Course Descriptions

This course offers an introduction to the basic theological foundation of the Christian faith with special attention to its ethical implications in contemporary society. This course fulfills the undergraduate UIW Core Curriculum requirement in Religious Studies. This course may not be repeated for credit.

This course examines the development of the biblical canon and key theological ideas in early Christianity. Students will be introduced to topics including, but not limited to: methods of biblical interpretation, key theories in the development of biblical traditions in the Hebrew Bible and Christian Scriptures, the diversity of faith perspectives in early Christian communities, the implications of Christianity's transformation from a persecuted sect to Imperial religion, and the processes of adaptation as the gospel encountered cultures beyond the Greco-Roman world, up to c. 500 CE. This course fulfills the undergraduate UIW Core Curriculum requirement in Religious Studies. This course may not be repeated for credit.

This course examines definitions and elements of religion, explores the nature of the Sacred and human responses to the Sacred, and considers challenges to traditional religion in contemporary culture. Drawing examples from Christianity and other World Religions, this course considers the roles and functions religion plays in human life and in society. This course fulfills the undergraduate UIW Core Curriculum requirement in Religious Studies. This course may not be repeated for credit.

This course studies spirituality and prayer as expressions of the human relationship with the Sacred in Christianity and other religions. It will emphasize Abrahamic traditions, practical examples of spirituality and prayer in the lives and works of selected authors, contemporary approaches, and the inter-relationship with justice and peace. This course fulfills the undergraduate UIW Core Curriculum requirement in Religious Studies. This course may not be repeated for credit.

This course surveys the history, literature and faith of ancient Israel found in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), with an emphasis on interpretation and methodological approaches (e.g. historical criticism, literary criticism and cultural studies). 
Prerequisite: RELS 1305 OR RELS 1315 OR RELS 1325 OR 1327H OR RELS1335 

Students explore issues and practices of the Catholic Church dealing with social justice beginning in the 1890s and continuing through post-Vatican II documents to the present day.
May be taken as a CLST elective.

Students survey the social world, literature and theology of early Christianity found in the Pauline writings (both the authentic Pauline and other apostolic letters). 

This course surveys the history, literature and faith of early Christianity found in the Gospels and the Book of Acts, with an emphasis on interpretation and methodological approaches (e.g. historical criticism, literary criticism and cultural studies). 
Prerequisites: RELS 1305 OR RELS 1315 OR RELS 1325 OR RELS 1327H OR RELS 1335

This course is a study of the major rituals and symbols in the celebrations and worship of the Christian church. Special emphasis is on the sacraments.

Students examine major themes and historical and cultural movements of the Christian faith through the perspective of the arts and/or literature. 
Prerequisite: RELS 1305 OR RELS 1315 OR RELS 1325 OR RELS 1327H OR RELS 1335

Students explore the importance of the imagination in worship, principles for using the arts, and experience in creating drama, dance and art for worship. 
Prerequisite: RELS 1305 OR RELS 1315 OR RELS 1325 OR RELS 1327H OR RELS 1335

This course explores the nature and person of Jesus Christ through the lenses of historical studies and theological reflection. It begins by examining the scholarly search for the historical Jesus and its contemporary portrait of Jesus of Nazareth. After situating Jesus in his social and historical context, the course analyzes the development of Christological doctrine in the early Church. The course then turns toward developments in contemporary Christology, drawing attention to how Christians in different places around the world continue to ponder the meaning of the Christ of Faith. This course may not be repeated for credit. 
Prerequisite: RELS 1305 OR RELS 1315 OR RELS 1325 OR RELS 1327H OR RELS 1335

This course is an exploration of the changing religious landscape of the United States, starting in the Colonial period and ending with an examination of the contemporary reality of religious pluralism.

This course presents a systematic study of the representation of religion and values in contemporary North American film, a medium which is becoming increasingly important as a vehicle by which cultural values are shaped and exchanged.
May be taken as a CLST elective.

This course examines the ways in which different religious communities have understood Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and analyzes how and why these communities have creatively expressed devotion to her. 
Prerequisite: RELS 1305 AND RELS 1315 AND RELS 1325 AND RELS 1335

Students examine Christian theological and ethical teachings concerning sexuality and interpersonal relationships. Attention is given to issues of gender, body and spirit, sexual violence, and marriage and intimacy.
May be taken as a CLST elective.

Students explore the thought of various feminist, womanist, and Mujerista/Latina theologians and the contributions they have made to the field of Christian theology more generally.
May be taken as a CLST elective. 
Prerequisite: RELS 1305 OR RELS 1315 OR RELS 1325 OR RELS 1335

This course examines the construction of sacred space in the religious consciousness of individuals and societies. Students will become familiar with the tools that selected scholars of religion have used to analyze how, why and whether particular places both natural and built acquire sacred or holy status. 
Prerequisite: RELS 1305 OR RELS 1315 OR RELS 1325 OR RELS 1327H OR RELS 1335

Students explore the beliefs, history, culture, sacred texts and religious views of various world religions. Emphasis is made in regard to inter-religious dialogue, church, documents of ecumenism and religious experiences in various houses of worship.
May be taken as a CLST elective. 
Prerequisite: RELS 1315 OR RELS 1305 OR RELS 1325 OR RELS 1327H OR RELS 1335

Students examine various perspectives on nature found within the Christian theological and ethical tradition and major ethical implications of global environmental policies, including issues of world hunger and food supplies, inequities in land and resource distribution, racial, ethnic and gendered aspects of environmental policies, conservation efforts, and materialism and consumerism.
May be taken as a CLST elective. 
Prerequisite: RELS 1305 OR RELS 1315 OR RELS 1325 OR RELS 1327H OR RELS 1335

This course explores the various expressions of belief and spirituality among U.S. Latino/a communities.
May be taken as a CLST elective. 
Prerequisite: RELS 1305 OR RELS 1315 OR RELS 1320 OR RELS 1325 OR RELS 1327H OR RELS 1335

Students explore the significance of ritual, the nature of liturgy, and the history and structure of worship.

This course presents an understanding of Christian and particularly Catholic arguments and reasoning concerning a variety of moral issues. Emphasis is given to the sources of Catholic moral thought and the development of moral conscience. Some of the topics to be discussed include the death penalty, abortion, sexuality and economic injustice. 
Prerequisite: RELS 1305 OR RELS 1315 OR RELS 1325 OR RELS 1327H OR RELS 1335

This course is an overview of the beliefs, structures and worship of the Roman Catholics with special attention given to the social, historical and cultural factors that have shaped the Church since the Second Vatican Council.

This course introduces students to the knowledge, attitudes and skills needed for effective leadership related to social justice concerns in local and global communities. Overall, the goal of the course is aligned with UIW’s Mission: to develop concerned and enlightened citizens.

This course will explore the basic theological foundations of the Christian faith in relation to contemporary ethical concerns related to inequality, poverty, violence and ecological destruction. In an increasingly globalized world, the Christian tradition has to engage with these questions in a world-wide, cross-cultural manner that engages with other religious traditions.

Students examine selected topics of special contemporary theological interest or importance. Course can be repeated for credit. 
Prerequisite: RELS 1305 OR RELS 1315 OR RELS 1325 OR RELS 1327H OR RELS 1335

Students examine issues of contemporary women in relation to social justice within the context of Christian faith.
May be taken as a CLST elective. 
Offered: Spring, even-numbered years

Students explore selected women from biblical to contemporary times whose activities or writings have contributed to Christianity.
May be taken as a CLST elective.

This course presents a contextual and thematic study of traditions and themes in Christian spirituality, primarily within western Christianity. The course addresses both the theological foundations of Christian spirituality and also the historical, social and cultural influences which shaped its major traditions and themes.

Students explore U.S. Latino/a theology, its methodology and current expressions.
May be taken as a CLST elective.

This course examines religious beliefs and practices concerning death and the afterlife. Emphasis is placed on common themes found in the teachings of major faith traditions and on religious and moral issues related to death and dying in contemporary culture.
May be taken as a Cultural Studies elective.
Course does not meet Core Curriculum requirement for Religious Studies.

Students receive an overview of emerging theologies of liberation from several perspectives, such as Latin American, Feminist, African-American, U.S. Latino/a and Asian.
May be taken as a CLST elective.

In this practicum experience, students explore praxis-oriented theory and methods of teaching, evaluation, research and creative expression in the setting of general or religious education. Supervised by UIW RELS faculty. Taken for one to three credit hours. May be repeated for credit. 
Prerequisite: 24 hours of RELS

Students explore communication, introduction to homiletics, and presiding at communion and other services.

This course serves as a capstone for upper level majors and minors by providing an opportunity to engage in topics of religious studies and theology within a seminar-oriented format, critical and collaborative interaction with writing assignments and discussions. The course serves to culminate and build on the first five or six semesters of a UIW student's coursework in the field of Religious Studies. The course may not be repeated for credit. 
Prerequisite: 24 hours of RELS and/or signature of faculty.

More information coming soon.

More information coming soon.