Department: REL Religion

Code Name Description
REL106 Exploring the Bible An introductory study in which students gain an overview of the Bible, engage in literary analysis of Biblical texts and explore the Bible's contemporary relevance. College-level writing skills are required. Meets Core credit for Religion.
REL107 Exploring World Religions An introductory exploration of historical developments, beliefs and practices in selected Eastern and Western world religious traditions. Since students will be introduced to methods for analyzing and interpreting sacred texts, college-level writing...
REL109 Exploring Christian Ethics An introductory exploration of principles, movements and topics of Christian theological ethics. This course guides students through complex questions of moral reasoning and some of the Biblical, historical and theological resources used to address t...
REL208 Exploring Christian Theology An introduction to the central doctrines of the Christian faith that is both critically respectful of classic theological traditions and critically open to the new voices and emphases of recent theologies. Students will become familiar with systemati...
REL213 Life and Letters of Paul Examination of Saul/Paul through a careful study of the Book of Acts and the letters attributed to Paul, aided by useful secondary sources. Of interest are not only the social and theological concerns addressed by the apostle Paul but also the ways i...
REL214 Christian Formation and Life Calling Investigates how Christians grow in faith, understanding and commitment, and considers how to encourage and nurture such growth. Explores the biblical, theological, historical and cultural foundations of Christian formation; identifies and analyzes s...
REL214SL Service Learning: Christian Education & Formation No Description Set
REL220 Taking Human Life Deals with the questions of whether it is permissible to take human life and if so, what the conditions might be that warrant or limit such behavior. Examines the issues of euthanasia, abortion, capital punishment, suicide and warfare from literary,...
REL231 History of Christianity to the Reformation Focuses on the history of Christianity from the 1st to the middle of the 17th century. Emphasis will be primarily on the social context within which Christianity developed, and secondarily on Christian thought during the period.
REL232 History of Modern Christianity Focuses on the history of Christianity from the mid-17th century to the present. Emphasis will be primarily on the social context within which modern Christianity developed, and secondarily on Christian thought through the period. Meets Core credit f...
REL233 History of Religions in America Focuses on the history of religions in America from the mid-16th century to the present. Emphasis will be primarily on the social context within which American religions developed and secondarily on American religious thought during the period.
REL234 History of Christian Worship This course investigates the history of Christian worship from the New Testament church to the present day. The course will concentrate on the actual experience of worship for regular churchgoers and so will pay attention to material culture, art, mu...
REL240 Jewish Religious Traditions This course deals with a question that is central to all Jewish religious traditions: how do written and oral traditions combine to create the fabric of contemporary Jewish life? This question will be explored through selected Rabbinic writings and m...
REL250 Understanding Islam An investigation of the basic beliefs and practices in Islam as they are understood and observed in various parts of the world. The course approaches Islam by focusing upon the ways that oral and written traditions combine with cultural factors to cr...
REL260 Short Term Missions REL 260 explores the development, theology, and practice of international short-term, mission trips; introduces students to culture theory; and provides students with opportunities to develop skills in cross-cultural understanding and communication w...
REL293 Internship No Description Set
REL2SGL LUTHER AND THE GERMAN REFORMATION This course places the life and writings of Martin Luther and his contemporaries in the social, historical and theological context of 16th century Germany. Luther's development of thought will be traced by reading primary texts that represent his wo...
REL301 Topics in Religion An in-depth study of a particular topic in religion that is not covered in the regularly scheduled religion courses, for example, foundations for Biblical study in OT Hebrew and NT Greek, contemporary issues in political theology and selected theolog...
REL301B Topics: Four Loves No Description Set
REL301C Topics: Church, State, and Society No Description Set
REL301D Topics: Spirituality No Description Set
REL301E Topics: Christian Worship An in-depth study of a particular topic in religion that is not covered in the regularly scheduled religion courses, for example, Christian worship, church-state religions, spirituality. The course will feature frequent writing assignments and in-de...
REL301F Topics: Civil Rights An in-depth study of a particular topic in religion that is not covered in the regularly scheduled religion courses, for example, Christian worship, church-state relations, spirituality. The course will feature frequent writing assignments and in-de...
REL301G Topics: Footseps of Paul Students will explore the social and cultural world of early Christianity by following the travels of the apostle Paul throughout Greece. Special attention will be paid to locations that Paul visited during his second missionary journey as recorded i...
REL301I Topics: the Legacy of Paul and Peter in Italy This course combines th literary analysis of early Christian and medieval texts with a ten-day study abroad experience in Italy centering on the cities of Florence, Assisi and Rome. Major theological, cultural and social issues within Roman Catholic...
REL301J Topics: History of Christian Worship Starting with the New Testament church and ending with the rapidly growing churches of the new global South, this course examines 2,000 years of Christian history and beliefs that shaped the practice and experience of worship. From plain song to pow...
REL301K Topics: Introduction to the New Testament This course is an introduction to Koine Greek - the language of the New Testament. Upon completion, students will have an appreciation for the issues involved in advanced textual exegesis, an ability to use scholarly New Testament commentaries and a...
REL301L Topics: Introduction to Biblical Hebrew No Description Set
REL301M Topics: Practice and Theology of Worship What is Christian worship? Why do Christians worship? What order, forms and styles are most faithful? Most biblical? Most relevant? Why? How can worship be contextualized with integrity? These questions are the springboard for an exploration of Chris...
REL304 Advanced Old Testament An in-depth study of the Hebrew Scriptures focusing on selected sections and themes. Students will conduct literary analyses of OT texts while also examining ways in which narratives of the Hebrew Bible are used to formulate Jewish and Christian theo...
REL305 Advanced New Testament An in-depth study of the New Testament focusing on the four canonical Gospels. Students will conduct literary analyses of NT texts while also examining how these documents provide evidence for the early Jesus traditions and other developments in the...
REL307 World Religious Traditions: East Andt. West An advanced inquiry into selected topics within Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. Special focus will be placed on primary texts (the Tanakh, the Qur'an, the Bhagavad Gita and selected Buddhist scriptures) as we examine the world views and ethica...
REL308 Political Theology This course introduces students to several of the major, current topics within political theology--from liberalism's and democracy's champions and detractors, to the role of religious commitments in a pluralist society, to how the Bible is used and r...
REL311 Youth Ministry An examination of the characteristics of contemporary youth and youth culture including an analysis of the implications of these characteristics for the church. Emphasis is placed on the practical aspects of organizing, planning, and implementing chu...
REL320 Legacy of Peter & Paul in Italy This course combines the literary analysis of early Christian and medieval texts with an eight-day study abroad experience in Italy centering on the cities of Rome, Assisi and Florence. Students gain an understanding of major theological, historical...
REL340 Religion and the Civil Rights Movement In America This course examines the involvement and non-involvement of churches and people of faith in the movement for civil rights in the United States. Contextualized in the History of America's racialized society, both African American and white religious r...
REL340SL Service Learning: Religion and the Civil Rights Movement in America No Description Set
REL341 World Christianity, Culture, and Mission An exploration of post-colonial Christianity and Christianity outside the cultural west through the lenses of particular cultural contexts, culture theory, and the history, theology, and practice of Christian mission. Includes practicing skills for c...
REL375 Understanding Israel A multi-disciplinary course which may be offered in conjunction with a trip to Israel that features the study of biblical geography; biblical history; the story of Christianity, Judaism and Islam in what is now the modern State of Israel; and contemp...
REL393 Religion Internship No Description Set
REL3SGL Luther & the German Reformation This course places the life and writings of Martin Luther and his contemporaries in the social, historical and theological context of 16th century Germany. Luther's development of thought will be traced by reading primary texts that represent his wo...
REL400 Seminar in Christian Literature Acquaints the student with the rich heritage of Christian literature. Selected writings from the theological, devotional and general literary work of Christian writers are read and discussed.
REL401 Seminar in Christian Ethics This is an advanced course in religious ethics focusing on primary source readings of Christian ethics in the 20th century from authors such as Niebuhr, Ramsey, Yoder, and Hauerwas, examining their methodologies, religious contexts, theological assum...
REL404 Seminar in Christian Theology The careful reading and interpretation of primary source materials in Christian theology. The goals are familiarization with contemporary Christian theology and the acquisition or sharpening of research and writing skills for use in future graduate w...
REL493 Religion Internship No Description Set
REL497 Religion Thesis Seminar A guided opportunity to research and write a paper on a topic of interest in their area of concentration.
REL498 Independent Study No Description Set
REL607 Religions of India/Far East A study of Hinduism, Janism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Shinto. Emphasis is placed upon the major concepts of these religious traditions for an understanding of the contemporary cultures of India and the Far East.
REL608 History of Religions of Primitive Man And the Far East A study of primitive and ancient religions in the Near East leading up to the development of Zorastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Emphais is placed upon development and major concepts of the religions studied and their effect on contempor...
REL650 Death and Dying They study of death and dying will be divided into three parts: 1) The awareness of the concept of death in culture and personal experience; 2) Practical considerations in dealing with death and dying such as grief, care of the dying person, mournin...
RELCORE Religion Core No Description Set
RELELCBS Biblical Studies Elective No Description Set
RELELCCH Christian History Elective No Description Set
RELELCCR Core Religion Elective No Description Set
RELELCETH Religion Ethics Elective No Description Set
RELELCT Regligion Elective No Description Set