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Religious Studies
In the College of Arts and Letters
Office: Adams Humanities 4231
Telephone: (619) 594-5185
Emeritus: Anderson, Downing, Friedman, Gefter, Jordan, Khalil
Chair: Sparks
Professors: Hermansen, Johnson, Sparks
Associate Professor: Holler
Lecturers: Boni, Thomas
Major in religious studies with the B.A. degree in liberal arts and sciences.
Minor in religious studies.
Religious studies seeks to explore the role of religion as an important part of human history. It is designed to improve understanding of religion, not to advocate religious belief or any particular religious tradition.
Religious studies students examine the major Eastern and Western religions, their founders and leaders, myths and rituals, theologies, creeds and scriptures, and institutional forms, as well as the relationship between religion and literature, the arts, ethics, science, and psychology.
Career opportunities available to religious studies graduates include positions such as university, college, community college, or secondary school teacher (graduate study and/or teaching credential required); counselor and social worker (graduate study required); religious education director, rabbi, priest, or minister in a church or synagogue setting (graduate study required); religion reporter or editor for a newspaper or magazine; textbook editor. The religious studies program is also excellent background for graduate professional programs in such areas as law, business, and foreign service.
All College of Arts and Letters majors are urged to consult with their department adviser as soon as possible; they are required to meet with their department adviser within the first two semesters after declaration or change of major. Students seeking a minor in religious studies under the Individualized Program area must confer with the department adviser in the first semester of their study.
All candidates for a degree in liberal arts and sciences must complete the graduation requirements listed in the section of this catalog on "Graduation Requirements." No more than 48 units in religious studies courses can apply to the degree.
A minor is not required with this major.
Preparation for the Major. Religious Studies 101; Philosophy 101 or 102 or Religious Studies 102. (6 units)
Foreign Language Requirement. Competency (equivalent to that which is normally attained through three consecutive courses of college study) is required in one foreign language as part of the preparation for the major. Refer to section of catalog on "Graduation Requirements."
Upper Division Writing Requirement. Religious Studies 396W or, with approval of the department, Anthropology 396W, Rhetoric and Writing Studies 305W, or Sociology 396W with a grade of C (2.0) or better.
Major. A minimum of 27 upper division units in religious studies to include Religious Studies 300, either 301 or 305, and at least three units from each of the three areas listed below:
Western Religious Traditions: Religious Studies 318, 320, 325, 330, 331, 340, 390, 580*, 581*, 582*, 583*, 596*.
Eastern Religious Traditions: Religious Studies 401, 403, 580*, 581*, 582*, 583*, 596*.
Religion and Culture: Three units from Religious Studies 300, 350, 353, 354, 360, 363, 365, 370, 380, 385, 580*, 581*, 582*, 583*, 596*.
The minor in religious studies consists of a minimum of 15 units to include at least three lower division units in religious studies, and 12 units from one of the three areas listed below:
Western Religions: Religious Studies 301, 305, 318, 320, 325, 330, 331, 340, 390, 580*, 581*, 582*, 583*, 596*.
Eastern Religions: Religious Studies 401, 403, 580*, 581*, 582*, 583*, 596*.
Religion and Culture: Religious Studies 350, 353, 354, 360, 363, 365, 370, 380, 385, 580*, 581*, 582*, 583*, 596*.
Or AN INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAM of 12 upper division units approved in advance by the department adviser.
Courses in the minor may not be counted toward the major, but may be used to satisfy preparation for the major and general education requirements, if applicable. A minimum of six upper division units must be completed in residence at San Diego State University.
101. World Religions (3) I, II
Major figures, attitudes, and teachings of world religions.
102. Introduction to Religion (3) I, II
Nature, meaning, and presuppositions of religious experience.
296. Experimental Topics (1-4)
Selected topics. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Limit of nine units of any combination of 296, 496, 596 courses applicable to a bachelor's degree.
300. Ways of Understanding Religion (3) I
Prerequisite: Three units of religious studies.
Major approaches to study of religious phenomena and central issues in methodology.
301. Hebrew Scriptures (3) I, II
Prerequisites: Three units of religious studies; and completion of
the General Education requirement in Foundations II.C., Humanities
required for nonmajors.
Problems of composition and historical significance in the context of religious meanings of the scriptures known to Jews as the Tanakh (the Pentateuch, the Prophets and the Writings) and to Christians as the Old Testament.
305. The New Testament (3) I, II
Prerequisites: Three units of religious studies; and completion of
the General Education requirement in Foundations II.C., Humanities
required for nonmajors. Recommended: Religious Studies 301.
The problems of composition and historical significance in the context of religious meanings.
318. Modern Religious Thought in the West (3)
Prerequisite: Three units of religious studies.
Selected issues in religious thought in Europe and America during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
320. Judaism (3)
Prerequisites: Three units of religious studies; and completion of
the General Education requirement in Foundations II.C., Humanities
required for nonmajors.
Major doctrines, practices, and developments from rabbinic times to present.
325. Christianity (3)
Prerequisites: Three units of religious studies; and completion of
the General Education requirement in Foundations II.C., Humanities
required for nonmajors.
Major doctrines, practices and developments from time of Jesus to present.
330. Topics in Judaism (1-3)
Prerequisite: Three units of religious studies.
Selected topics such as early Hebrew religion, the Talmudic period, medieval religious thought, mysticism, modern Judaism from the emancipation to the Holocaust, contemporary thought. May be repeated with different content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units.
331. Topics in Islam (3)
Prerequisite: Three units of religious studies.
Selected topics such as the Qur'an and its interpretation (tafsir), Prophet Muhammed and his traditions (hadith), and Islamic mysticism (Sufism). May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units.
340. Islam (3)
Prerequisites: Three units of religious studies; and completion of
the General Education requirement in Foundations II.C., Humanities
required for nonmajors.
Major doctrines, practices and developments from the time of Mohammed to the present.
350. Dynamics of Religious Experience (3)
Prerequisites: Three units of religious studies; and completion of
the General Education requirement in Foundations II.C., Humanities.
Chief data and major approaches in the study of individuals' religious behavior and experiences. Special attention to relevant problems in world religions and philosophical views of man.
353. Religion and Psychology (3)
Prerequisites: Three units of religious studies; and completion of
the General Education requirement in Foundations II.C., Humanities
required for nonmajors.
Theological and religious interpretations of psychological dimension of human existence. Critique of psychological inquiry into traditional and contemporary forms of religious life. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units of which three units may be applicable to General Education.
354. Religion and Society (3)
Prerequisites: Three units of religious studies; and completion of
the General Education requirement in Foundations II.C., Humanities
required for nonmajors.
Theological and religious interpretations of the social dimension of human existence. Critique of social science inquiry into traditional and contemporary forms of religious life.
360. Religion, Literature, and the Arts (3)
Prerequisite: Three units of religious studies.
The relations between religion, literature, and the arts in major cultural traditions.
363. Religion and the Sciences (3)
Prerequisites: Three units of religious studies; and completion of
the General Education requirement in Foundations II.C., Humanities
required for nonmajors.
Relation of the natural sciences to religious questions of nature, humanity, and destiny.
365. Religion and Ethics (3)
Prerequisite: Three units of religious studies.
Values, morality, and responsibility, from religious perspectives. Application to contemporary moral issues.
370. Women and Religion (3)
Prerequisite: Three units of religious studies.
Place and role of women in major religious traditions; historic contributions of women to religion; female deities; feminist responses to male-centered traditions.
380. Shamanism (3)
Prerequisite: Three units of religious studies.
Shamanism from a global perspective, from primal to modern times, its persistence and revitalization in post-industrial religion; its religious forms through comparative study of Amazonian, African, Native American, and Southeast Asian forms.
385. Native American Religions (3)
Prerequisite: Three units of religious studies.
Native American religions with focus on sacred culture, world view, ritual life, community and myth as a basis for interpreting religious experience; encounter of Indian traditions with modernity and revitalization responses.
390. Religion in America (3)
Prerequisite: Three units of religious studies.
Selected topics in religion in America, such as church-state relations, transcendentalism, Black Christianity, pentecostalism, theosophy, oriental movements in America and neo-paganism. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units. (Formerly numbered Religious Studies 522.)
396W. Writing/Research Methods (1) Cr/NC
Prerequisites: Six upper division units in religious studies. Must be
taken concurrently with an upper division course in religious studies.
Satisfies University Upper Division Writing requirement for students
who have completed 60 units, fulfilled the Writing Competency requirement, and completed the General Education requirement in Written
Communication. Proof of completion of prerequisites required:
Test scores or verification of exemption; copy of transcript.
Research and writing in field of religious studies.
401. Religions of India (3)
Prerequisites: Three units of religious studies; and completion of
the General Education requirement in Foundations II.C., Humanities
required for nonmajors.
Phenomenological studies in the major religious traditions of India, especially Hinduism and Buddhism.
403. Religions of the Far East (3)
Prerequisites: Three units of religious studies; and completion of
the General Education requirement in Foundations II.C., Humanities
required for nonmajors.
Phenomenological studies in the major religious traditions of east Asia, especially China and Japan.
496. Experimental Topics (1-4)
Prerequisite: Three units of religious studies.
Selected topics. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Limit of nine units of any combination of 296, 496, 596 courses applicable to a bachelor's degree.
499. Special Study (1-3) I, II
Prerequisite: Twelve upper division units in religious studies.
Individual study. Maximum credit six units.
580. A Major Figure (3) I, II
Prerequisite: Three units of religious studies.
Life, works and significance of one major figure in a religious tradition. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units.
581. Major Theme (3) I, II
Prerequisites: Three units of religious studies and upper division or
graduate standing.
Advanced systematic study of a theme or motif selected from major religious traditions. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units.
582. Major Text (1-3)
Prerequisites: Three units of religious studies and upper division or
graduate standing.
Advanced systematic study of a selected scripture or classic text(s) selected from one of the major religious traditions. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units.
583. Major Tradition (3)
Prerequisites: Three units of religious studies and upper division or
graduate standing.
Advanced systematic study of the doctrines, practices, and development of a major religious tradition. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units.
596. Advanced Topics in Religious Studies (1-3)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Advanced selected topics in religious studies. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Limit of nine units of any combination of 296, 496, 596 courses applicable to a bachelor's degree. Maximum credit of six units of 596 applicable to a master's degree. Maximum combined credit of six units of 596 and 696 applicable to a 30-unit master's degree.
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