Interdisciplinary Concentration in Religious Studies
The Religious Studies Concentration at The College of New Jersey
aims to familiarize students with the beliefs and institutions
of major world religions, their origins and evolution in different
regions of the globe and in different historical periods, their
intersection with textual and non-textual forms of expression,
and their profound impact on human culture and society in the
past and in the present. Through courses in World Religions,
students develop understandings of belief systems and institutions
of individual world religions and acquire skills in comparative
analysis. Courses in Religious Culture increase students' awareness
of diverse cultural frameworks, particularly as they are expressed
in literary, artistic, architectural, and other forms through
which religious belief has been expressed in different historical
periods and regions. Through courses in Critical Issues of Religion,
students gain mastery of the basic theoretical construction
of religious belief and its ethical and epistemological ramifications.
Courses in Social Science and History acquaint students with
the historical development of religious belief and institutions;
with how, over time, beliefs and institutions have interacted
in both peaceful and violent ways; and with how beliefs and
institutions continue to influence, and be influenced by, contemporary
social and political ideologies and institutions. Through courses
in all these areas, students gain skills from analysis, criticism,
and research that enhance their ability to think clearly, write
well, and find, analyze, evaluate, and present facts and ideas
effectively. Students pursuing a Concentration in Religious
Studies learn to analyze primary documents and non-textual sources
(art, music, architecture, etc.) with a critical appreciation
of their history, meaning, and significance to understanding
historical and contemporary religious phenomena.
Faculty Sponsors
Celia Chazelle (History), Tim Clydesdale (Sociology & Anthropology), Jean Graham (English), Jo-Ann Gross (History), Deborah Hutton (Art), Pierre Le Morvan (Philosophy & Religion), Miriam Lowi (Political Science), Lee Ann Riccardi (Art), Glenn Steinberg (English), Michele Tarter (English)
Coordinator: Celia Chazelle (History)
Curriculum
Six courses as indicated below. Other relevant courses may
be substituted in each of these categories only with the permission
of a Faculty Sponsor
Arts and Humanities
Take one course in each area
specified below
World Religions
- AAS 201/African and Diaspora Religions*
- REL 111/Buddhism and Buddhist Thought*
- REL 112/Hinduism and Hindu Thought*
- REL 113/Islam and Islamic Thought*
- REL 120/Early Judaism*
- REL 121/Modern Judaism*
- REL 370/Special Topics in Religion (Prerequisite:
One course in religion or philosophy or permission of
the instructor)
- REL 470/Advanced Topics in Religion (Prerequisite:
One course in religion or philosophy or permission of
the instructor)
Religious Culture
- AAH 215 - The Arts of South Asia*
- AAH 216 - The Arts of East Asia*
- AAH 217 - Arts of the Islamic World*
- AAH 321 - Early Medieval Art*
- AAH 322 - Romanesque and Gothic Art*
- CLS 250 - Introduction to Greek Mythology*
- HON 349 - Cities and Sanctuaries of Greece and Rome*
- HON 362 - Goodwives and Witches: Women in Colonial America
*
- LIT 251 - British Literature to the Restoration*
- LIT 317 - WGS 317/The Witch in Literature*
- LIT 340 - The Bible as Literature*
- LIT 354 - Middle English Literature*
- LIT 358 - British Literature Reformed, 1550-1700*
- MUS 351 - Music from 600 to 1750: Gregorian Chant to
High Baroque*
Critical Issues
- REL 100 - Basic Issues in Religion*
- REL 270 - Contemporary Religious Issues (Prerequisite:
One course in religion or philosophy or permission
of the instructor)
- PHL 250 - HON 272 Philosophy of Religion (Prerequisite
: One course in religion or philosophy or permission
of the instructor)
Social Science and History
Take two of the following
courses
- SOC 375 - Religion and American Culture (Prerequisite:
SOC 101 or HON 216)
- HIS 307 - Jews, Christians, and Muslims in the Premodern World*
- HIS 312 - Medieval Culture and Society*
- HIS 313 - Medieval Christianity*
- HIS 332 - Topics: Islamic Mysticism and Shrines*
- HIS 338 - Indian Civilization*
- HIS 341 - Islamic History from Muhammad to the Ottomans*
- HIS 342 - Modern Middle East*
- HIS 344 - Politics and Religion in the Middle East *
- HIS 455 - Readings Seminars (where topic has religious studies
component; with permission of instructor and Faculty Sponsor)
- HIS 498 - Research Seminars (where topic has religious studies
component; with permission of instructor and Faculty Sponsor)
- POL 357 - Middle East Politics
Additional Course
Take one additional
course
- From "Arts and Humanities"
- From "Social Science and History," or
- Another relevant course with
permission of the faculty sponsor.
*No listed prerequisites
In addition to courses required by this concentration, a
student must complete one approved course in quantitative reasoning
and one approved course in laboratory science to satisfy
breadth requirements in liberal learning. Students should consult
their major or open option advisors about how best to complete
other liberal learning requirements.
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