Spring 2023 Courses

For day, time, room, and TA information, see our PDF SCHEDULE or the class search tool https://registrar-apps.ucdavis.edu/courses/search/index.cfm.
For all courses not described here, please refer to the General Catalog course descriptions: https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/courses-subject-code/rst/

Undergraduate Courses

RST 001B Death & The Afterlife
Prof. Seth Sanders

RST 001J: Music, Voice, the Word
Prof. Lynna Dhanani

RST 008: Healthcare & Religious Ethics
Prof. Meaghan O Keefe

RST 012: Emergence of Judaism, Christianity & Islam
Prof. Benjamin Steele-Fisher

RST 031: Intro to Jainism
Prof. Lynna Dhanani

RST 065C: The Qur'an
Prof. Ryan Brizendine

Literary, historical, and thematic exploration of foundational scripture and central (oral) text of Islamic tradition. Close reading of most popular and commented-upon suras in order of historical unfolding (early Meccan, later Meccan, Medinan) paired with readings on related topics—pre-Islamic Arabia, revelation and recitation, the afterlife, prophetic narratives (Moses, Joseph, Solomon, Mary), dreaming and signs of nature, creation of Adam, angels and jinn, Jesus and Christianity, women and gender, warfare and legislation, etc. Reference to Prophetic biography (sīra) and Qurʾanic commentary tradition (tafsīr) throughout.

RST 070: Religion & Language
Prof. Wendy Terry

RST 105: Christianity & Modernity
Prof. Allison Coudert

RST 106: Performing Arts in India
Prof. Allison Coudert

RST 132: Topics in Ancient Religion
Prof. Seth Sanders

RST 137: Topics in Buddhism
Prof. Layne Little

RST 160: Intro to Islamic Thought
Prof. Mairaj Syed

RST 165: Islam in Asia
Prof. Ryan Brizendine

Introduction to Islamic history, thought, and culture in four major cultural zones of Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Afghanistan), South Asia (Indian subcontinent), East Asia (China), and Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia). Historical overviews of Islam in each region; exploration of leading works of Asian Islamic thought and literature; guided tours of distinctive cultural productions (visual arts, music, etc.). Focus on premodern period (1000s–1700s) as foundational to modern developments.

RST 175A: Daoist Traditions

Prof. Mark Halprin

RST 180: Popular Religious Art in India
Prof. Layne Little