations in specific areas of interest. There is no sectarian program of instruction. Rather, faculty bring to their teaching the special academic characteristics of their own scholarly disciplines, and majors in the program draw upon a wide sample of those academic traditions. Thus, such subjects as the history and philosophy of religion and religion in art and literature are included in this program. Students choose from courses that consider religion in a wide array of cultural and historical concepts around the globe, including Buddhist, Christian, Classical Greek and Roman, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, African, and American Indian.

Religious studies serves students seeking a broadly humanistic program, those who are pursuing a wide range of pre-professional education programs, those anticipating teaching careers at the secondary or higher educational level, and those who will undertake further study for the religious ministry.

Course of Study: Major

The religious studies major requires 33 credits, including at least 18 in upper-division courses (numbered 300 and above) of which at least 15 must be taken in residence at UWM. In satisfying these requirements, students must select courses from at least three different departments. The College requires that students attain at least a 2.5 GPA on all major credits attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.5 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work. The required 33 credits must be distributed as follows:

I. INTRODUCTORY COURSES: RELIGION IN HUMAN EXPERIENCE (9 CR) - Select three of the following courses, from at least two different departments:

Anthro 193 Freshman Seminar: "Anthropology of Religion" subtitle

Anthro 203

Religions of Hunting-Gathering and Horticultural Societies

ArtHist 101

Ancient and Medieval Art and Architecture

ArtHist 104 African, New World, and Oceanic Art and Architecture

ArtHist 105

Asian Art and Architecture
ArtHist 241 Introduction to Baroque Art
ArtHist 251 Introduction to the Art and Architecture of Latin America
Celtic 250 Selected Topics in Celtic Studies: "The Role of Religion in Ireland - An Overview" subtitle
Classic 170 Classical Mythology
Classic 201 Introduction to Greek Life and Literature
Classic 202 Introduction to Roman Life and Literature
CompLit 135 Experiencing Literature in the 21st Century: "Apocalypse and the Experience of the Extreme" subtitle
CompLit 192 Freshman Seminar: "The Bible, the Blues and the Black Experience;" "The Bible in African American Cultures;" "Tragedy and Theodicy" subtitles
CompLit 230 Literature and Society: "Unraveling the DaVinci Code" subtitle
Geog 231 (130) Geography of Islam
Hebr St 100 Introduction to Judaism
Hebr St 131 Introduction to Biblical Studies
Hebr St 231 Introduction to the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible
Hebr St 232 Survey of the Literature of the Post-Biblical Period
Hebr St 233 Introduction to the New Testament
Hebr St 234 Survey of Modern Hebrew and Jewish Literature in Translation
Hebr St 235 The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible
Hebr St 236 The Biblical World
Hebr St 238
Topics in Hebrew/Jewish Literature, Art, and Culture: “Judaism, Christianity, Islam – Three Religions, One God” subtitle
Hebr St 249 History of Jewish Civilization: Biblical Period
Hebr St 250 History of Jewish Civilization: The Greek and Roman Periods
Hebr St 251 History of Jewish Civilization: Medieval and Modern Periods
Hebr St 252

American Jewish Community: 1654 to the Present

Hebr St 254 Studies in Hebrew Culture: "Arabs and Jews in the Middle East - Conflict or Peace," "The Jewish American Experience," "A History of the Jews from Abraham to 70 CE," "Jewish Identity in Contemporary America" subtitles
Hebr St 268 Jewish and Christian Responses to the Holocaust
Hebr St/Hist 274 Ancient Egyptian Civilization
Hebr St 282 Jewish Identity in Contemporary America
Hebr St 301 Modern Hebrew Literature I in Hebrew
Hebr St 302 Modern Hebrew Literature II in Hebrew
Hebr St 303 Modern Hebrew Literature I in English
Hebr St 304 Modern Hebrew Literature II in English
Hist 175 East Asian Civilization to 1600
Hist 201 The Ancient World: The Near East and Greece
Hist 274 Ancient Egyptian Civilization
Hist 280 Islamic Civilization: The Formative Period, ca. 500-1258
Hist 281 Islamic Civilization: The Middle Period, ca 1200-1805
Hist 282 The Modern Middle East in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
Hist 301 History of Christianity, East and West: to 1500
Hist 302 History of Christianity, East and West Since 1500
Hist 303 A History of Greek Civilization: The Greek City-State
Hist 304 A History of Greek Civilization: The Age of Alexander the Great
Hist 308 A History of Rome: The Empire
Jewish 101 Jewish Culture in America
Jewish 268 Jewish and Christian Responses to the Holocaust
Philos 192 Freshman Seminar: "Atheism" subtitle
Philos 204 Introduction to Asian Religions
ReligSt 101 Introduction to Religious Studies
ReligSt 250 Selected Topics in Religious Studies: (Subtitle)

II. APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF RELIGION (6 CR) – Select two of the following courses:

Africol 311

African Religious Thought and Social Organization

Anthro 332 American Indian Religions

Anthro 543

Cross-Cultural Study of Religion

Comp Lit 350 Topics in Comparative Literature: "Angels and Angelology;" "Early Christian Literature;" "Literature of the Apostle Paul;" "Gnosticism" subtitles
CompLit 360 Seminar in Literature and Cultural Experience: "The Literature of the Apostle Paul" subtitle
Hebr St 449 Seminar in Modern Jewish Thought
Hist/Jewish 358 The Jews of Modern Europe: History and Culture

Hist 370

Topics in the History of Religious Thought: (Subtitle)
Hist 371 Topics in European History: “Rome in the Age of Constantine” subtitle
Hist/Jewish 379 Introduction to Jewish History
Hist 380 Buddhism: A Cultural History
Hist 594 Methods and Theory in the Historical Study of Religion: (Subtitle)
Jewish 599 Methods in Jewish Studies
Philos 350
Introduction to the Comparative Study of Religion
Philos 502 Phenomenology of Religion
Pol Sci 215 Ethnicity, Religion, and Race in American Politics
ReligSt 192 Freshman Seminar: "Mythology, History, Race, and Religion in the Ancient World" subtitle
Wmns 300 Gender and Spirituality: (Subtitle)

III: ELECTIVES (18 CR) Section I and II courses not selected to satisfy those requirements may count as electives.

A. All majors are required to complete at least 18 additional credits beyond their sections I and II courses on one or more religious traditions or topical areas related to the study of religion. Twelve of these 18 credits must be numbered 300 or above.

B. All students must complete a research experience in their major. This requirement may be met by any one of the following options:

1. Hist 600, Seminar in History: (Subtitle), with research conducted on a religion-related topic;

2. For students with additional major(s), upper-level research seminar in the additional major that focuses on a religion-related topic;

3. 3-credit independent study on a religion-related topic;

4. Senior thesis in another program/department on a religion-related topic.

In all cases, the Religious Studies director must approve the topic to satisfy the research requirement. Majors are required to file the appropriate research/capstone approval form prior to completion of their research/capstone course.

C. Relevant language courses above the second semester will be counted as electives toward the Religious Studies major. Relevant languages depend on the student’s primary concentrations in religious studies but potentially include Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, German, Spanish, French, Italian, or other languages with approval of the director. Majors must file the appropriate forms with the director to receive approval for language courses.

APPROVED COURSES FOR THE RELIGIOUS STUDIES MAJOR

Africol 311

African Religious Thought and Social Organization (if not selected above)

Africol 312

The Church in African-American Life

Anthro 193 Freshman Seminar: "Anthropology of Religion" subtitle
Anthro 203 Religions of Hunting-Gathering and Horticultural Societies (if not selected above)
Anthro 305 The Celtic World

Anthro 314

American Indian Societies and Cultures

Anthro 326

Peoples and Cultures of South Asia

Anthro 332 American Indian Religions

Anthro 543

Cross-Cultural Study of Religion (if not selected above)

Arabic 101

First Semester Arabic

Arabic 102 Second Semester Arabic
ArtHist 101 Ancient and Medieval Art and Architecture (if not selected above)

ArtHist 102

Renaissance to Modern Art and Architecture

ArtHist 104

African, New World and Oceanic Art and Architecture (if not selected above)

ArtHist 105

Asian Art and Architecture (if not selected above)

ArtHist 231 Renaissance Art

ArtHist 237

Northern Renaissance Art

ArtHist 241 Introduction to Baroque Art (if not selected above)
ArtHist 251 Introduction to the Art and Architecture of Latin America (if not selected above)
ArtHist 320 Medieval Art and Architecture

ArtHist 322

Origins of Medieval Art

ArtHist 324

Art and Architecture of Byzantium

ArtHist 325

Early Medieval Art in the West

ArtHist 326

Heretics and Iconoclasts: The Art and Architecture of the Christian East

ArtHist 333

High Renaissance Art in Italy

ArtHist 340

Baroque Art in Italy, France, and Spain

ArtHist 371

African Art

ArtHist 372

Pre-Columbian Art of South America

ArtHist 373

Pre-Columbian Art of Mesoamerica

ArtHist 375 Art of the Aztec Empire

ArtHist 412

Cities and Sanctuaries of Ancient Greece

ArtHist 425

Romanesque Architecture

ArtHist 431

Renaissance Architecture in Italy

ArtHist 474

Maya Art

ArtHist 482 Topics in Non-Western Art: "Traditional Art - Australia and the Pacific Islands" subtitle
Celtic 250 Selected Topics in Celtic Studies: "The Role of Religion in Ireland - An Overview" (if not selected above); "Irish Folk Beliefs and Religions Practice" subtitles

Classic 170

Classical Mythology (if not selected above)  

Classic 201 Introduction to Greek Life and Literature (if not selected above)
Classic 202 Itnroduction to Roman Life and Literature (if not selected above)
Classic 301 The Life and Literature of Classical Athens: Herodotus and Dramatists
Classic 302 War and Politics in Ancient Greece
Classic 303 The Life and Literature of the Roman Empire

Classic 304

The Graeco-Roman World: (with approved subtitle)

Classic 390

Egyptian Mythology

CompLit 135 Experiencing Literature in the 21st Century: "The Quest for the Holy Grail;" "Apocalypse and the Experience of the Extreme" subtitles
CompLit 192 Freshman Seminar: "The Bible, the Blues, and the Black Experience;" "The Bible in African American Cultures;" "Tragedy and Theodicy" subtitles
CompLit 230 Literature and Society: "Nazi Invasion of Polish Life and Culture;" "Unraveling the DaVinci Code" (if not selected above); "WW II Poland: Literature and Film of the Nazi Years" subtitles

CompLit 231

Literature and Religion: (all subtitles)

CompLit 233

Literature and Film: "Evil in Modern Literature and Film;" "Myth, Violence, and Sacrifice" subtitles

CompLit 309 Great Works of Modern Literature: "Jewish and Christian Novels" subtitle

CompLit 320

Mediaeval Literature and Culture: "Mediaeval and Renaissance
Bodies"; "Performing the Middle Ages" subtitles

CompLit 321 Renaissance Literature and Culture: "Sexing the Renaissance"; "Literature and the Arts" subtitles
CompLit 333 Dante's Divine Comedy in Translation
CompLit 350 Topics in Comparative Literature: "Angels and Angelology;" "Early Christian Literature;" "Literature of the Apostle Paul;" "Gnosticism" subtitles
CompLit 360 Seminar in Literature and Cultural Experience: "The Literature of the Apostle Paul" subtitle
CompLit 461 Film-Fiction Interaction: "The Spiritual Cinema of Andrei Tarkovsky and its Legacy"; "Spiritual Cinema" subtitles
English 192 Freshman Seminar: "Literature and Theology - the Holy Grail;" "The Devil Made Me Do It - Evil, Human Nature, and Moral Choice" subtitles
English 247 Literature and Human Experience: (with approved subtitle)
English 454 Milton
English 457 Writers in English Literature, 1660-1798: "William Blake's Poetry and Painting" subtitle
Ethnic 250 Selected Topics in Ethnic Studies: "The Ethnicity of the Occult;" "Modern Paganism"; "Wicca and Neopaganism: Philosophies and Practices;" "Irish Religious Belief and Folk Practice;" "Shamans, Mystics, and Medicine Hunters" subtitles
Geog 231 (130) Geography of Islam (if not selected above)
German 115 Seminar on Scandinavian Culture: "Norse Mythology" subtitle
Global 371 Rethinking Global Security
Greek 502 Reading in Classical Greek Poetry: "Sophocles" subtitle
Hebr St 100 Introduction to Judaism
Hebr St 105 Introduction to Biblical Hebrew I
Hebr St 106 Introduction to Biblical Hebrew II
Hebr St 131 Introduction to Biblical Studies
Hebr St 192 Freshman Seminar: (with approved subtitles)
Hebr St 202 Fourth Semester Hebrew
Hebr St 205 Intermediate Biblical Hebrew I
Hebr St 206 Intermediate Biblical Hebrew II
Hebr St 230 Bible Stories

Hebr St 231

Introduction to the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible (if not selected above)

Hebr St 232

Survey of the Literature of the Post-Biblical Period
(if not selected above)

Hebr St 233 Introduction to the New Testament (if not selected above)

Hebr St 234

Survey of Modern Hebrew and Jewish Literature in Translation (if not selected above)

Hebr St 235

The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible

Hebr St 236 The Biblical World
Hebr St 238 Topics in Hebrew/Jewish Literature, Art, and Culture: "Judaism, Christianity, Islam–Three Religions, One God" subtitle (if not selected above)

Hebr St 249

History of Jewish Civilization: The Biblical Period

Hebr St 250

History of Jewish Civilization: The Greek and Roman Periods

Hebr St 251

History of Jewish Civilization: Medieval and Modern Periods

Hebr St 252

American Jewish Community: 1654 to the Present

Hebr St 253

The Ethics of Zionism

Hebr St 254

Studies in Hebrew Culture: "Arabs and Jews in the Middle East: Conflict or Peace;" "The Jewish-American Experience;" "A History of the Jews from Abraham to 70 CE;" "Jewish Identity in Contemporary America;" "Moses, Jesus, Mohammad" subtitles

Hebr St 256

Good and Evil in Judaism, Christianity, Islam

Hebr St 261 Representing the Holocaust in Words and Images
Hebr St 268 Jewish and Christian Responses to the Holocaust (if not selected above)
Hebr St 274 Ancient Egyptian Civilization (if not selected above)
Hebr St 282 Jewish Identity in Contemporary America
Hebr St 301 Modern Hebrew Literature I in Hebrew
Hebr St 302 Modern Hebrew Literature II in Hebrew
Hebr St 303 Modern Hebrew Literature I in English
Hebr St 304 Modern Hebrew Literature II in English

Hebr St 321

The Holocaust and the Politics of Memory

Hebr St 331

Topics in Biblical Literature: (Subtitle)

Hebr St 332

Women in the Bible

Hebr St 411

Old Testament Texts: (Subtitle)

Hebr St 449 Seminar in Modern Jewish Thought

Hebr St 470

Readings in Rabbinic Literature: (Subtitle)

Hebr St 471

Introduction to the Midrash: (Subtitle)

Hist 175 East Asian Civilization to 1600 (if not selected above)
Hist 192 Freshman Seminar: (with approved subtitle)
Hist 201 The Ancient World: The Near East and Greece (if not selected above)
Hist 274 Ancient Egyptian Civilization
Hist 280 Islamic Civilization: The Formative Period, ca. 500-1258 (if not selected above)
Hist 281 Islamic Civilization: The Middle Period, ca. 1200-1805

Hist 282

The Modern Middle East in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries

Hist 301

History of Christianity, East and West to 1500 (if not selected above)

Hist 302

History of Christianity, East and West Since 1500 (if not selected above)

Hist 303 A History of Greek Civilization: The Greek City-State (if not selected above)
Hist 304 A History of Greek Civilization: The Age of Alexander the Great (if not selected above)
Hist 308 A History of Rome: The Empire (if not selected above)

Hist 319

The Era of the Crusades

Hist 329

The Roman Catholic Church, 1500 to the Present

Hist 358 The Jews of Modern Europe: History and Culture

Hist 364

The Holocaust: Anti-Semitism and the Fate of the Jewish People in Europe, 1933-1945

Hist 370

Topics in the History of Religious Thought: (Subtitle) (if subtitle not selected above)

Hist 371 Topics in European History: "The Roman Catholic Church, 1500 to the Present;" "Rome in the Age of Constantine;" "Christianity in Early England and Ireland" subtitles (if not selected above)
Hist 379 Introduction to Jewish History
Hist 380 Buddhism: A Cultural History (if not selected above)
Hist 382 Southeast Asia: The Age of Imperialism and Revolution Since 1800

Hist 385

Political Islam to Zionism: Middle Eastern Intellectual History, 1789-1990

Hist 398 Honors Seminar: "Pagans and Christians in the Roman Empire;" "Medieval Monasticism;" "Joan of Arc in History and Legend;" "Pope John Paul II and the Twentieth Century World" subtitles
Hist 401 Topics in Middle Eastern History: "Women in Islamic History" subtitle

Hist 452

History of Religion in American Life to 1870

Hist 453

History of Religion in American Life Since 1870

Hist 594

Methods and Theory in the Historical Study of Religion: (Subtitle)

Hist 600 Seminar in History: "History of Death;" "The Papacy in History;" "Colonial Encounters: Religious Difference in the Age of Empire;" "Religion and Society in the Roman Empire" subtitles
Honors 200 Honors Seminar: The Shaping of the Modern Mind - "Reason and Religion;" "Is God Dead? Belief and Unbelief in Modern Thought and Literature" subtitles

Italian 333

Dante’s Divine Comedy in Translation

Italian 383 Honors Seminar: (with approved subtitle)
Jewish 101 Jewish Culture in America: History, Literature, Culture
Jewish/JAMS 210 Jewish and Ethnic Narratives and Identities in Media
Jewish 260 Negotiating Religion and Nationalism: Jewish Experience in Europe and the Middle East
Jewish 261 Representing the Holocaust in Words and Images
Jewish 268 Jewish and Christian Responses to the Holocaust
Jewish 358 The Jews of Modern Europe: History and Culture
Jewish 379 Introduction to Jewish History
Jewish 599 Methods in Jewish Studies
JAMS 192 Freshman Seminar: "The Catholic Faith and Society;" "Pope to Pews - Media, Culture, and the Catholic Church" subtitles
JAMS 226 Religion, Media, and Culture (if not selected above)
Latin 501 Readings in Latin Prose
Music 680 Special Studies in Music: "Music in the Time of Church Reform" subtitle
Philos 192 Freshman Seminar: "Atheism" subtitle

Philos 204

Introduction to Asian Religions (if not selected above)

Philos 207

Religion and Science

Philos 232 Topics in Philosophy: "New Religions and the Cult Controversy" subtitle

Philos 250

Philosophy of Religion

Philos 272

Philosophical Classics: "Hume's Dialogues on Natural Religion;" "Descartes' Meditations;" "Plato's Euthyphro;" "Life and Death of Socrates" subtitles

Philos 350 Introduction to the Comparative Study of Religion (if not selected above)

Philos 431

History of Medieval Philosophy

Philos 461

Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism

Philos 475

Special Topics in Indian Religious Thought: (Subtitle)

Philos 502

Phenomenology of Religion (if not selected above)

Philos 552 (452) Special Topics in Ancient and Mediaeval Philosophy: (Subtitle)

Pol Sci 215

Ethnicity, Religion, and Race in American Politics

ReligSt 101 Introduction to Religious Studies
ReligSt 192 Freshman Seminar: "Mythology, History, Race and Religion in the Ancient World" subtitle
ReligSt 250 Selected Topics in Religious Studies
Theatre 460 Storytelling: "The Bible, Torah, Old Testament, and Koran" subtitle
Wmns 300 Gender and Spirituality: (Subtitle) (if not selected above)
Wmns 380 Honors Seminar: (with approved subtitle)

Course of Study: Minor

The minor requires 18 credits in approved Religious Studies courses. Students must complete all section I requirements and one of the approved theory/method courses (section II). At least 9 credits of upper-level courses taken in residence at UWM are required. The College requires that students attain at least a 2.5 GPA on all minor credits attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.5 GPA on all minor credits attempted, including any transfer work.

Language Study

Study of the basic language of at least one religious tradition is recommended strongly and may be required in certain cases, especially if continuing graduate education is planned. Requirements and procedures for the language study will be determined by a student’s faculty advisor in consultation with the appropriate language department.

Double Major

It often is possible to complete a double major in Religious Studies and another subject. This is the case particularly when a student already has undertaken the major in the other field but has credits in religion courses as well. The student often can take courses that count for both Religious Studies and the other major.

Courses (RELIGST)



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