USC Schedule of Classes

Historical investigation of New Testament characters, events, ethics and theology in relation to its social, intellectual, and religious contexts in the Jewish and Greco-Roman world.

Examination of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in their origins and their development in relation to Western civilization.

Introduction to Islam, emphasizing its historical and cultural development since the seventh century C.E., and the basic teachings of Islam.

Examination of the historical continuities and disjunctions between "spiritual but not religious" Americans; the relationship between spirituality, politics and social change, and the role of media.

Survey of academic approaches to the study of religion. When possible this course will be taken during the first year of the major or minor.

The development of religious thought and practice in the Japanese islands, with Buddhism and Shinto being the most prominent.

Survey of religious responses to colonial encounter in the Americas. Emphasis given to study of religious innovations of Amerindians, Africans and Europeans.

Methods of religious studies, history, anthropology, and psychology used to analyze religious beliefs in and responses to the supernatural.

Genres of religious communication, including sermon, prayer, ritual, polemic, and revival. Impact of technological and cultural change on religious advocacy, beliefs, and practices.

How religion, ethics and spirituality are embedded, embodied and emplotted in television drama; how secular texts represent "lived religion" to increasingly diverse audiences.

Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit.

Individual research for honors in the major leading to a substantial project.

Research leading to the master's degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

Offers students a structured environment in which to consider issues in professional development and to discuss their dissertation proposals. Graded CR/NC.

Practical principles for the long-term development of effective teaching within liberal arts disciplines. Graded CR/NC.

Exploration of themes and traditions of Islam as they appear globally in a variety of specific country contexts.

Skills for academic professionalization, presentation of research in progress and formal responses to academic writing.

Credit on acceptance of dissertation. Graded CR/NC.

Credit on acceptance of dissertation. Graded CR/NC.

Credit on acceptance of dissertation. Graded CR/NC.

Credit on acceptance of dissertation. Graded CR/NC.

Credit on acceptance of dissertation. Graded CR/NC.