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RELS101 Introduction to the Study of Religion (3 semester hours)
This introductory course explores the basic nature of religion, both historical and contemporary, and familiarizes the student with a multidisciplinary approach to religious study. Students examine the importance of religious thought and expression, from the viewpoints of both a participant and a critic.
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.
RELS201 Introduction to World Religions (3 semester hours)
This course introduces the major religions of the world with attention to origin, history, beliefs and practices. The course provides a balanced consideration of both Eastern and Western religions. No force has influenced human life and civilization more than religion; no understanding of human affairs, on an individual scale or a global one, can succeed without comprehending it.
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.
RELS202 Religion in America (3 semester hours)
This course examines the variety of ways in which religion is found in contemporary American experience. Course content focuses on the changes within traditional historical religions as well as new religious groups which have evolved within American society.
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.
RELS205 Christianity (3 semester hours)
An introduction to Christianity as a world religion — with origins, history, beliefs, literature, ritual and practical ethics as points of departure — this course places emphasis on understanding the multiple and complex global interpretations of Christianity as expressed by the great church traditions (including Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant denominations, and traditional churches of the Middle East and Africa) and in regional variations worldwide. Students will study key events in the history of Christianity, such as the iconoclasm and the rise of Islam, schism between East and West, Crusades, Reformation, and the role of the Enlightenment with attention paid to key councils, authoritative decisions of historic church leaders, and the writings of some the most influential global Christian voices. For each of the focal points we will consider the historical, geographic and cultural contexts, and listen to the various participants in key debates —winners and losers. Students will have an opportunity to examine Christian influence on art, literature, science, intellectual movements, and politics through the history.
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.
RELS206 Contemporary Christianity (3 semester hours)
Over the past 2,000 years, the influence of Christianity has grown to impact almost every corner of the world as the largest religion in our time. This course will provide an academic survey of the modern issues that are currently impacting contemporary Christianity through the study of selected themes, movements, religious contexts, theologies, philosophies, and beliefs with attention to its continuing religious and cultural impact. It delves into the study of contemporary Christian issues, including the nature of the Bible, science and evolution, gender and sexuality, world Christianity, persecution, the decline of Christianity in America, church and state, racism, freedom, art and technology, ecology, sports, and institutions.
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.
RELS211 Introduction to the Old Testament (3 semester hours)
This course acquaints students with the content and major themes of the Old Testament and familiarizes them with important contemporary scholarship which helps to illuminate the biblical documents. Course content explores the socio-political and religious forces that shape the thirty nine books of the Old Testament and examines the enduring significance of their diverse messages.
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.
RELS212 Introduction to the New Testament (3 semester hours)
This course provides a detailed exploration of the historical and religious context, literary styles and theological themes of each of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, and offers an overview of current New Testament studies.
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.
RELS250 Death and Dying (3 semester hours)
This course provides perspectives on death and dying. Students examine how death is beneficial and necessary for evolution. Participants explore the media's impact on mortality. Participants analyze how to communicate death to the living. Students assess the bereavement and burial process. Topics include: communicating death, the feeling of emptiness, the forgetfulness of life, living in the face of death, organ donation, burial, and the other side after death.
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.
RELS260 Race & Religion (3 semester hours)
American society is a cauldron of various racial, political, ethnic, and religious formations. Amongst these, religious and racial formations provide strong modes of social organization. Both religion and race are also a major stimulus of cultural practices and belief systems. These two modes influence the ideals of democracy, equality, freedom, and even political identifications. The current agitations about Black Lives Matter are drawing attention to the racial divisions that are splitting the American society. At the same time, these movements are receiving the support of people from different religions. The Islam phobia and growth of right-wing militias are also similarly pitting Americans against one another based upon their religious beliefs. American writers, artists, activists, and even poets have drawn attention to these linkages and the pernicious impact it is having upon our society. Their contributions provide an alternate understanding of the strengths and limitations of American democracy. In this course, we will examine a variety of sources to understand how religion and race are shaping American democracy and society.
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.
RELS270 Hope and Resilience (3 semester hours)
Difficult situations in life motivate us to think carefully about religion. The forms of religions are based on the well-being of human beings, and they have provided many different ways to follow paths that are good for our mental and physical health. This course will deal with essential questions; do religions offer ways and techniques to support that are good for our well-being? What paths have been provided to lead a good life? How our hope, contemplation, and resilience are rooted in popular religions? What are the methods advised by religions to help practitioners? The course will include traditions that are isolated to a specific culture. However, they have their historical, cultural, and social context, in which they have been beneficial to the practitioners of these cultures. On American soil, they are coming together as a melting pot, and this course will look into how their beneficial value can be used to manage current stresses. This course will look into beneficial teachings from different religions that are becoming mainstream and are practiced in a non-traditional way without converting to a specific religion. The course will cover Christian traditions, Sufi traditions, traditions from People of First Nation, Hindu, and Buddhist traditions. Ways to Stop and reflect and achieve tranquility. Not as a way of worship rather a way of living one’s life with equanimity and hope.
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.
RELS305 Theology of Social Responsibility (3 semester hours)
This course provides an exploration of belief and practices related to agitation, direct action for social change, and responsible action in the religious setting. This course dives into how identity, power, and suffering shape historical judgments about the intersection of religion and ethics. Close readings of primary sources drawn from autobiographies, letters, sermons, poems, and treatises. Figures may include John Wesley, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Eberhard Arnold, Martin Luther King Jr., Pauli Murray, Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton, Jean Vanier, Daniel Berrigan, Joan Chittister, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, and The Sister Fund.
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.
RELS311 Introduction to the Bible (3 semester hours)
This course explores the languages, canonization, organization and translation of the Bible. The genres of narrative, poetry, wisdom, law, prophecy, gospels, parables, letters, and apocalypse are analyzed in order to thoughtfully read the Bible without the aid of other reference works. This course is foundational to further Biblical study.
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.
RELS330 Religions of the Middle East (3 semester hours)
This course is a study of the three primary religions whose origins were in and which are still practiced in the Middle East: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. For each religion, topics include history, culture, beliefs, scriptures and practices. Variations within the religions will be studied in context of their expression in the Middle East. In addition, the relationship of the three in the present day context will be studied, as well the influence of the religions on political and social situations.
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.
RELS350 Hinduism (3 semester hours)
This course introduces students to Hindu religious life with the primary focus being on the examination of some key concepts (such as dharma, samsara, atman, maya, moksha, artha, monism, and pantheism), along with an attempt to have a firm grasp of the meaning of religious ideas, symbols, and practices, as related to the participants. Course topics include the disciplines (yogas) of devotion (bhakti), action (karma), knowledge (jnana), ethics, and the major schools of thought.
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.
RELS351 Buddhism (3 semester hours)
This course is a study of Buddhism's major historical movements and cultural expressions. Students examine the origin and development of the teachings, rituals and institutions of the Buddhist tradition in South Asia since the beginning of the common era to the present day. Course topics include the life and times of Siddhartha Gautama (“the Buddha”); implantation in East Asian societies of the various forms of Buddhism that developed in South Asia; development of new Buddhist “schools” in East Asia; relationships between Buddhism and the other religious traditions in East Asia; relationships between Buddhism and the State; early Buddhist community; popular Buddhist piety and social movements; development of the three main branches of the Buddhist tradition, and the role of women in Buddhism.
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.
RELS353 Islam (3 semester hours)
This course is an introduction to Islam - and its associated civilization - through readings, case studies, projects, and interaction within the classroom. Course content will examine the people and nations that practice this fascinating religion.
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.
RELS360 East Asian Religions (3 semester hours)
This course introduces East Asia's major religions, covering the geographical, historical, ethical, and comparative dynamics of these four religious traditions in the countries or territories of China, Mongolia, Tibet, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North and South Korea, and Japan. This will include the inclusive nature and coexistence of these religions such as “The Three Great Doctrines” of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism in China and other areas, and Shinto and Buddhism in Japan, along with their indigenous folk traditions.
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.
RELS370 South Asian Religions (3 semester hours)
This is a survey course for students to understand South Asian religions. The course will use primary and secondary texts, videos, and first-person accounts for instruction to generate class discussions. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism are major religions practiced in South Asia and by their diaspora in the west. This course will invite students to think deeply about different perspectives and how various religions have emerged or accepted teachings from each other to evolve as independent religions. The course covers contemporary applications of the religions with particular attention to the cultural, social, and political structuring of their practices.
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.
RELS405 Myth and Ritual (3 semester hours)
This course is a study of the role of myth and ritual in historical terms as well as modern myth and ritual developments. Students explore the influence of pervasive myths and rituals in society as they are infused throughout people and religious thought. Students will examine the continued influences of classical, religious and new myths in American popular culture and society today.
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RELS411 Religious Existentialism (3 semester hours)
This course is a study of the set of philosophical ideals that emphasizes the existence of the human being, the lack of meaning and purpose in life, and the solitude of human existence. The course will cover the existentialist philosophy and its leading historical proponents.
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RELS422 The Teachings of Jesus (3 semester hours)
Jesus Christ has impacted the world unlike any other person in history. Profound and multifaceted, Jesus' life and teachings are explored through the careful study of the history, culture, miracles and teachings presented in the four ancient Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
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RELS462 New Religious Movements and Cults (3 semester hours)
This course examines new religious movements and religious cults that span specific times and faith-based perspectives. Its focus is on the development of new religious movements and their growth, as well as the causes of cult formulation, cult leadership, cult purpose, and cult interactions with the outside world. Course content also explores what is meant by the terms "new religious movement," "cult," and "alternative religion," using historical and contemporary examples to illustrate these ideas. (Prerequisite: RELS101)
View the course schedule AMU or APU to find out details about each course including prerequisites, course objectives, course materials, a snapshot of the syllabi, and session dates.