Religious Studies

Religion, Race, and Ethnicity Major and Minor

Religious Studies Major, BA – Religion, Race, and Ethnicity Concentration

The Religion, Race, and Ethnicity concentration consists of 33 hours. It focuses on the intersections of religion, race, and ethnicity in North America.

I. Complete (9 hours):

  • REST 300 – Method and Theory in Religious Studies
  • REST 499 – Advanced Seminar in the Study of Religion
  • REST 353 – Religion, Race, and Ethnicity in North America

II. Select one course from each of the following areas (12 hours):

  1. Mediterranean and the Middle East
    • REST 311 – Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
    • REST 312 – Early Judaism
    • REST 321 – New Testament and Christian Origins
    • REST 322 – Martyrs and Monks: Christian History, 100-800 CE
    • REST 323 – Christianity: An Introduction
    • REST 332 – Introduction to Islam
    • REST 335 – Islam and the Body
    • REST 336 – The Qur’an and the Literatures of Islam
    • REST 381 – Judaism
    • REST 385 – Contemporary Jewish Thinkers
    • REST 386 – Voices of the Holocaust
  2. North America and Africa
    • REST 306 – Contemporary Christian Thought
    • REST 354 – Popular Religion in the United States
    • REST 355 – Topics in North American Religion
    • REST 356 – Rastafari and Afro-Caribbean Religions
    • REST 359 – American Religious History
    • REST 360 – Witchcraft, Magic, and Religion
    • REST 373 – African Religions
  3. South, Southeast, and East Asia
    • REST 319 – Gender, Sexuality, and Religion in Asia
    • REST 372 – Contemporary Buddhism
    • REST 374 – Hindu Traditions
    • REST 375 – Theravada Buddhism
    • REST 376 – Buddhism in South and Southeast Asia
    • REST 379 – Chinese Religions
    • REST 383 – Japanese Religions
    • REST 390 – Mindfulness
  4. Methods and Issues in Religious Studies
    • REST 302 – Anthropology of Religion
    • REST 303 – Sociology of Religion
    • REST 305 – Contemporary Religious Thought and Practice
    • REST 309 – Religion and the Workplace
    • REST 320 – Gender, Sexuality, and Religion

III. Select two courses from the following list (6 hours):

  • REST 339 – Islam in the Modern World
  • REST 351 – Black Power to Black Lives Matter in African American Religious Thought
  • REST 352 – African American Religion in the United States
  • REST 361 – The American Jewish Experience
  • REST 380 – American Buddhism

IV. Select 6 hours (may include other courses in section III)

  • any remaining Religious Studies courses (at least 3 hours must be taken at the 400 level; no more than 3 hours may be taken at the 200-level)

Religious Studies Minor – Religion, Race, and Ethnicity

The minor consists of 15 hours in the department of Religious Studies. No more than 3 hours may be taken at the 200 level. Students are encouraged to discuss their program with a faculty member in the department.

I. Complete (3 hours)

  • REST 353 – Religion, Race, and Ethnicity in North America

II. Select two courses from the following list (6 hours)

  • REST 339 – Islam in the Modern World
  • REST 351 – Black Power to Black Lives Matter in African American Religious Thought
  • REST 352 – African American Religion in the United States
  • REST 361 – The American Jewish Experience
  • REST 380 – American Buddhism

II. Select 6 hours

  • any remaining Religious Studies courses (may include other courses in section II)