Religious Studies, Philosophy and Peace & Justice Studies
Dr. Natalia Imperatori-Lee
Chair of the Department
Religious Studies
Philosophy
Peace and Justice Studies
Peace and Justice Studies
Peace and Justice Studies is the academic program that embraces Manhattan College’s Lasallian commitment to advancing social justice. One of the oldest programs of its kind in the United States, the Peace and Justice Studies program is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing on the strength of faculty in areas such as Communications, Economics, English, Environmental Science, History, Management, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Religious Studies. The program’s fundamental goal is to understand and evaluate structural injustice, the aspects of human nature that lead to violence and war, and the work of social movements that seek to realize peace, nonviolence, and social justice.
Manhattan College offers Peace and Justice Studies as a major or minor field of study leading to the B.A. degree. It is encouraged that students interested in a major in Peace and Justice Studies pair it with a major in another academic discipline.
Peace and Justice Studies is housed in the School of Arts & Sciences, but is also available as a major or minor for students in the School of Engineering, and is possible as a minor for students in the School of Business.
Goals of the Peace and Justice Studies Major
A Major in Peace and Justice Studies will be able to:
- Identify current issues of conflict and injustice.
- Fulfilled by Conflicts and Injustices and Internship course requirement
- Describe normative models about peace, nonviolence, and social justice.
- Fulfilled by Introduction to Peace and Justice Studies course requirement and Concepts in Peace and Justice Studies course requirement (2 courses in 2 different departments)
- Explain how both the psychological make-up of humans and social structures promote conflict and injustice and/or promote positive peace and social justice.
- Fulfilled by Concepts in Peace and Justice Studies course requirement (2 courses in 2 different departments)
- Synthesize knowledge across academic disciplines concerning the psychological and structural dimensions that promote conflict and injustice with the goal of creating blueprints to achieve negative and positive peace
- Fulfilled by Methods course requirement and by Capstone course requirement
- Apply specific skills that will enable them to understand and critique problems of conflict and injustice, as well as contemplate solutions to these problems.
These skills may include a knowledge of quantitative and qualitative data analysis, so that one can both identify and separate accurate evidence from misinformation or poorly gathered data, and also generate accurate evidence, or conflict resolution skills that can be employed in their own lives.- Fulfilled by Methods course requirement, by Capstone course requirement and by Peacebuilding Skills requirement
Plan of Study for the Peace and Justice Studies Major
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| RELS 110 | 3 | ENGL 110 | 3 |
| HIST 150 | 3 | PHIL 150 | 3 |
| PEAC Concepts Course | 3 | LLRN 105 | 3 |
| Modern Foreign Language | 3 | PEAC Conflicts and Injustices Course | 3 |
| First Year Seminar Course | 3 | Modern Foreign Language 2 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PEAC 201 (Or RELS 255 or POSC 207*) | 3 | ART 150 or MUSC 150 | 3 |
| PEAC Concepts Course | 3 | HIST 300 (or POSC 210 or PSYC 314 or SOC 307 - Methods courses) | 3 |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | PEAC Elective | 3 |
| MATH 151 or 230 | 3 | Science Elective | 3 |
| Science Elective | 3 | Social Science Core 150 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| RELS 300 level Course*** | 3 | COMM 217 (Or MGMT 201, MGMT 450, PHIL 208, PHIL 308, POSC 318, SOC 310 - Peacebuilding Skills) | 3 |
| PEAC Elective | 3 | Science Elective | 3 |
| Social Science Core | 3 | Social Science Core | 3 |
| Science Elective | 3 | Two Free Electives** | 6 |
| Free Elective** | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PEAC Internship | 3 | PEAC Capstone Course | 3 |
| Four Electives | 12 | Four Free Electives | 12 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
- *
This course counts toward the RELS 2XX requirement.
- **
Students are encouraged to use free electives to pursue a double major or mino
- ***
Students are encouraged to take a RELS 3XX that also counts toward PEAC.
Requirements for the Peace and Justice Studies Major:
Majors must take 30 credits, including the following:
| Introductory Course | ||
| PEAC 201 | Introduction to Peace and Justice Studies | 3 |
| RELS 255 | Introduction to Peace and Justice Studies | 3 |
| POSC 207 | Introduction to Peace Studies | 3 |
| One of the following Methods courses | ||
| HIST 300 | Historical Methods | 3 |
| POSC 210 | Research Methods in Political Science | 3 |
| PSYC 314 | Statistics and Research Methods II | 3 |
| SOC 307 | Research Methods | 3 |
| One of the following Capstone courses | ||
| HIST 490 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| PEAC 401 | Senior Seminar in Peace and Justice Studies | 3 |
| POSC 405 | Special Topics: Senior Seminar: United States Government and Politics | 3 |
| POSC 412 | Senior Seminar: Women in Politics | 3 |
| POSC 420 | Senior Seminar: Conflict Resolution | 3 |
| POSC 426 | Senior Seminar: The Politics of Race, Ethnicity, and Class in the United States | 3 |
| POSC 440 | Seminar: European Politics | 3 |
| POSC 450 | Senior Seminar: Politics of International Economics | 3 |
| POSC 452 | Special Topics Senior Seminar: Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POSC 455 | Seminar: Diplomacy | 3 |
| POSC 473 | Senior Seminar: Contemporary Western Political Thought | 3 |
| POSC 480 | Special Topics Senior Seminar: Political Theory | 3 |
| PSYC 414 | Senior Capstone: Advanced Research Methods | 3 |
| SOC 416 | Seminar in Sociology | 3 |
| Another Capstone course approved by the Program Director of Peace and Justice Studies | ||
| Two of the following Concepts in Peace and Justice Studies courses: | ||
| COMM 371 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| CRES 150 | Introduction to Critical Race & Ethnicity Studies | 3 |
| ENGL 347 | Literature and War | 3 |
| ENGL 348 | Postcolonial Literature | 3 |
| PHIL 230 | Philosophy of Law | 3 |
| PHIL 238 | Philosophies of War and Peace | 3 |
| PHIL 275 | Political Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 325 | Marx and Marxism | 3 |
| PHIL 350 | Philosophers on Race, Class, and Gender | 3 |
| POSC 324 | Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties | 3 |
| POSC 354 | Human Rights | 3 |
| POSC 351 | International Relations | 3 |
| POSC 352 | International Organizations | 3 |
| PSYC 321 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 330 | Special Topic: in Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 348 | Cultural Psychology | 3 |
| RELS 204 | Religion and Social Justice | 3 |
| RELS 238 | Theologies Of Liberation | 3 |
| RELS 254 | Catholic Social Teaching | 3 |
| RELS 381 | Religious Dimensions of Peace | 3 |
| SOC 302 | Race and Resistance | 3 |
| SOC 304 | Social Inequalities | 3 |
| SOC 319 | Activism, Advocacy, and Empowerment | 3 |
| SOC 327 | Power and Conflict | 3 |
| One of the following Conflicts & Injustices courses: | ||
| HIST 231 | Introduction to African American History | 3 |
| HIST 306 | History of the Modern Middle East | 3 |
| HIST 307 | Genocide and Racism | 3 |
| HIST 314 | Modern Africa | 3 |
| HIST 328 | Cold War Diplomacy in Asia | 3 |
| HIST 334 | Diplomatic History of the Vietnam Wars | 3 |
| HIST 357 | Nazi Germany and the Holocaust | 3 |
| HIST 362 | US Foreign Relations, 1900 to the Present | 3 |
| HIST 366 | US Labor Patterns and Movement | 3 |
| HIST 383 | Civil War and Reconstruction | 3 |
| HIST 390 | Terror and Terrorism | 3 |
| HIST 391 | Decolonization: The End of Empires | 3 |
| HIST 392 | History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict | 3 |
| LABR 201 | Labor Studies Colloquium | 3 |
| POSC 251 | Global Issues | 3 |
| POSC 331 | Government and Politics of Russia and Selected Soviet Successor States | 3 |
| POSC 332 | Government and Politics of Central and Eastern Europe | 3 |
| POSC 340 | Government and Politics of Asia | 3 |
| POSC 343 | Government and Politics of the Middle East | 3 |
| POSC 344 | Government and Politics of the Caribbean | 3 |
| POSC 345 | Government and Politics of Latin America | 3 |
| POSC 346 | Government and Politics of Africa | 3 |
| POSC 348 | Government and Politics of the European Union | 3 |
| POSC 357 | United States Foreign Policy | 3 |
| RELS 342 | Islam and Politics | 3 |
| RELS 399 | Criminal Justice Ethics | 3 |
| SOC 212 | Migration, Globalization, and Culture | 3 |
| SOC 220 | Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC 262 | Contemporary Latin American Development | 3 |
| SOC 273 | Mass Incarceration and Collateral Consequences | 3 |
| SOC 328 | Societies and Cultures of Latin America | 3 |
| SOC 332 | Labor Studies Colloquium | 3 |
| SOC 369 | Current Issues in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| One of the following Peacebuilding Skills courses: | ||
| COMM 217 | Introduction to Public Relations | 3 |
| MGMT 201 | Introduction to Management | 3 |
| MGMT 450 | Negotiation & Conflict Mgmt | 3 |
| PHIL 208 | Ethics Bowl Debate I | 3 |
| PHIL 308 | Ethics Bowl Debate II | 3 |
| POSC 318 | Community Organizing for Social Change | 3 |
| SOC 318 | Community Organizing for Social Change | 3 |
| A Language course in addition to the two language courses required by the Core. | ||
| Another approved course by the Program Director of Peace and Justice Studies | ||
| One Field Work, internsip or community engaged learning course: | ||
| PEAC 451 | Peace and Justice Field Project | 3 |
| PEAC 453 | Community Engaged Learning | 3 |
| PEAC 475 | Internship | 3 |
| RELS 205 | Urban America and Catholic Social Teaching | 3 |
| Two Electives from the following list: | ||
| BIOL 223 | Ecology | 3 |
| COMM 217 | Introduction to Public Relations | 3 |
| COMM 340 | Media Criticism | 3 |
| COMM 371 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| CRES 150 | Introduction to Critical Race & Ethnicity Studies | 3 |
| ECON 334 | International Economics | 3 |
| ECON 412 | Economic Growth and Development | 3 |
| ENGL 265 | Global Literature in English | 3 |
| ENGL 279 | Literature and the Environment | 3 |
| ENGL 345 | Environmental Literature and Ecocriticism | 3 |
| ENGL 347 | Literature and War | 3 |
| ENGL 348 | Postcolonial Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 380 | Growing Up Ethnic: The Ethnic-American Bildungsroman | 3 |
| HIST 231 | Introduction to African American History | 3 |
| HIST 306 | History of the Modern Middle East | 3 |
| HIST 307 | Genocide and Racism | 3 |
| HIST 312 | Modern China 1839 - Now | 3 |
| HIST 313 | Vietnam to the Philippines | 3 |
| HIST 314 | Modern Africa | 3 |
| HIST 319 | The Crusades | 3 |
| HIST 326 | Diplomatic History of Europe 1815-1914 | 3 |
| HIST 328 | Cold War Diplomacy in Asia | 3 |
| HIST 334 | Diplomatic History of the Vietnam Wars | 3 |
| HIST 347 | The Sixties | 3 |
| HIST 351 | Age Of The French Revolution | 3 |
| HIST 357 | Nazi Germany and the Holocaust | 3 |
| HIST 358 | The Industrial Revolution | 3 |
| HIST 362 | US Foreign Relations, 1900 to the Present | 3 |
| HIST 366 | US Labor Patterns and Movement | 3 |
| HIST 383 | Civil War and Reconstruction | 3 |
| HIST 389 | Gender and Sexuality in the Modern Middle East | 3 |
| HIST 368 | Formation of U.S.Public Health | 3 |
| HIST 390 | Terror and Terrorism | 3 |
| HIST 391 | Decolonization: The End of Empires | 3 |
| HIST 392 | History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict | 3 |
| HIST 393 | Global Feminisms | 3 |
| MGMT 201 | Introduction to Management | 3 |
| MGMT 309 | Management of International Business | 3 |
| MGMT 450 | Negotiation & Conflict Mgmt | 3 |
| PEAC 302 | Special Topic | 3 |
| PEAC 421 | Independent Study | 3 |
| PEAC 451 | Peace and Justice Field Project | 3 |
| PEAC 452 | Peace and Justice Field Project | 3 |
| PEAC 453 | Community Engaged Learning | 3 |
| PEAC 475 | Internship | 3 |
| PHIL 201 | Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 208 | Ethics Bowl Debate I | 3 |
| PHIL 230 | Philosophy of Law | 3 |
| PHIL 238 | Philosophies of War and Peace | 3 |
| PHIL 275 | Political Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 308 | Ethics Bowl Debate II | 3 |
| PHIL 325 | Marx and Marxism | 3 |
| PHIL 350 | Philosophers on Race, Class, and Gender | 3 |
| POSC 209 | Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POSC 222 | Power in the City | 3 |
| POSC 223 | Environmental Politics | 3 |
| POSC 251 | Global Issues | 3 |
| POSC 254 | Global Cities | 3 |
| POSC 318 | Community Organizing for Social Change | 3 |
| POSC 324 | Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties | 3 |
| POSC 331 | Government and Politics of Russia and Selected Soviet Successor States | 3 |
| POSC 332 | Government and Politics of Central and Eastern Europe | 3 |
| POSC 340 | Government and Politics of Asia | 3 |
| POSC 343 | Government and Politics of the Middle East | 3 |
| POSC 344 | Government and Politics of the Caribbean | 3 |
| POSC 345 | Government and Politics of Latin America | 3 |
| POSC 346 | Government and Politics of Africa | 3 |
| POSC 348 | Government and Politics of the European Union | 3 |
| POSC 351 | International Relations | 3 |
| POSC 352 | International Organizations | 3 |
| POSC 354 | Human Rights | 3 |
| POSC 357 | United States Foreign Policy | 3 |
| POSC 367 | Model United Nations | 3 |
| POSC 368 | Model United Nations II | 3 |
| POSC 491 | SUNY Washington Internship Program | 15 |
| POSC 493 | SUNY Summer Washington Internship Program | 6 |
| POSC 494 | American University Seminar Program | 15 |
| PSYC 321 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 330 | Special Topic: in Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 348 | Cultural Psychology | 3 |
| RELS 204 | Religion and Social Justice | 3 |
| RELS 205 | Urban America and Catholic Social Teaching | 3 |
| RELS 238 | Theologies Of Liberation | 3 |
| RELS 254 | Catholic Social Teaching | 3 |
| RELS 310 | Religion & The Holocaust | 3 |
| RELS 320 | Race, Religion & Resistance | 3 |
| RELS 342 | Islam and Politics | 3 |
| RELS 362 | Religion & Work Ethics | 3 |
| RELS 377 | Religion and Environmentalism | 3 |
| RELS 381 | Religious Dimensions of Peace | 3 |
| RELS 399 | Criminal Justice Ethics | 3 |
| SOC 212 | Migration, Globalization, and Culture | 3 |
| SOC 220 | Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC 225 | Telling Stories with Maps | 3 |
| SOC 250 | Introduction to GIS | 3 |
| SOC 262 | Contemporary Latin American Development | 3 |
| SOC 273 | Mass Incarceration and Collateral Consequences | 3 |
| SOC 275 | Issues in Contemporary Policing | 3 |
| SOC 290 | Codes of Gender | 3 |
| SOC 295 | Capitalism | 3 |
| SOC 302 | Race and Resistance | 3 |
| SOC 304 | Social Inequalities | 3 |
| SOC 317 | Anthropology of Drugs | 3 |
| SOC 318 | Community Organizing for Social Change | 3 |
| SOC 319 | Activism, Advocacy, and Empowerment | 3 |
| SOC 324 | Sociological Theories | 3 |
| SOC 327 | Power and Conflict | 3 |
| SOC 328 | Societies and Cultures of Latin America | 3 |
| SOC 332 | Labor Studies Colloquium | 3 |
| SOC 333 | US Labor Patterns and Movements | 3 |
| SOC 334 | Sustainable Development | 3 |
| SOC 364 | Law and Society | 3 |
| SOC 361 | Criminal Justice Administration | 3 |
Requirements for the Peace and Justice Studies Minor
Minors must take 15 credits, including the following:
| Introductory Course - choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Peace and Justice Studies | ||
| Introduction to Peace Studies | ||
| Introduction to Peace and Justice Studies | ||
| 12 Additional credits chosen from the list of courses above in consultation with the Program Director. No more than 6 of these 12 credits can come from the same department. | 12 | |
| A minimum grade of C is required for credit toward the minor. | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
{4 year plan goes here}
* This course counts toward the RELS 2xx requirement.
**Students are encouraged to use free electives to pursue a double major or minor.
***Students are encouraged to take a RELS 3xx that also counts toward PEAC.
PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy challenges you to ask big, important questions, engage with some of the most significant minds in history, think critically, and write and express yourself clearly. One of the great strengths of a philosophy education is that it develops your ability to explore some of life’s most important questions, such as:
• What is the nature of the good life?
• What is justice?
• What can we know with certainty?
• How should we take care of each other?
Our faculty takes a pluralistic approach, that sharpens your ability to understand and analyze concepts, question injustices, and logical errors, and think critically about what matters to you. The philosophy program promotes sustained reflection, clarity in language and argument, and awareness of justice and injustice — critical skills for success in a multicultural world.
Religion is everywhere. It is a vital force in human experience and bears critical historical, cultural and political importance. Rooted in Manhattan College’s Lasallian identity, the Religious Studies Department prepares students to live in the twenty-first century by providing a person-centered education that examines the dynamic ways that religion and religious traditions shape culture, values, relationships and social structures. As part of this mission, the department embraces the college’s New York City location, and offers students the opportunity to take advantage of all that a global city has to offer. The department explores the power and persistence of religion in a global context by providing courses on specific religious traditions as well as on issues that span cultures and contexts; by producing quality scholarship in both religious studies and theology; and by actively engaging in the life of the college, the broader academic community, and the world at large.
Religious Studies Honors Thesis
Students with a 3.5 or greater cumulative index are eligible to develop a year-long independent research project under the supervision of a major reader and a second reader. In fall semester, the student registers for RELS 481 Religious Studies Honors Thesis. In the spring, the student will present a completed and revised honors thesis RELS 482 Honors Thesis II to the readers. Upon the successful completion of this process, the Religious Studies Department will award the student with honors recognition.
Courses Meeting the College Religious Studies Requirements
Instruction in the Department of Religious Studies promotes the mission of Manhattan College by providing a contemporary, person-centered educational experience characterized by high academic standards, reflection on faith, values, and ethics, and lifelong career preparation. These goals are accomplished through our nine-credit requirement for all students that includes:
1. One course that introduces the study of religion as an academic discipline and global phenomenon: RELS 110.
2. One course that explores the riches of the Catholic intellectual tradition: any course chosen from RELS 200-299 (Elective Group A)
3. One course that raises awareness of global and/or contemporary issues: any course chosen from RELS 300-399 (Elective Group B)
Our goals for students include an ability to critically read and analyze religious texts, a facility with the methods of the academic study of religion, a familiarity with specific religious traditions, and an understanding of the role that religion plays in contemporary life. The introductory course focuses on a particular theme while introducing students to some of the research tools used in the academic study of religion. Students may write a 6-credit honors thesis for departmental honors recognition.
Freshman Year
RELS 110/RELS 152/RELS 161 The Nature and Experience of Religion
Elective Group A: Catholic Studies
The remaining two RELS requirements can be met in the sophomore, junior, or senior year. It is possible that other, crosslisted courses may also count toward the Catholic Studies requirement. Students should check with their advisors for a list of additional courses. I
| RELS 200 | Special Topic: in Religion | 3 |
| RELS 202 | U.S. Latino/A Catholicism | 3 |
| RELS 204 | Religion and Social Justice | 3 |
| RELS 205 | Urban America and Catholic Social Teaching | 3 |
| RELS 206 | Understanding the Bible | 3 |
| RELS 207 | Central Themes New Testament | 3 |
| RELS 209 | Paul | 3 |
| RELS 210 | Jesus | 3 |
| RELS 212 | Catholic Traditions of Spain | 3 |
| RELS 214 | Dante | 3 |
| RELS 216 | Saints and Catholic Imagination | 3 |
| RELS 218 | The Bible & Film | 3 |
| RELS 219 | Self and Other | 3 |
| RELS 220 | Catholicism & Change | 3 |
| RELS 225 | Contemporary Catholicism | 3 |
| RELS 226 | Trends in Catholic Theology | 3 |
| RELS 227 | The Gospel of John | 3 |
| RELS 233 | Contemporary Christian Ethics | 3 |
| RELS 238 | Theologies Of Liberation | 3 |
| RELS 244 | The Catholic Mystics | 3 |
| RELS 245 | Medieval Christian Thought | 3 |
| RELS 254 | Catholic Social Teaching | 3 |
- *
Prerequisite for all 400-level courses: Open only to Religious Studies majors and minors or by permission of instructor.
Elective Group B: Global Studies and Contemporary Issues
| RELS 206 | Understanding the Bible | 3 |
| RELS 218 | The Bible & Film | 3 |
| RELS 255 | Introduction to Peace and Justice Studies | 3 |
| RELS 300 | Special Topic | 3 |
| RELS 302 | Religion and Spanish Culture | 3 |
| RELS 306 | Central Themes in the Hebrew Scriptures | 3 |
| RELS 310 | Religion & The Holocaust | 3 |
| RELS 312 | Muslims in America | 3 |
| RELS 321 | Psychology & Religion | 3 |
| RELS 336 | Native American Religions | 3 |
| RELS 337 | The American Religious Experience | 3 |
| RELS 341 | Judaism | 3 |
| RELS 342 | Islam and Politics | 3 |
| RELS 351 | God And Evil | 3 |
| RELS 354 | Buddhism: Its Development and Interpretation | 3 |
| RELS 355 | Islam | 3 |
| RELS 357 | Chinese Religions | 3 |
| RELS 358 | Religions of India | 3 |
| RELS 359 | Afro-Caribbean Religions | 3 |
| RELS 362 | Religion & Work Ethics | 3 |
| RELS 366 | Religion and Contemporary Art | 3 |
| RELS 367 | The Bible In American Culture | 3 |
| RELS 372 | Religion and Science | 3 |
| RELS 373 | Death as a Fact of Life | 3 |
| RELS 374 | Women in Western Religion | 3 |
| RELS 375 | Religion and the Body | 3 |
| RELS 376 | Religion And Media | 3 |
| RELS 377 | Religion and Environmentalism | 3 |
| RELS 378 | Religion in New York | 3 |
| RELS 379 | Religion and Popular Culture | 3 |
| RELS 381 | Religious Dimensions of Peace | 3 |
| RELS 390 | Sexuality and the Sacred | 3 |
| RELS 399 | Criminal Justice Ethics | 3 |
| RELS 470 | Religious Studies Seminar | 3 |
| RELS 475 | Internship | 3 |
| RELS 480 | Religious Studies Tutorial * | 3 |
| RELS 481 | Religious Studies Honors Thesis * | 3 |
| RELS 482 | Honors Thesis II | 3 |
Philosophy Courses
PHIL 150. Roots: Philosophy. 3 Credits.
An intensive and critical examination of selected philosophical texts and developments from the medieval period to the present that contribute to an understanding of the modern world. Not open to students who have completed PHIL 152 or PHIL 211.
PHIL 152. Roots of Modern Age: Philosophy - FYS. 3 Credits.
An intensive and critical examination of selected philosophical texts and developments from the medieval period to the present that contribute to an understanding of the modern world. Not open to students who have taken PHIL 150 or PHIL 211.
PHIL 201. Ethics. 3 Credits.
An introduction to moral decision making emphasizing the criteria used in assessing moral problems and dilemmas. Required of students in the School of Business.
PHIL 205. Environmental Ethics. 3 Credits.
This course considers the ethical and philosophical dimensions of the relationship between human beings and the natural world. What is an environment; and what, if any, are our moral obligations towards it? Do we have moral obligations to anything other than human beings? Does the environment itself have some intrinsic value? How do we balance sustainability and growth?.
PHIL 208. Ethics Bowl Debate I. 3 Credits.
Collaborative analysis and debate of real-life ethical cases that change annually. Develops critical thinking and oral
advocacy skills alongside an understanding of ethical theory and rhetorical strategies. Students are given the
opportunity to participate in the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl debate tournament at the end of the semester.
PHIL 210. Faith and Reason. 3 Credits.
Focuses primarily on thinkers in the Catholic intellectual tradition, this course is guided by two hermeneutical principles. First, faith and reason are aspects of the human condition that are neither mutually exclusive nor inherently antagonistic. Second, faith and reason can be mutually illuminative and fruitfully conjoined in theory and process.
PHIL 211. Introduction to Philosophy. 3 Credits.
Introduction to topics in philosophy through an intensive and critical examination of selected
philosophical texts and developments that contribute to an understanding of the modern world. Not open
to students who have completed PHIL 150 or PHIL 152.
PHIL 213. Introduction to Logic. 3 Credits.
Fundamental principles of correct reasoning; logical validity; deductive argument; formal and informal fallacies; problems of semantics and definition; problem of induction and scientific method.
PHIL 214. Critical Thinking. 3 Credits.
Introduces the principles and techniques of critical thinking. Students will develop a set of concepts and techniques used to analyze and evaluate complex reasoning. Formal and informal fallacies will be studied, and students will develop their own arguments.
PHIL 215. Ancient Greek Philosophy. 3 Credits.
Examines the major theoretical and practical issues raised by the classical Greek Philosophers, especially the pre-Socratics, Plato, and Aristotle. Required for philosophy majors and minors.
PHIL 218. Philosophy & Literature. 3 Credits.
Two fundamental assumptions guide this course: first, all great literary works are inherently philosophical; second, great works of literature and great works of philosophy can complement one another in such a way as to deepen our understanding of both.
PHIL 220. Philosophy of Religion. 3 Credits.
Symbols and myths in religious experience; arguments for believing or not believing in God; the problem of evil; critiques of religion as projection, opiate or illusion.
PHIL 222. Aquinas. 3 Credits.
An investigation into the theological and philosophical thoughts of Aquinas, placed within the context of Scholastic Philosophy. Special attention will be paid to his use of Aristotelian Philosophy and its Muslim commentators, as well as his debt to Dionysius., Aquinas and critical thinking, and Aquinas’ place in Catholic intellectual history of will also be examined.
PHIL 228. Philosophy & Film. 3 Credits.
An exploration of the intersection of philosophy, one of the most ancient disciplines, and film, one of the youngest art forms. Through discussing the plots and imagery of films, we address such enduring philosophic issues as personal identity, moral decision making, and humanity's relationship to nature, technology, God, and time.
PHIL 230. Philosophy of Law. 3 Credits.
Theories of law; natural law versus legal positivism; legal paternalism; the right to privacy; legal reinforcement of moral standards; justice and fairness; legal responsibility; theories of punishment.
PHIL 236. Philosophy and Psychoanalysis. 3 Credits.
A concentration on selected major writings of Freud so as to achieve an understanding of the complexity of his thought before undertaking any kind of disciplined criticism in the light of oft-concealed philosophical presuppositions.
PHIL 238. Philosophies of War and Peace. 3 Credits.
Historical-conceptual consideration of war, peace, causes, and conditions of war and peace; social strife, racism, sexism, attitudes toward war and peace, peaceful coexistence, pacifism, nonviolence as techniques of struggle.
PHIL 251. Philosophers on Education. 3 Credits.
An examination of conflicting philosophies of education and their implications. Highly recommended for students in the School of Education and Health.
PHIL 271. American Political Thought. 3 Credits.
Analysis from original sources of major United States political and constitutional writers from colonial times to the present.
PHIL 274. Western Political Thought. 3 Credits.
Introduction to Western political theory through examining the written dialogue (between philosophers) which has contributed to what we know as the canon, on the state and society in the West.
PHIL 275. Political Philosophy. 3 Credits.
An introduction to the major theories and key questions that animate political philosophy: What is the source and nature of politics? How does politics relate to morality? What is the purpose of a state and how should it be constituted? How should we understand the relationships between individuals, communities, interest groups, and states? How is state power justified? What does the state owe its citizens, and what do citizens owe their states? Is there a virtue of good citizenship? What is democracy? How should states relate to other states? Political philosophy incorporates a wide variety of philosophical themes and areas, including but not limited to: Justice, rights, liberty, property, economics, feminism, religion, race, the environment, law, international relations, war, imperialism, colonialism and revolution.
PHIL 307. Metaphilosophy. 3 Credits.
Metaphilosophy (sometimes called the “Philosophy of Philosophy”) is the study of the nature of philosophy. In this course, students will explore several key metaphilosophical questions, such as: What is philosophy? How is philosophy done? How should philosophy be done? How do I become a philosopher? Why does philosophy matter? This course will investigate these questions via historical and contemporary texts from the Analytic, Continental, and Pragmatist traditions in philosophy.
PHIL 308. Ethics Bowl Debate II. 3 Credits.
Collaborative analysis and debate of real-life ethical cases that change annually. Develops critical thinking and oral
advocacy skills alongside an understanding of ethical theory and rhetorical strategies. Students are given the
opportunity to participate in the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl debate tournament at the end of the semester.
Prerequisite: PHIL 208 - Ethics Bowl Debate I.
PHIL 315. Medieval Philosophy. 3 Credits.
Medieval thought generated a variety of philosophical perspectives. To understand the distinctive character of the medieval philosophical pluralism, selected texts will be examined in Augustine, Boethius, Abelard, Anselm, Bonaventure, Aquinas, and Ockham.
PHIL 316. Modern Philosophy. 3 Credits.
Introduces the major texts, thinkers, and ideas of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century European philosophy. Texts by Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Kant will be studied from the perspective of their contributions to epistemology and metaphysics.
PHIL 320. Nineteenth-Century Philosophy. 3 Credits.
The nineteenth century was an extraordinarily rich period for philosophy when the influence of philosophers spread far beyond the academy. Many movements that began in philosophy during the nineteenth century, such as Marxism, Existentialism, and Pragmatism have continued to be influential. This course focuses on philosophers who were central to several important movements, for example, Hegel, Marx, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Willam James.
PHIL 325. Marx and Marxism. 3 Credits.
A study of the genesis and development of Marx's philosophy as a framework for understanding his theories of history and capitalism and his influence on modern thought and economic and social theories.
PHIL 330. American Philosophy. 3 Credits.
A critical analysis of pragmatism and the concept of experience through major figures in American Philosophy, for example, Peirce, James, Mead, Dewey, and Rorty.
PHIL 332. Africana Philosophy. 3 Credits.
A philosophy course introducing African philosophy, broadly construed. The course may cover traditional and contemporary African philosophy, Africana philosophy in the dispora, Afro-Caribbean philosophy, African constitutional philosophy and philosophy of law, decolonial philosophy, African feminist and queer philosophy, and the cross-pollination between African and African-American philosophy and political thought.
PHIL 334. Existentialism. 3 Credits.
An exploration of the major themes in the writings of Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Camus, Beauvoir, Sartre, Weil and others, with emphasis on their religious, social, political and economic implications.
PHIL 335. 20th Century Philosophy. 3 Credits.
This course examines the remarkable variety of topics, philosophers, and movements in the twentieth-century, for example, analytic philosophy, neo-pragmatism, existentialism, and phenomenology. The course typically will emphasize different topics, philosophers, and movements each time it is offered.
PHIL 341. Global & Feminist Epistemologies. 3 Credits.
What does it mean to say you know something? How is knowledge shaped by the world around us? This course explores global and feminist analyses of the social dimension of knowledge in order to work towards a liberatory conception of what it means to be a knower in the 21st century.
PHIL 342. Chinese and Japanese Philosophies. 3 Credits.
The role of filial piety and ancestor worship in perpetuating familial and social continuity; the Confucian union of nature and culture in the harmonious man; the Taoist emphasis on privacy in the midst of an overstructured world; Legalism as the first coherent totalitarian political philosophy; the Japanese sense of beauty.
PHIL 350. Philosophers on Race, Class, and Gender. 3 Credits.
This course takes an intersectional approach to race, class, gender, and sexuality, drawing on contemporary philosophical frameworks to examine multidimensional forms of raced, gendered, classed, and heterosexist and cis oppression.
PHIL 352. Philosophers on Sex, Love, and Friendship. 3 Credits.
This course explores philosophies of sex, love, and friendship through a range of philosophical traditions, including feminist and queer theory, philosophy of law, and Western and global philosophy.
PHIL 375. Internship. 3 Credits.
Students participate in an off-campus training experience closely related to their area of study. Frequent meetings with the internship advisor and a paper are required. Internships are arranged through the Center for Career Development and must be approved in advance by the chair and the Dean of the School of Arts.
PHIL 399. Topics: in Philosophy. 3 Credits.
A seminar on a single philosopher, topic, or period. The subject will vary from semester to semester. Open to non-majors as well as majors.
PHIL 401. Philosophy Seminar. 3 Credits.
An intensive study of an important philosopher, tradition, question, or area of philosophical research. Students will conduct independent research and complete a capstone project. Only open to philosophy majors and minors in their senior year who have completed two 200- or 300-level courses in Philosophy. Required for Philosophy majors. Some juniors majoring in Philosophy may be admitted with the Chair's approval. May be repeated.
PHIL 420. Independent Study. 3 Credits.
Individual study of a philosopher or topic area with a member of the department. Open only to students majoring in philosophy who meet the requirements set by the chair of the department and who secure the consent of the individual instructor.
PHIL 475. Internship. 3 Credits.
Students participate in an off-campus training experience closely related to their area of study. Frequent meetings with the internship advisor and a paper are required. Internships are arranged through the Center for Career Development and must be approved in advance by the chair and the Dean of the School of Arts. Open to majors only.
Religious Studies Courses
RELS 110. The Nature and Experience of Religion. 3 Credits.
This course is an introduction to religion as a human phenomenon and its transcendent elements, including contemporary approaches to the problem of religious beliefs and faith, a study of the problems of religious language, myth, symbolism and ritual, and the relations between religion and contemporary culture.
RELS 152. Nature & Experience of Religion-FYS. 3 Credits.
This course is an introduction to religion as a human phenomenon and its transcendent elements, including contemporary approaches to the problem of religious beliefs and faith, a study of the problems of religious language, myth, symbolism and ritual, and the relations between religion and contemporary culture. The course follows a learning-through-writing approach.
RELS 161. The Nature and Experience of Religion: Veterans' Stress Reduction Program. 3 Credits.
Religion as a human phenomenon and its transcendent elements. Contemporary approaches to the problem of religious beliefs and faith. A study of the problems of religious language, myth, symbolism and ritual. The relations between religion and culture with special reference to contemporary questions. Offered every semester specifically for Veterans' Stress Reduction Program.
RELS 200. Special Topic: in Religion. 3 Credits.
An intensive study of one topic in Catholic Studies. The subject will vary from semester to semester. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 202. U.S. Latino/A Catholicism. 3 Credits.
This course explores the phenomenon of U.S. Latino/a Catholicism through an investigation of its history, figures, themes, and current controversies. It examines how Latino/a theology articulates itself as an explicitly contextual theology that accounts for the role of popular religiosity and devotion, race, class, and gender in its thought. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 204. Religion and Social Justice. 3 Credits.
A study of the role of Catholic social movements in the economic, political, and cultural life of New York as interpreted through biblical insight and Roman Catholic social teaching. Topics include charities, the Catholic Worker, labor issues, Wall Street, inner-city churches, and the United Nations. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 205. Urban America and Catholic Social Teaching. 3 Credits.
This is an interdisciplinary, service-learning course based upon sociological, political science, and economic analysis of urban poverty. These methods, combined with reflections on Catholic social teaching, provide the framework for student-volunteer work at various Bronx-based community organizations. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 206. Understanding the Bible. 3 Credits.
A study of how the Bible was formed and how to read it, including the use of historical and critical methods to examine texts, authorship, literary forms, and transmission through manuscripts and translations. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 207. Central Themes New Testament. 3 Credits.
This course is an historical study of the development of the Christian scriptures. Topics include the history of the earliest Christian communities, the unique messages of the evangelists, and some of the methods used to understand their writings. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 209. Paul. 3 Credits.
This course is an exploration of the earliest Christian writings and of the personality and theology of Christianity’s most influential preacher. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 210. Jesus. 3 Credits.
An examination of the historical Jesus based upon recent critical scholarship of the New Testament. Topics include the life of Jesus, the role of Jesus in historical Christianity, and the implications of an historical approach for a contemporary Christology. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 212. Catholic Traditions of Spain. 3 Credits.
An on-site experience based in and around Spain's capital region as part of the Manhattan-in-Madrid study abroad program. Through a combination of classroom meetings and directed excursions, the course explores the foundational but diverse presence of Catholicism in the history of Spain as well as in its contemporary culture. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 214. Dante. 3 Credits.
An introduction to the theological thought of the great medieval poet, Dante Alighieri. Careful attention will be paid to The New Life and Inferno, as well as to Dante's political thought. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 216. Saints and Catholic Imagination. 3 Credits.
The course examines the function of holy men and women within their religious traditions and their ethical perspectives on the contemporary world. Included will be a study of the cult of Saints, hagiography, and Saints of our own time. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 218. The Bible & Film. 3 Credits.
This course will consider the historical and literary aspects of selected biblical narratives, as well as their interpretations in contemporary film. It will also discuss biblical themes, expressions, terms, and types that have become part of American culture and are sources used by the writers and directors. This course focuses primarily on film as a form of the long history of biblical interpretation, not on film theory. Prerequisites: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 219. Self and Other. 3 Credits.
This course is a study of human existence through scripture, classical church doctrines, and contemporary theology and philosophy. Many of the issues explored in this course intersect with questions of difference, including religious conflict and diversity; race, gender, and environmental degradation; and the impact of electronic technology on interpersonal relationships. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 220. Catholicism & Change. 3 Credits.
This course investigates the history, context, major figures, and varied themes of the Second Vatican Council. It examines the conciliar documents and the circumstances that surrounded their production in an effort to understand some of the complexity of contemporary Catholicism. The course will also consider the major conciliar documents as they relate to matters that deal with the Church itself, with the relationship of the Church to the world, and with the relationship of the Church to other religious traditions. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 222. Aquinas. 3 Credits.
An investigation into the theological and philosophical thoughts of Aquinas, placed within the context of Scholastic Philosophy. Special attention will be paid to his use of Aristotelian Philosophy and its Muslim commentators, as well as his debt to Dionysius., Aquinas and critical thinking, and Aquinas’ place in Catholic intellectual history of will also be examined.
RELS 225. Contemporary Catholicism. 3 Credits.
An exploration of the spirit, development, and new insights of the Catholic Church in the post-Vatican II era. Doctrinal, moral, ecumenical, and social questions will be examined. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 226. Trends in Catholic Theology. 3 Credits.
An analysis of the theological presuppositions of contemporary authors; including the methodology of research (hermeneutics) as a basis for modern thinking about Catholicism and the role of human and psychological premises underlying understanding of the mystery of Christ. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 227. The Gospel of John. 3 Credits.
A study of one of the most sophisticated voices in the early Church and the forces that shaped that Church. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 233. Contemporary Christian Ethics. 3 Credits.
This course engages new approaches to biblical and church authority in contemporary Christian Ethics. Topics include new options in systematic ethics (models, method, moral absolutes, and exceptions), and sin and conscience in contemporary ethical thought. The theoretical material will be illustrated by concrete reference to specific moral issues. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 238. Theologies Of Liberation. 3 Credits.
An examination of the theologies of liberation in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and among Afro-Americans and women in the United States. Topics include dialogue among these groups, the responses of first-world theologians, the relation between religion and politics, and the place of activism in the life of a religious person. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 244. The Catholic Mystics. 3 Credits.
A study of the mystical experience, in both its theory and practice, through the lives and writings of the great Christian mystics, past and present. Ample exposure to primary sources and field trips to mystical and contemplative centers constitute the core of this course. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 245. Medieval Christian Thought. 3 Credits.
A study of the history of Christian thought concerning the nature of humanity and the universe from Augustine through the Scholastics to the eve of the Reformation. Medieval political, theological, liturgical, and artistic expressions of Christendom will be examined. Includes a field trip. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 254. Catholic Social Teaching. 3 Credits.
A theological and ethical investigation of selected moral problems of our time, such as truth in government, violence, economic injustice, and racism, in addition to other moral issues. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 255. Introduction to Peace and Justice Studies. 3 Credits.
An introduction to the nature, scope, and methodology of Peace and Justice Studies as well as an exploration of some major contemporary problems that threaten peaceful and just relations between groups, nations or individuals. Prerequisites: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 256. Catholic Mass and Its Music. 3 Credits.
The course explores the structure of the Roman Mass, the role of music in faith formation, the major reforms in the Church's history; their cause and results, and the musical culture of the Church following the Second Vatican Council. Students will demonstrate understanding of Catholicism, including its worldview, ethics, history, text, and/or intercultural relations historically and at present. Pre-requisite RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 300. Special Topic. 3 Credits.
An intensive study of a particular religious tradition or topic from within the fields of global studies or contemporary culture. The subject will vary from semester to semester. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 302. Religion and Spanish Culture. 3 Credits.
An on-site experience based in and around Spain's capital region as part of the Manhattan-in-Madrid study abroad program. Through a combination of classroom meetings and directed excursions, the course explores the complex but foundational role of religion in the history of Spain as well as in its contemporary culture. Particular topics as well as course structure (semester-long or two-week intensive) may vary across offerings. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 306. Central Themes in the Hebrew Scriptures. 3 Credits.
This course explores important themes in the Hebrew Bible (known to Christians as the Old Testament) through analysis of religious, archaeological, literary and historical courses. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 310. Religion & The Holocaust. 3 Credits.
This course explores the question of faith post-holocaust, and the moral lessons that can be learned from the Shoah. Using theological and political approaches, the course will analyze the impact of the Holocaust (1938-1945) on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in terms of philosophy-theology, subsequent placement in Western society, and the effect that the Holocaust has had on Western and Global society. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 312. Muslims in America. 3 Credits.
Examines the role of Muslims in American life after the 9/11 destruction of the World Trade Center. The course examines the origins of Islam in the United States, the ethnic and religious diversity of American Muslims, conflicts about gender relations and women's issues, contemporary debates about Islam's role in the public sphere, and the spirituality of American Muslims. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 314. Hinduism. 3 Credits.
Hinduism is one of the world's oldest major religions and one of the world's newest major religions; its name barely 300 years old. So, it it old or is it new?
What is Hinduism and who defines it will be the central questions that this course will investigate.
Prerequisites: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 316. Shakespeare in the Prison. 3 Credits.
In this course we will explore dimensions of the most important ethical issues in the area of criminal justice through an analysis of plays by William Shakespeare and a selection of articles in the disciplines of criminal justice and theology. It will show how the social sciences and the humanities can help us focus creatively and humanely on the significant challenges we face as a society in our current practice of incarceration and punishment.
Prerequisite: RELS 110.
RELS 318. Womanist Visions of Justice. 3 Credits.
Interrogating the nature of justice in America and its Christian theological foundations, this course explores American injustice as a religious problem and the implications of categories of race, gender and class on perceptions of guilt, innocence, worth, humanity, solidarity and love through the precarious position of black women in American political institutions, criminal justice, economic policies and the like. Students will analyze contemporary case studies alongside womanist responses to these phenomena and how they might be incorporated into an ethic of solidarity and justice for America writ large. Prerequisite: RELS 110.
RELS 320. Race, Religion & Resistance. 3 Credits.
This course is an examination of race and its intersection with theology and philosophy of religion, and contemporary and historic social justice movements in America, particularly as it informs the creation of the innovative and contemporary expression of Christian theology known as Black Theology. As a formal theology, Black theology emerged in America during the Civil Rights Movement as a response to traditional Protestant and Catholic Christianity’s inability to address the problem of racial oppression and injustice in America. It has since spawned and informed other forms of liberation theology and resistance movements around the world, like Womanism, Minjung, South African Black Consciousness, Muslim Womanism, and Native American Liberation theology.
RELS 321. Psychology & Religion. 3 Credits.
n examination of ways in which psychology has both broadened and challenged the understanding of religion; study of such topics as self, psyche, symbolism, psychotherapy, and spiritual methods. Pre-requisite :RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 323. Womanist Ethics. 3 Credits.
This class will explore the particularities of black women’s historical and contemporary moral situation, as well as offer an introduction into the sources, methodologies and aims of womanist (black women’s) ethics as a practice of survival. Prerequisite: RELS 110.
RELS 324. Muslims & the Holocaust. 3 Credits.
This class explores the role that Muslims played during the Holocaust, with special attention to North Africa. The class describes how the Holocaust intersects with colonialism and narratives about Jews and Muslims. Prerequisite: RELS 110.
RELS 328. FutureProofing Humanity. 3 Credits.
The fear of human extinction and the promise of radical salvation through technology intertwine in a religious worldview unique to the contemporary world. We will explore this worldview and discuss the political and social implications of transferring our religious impulses and hope of salvation into technological forecasting.
RELS 336. Native American Religions. 3 Credits.
A study of the principal rites, stories, and religious symbols of the indigenous communities of North America through the study of selected tribes or nations. Various research approaches and popular media portrayal of the "Indians" will also be discussed. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 337. The American Religious Experience. 3 Credits.
A survey of the rich history as well as varied landscape of religion in the United States. Considerations include the notable variety of traditions new and old in addition to recurring patterns of an enduring “civil religion” at work in American culture. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 341. Judaism. 3 Credits.
An introductory survey of post-biblical Judaism. Topics include rabbinic texts and the emergence of rabbinic Judaism, Jewish holidays and practices, contemporary Judaism, and the religious aspects of the nation of Israel. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 342. Islam and Politics. 3 Credits.
An investigation into the relationship between religious and political thought of the peoples of Islam. Selected Quranic texts and Hadiths will be studied for their political content. The history of political Islam and the contemporary Islamic scene throughout the world will be featured elements of the course.
Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 349. Women and Islam. 3 Credits.
This course explores the appearance and oppression of Muslim women that have been the focus of intense and polemical debate in the Muslim world. In Muslim societies and in Western media the image of Muslim women has been taken as a focal example of the perceived failings of the Islamic tradition. We will examine the complexity of the messages relating to gender in Islamic societies and the Qur'an.
Prerequisites: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 351. God And Evil. 3 Credits.
Who is God? Why is there evil in the world? The course will explore these fundamental religious questions by examining the relationship between differing concepts of God and evil. Course material will include classical texts and contemporary Jewish, Christian, and Pagan writings. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 354. Buddhism: Its Development and Interpretation. 3 Credits.
A study of the principles of Buddhist thought together with a reading of various Theravada and Mahayana texts. The course will address problems of philosophical interpretation, historical development and cultural transformation. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 355. Islam. 3 Credits.
An introductory survey of the origins and religious teachings of Islam, with special attention to the Islamic views of providence, revelation, worship, and moral obedience. Community, social justice, and revolutionary thought in the contemporary Islamic world will also be discussed. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 357. Chinese Religions. 3 Credits.
A survey of the religious traditions of the cultures of the Far East. Examines Confucianism, Taoism, and Far Eastern forms of Buddhism as well as the cultural background, beliefs, practices, art, and literature of these religions. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 358. Religions of India. 3 Credits.
A survey of the religions that began in India: Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. Traces the historical development of these religions from the time of the Vedas to Mahatma Gandhi. The survey will focus on the religious beliefs, practices, and literature of these different groups. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 359. Afro-Caribbean Religions. 3 Credits.
An interdisciplinary survey of major creole traditions—including Santeria, Vodun, Rastafari, and Obeah—that developed through the unique encounter of West African, Christian, Native American, and Asian elements in the plantation societies of the Caribbean. A critical assessment of the cosmologies, rituals, and theologies of these traditions, as well as their implications for enhancing the academic study of religion, forms the focus of the course. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 362. Religion & Work Ethics. 3 Credits.
An investigation of the ethical challenges, from the personal to the global, that arise in the context of the workplace. Texts will feature case studies and analysis of issues ranging from honesty and fidelity to consumption patterns, organizational structure, and corporate ethos. Students will be introduced to theories in both philosophical and theological ethics that will provide critical tools to help determine a coherent and defensible ethic for their working lives. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 366. Religion and Contemporary Art. 3 Credits.
A study of the ways in which contemporary artists explore sacred themes, such as the construction of utopia, the development of community, and the search for transcendence. The course follows various artists and movements of the 20th and 21st centuries, and the ways in which they reflect upon modern religious life. The course shows how the sacred has remained a relevant concern for artists from modern to postmodern art. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 367. The Bible In American Culture. 3 Credits.
This course considers the place of the Bible in American public life. The course illustrates how the Bible has generated some enduring American values and how it has helped Americans form a sense of themselves through its role in social movements, politics, and the arts. Emphasis will be on the place of religion in public life, including different understandings of the principle of church and state. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 372. Religion and Science. 3 Credits.
A study of historical and contemporary interactions between religion and science, with particular reference to their political implications and ethical ramifications. Themes include biotechnology, environmentalism, the teaching of evolution, and digital technologies. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 373. Death as a Fact of Life. 3 Credits.
An examination of the religious, legal, medical, and psychological questions concerning death. Topics include the hope for life after death and the moral aspects of care for the dying and bereaved, cessation of treatment, euthanasia, and suicide.. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 374. Women in Western Religion. 3 Credits.
An exploration of the field of women's studies in religion as it intersects with new understandings of God, text, and tradition emerging within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The course will look at the roles of women within these three traditions and consider the question of how people bring about religious change. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 375. Religion and the Body. 3 Credits.
This course considers the role of the body in the religious imagination. Themes vary from semester to semester, but can include 1) everyday practices of eating, exercising, bathing, dressing, piercing, and tattooing, 2) traditional religious approaches to the body (especially, but not limited to, Christianity), and/or 3) contemporary transhumanist thought. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 376. Religion And Media. 3 Credits.
A critical investigation of the significant roles of religion and media in modern life. Along with a variety of theoretical perspectives, the course examines a series of case studies that range across religious traditions and media formats. Special attention is given to analysis of how religious ideas and practices appear in the news media and in popular entertainment, as well as to reflection on the religious parameters of media uses like television viewing and online gaming. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 377. Religion and Environmentalism. 3 Credits.
Introduces the history, ideas and practices of modern environmentalism by examinig references to and invacations of religion in debates about the environment from the late 18th century to the present. The course focuses especially on the emergence of environmentalism as a broad-based philosophical, political and cultural movement and thus gives special attention to careful analysis of the place of religion in foundational environmentalist works of the second half of the 20th century. Pre-requisites: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 378. Religion in New York. 3 Credits.
An examination of the central place of religion in the history and culture of New York as well as of the city's and state's foundational roles in broader movements of religious and theological innovation. Particular topics as well as course structure may vary across offerings. Prerequisites: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 379. Religion and Popular Culture. 3 Credits.
A general or topic-specific examination of the influences of popular culture or religion as well as of the religious dimensions of contemporary literary, musical, visual, and/or other prevalent social practices. Prerequisites: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 381. Religious Dimensions of Peace. 3 Credits.
A theological and ethical inquiry into the major Jewish and Christian responses to war: pacifism, just war, and crusade. Various religious anthropologies are considered as possible ethical bases for peace in today's world, and the course engages the contemporary relevance of Reinhold Niebuhr, Mohandas K. Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Cesar Chavez. Pre-requisite: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 390. Sexuality and the Sacred. 3 Credits.
Explores some ways in which different religious traditions have perceived the relationship between sexuality and religion. Examines the religious roots of our own cultural attitudes toward sexuality and sex roles and looks at some contemporary attempts to rethink the relationships between sexuality and spirituality, and between women and men. Pre-requisites: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 399. Criminal Justice Ethics. 3 Credits.
An investigation of the theological and ethical issues related to crime and punishment. Students will discuss questions of human nature, the purpose and meaning of confinement, the ethics of law and judgement, the role of mercy and forgiveness, and alternatives to prosecution and incarceration. In many cases, the course will be conducted at the jail on Rikers Island. Pre-requisites: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161.
RELS 400. Special Topic. 3 Credits.
RELS 426. Contemporary Catholic Theologians. 3 Credits.
An analysis of the theological presuppositions of contemporary authors; the methodology of research (hermeneutics) as a basis for modern thinking about Catholicism; the role of human and psychological premises underlying understanding of the mystery of Christ.
RELS 470. Religious Studies Seminar. 3 Credits.
This course is an intensive study of an author, period, problem, or concern in a given religious tradition, or the comparative study of some aspect of several traditions. Topics vary from semester to semester. This seminar is open to Religious Studies majors and minors as well as to other interested students who have completed the nine-credit requirement in Religious Studies. Pre-requisites: RELS 110 or RELS 152 or RELS 161, completion of nine credits in RELS, and permission from the Chair of Religious Studies.
RELS 475. Internship. 3 Credits.
Students participate in an off-campus training experience closely related to their area of study. Frequent meetings with the internship advisor and a paper are required. Internships are arranged through the Center for Career Development and must be approved in advance by the chair and the Dean of the School of Arts. Open to majors only.
RELS 480. Religious Studies Tutorial. 3 Credits.
Individual study under the supervision of a member of the department with the permission of the Chair. Open only to juniors and seniors majoring in Religious Studies who meet the requirements set by the Chair.
RELS 481. Religious Studies Honors Thesis. 3 Credits.
The first semester of a two-semester honors thesis in Religious Studies. The honors thesis is written under a faculty advisor, who assists the student in developing research goals and selecting appropriate texts and research data. Available to Religious Studies majors with a 3.5 GPA. Permission of the department chair required.
RELS 482. Honors Thesis II. 3 Credits.
The second semester of a two-semester honors thesis in Religious Studies. The student continues the research project begun in RELS 481 and will write the honors thesis. Available to Religious Studies majors with a 3.5 GPA. Permission of the department chair required.