Religious Studies

This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.uoregon.edu.

https://religion.uoregon.edu/

Mark Unno, Department Head
541-346-4971
541-346-4118 fax
311 Susan Campbell Hall
1294 University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon 97403-1294
info@uoregon.College

The Department of Religious Studies offers courses about the teachings and practices of the world’s religions from an academic perspective. Courses focus on the history of religions including their origins, sacred texts, rituals and practices, beliefs, and subgroups. These courses provide a broad understanding of the nature and role of religion in the world’s many cultures, present and past, for students in all fields, as well as integrated programs for majors in religious studies.

The department annually sponsors two programs, the Ira E. Gaston Lecture in Christianity and the Distinguished Visiting Lecturer in Asian Religion, which bring eminent scholars to campus for lectures and seminars.

Preparation

The best high school or community college preparation for an undergraduate program in religious studies is a good general background in social science and the humanities.

Careers

An undergraduate major in religious studies can lead to graduate programs in religious studies—either academic or professional—as well as other related areas of graduate studies such as history, sociology, folklore, and various area studies (e.g., Middle East studies, East Asian languages and literatures).

Students with a bachelor of arts in religious studies have had success in various professional fields such as religion, journalism, social work, education, business, and law.

Graduate Studies

In the absence of a graduate program, students may work with faculty members from religious studies as well as other university departments toward an interdisciplinary studies: individualized program master’s degree (MA or MS) focusing on religious studies, offered through the Division of Graduate Studies. Information is available in the Division of Graduate Studies section of this catalog.

Advanced Degrees in Other Departments

Faculty members in other departments may have a specialty or interest in the study of religion. Students interested in an advanced degree in these areas should apply for admission to graduate study in the relevant department. Prior contact with the faculty member is encouraged. The available degrees, faculty members, and area of specialty are listed below as a guide.

Religious Studies Grad Options
Department	Degree(s)	Specialty	Faculty
Anthropology	PhD (general anthropology MA presupposed)	Comparative religions, religion and symbol in particular cultures	Johanna Richlin
Asian Studies	MA	Buddhism in premodern Japan	Andrew E. Goble (history)
		East Asian religions	Mark Unno (religious studies)
		Religion and thought in premodern China	Ina Asim (history)
Classics	MA	Classical civilization, ancient philosophy and religions in or related to ancient Greece and Rome	Kristen Seaman (art history), Mary K. Jaeger (classics), Steven Shankman (English), Malcolm Wilson (classics)
Folklore	MA		Martha Bayless (English), Daniel N. Wojcik (English)
History	MA, PhD	Reformation	David M. Luebke
History of Art and Architecture	MA, PhD	Buddhist art	Mariachiara Gasparini
		Japanese art	Akiko Walley

Faculty

Faten Arfaoui, instructor (Arabic). BA, 2006, Ibn Charaf; MA, 2010, 2012, Texas Tech. (2014)

Frederick Colby, associate professor (Islam). BA, 1991, Haverford College; MA, 1995, Chicago; PhD, 2002, Duke. (2008)

Hanan Elsherif, senior instructor (Arabic). BA, 1993, MA, 2002, PhD, 2009, Minia. (2011)

Deborah A. Green, associate professor (history and literature of Judaism, biblical studies). BA 1984, Brandeis University; MA 1997, University of Chicago; PhD 2003, University of Chicago. (2003)

Luke Habberstad, assistant professor. BA, 2003, Yale; MA, 2007, PhD, 2014, California, Berkeley. (2014)

David Hollenberg, associate professor (Arabic). BA, 1990, Wesleyan; MA, 1996, California, Santa Barbara; PhD, 2006, Pennsylvania. (2010)

Anne Kreps, assistant professor (biblical studies, history of Christianity). BA, 2003, Michigan; MA, 2005, California, Berkeley; PhD, 2013, Michigan. (2016)

Jeffrey Schroeder, assistant professor (religion and modern Asia). BA, 2005, MA, 2009, Reed; MA, 2009, Duke; PhD, 2015, Duke. (2017)

Stephen J. Shoemaker, professor (history of Christianity). BA, 1991, Emory; MA, 1994, PhD, 1997, Duke. (2000)

Mark T. Unno, associate professor (East Asian religions, Buddhism). BA, 1987, Oberlin; MA, 1991, PhD, 1994, Stanford. (2000)

Emeriti

Judith R. Baskin, professor emerita. BA, 1971, Antioch; PhD, 1976, Yale. (2000)

Hee-Jin Kim, professor emeritus. BA, 1957, MA, 1958, California, Berkeley; PhD, 1966, Claremont. (1973)

The date in parentheses at the end of each entry is the first year on the University of Oregon faculty.

Participating

Andrew E. Goble, history

Akiko Walley, history of art and architecture

Anita M. Weiss, international studies

Daniel N. Wojcik, English

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science
Minor in Religious Studies
Minor in Arabic Studies

Undergraduate Studies

The Department of Religious Studies offers bachelor of arts (BA) and a bachelor of science (BS) degrees. The department also offers minors in religious studies and Arabic studies. Courses used to satisfy major and minor requirements must be taken for letter grades and passed with a mid-C or better.

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
REL 101–102	World Religions	8
Electives in religious studies or additional courses		8
Upper-division religious studies courses (Must include REL 411)		16
Upper-division courses (see Additional Courses list)		12
Total Credits		44

Additional Courses

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Folklore
FLR 350	Folklore and the Bible	4
FLR 411	Folklore and Religion	4
FLR 483	Folklore and Mythology of the British Isles	4
History
HIST 320	High Middle Ages in Europe	4
HIST 321	Late Middle Ages in Europe	4
HIST 441	16th-Century European Reformations	4
HIST 498	Early Japanese Culture and Society: [Topic]	4
History of Art and Architecture
ARH 321	Ancient Jewish Art	4
ARH 387	Chinese Buddhist Art	4
International Studies
GLBL 423	Development and the Muslim World	4
Judaic Studies
JDST 212	Medieval and Early Modern Judaism	4
JDST 213	The Jewish Encounter with Modernity	4
Philosophy
PHIL 320	Philosophy of Religion	4

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
REL 101–102	World Religions	8
Electives in religious studies or additional courses		8
Upper-division religious studies courses (Must include REL 411)		16
Upper-division courses (see Additional Courses list)		12
Total Credits		44

Additional Courses

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Folklore
FLR 350	Folklore and the Bible	4
FLR 411	Folklore and Religion	4
FLR 483	Folklore and Mythology of the British Isles	4
History
HIST 320	High Middle Ages in Europe	4
HIST 321	Late Middle Ages in Europe	4
HIST 441	16th-Century European Reformations	4
HIST 498	Early Japanese Culture and Society: [Topic]	4
History of Art and Architecture
ARH 321	Ancient Jewish Art	4
ARH 387	Chinese Buddhist Art	4
International Studies
GLBL 423	Development and the Muslim World	4
Judaic Studies
JDST 212	Medieval and Early Modern Judaism	4
JDST 213	The Jewish Encounter with Modernity	4
Philosophy
PHIL 320	Philosophy of Religion	4

Honors in Religious Studies

Requirements for a degree with honors in religious studies typically include the following:

Satisfaction of the requirements for a major
A cumulative grade point average of 3.80 in courses taken to satisfy the major requirements
Formal approval of the department

The candidate for honors shall request approval no later than the second week of fall term in the senior year. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with the undergraduate advisor before applying. Application forms are available in the department office.

A faculty committee supervises the honors thesis project. Candidates typically register for 3 credits of Research: [Topic] (REL 401) for both fall and winter terms of the senior year to prepare for writing the thesis. Contingent on satisfactory progress, the candidate then enrolls for 4 credits of Thesis (REL 403) spring term. A first draft of the thesis must be submitted six weeks before the end of spring term and the final draft two weeks after that.

Religious Studies Minor Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
REL 101	World Religions: Asian Traditions	4
REL 102	World Religions: Near Eastern Traditions	4
Religious studies courses		4
Upper-division religious studies courses		12
Total Credits		24

Arabic Studies Minor Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Category I: Third-Year Arabic
ARB 301–303	Language and Culture	12
Category II: Advanced Arabic
ARB 331	Reading Classical Arabic	4
An additional course, approved by an advisor		4
Category III: Arabic Culture and Society
An elective from the following list (or any course with substantial content in Arabic, Middle Eastern, or Islamic studies):		4
ARB 199	Special Studies: [Topic]
COLT 370	Comparative Comics
COLT 462	Cultural Intersections: [Topic] (Orientalism)
COLT 470	Studies in Identity: [Topic] (Multiculturalism and Empire)
GEOG 209	Geography of the Middle East and North Africa
HIST 199	Special Studies: [Topic] (The Iraq War; Islamic Civilization I or II; Islam in the Modern World)
HIST 399	Special Studies: [Topic] (The Iraq War)
GLBL 399	Special Studies: [Topic]
GLBL 407	Seminar: [Topic]
GLBL 423	Development and the Muslim World
J 467	Issues in International Communication: [Topic] (The Arab World and the Media)
PS 399	Special Studies: [Topic] (Egypt; Politics of the Middle East)
REL 102	World Religions: Near Eastern Traditions
REL 233	Introduction to Islam
REL 324–325	History of Eastern Christianity
REL 335	Introduction to the Qur'an
REL 432	Islamic Mysticism: [Topic]
TA 472	Multicultural Theater: [Topic] (Arab American Theater)
Total Credits		24

Modified Requirements for Students with Prior Literacy in Arabic

Students who already have skills that satisfy the equivalent of the ARB 301–303 third-year sequence—whether from native proficiency, study abroad, or courses from another university—may choose to test out of one or more of these courses by passing a proficiency examination, administered by the UO Testing Center, designed to demonstrate basic literacy in Arabic. If students wish to transfer their third-year Arabic courses from other universities or from overseas study, they may do so contingent on the successful completion of an examination at the appropriate level, to ensure proper placement.

Students who pass the proficiency exam must still complete 24 credits for the minor in Arabic studies, including at least 12 from among Category II courses and up to 12 from among Category III electives.

Four-Year Degree Plan

The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.

Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies

Degree Map
First Year
Fall		Milestones	Credits
REL 101	World Religions: Asian Traditions		4
WR 121	College Composition I		4
First term of first-year second-language sequence			5
Elective course			4
	Credits		17
Winter
REL 102	World Religions: Near Eastern Traditions		4
WR 122 or WR 123	College Composition II or College Composition III		4
Second term of first-year second-language sequence			5
General-education course that also satisfies a multicultural requirement			4
	Credits		17
Spring
Third term of first-year second-language sequence			5
General-education course in arts and letters			4
General-education course in science			4
Lower-division elective for major			4
	Credits		17
	Total Credits		51

Degree Map
Second Year
Fall		Milestones	Credits
First term of second-year second-language sequence			4
General-education course in arts and letters			4
General-education course in social science			4
General-education course that also satisfies a multicultural requirement			4
	Credits		16
Winter
Second term of second-year second-language sequence			4
General-education course in arts and letters			4
General-education course in social science			4
General-education course in science			4
	Credits		16
Spring
Third term of second-year second-language sequence			4
General-education course in arts and letters			4
General-education course in social science			4
General-education course in science			4
	Credits		16
	Total Credits		48

Degree Map
Third Year
Fall		Milestones	Credits
Upper-division course with REL subject code			4
Upper-division elective course			4
General-education course in science			4
General-education course			4
	Credits		16
Winter
Upper-division course with REL subject code			4
Upper-division elective course			4
General-education course in social science			4
Elective course			4
	Credits		16
Spring
Upper-division course with REL subject code			4
Upper-division elective course			4
Elective courses			8
	Credits		16
	Total Credits		48

Degree Map
Fourth Year
Fall		Milestones	Credits
Upper-division course with REL subject code			4
Elective courses			8
	Credits		12
Winter
Upper-division course with REL subject code			4
Elective courses			8
	Credits		12
Spring
Elective courses			12
	Credits		12
	Total Credits		36

Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies

Degree Map
First Year
Fall		Milestones	Credits
REL 101	World Religions: Asian Traditions		4
WR 121	College Composition I		4
MATH 105 or MATH 111	University Mathematics I or College Algebra		4
Elective course			4
	Credits		16
Winter
REL 102	World Religions: Near Eastern Traditions		4
MATH 106 or MATH 112	University Mathematics II or Elementary Functions		4
WR 122 or WR 123	College Composition II or College Composition III		4
General-education course that also satisfies a multicultural requirement			4
	Credits		16
Spring
MATH 107 or MATH 212	University Mathematics III or Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics II		4
Lower-division elective for major			4
General-education course in arts and letters			4
General-education course in science			4
	Credits		16
	Total Credits		48

Degree Map
Second Year
Fall		Milestones	Credits
General-education course in arts and letters			4
General-education course in social science			4
General-education course in science			4
General-education course that also satisfies a multicultural requirement			4
	Credits		16
Winter
General-education course in arts and letters			4
General-education course in social science			4
General-education course in science			4
Elective course			4
	Credits		16
Spring
General-education course in arts and letters			4
General-education course in social science			4
General-education course in science			4
Elective course			4
	Credits		16
	Total Credits		48

Degree Map
Third Year
Fall		Milestones	Credits
Lower-division elective course with REL subject code			4
Upper-division elective course			4
General-education course in social science			4
Elective course			4
	Credits		16
Winter
Upper-division course with REL subject code			4
Upper-division elective course			4
Elective courses			8
	Credits		16
Spring
Upper-division course with REL subject code			4
Upper-division elective course			4
Elective courses			8
	Credits		16
	Total Credits		48

Degree Map
Fourth Year
Fall		Milestones	Credits
Upper-division course with REL subject code (Must take REL 101 by this term)			4
Elective courses (Must begin year of mathematics by this term)			8
	Credits		12
Winter
Elective courses			12
	Credits		12
Spring
Elective courses			12
	Credits		12
	Total Credits		36

Arabic Courses

ARB 101. First-Year Arabic. 5 Credits.

Introduction to Arabic with emphasis on speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension. Sequence with ARB 102, ARB 103.

ARB 102. First-Year Arabic. 5 Credits.

Introduction to Arabic with emphasis on speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension. Sequence with ARB 101, ARB 103.
Prereq: ARB 101.

ARB 103. First-Year Arabic. 5 Credits.

Introduction to Arabic with emphasis on speaking, reading, writing and comprehension. Sequence with ARB 101, ARB 102.
Prereq: ARB 102

ARB 199. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-10 Credits.

Repeatable.

ARB 201. Second-Year Arabic. 5 Credits.

Development of Arabic speaking, reading, writing and comprehension; study of short literary and cultural materials. Sequence with ARB 202, ARB 203.
Prereq: ARB 103 or equivalent.

ARB 202. Second-Year Arabic. 5 Credits.

Development of Arabic speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension; study of short literary and cultural materials. Sequence with ARB 201, ARB 203.
Prereq: ARB 201 or equivalent.

ARB 203. Second-Year Arabic. 5 Credits.

Development of Arabic speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension; study of short literary and cultural materials. Sequence with ARB 201, ARB 202.
Prereq: ARB 202 or equivalent.

ARB 301. Language and Culture. 4 Credits.

Provides third-year-level Arabic proficiency and substantially adds to the vocabulary base. Activates and augments grammar structures of modern spoken Arabic, colloquial Egyptian Arabic, and the study of Arabic culture. Sequence with ARB 302, ARB 303.
Prereq: ARB 203.

ARB 302. Language and Culture. 4 Credits.

ARB 303. Language and Culture. 4 Credits.

ARB 331. Reading Classical Arabic. 4 Credits.

Improves students' abilities to work with classical Arabic texts; serves as a gateway to other classical Arabic text courses.
Prereq: ARB 202 or equivalent.

ARB 353. Arab Cinema. 4 Credits.

Introduction to Arab cinema and culture through an examination of the development of cinema in Arabic-speaking countries. Offered alternate years.

ARB 399. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

ARB 405. Reading and Conference: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

ARB 406. Practicum: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.

Repeatable.

ARB 407. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

ARB 409. Terminal Project. 1-12 Credits.

Repeatable.

ARB 410. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

ARB 507. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

ARB 510. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

ARB 605. Reading and Conference: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.

Repeatable.

Religious Studies Courses

REL 101. World Religions: Asian Traditions. 4 Credits.

Introduction to related religious traditions of Asia, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism and Shinto. Readings in sacred texts and scholarlary literature. Lecture, discussion.

REL 102. World Religions: Near Eastern Traditions. 4 Credits.

Introduction to the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and to related traditions such as the Zoroastrian, Manichaean, Mandean, Baha'i. Lecture, discussion.

REL 199. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

REL 200M. Temp Multilist Course. 4 Credits.

REL 211. Early Judaism. 4 Credits.

Development of the Jewish religion from its earliest existence until the Christian era.

REL 222. Introduction to the Bible I. 4 Credits.

Content and organization of the Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament); examination of scholarly methods and research tools used in biblical studies.

REL 223. Introduction to the Bible II. 4 Credits.

Examination of the written traditions of early Christianity with an emphasis on the New Testament.

REL 233. Introduction to Islam. 4 Credits.

Islamic religious tradition, beginnings to present. Pre-Islamic Arabia, Prophet Muhammed, pillars of Islam, ethics and piety, Sunni-Shiite divide, reform and renewal movements.

REL 302. Chinese Religions. 4 Credits.

Prehistoric roots of Chinese religion, Confucius and his followers, philosophical Taoism, Han Confucianism, religious Taoism, Chinese Buddhism, Neo-Confucianism, religion in China today.

REL 303. Japanese Religions. 4 Credits.

Early Shinto and its developments, Japanese Buddhism, transformation of Taoism and Confucianism, medieval Shinto, religion in the Tokugawa period, Nationalistic Shinto, folk religion, new religions.

REL 317. Jesus and the Gospels. 4 Credits.

Considers early evidence for Jesus, including canonical and noncanonical gospels, in light of critical scholarship and historical reconstructions.

REL 321. History of Christianity. 4 Credits.

Course of Christian history in East and West; relations between spirituality, doctrine, and institutional forms. Covers the ancient period, from the Apostolic Fathers to the Islamic conquests (90–650).

REL 322. History of Christianity. 4 Credits.

Course of Christian history in East and West; relations between spirituality, doctrine, and institutional forms. Covers medieval Western Christianity, from the Germanic invasions to the Reformation (400–1500).

REL 324. History of Eastern Christianity. 4 Credits.

Byzantine Christianity from the founding of the Christian Roman Empire to the Fall of Constantinople in the 15th century.

REL 335. Introduction to the Qur'an. 4 Credits.

An introduction to the nature of the Qur'an and the various ways it has been interpreted throughout history by both Muslims and non-Muslims.

REL 353. Dark Self, East and West. 4 Credits.

Comparative examination of selfhood in Eastern and Western religious thought and cultural contexts. Focus on dark side or problematic dimensions of Buddhist, Christian, Daoist, Jewish, and other thought.

REL 355. Mysticism. 4 Credits.

The experiential or mystical dimensions of the three major Abrahamic faiths. Exploration of the original writings of men and women from each spiritual tradition.

REL 357. War, Terrorism, and Religion. 4 Credits.

Offers an examination of the theme of war, terrorism, and religion, focusing on cases of religiously motivated acts of violence in the contemporary era.

REL 359. Religion After Atheism. 4 Credits.

Atheist critiques of religion, analyses of secularism from multiple disciplinary perspectives, and responses to atheism and secularism by modernist Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist writers.

REL 399. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

REL 401. Research: [Topic]. 1-4 Credits.

Repeatable.

REL 403. Thesis. 1-4 Credits.

Repeatable.

REL 405. Reading and Conference: [Topic]. 1-4 Credits.

Repeatable.

REL 407. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-4 Credits.

Repeatable.

REL 408. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.

Repeatable.

REL 409. Terminal Project. 1-12 Credits.

Repeatable.

REL 410. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-4 Credits.

Repeatable.

REL 411. Making Sense of Religion. 4 Credits.

History of the study of religion, from the late 19th century to the present, as an expression of society, agent of oppression, psychological experience, symbolic system, and Western concept. Junior standing required.

REL 414. Biblical Book: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Close reading of one or more books of the Judeo-Christian Bible in literary, historical, and cultural contexts; history of interpretation; and critical scholarship. Repeatable twice when topic changes for a maximum of 12 credits.

REL 417. New Religious Movements. 4 Credits.

This course offers a deep exploration of New Religious Movements both ancient and modern. How are New Religious Movements born? What determines whether they grow, thrive, and die? Through a survey of biblically based new religions, we will analyze the formation of New Religious Movements.

REL 432. Islamic Mysticism: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Inner dimensions of Islamic piety and righteousness, from the Koranic and prophetic foundations to principal thinkers in the medieval Arabic and Persian Sufi traditions. Repeatable twice for a maximum of 12 credits.

REL 440. Readings in Buddhist Scriptures. 4 Credits.

Readings in representative scriptures in English translation. Selection based on their import in development of Indian Buddhist philosophy and their impact on evolution of East Asian forms of Buddhism.

REL 444. Medieval Japanese Buddhism. 4 Credits.

Medieval Japanese Buddhism of the 12th and 13th centuries. Examination of religious thought and cultural history including Zen and Pure Land.

REL 507. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-4 Credits.

Repeatable.

REL 508. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.

Repeatable.

REL 510. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-4 Credits.

Repeatable.

REL 511. Making Sense of Religion. 4 Credits.

History of the study of religion, from the late 19th century to the present, as an expression of society, agent of oppression, psychological experience, symbolic system, and Western concept.

REL 514. Biblical Book: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

REL 517. New Religious Movements. 4 Credits.

REL 532. Islamic Mysticism: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

REL 540. Readings in Buddhist Scriptures. 4 Credits.

REL 544. Medieval Japanese Buddhism. 4 Credits.

Medieval Japanese Buddhism of the 12th and 13th centuries. Examination of religious thought and cultural history including Zen and Pure Land.

REL 605. Reading and Conference: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.

Repeatable.

REL 608. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.

Repeatable.

REL 609. Terminal Project. 1-16 Credits.

Repeatable.

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Religious Studies

Preparation

Careers

Graduate Studies

Advanced Degrees in Other Departments

Faculty

Emeriti

Participating

Undergraduate Studies

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

Additional Courses

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements

Additional Courses

Honors in Religious Studies

Religious Studies Minor Requirements

Arabic Studies Minor Requirements

Modified Requirements for Students with Prior Literacy in Arabic

Four-Year Degree Plan

Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies

Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies

Arabic Courses

Religious Studies Courses

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