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.
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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Dantes 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) |
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 students 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.
[ College of Letters and Science ]
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Undergraduate Catalog 2012-2013:
Religious Studies
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