Spring Quarter 2026

Spring Quarter 2026

Undergraduate Course Descriptions

  • RST 001C Sacrifice

    Layne Little

  • Introduction to comparative religion, focusing on the theme of sacrifice in different religious traditions.

  • RST 040 New Testament

    Wendy Terry

  • New Testament literature from critical, historical, and theological perspectives.

  • RST 067 Modern Hinduism

    Ryan Brizendine

  • Historical survey of modern Hinduism from the early-19th century to the present. Topics include Rammohun Roy, Sir William Jones, and Mahatma Gandhi, nationalism, post-colonialism and diasporic religion.

  • RST 073 Plant Magic: Religions, Drugs & Medicinal Journeys

    Flagg Miller

  • Medicinal use of plants and fungi in religious worship. Co-evolution of herbs and humans. How sensory, intellectual, and experimental engagement with plants and fungi helps scholars and activists confront violence, colonialism, racial capitalism and modernity.

    Colorful poster for RST 073 course on plant magic, featuring an eye and detailed course information.

  • RST 165 Islam in Asia

    Ryan Brizendine

  • Islam as a lived religion in the Indian sub-continent, Central Asia, China, and Southeast Asia. Emphasis is on primary sources studied comparatively and historically.

  • RST 171 Buddhist Art [Cross-Listed with AHI 157]

    Layne Little 

  • A historical survey of Buddhist art in relation to the development of Buddhist doctrine and philosophy.

  • RST 190 Seminar - Evil vs Good: Ethical Action in the Contemporary Landscape

    Naomi Janowitz

  • This seminar will consider some of the most powerful religious arguments made about good and evil based on a reading of ancient and modern sources. We will also analyze a variety of philosophical approaches to ethics including Utilitarianism, Virtue Ethics, and Atheism. Students will apply these ideas to contemporary issues they select. Readings include Being Good: A Short Introduction to Ethics by Simon Blackburn, Atheism: A Very Short Introduction by Julian Baggini, What We Owe The Future by William MacAskill, Evil Incarnate by David Frankfurter, and The Atrocity Paradigm: A Theory of Evil by Claudia Card.

    Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

Graduate Course Descriptions

See the Grad Program Website.

Courses Outside of the Department

  • Elective Options for Religious Studies Majors

  • Up to 4 courses used toward the RST major may be upper-division courses related to religion that are offered by other departments as long as the student receives the consent of an RST advisor, which should be noted on the Major Checklist Form. 

    Spring 2026 Religious Studies courses outside of the department.