Fall 2023 Course Descriptions
This is an unofficial list of courses that will be offered in Religious Studies in Fall 2023. It is strictly for the use of expanded course descriptions. For the complete official course offerings, please consult the My.UIC portal.
For a list of all courses and general course descriptions, please see the UIC Academic Catalog.
Fall 2023 Courses Heading link
RELS 101 – Introduction to World Religion
Our world is filled with religions: nearly 85% of people around the globe identify as members of a religion. In this course you will learn how to analyze—from an academic perspective—these people, the religions with which they affiliate, and their activities on both local and global stages. We will examine not only the general histories and wide-ranging practices of so-called “world religions,” but also Chicago-based religious people and events from the past 150 years.
World Cultures
JST 102 / RELS 126 – Introduction to Jewish History
The Jewish People today comprise approximately one quarter of one percent of the world’s population. Despite their small numbers, their influence on religion and culture has been remarkable. This course will survey the history of the Jews primarily from a secular/academic perspective, that is, not as the sacred history of the people of the Bible, but as a socio-political phenomenon.
Individual and Society; Past
CST / RELS / CL 128 – The Jesus Movement and the New Testament
RELS 130 – Introduction to IslamBoth the fastest growing religion in the world and the frequent subject of misunderstanding and suspicion, Islam is a significant feature of the modern landscape. This course explores various facets of Islamic religion (beliefs, practices, history, society) from its origins in seventh-century Arabia to its status as a multicultural and global religious expression today.
World Cultures
RELS 230 – Islam and the Challenges of Modernity
Muslims have understood and responded to modernity in a variety of ways, spanning from the late colonial period down to our contemporary moment. This course examines the thought of major Muslim intellectual figures in this time period alongside social, religious, and political movements in their encounter and response to modernity. Some of the themes we will explore include: What is modernity and is it neutral? Is Islam inside/outside of, or before/after modernity? Is Islam to be preserved or reformed in light of modernity? Do the challenges of modernity uniquely apply to Islam?
World Cultures