51 courses with the subject REST, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
REST 1010Explor of Societal Issues3
As part of a first year Learning Community, this course explores contemporary issues (e.g.. poverty, racism, education, happiness, relationships) at a societal level from a variety of different disciplines. Using the lens of multiple disciplines, concepts of culture, practices and systems will be examined as they impact and are impacted by societal issues. Attributes: LC YLIB
Roman Catholicism is one of the major branches of Christianity and the oldest institution in the Western world, tracing its origins and history to the life and work of Jesus Christ and the first Apostles. This course introduces students to the history, institutions, theologies and doctrines, vocations, forms of worship, and moral teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and considers the events, persons, and forces that are shaping its future in the world. Attributes: P2 YLIB
The Celts moved across Europe to found a place of refuge in the land of Eire. This mysterious land was rich in traditions and stories that allowed the Celts to integrate their own culture with their new home. Later, when the Roman Catholic Church reached its shores, the people adopted some of the stories, myths, and customs to express the experience of the Gospel message. The Church’s prayer, liturgy, and rites found a treasure in the Irish culture. This course uses the tools of history, religion, and the arts to study this fascinating phenomenon. Emphasis is on early history, but an overview of more recent events situat Attributes: LC YLIB
This course will introduce students to Eastern religious traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Shintoism, etc. The origins and evolution of each religious tradition covered in the course will be examined in order to provide the proper cultural and historical contexts within which they emerged before examining core beliefs and practices, as well as other aspects of the traditions. The overarching goal of the course is to provide students with essential, fundamental knowledge of each religion considered and thereby promote cross-cultural understanding and greater religious tolerance. Attributes: YLIB
Students study and practice skills central to academic and professional research through the development of independent, inquiry-based projects. In their projects, students assert, support, and integrate their own positions into scholarly conversation based in research. Students develop competency in the location, evaluation, analysis and documentation of sources that represent a range of different perspectives on important issues. Typically offered:
The course offers students an opportunity to explore and reflect upon the problem of evil in the world in a variety of contexts. Students will explore the different definitions and understandings of evil from religious, philosophical, and social scientific perspectives and examine how evil manifests itself both individually and collectively. Through selected readings from scriptural and non-scriptural texts and current events, students will consider what can be done about the problem of evil in the world. Attributes: P2 YLIB
Electives - 15 credits Two concentration courses from Functional Studies (see below) Two concentration courses from Area Studies (see below) One additional concentration course from either Functional or Area Studies Additional Courses - 6 credits
The course explores the beliefs, teachings, practices, and institutions of several religious traditions in America from indigenous peoples, such as the Iroquois and the Pueblo, to uniquely American religions, such as the Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Unitarian Universalists, Scientology, and others. In exploring the religions of America, students will consider how religious and social cultures influence and shape each other and why American culture is particularly conducive to the development of religious expression and thought. Attributes: AMHU CC YLIB
An introduction to the academic study of the Christian tradition, this course is designed to acquaint students with Christianity’s relationship to Judaism, scholarly methods of study, and central biblical and theological concepts as these relate to, and are in dialogue with, philosophical, historical, and theological questions of value and commitment. Attributes: P2 YLIB
This course has as its goal to explore the interrelationship between Christianity and contemporary culture. Students examine the cultural changes that have shaped our understanding of ourselves and our world in light of the Second Vatican Council’s Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World and related documents. Students discover the causes of conflicts between Christian and secularist worldviews and learn to value the contribution of each perspective on human life in the 21st Century. Attributes: P5 YLIB
This topics course introduces students to the academic study of religion through a comparative exploration of major religious figures and contemporary questions, issues, and themes from diverse religious traditions and faith communities. Topics will be determined by individual instructors; however, all sections of the course will emphasize interfaith dialogue, critical reflection, and experiential learning. Students may register for this course again for credit but may not repeat a topic. Fall 202509 Section 01 Topic: Al-Andalus: Religion and Culture in Medieval Spain This course will explore the religious and cultural history of the Iberian Peninsula, specifically the modern state of Spain, from the seventh century to the fourteenth century - the medieval era of Muslim dynasties in the region. Furthermore, as this course considers the multi-ethnic and multi-confessional realities of this period in history when Christians, Muslims, and Jews often lived and worked together in such cities and Seville, Cordoba, and Granada, students will discover connections between this cultural heritage and the ethno-linguistic, artistic, and religious realities of the contemporary Iberian Peninsula. Fall 202509 Section 02 Topic: Religion and Culture Wars This course explores the dynamic interplay between religion and contemporary cultural conflicts in the U.S.. Students will examine how religious beliefs, practices, and institutions influence and are influenced by ongoing debates over social, political, and ethical issues. Topics include the role of religion in public life, the impact of religious movements on policy and legislation, and the ways in which religious identities intersect with issues such as gender, sexuality, race, and nationalism. Through a combination of historical analysis, case studies, and theoretical frameworks, students will gain a deeper understand Attributes: YLIB
What is the nature of the relationship that exists between religion and politics in the Middle East? This course will begin by examining the diverse religious landscape of the Middle East and regional political trends and ideologies of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, then consider the complex relationship that exists between religion and politics in this often volatile region of the globe. Attributes: P5 YLIB
The course explores the nature of sacred space among Eastern, Western, and Indigenous traditions. Students will analyze and compare the meaning, form, and function of sacred spaces and places of worship within religious communities, and the significance of pilgrimage to these sacred sites. Attributes: YLIB
This course explores the dynamic interplay between religion and contemporary cultural conflicts in the U.S.. Students will examine how religious beliefs, practices, and institutions influence and are influenced by ongoing debates over social, political, and ethical issues. Topics include the role of religion in public life, the impact of religious movements on policy and legislation, and the ways in which religious identities intersect with issues such as gender, sexuality, race, and nationalism. Through a combination of historical analysis, case studies, and theoretical frameworks, students will gain a deeper understand Attributes: CCE YLIB
The Bible has enjoyed a significant place throughout the history of the United States. For many people in America, the Bible is a scripture, but it is also an important political and cultural text. REST 2150 The Bible in America explores the relationship between the American people and the Bible and how the Bible’s status as scripture impacts its role as a cultural and political text. The course provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to contribute as religiously-informed citizens in a diverse and complex society. Attributes: CCE YLIB
Islam is the second largest religion in the world today and the fastest growing religion in North America. Currently there are 3.5 million Muslims in the United States, with an additional 1.2 million Muslims in Canada. By 2040, it is expected that Islam will supplant Judaism as the second largest religious tradition in the United States. Despite all of this, most Americans admit that they know very little about Islam. In this course, students will explore the basic tenets of Islam, the history of Islam in America, the varieties of American Islamic thought and practice, and the many contributions American Muslims make to Typically offered: Spring - Even Years Attributes: CIA YLIB
This course explores the Christian New Testament as an historical, cultural, and religious text. Using multiple literary and historical methods of analysis, students will examine the New Testament texts in their ancient cultural contexts, how Christians ritualized and canonized the texts as scripture, and how contemporary Christian communities interpret and use the New Testament as scripture. Attributes: CIA YLIB
This course explores the Christian Old Testament and Jewish Tanakh. It will investigate the texts in the cultural contexts out of which they emerged. The course will also look at how different religious traditions ritualize the texts as a scripture. It will also look at how contemporary communities interpret and use the Old Testament and Jewish Tanakh. Attributes: CIA YLIB
The course provides students with a sociological and theological framework for thinking about what Christians mean when they refer to their corporate life as “the church.” In exploring different models and approaches to ecclesiology, students will gain a critical understanding of the nature and role of the church as they explore questions of mission, church renewal, and the relationship between church and contemporary culture. Attributes: P2 YLIB
A history of the role that Roman Catholics played in the story of the United States (1492-present). The course will examine the religious perspectives which Roman Catholic explorers, immigrants, intellectuals, and the laity brought to a developing philosophy and social history in the New World. Cross-listed with AMST 235. Attributes: P2 YLIB
The confrontation of man’s existential situation with traditional marital and sexual models and norms. Concentration is given to an analysis of current developments in the areas of monogamy, pre- and post-marital sexuality, divorce and remarriage, homosexuality, contraception, abortion, sterilization, and the family. Attributes: DEI YLIB
This course introduces students to various religious traditions from around the world, from primal religions and the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, to the Eastern traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Both historical information and the major tenets of each religion are presented and discussed so that students learn and understand the historical and cultural contexts within which various religions have emerged, the role that religion has played in the human narrative, and how religion continues to remain relevant in the twenty-first century. Typically offered:
This course will introduce students to diverse forms of Christianity as they are practiced around the globe. Students will examine the origins and evolution of the various and unique Christian traditions within their cultural and historical contexts before examining core beliefs and practices of the traditions. The overarching goal of the course is to provide students with essential, fundamental knowledge of world Christianities in order to promote cross-cultural understanding and greater religious literacy. Typically offered:
Judaism is one of the most geopolitically important religions in the world and a socially significant religion in America. Currently, there are nearly 7.5 million Jews living in the U.S. and yet many Americans are unaware or ill-informed about Judaism, its peoples, histories, cultures, and religious diversity. In this course students will discover a variety of ways Jewish communities have developed their identities and practiced their religious traditions in a variety of historical and cultural contexts. By looking at key elements of Judaism, students will learn how Jews have lived, developed, endured, and thrived in div Attributes: DEI YLIB
This course examines the development and evolution of Islam from its beginnings in Arabia in the seventh century A.D. through the Umayyad and ‘Abbasid caliphates to its expansion in Europe and America. The goal of the course is to help students acquire a more comprehensive understanding of and appreciation for Islam and for the diverse peoples who call themselves Muslims. Attributes: DEI YLIB
Concerns the development of the papacy and its role in world history. Examines the major historical, doctrinal, and theological justifications of the independent papacy in a global context from its origins with the pontificate of Leo I to that of John Paul II. Covers material from the late Roman and Medieval, Renaissance, Modern, and Contemporary periods. Cross-listed with HIST 250C. Attributes: P2 YLIB
This course examines the phenomenon of religious experience from interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives with an eye toward comparing and contrasting these with the religious backgrounds and experiences of participants. Attributes: CC YLIB
An examination of the person Jesus through the eyes of first-century Christians as reflected in the New Testament and in the contemporary understanding of Jesus. This course seeks to engage the student in the process of understanding the Christian encounter with Jesus Christ. Attributes: P5 YLIB
This course approaches the Christian sacraments from a variety of standpoints, including the historical development of a sacramental ethos within Christian traditions; contemporary developments in sacramental theology; theological understandings surrounding the individual sacraments; the ritual context of sacramental celebrations, and pastoral issues affecting the sacraments today. The course employs an interactive approach which combines class discussion, student presentations, and instructor’s input. Attributes: P2 YLIB
Students explore views of the Black Church on contemporary social issues and challenges (homosexuality, gender equity, race relations) faced in reference to church doctrine, traditions, and beliefs. Cross-listed with AFAM 282P. Attributes: AMHU WGST YLIB
The confrontation of man’s existential situation with traditional marital and sexual models and norms. Concentration is given to an analysis of current developments in the areas of monogamy, pre- and post-marital sexuality, divorce and remarriage, homosexuality, contraception, abortion, sterilization, and the family. Attributes: P5 WGST YLIB
Special Topics: An occasional course dealing with topics of interest especially to Religious Studies majors and minors in consultation with relevant faculty. Spring 2020 Topic: Land of the Bible: The focus of the course is a study of the geography, history and politics of Israel/Palestine over the centuries with a special emphasis on the history and theology of the New Testament. An 8 day required visit to the land of the Bible is the course centerpiece. Some New Testament commentators refer to the experience of the Holy Land as the “Fifth Gospel” because it assists the pilgrim’s understanding of the times and stories of the other fours gospel narratives. Attributes: YLIB
In this course, students will develop an inquiry-based project by conducting in-depth research using discipline-specific practices that result in research and writing skills that are transferable. Students will build on the critical thinking and writing competencies they have previously acquired to engage topics and ideas in the field. Students will formulate important questions or problems, identify and examine appropriate sources, and use evidence in order to substantiate their own claims. They will acknowledge and address alternative explanations in scholarly conversations and revise their work accordingly. Outcomes o Attributes: AWC YLIB 2025-2026 Catalog » Academic Programs » Undergraduate » School of Arts and Sciences » Religious Studies
Under the direction of a Religious Studies faculty member, students will write an academic research paper or propose and complete a community project and project With approval from the Religious Studies Chair, students may use either of the Fisher Core’s Culmination Courses to fulfill the REST 496 Senior Project under the In consultation with Religious Studies faculty, students who select the 3990 Junior Research Writing course for their REST Senior Project will be required to exp Students who select the 4990 Cardinal Capstone will be required to expand upon the work in the Capstone to complete the REST Senior Project Total: 30 credits A grade point average of 2.00 is required for all courses taken in residence that may be applied to the major. 2025-2026 Catalog » Academic Programs » Undergraduate » School of Arts and Sciences » Religious Studies
