Schedule of Classes
A glowing range of classes are offered each semester ranging through various religious and cultural perspectives. Introductory courses on Christianity, Islam and Judaism are offered most semesters, and our faculty have several tailored courses highlighting their specialties, including religious traditions, mystics, ethics and the divine.
The Religious Studies program also supports an engaging study abroad program for students to further their hands-on experience as well.
Summer 1 2024 - 5/6/2024 - 6/26/2024
Religion in the Modern World
REL 3140/CRN 30120
Online - Async
Taught by Randall Engle
Focuses on key issues of religious life in the modern world. Examples of topics include the role of women in religious leadership, the relation of science and religion, religious fundamentalism, and religiously motivated acts of terrorism.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the knowledge applications integration area. Prerequisite for knowledge applications: completion of the general education requirement in the social science or the global perspective knowledge exploration area, not both.)
Directed Readings in Religious Studies
REL 4920/CRN 32106
Permission of coordinator ([email protected])
Taught by Michael Pytlik
Individual study of topic(s) not covered in available courses. May be repeated for additional credit.
Summer 2 2024 - 7/1/2024 - 8/21/2024
Introduction to Christianity
REL 1250/CRN 31945
Online - Async
Taught by Randall Engle
Key ideas, major concepts, and peculiar language of the Christian religious experience. Focus on history of Christianity, creeds and doctrines of various denominations, Christianity’s cultural influences, and Christian ethical systems.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area.)
ST: Cross and Crown
REL 3900/ CRN 32106
Study Abroad: permission of coordinator ([email protected])
Taught by Randall Engle
This course will survey the events that brought the Tudors to the throne, and England out of the medieval period and into the early modern world. Particular focus will be given to the Tudor establishment of the Church of England, but other topics will be addressed such as the English Reformation, the development of the nation state, the monarchy, and the blossoming of English literature and music.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the western civilization knowledge exploration area or in the global perspective knowledge exploration area, not both.)
Fall 2024 - 9/4/2024 - 12/14/2024
Introduction to Religion
REL 1100/CRN 40392
Online - Async
Taught by Andrew Guffey
Critical, comparative study of the human religious experience, as well as an examination of various methodological approaches employed by academic disciplines in the study of religion.
Intro to Islam
REL 1150/CRN 41239
MW 1-2:47 p.m.
117 South Foundation Hall
Taught by Aly Lela
Pre-Islamic Arabia, Muhammad and early Islamic history; the Qur’an and basic beliefs, practices and law; the Islamic Caliphate; Islam in the modern world and Muslims in America; women in Islam and other contemporary issues.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education. Prerequisite for writing intensive: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.)
Prerequisite(s): WRT 1060 or equivalent with a grade of (C) or higher
Intro to Judaism
REL 1200/CRN 43416
Online - Async
Taught by Michael Pytlik
Religious beliefs, practices and philosophies embedded within the major historical experiences (Biblical and Diasporic) of Jewish people including main institutional branches of Judaism, central characteristics of Jewish culture, and their relationship with non-Jewish groups and societies.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education. Prerequisite for writing intensive: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.)
Prerequisite(s): WRT 1060 or equivalent with a grade of (C) or higher
Introduction to Christianity
REL 1250/CRN 40785
MWF 9:20 - 10:27 a.m.
117 South Foundation Hall
Taught by Randall Engle
OR
REL 1250/CRN 41881
Online - Async
Taught by Charles Mabee
Key ideas, major concepts, and peculiar language of the Christian religious experience. Focus on history of Christianity, creeds and doctrines of various denominations, Christianity’s cultural influences, and Christian ethical systems.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area.)
World Religious Traditions
REL 1850CRN/ 40211
Online - Async
Taught by Charles Mabee
Examines the core teachings and practices of the world’s major religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Chinese religions. Emphasis is on terminology developed within each tradition, identification of human problems that each attempts to solve, and the insights and problematic issues that arise from these attempts.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area.)
Islam in the Modern World
REL 3130/CRN 44480
Online - Async
Taught by Aly Lela
Exploration of political, social, cultural, and religious developments in a diverse array of Muslim societies in the contemporary world. Examination of interaction between Western notions of modernity and Islam. Analysis of Western influence on Muslim societies and Muslim responses to the West. Topical issues include women’s rights, democracy, and the rise of radical groups.
Religion in the Modern World
REL 3140/CRN 43417
MWF 10:40 - 11:47 a.m.
117 South Foundation Hall
Taught by Randall Engle
Focuses on key issues of religious life in the modern world. Examples of topics include the role of women in religious leadership, the relation of science and religion, religious fundamentalism, and religiously motivated acts of terrorism.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the knowledge applications integration area. Prerequisite for knowledge applications: completion of the general education requirement in the social science or the global perspective knowledge exploration area, not both.)
The Book of Genesis
REL 3700/CRN 44479
TR 10 - 11:47 a.m.
212 South Foundation Hall
Taught by Joe Klein
Examination of the major themes in the Book of Genesis, including creation, relationship between people and God, and human nature. Course will incorporate archaeology, rabbinic and Christian commentary, and literary analysis.
ST: Religion and the Good Life
REL 3900/CRN 43420
Online - Async
Taught by Andrew Guffey
Course Description: This course examines what religion contributes to the project of living a "good life" by exploring key moral issues as they are handled by various religious traditions.
ST: People/Culture of Near East
REL 3900/CRN 44963
Online - Async
Permission of coordinator ([email protected])
Taught by Michael Pytlik
Course description: Surveys the peoples, cultures, places, and events of the ancient Near East. Examines the cultures of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Canaan, and Israel with an eye to each culture’s social institutions, settlements, religions, kinship, art, diet, adaptive strategies. Covers the problems in identifying ancient ethnicities and impacts of colonialism and recovering the ancient mind. Covers shared culture and characteristics of the peoples and their impact on contemporary cultures, where possible.
Identical with AN 3900 CRN 44476.
Directed Readings in Religious Studies
REL 4920/CRN 40206
Arranges or Asynchronous
Permission of concentration coordinator ([email protected])
Taught by Randall Engle
Individual study of topic(s) not covered in available courses. May be repeated for additional credit.
Prerequisite(s): REL 1100 and REL 2100
Winter 2025 - 1/6/2025 - 4/26/2025
Introduction to Religion
REL 1100/CRN 10781
Online - Async
Taught by Andrew Guffey
Critical, comparative study of the human religious experience, as well as an examination of various methodological approaches employed by academic disciplines in the study of religion.
Intro to Islam
REL 1150/CRN 13332
MW 1 - 2:47 p.m.
376 Mathematics and Science Center
Taught by Aly Lela
Pre-Islamic Arabia, Muhammad and early Islamic history; the Qur’an and basic beliefs, practices and law; the Islamic Caliphate; Islam in the modern world and Muslims in America; women in Islam and other contemporary issues.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education. Prerequisite for writing intensive: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.)
Prerequisite(s): WRT 1060 or equivalent with a grade of (C) or higher
Intro to Judaism
REL 1200/CRN 14023
TR 10 - 11:47 a.m.
117 South Foundation Hall
Taught by Joe Klein
OR
REL 1200/CRN 13803
Online - Async
Taught by Michael Pytlik
Religious beliefs, practices and philosophies embedded within the major historical experiences (Biblical and Diasporic) of Jewish people including main institutional branches of Judaism, central characteristics of Jewish culture, and their relationship with non-Jewish groups and societies.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education. Prerequisite for writing intensive: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.)
Prerequisite(s): WRT 1060 or equivalent with a grade of (C) or higher
Introduction to Christianity
REL 1250/CRN 12233
MWF 9:20 - 10:27 a.m.
204 Dodge Hall
Taught by Randall Engle
OR
REL 1250/CRN 11282
Online - Async
Taught by Charles Mabee
Key ideas, major concepts, and peculiar language of the Christian religious experience. Focus on history of Christianity, creeds and doctrines of various denominations, Christianity’s cultural influences, and Christian ethical systems.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area.)
World Religious Traditions
REL 1850/CRN 10312
Online - Async
Taught by Charles Mabee
Examines the core teachings and practices of the world’s major religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Chinese religions. Emphasis is on terminology developed within each tradition, identification of human problems that each attempts to solve, and the insights and problematic issues that arise from these attempts.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area.)
Religion in the Modern World
REL 3140/CRN 12598
MWF 10:40 - 11:47 a.m.
101 Mathematics and Science Center
Taught by Randall Engle
Focuses on key issues of religious life in the modern world. Examples of topics include the role of women in religious leadership, the relation of science and religion, religious fundamentalism, and religiously motivated acts of terrorism.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the knowledge applications integration area. Prerequisite for knowledge applications: completion of the general education requirement in the social science or the global perspective knowledge exploration area, not both.)
Islam in America
REL 3450/CRN 12585
Online - Async
Taught by Aly Lela
Examination of the history, development, and challenges facing the Muslim community in the United States. Emphasis on the diversity of this community and its role in the greater Detroit area.
ST: Aramaic/Syriac Christianity
REL 3900/CRN 13476
Online - Async
Taught by Andrew Guffey
Course Description: A survey and exploration of the distinctive theology, religious practice and culture of the Syriac/Aramaic-speaking Christian world from the beginning of the Christian Era through the fourteenth century.
ST: Jewish Detective Fiction
REL 3900/CRN 14528
Online - Async - Tuesday
Online - Synchronous - R 10 - 11:47 a.m.
Taught by Rebecca Josephy
Course Description: In this class, we will explore a wide range of mystery and detective fiction from a Jewish perspective. The class will culminate in a final project where students will write their own Jewish detective story, using Oakland University as a backdrop.
Directed Readings in Religious Studies
REL 4920/CRN 10313
Arranges or Asynchronous
Permission of concentration coordinator - ([email protected])
Taught by Randall Engle
Individual study of topic(s) not covered in available courses. May be repeated for additional credit.
Prerequisite(s): REL 1100 and REL 2100
Study Abroad - 1/6/2025 - 4/26/2025
ST: In the Footsteps of Jesus
REL 3900/ CRN 14024
TR 5:30 - 7:17 p.m.
112 South Foundation Hall
Travel 2/21/2025 - 3/2/2025
Permission of the coordinator - ([email protected])
Taught by Randall Engle
Course Description: The first part of the course consists of on-campus lectures and readings where you will learn about the main figure of Christianity, Jesus, and the main teachings of the Bible. Then you will travel with Prof. Engle to the Holy Land in Israel to visit biblical sites and walk the land of Jesus from February 21, 2025 thru March 2, 2025.
Religious Studies / Center for Religious Understanding
Religious Studies / Center for Religious Understanding