Course Information
Below are the approved courses offered by the Department of Theology and Religious Studies. Not all courses offered below will be available every semester. Make sure to check course offerings on the registration portal for each upcoming semester.
Course Descriptions
THRS 110
Exploring Religious Meaning
Units: 3
A thematic and topical introduction to the study of religion. Drawing material from at least four religious traditions, including Christianity, this course considers a range of possible themes and topics such as symbol, ritual, mysticism, myth, material culture, gender, ethics, ecology, death and the afterlife, and contemplative practice.
THRS 112
Introduction to World Religions
Units: 3
A survey of the major religious traditions of the world, focusing on an understanding of the religious world views and practices that shape cultures across the globe. Selected readings from these traditions, which will include Christianity, the religions of India and East Asia, Judaism, Islam, and the religions of indigenous oral cultures. Students may not receive credit for taking both THRS 112 and THRS 113.
THRS 113
World Religions in San Diego
Units: 3
A survey of major religious traditions of the world, including Catholic Christianity, focusing on their presence in San Diego and issues of power, privilege, and social justice. Students may not receive credit for taking both THRS 112 and THRS 113.
THRS 114
Introductory Studies in Catholic Theology
Units: 3
This course introduces students to the methods and content of Christian theology, with particular emphasis on Catholic theological traditions. In addition to theological method, topics may include the scriptures, history of the church and/or theology, the nature of theological discourse, and examination of select topics or issues in theology.
THRS 116
Introduction to Biblical Studies
Units: 3
A study of the Bible: its formation, historical character, primary themes, and interpretation.
THRS 117
The Bible and Migration
Units: 3
This course examines the Bible as a text of migration. Reflecting on themselves and on a variety of interpretations, students in this course examine different representations of migration in Jewish and Christian Bibles, the roles that varying forms of migration played in the shaping of biblical texts and traditions, and the ways that different migrant communities have related to biblical texts.
THRS 119
Christianity and Its Practice
Units: 3
An introduction to Christian belief and practice through reflection on classic and contemporary expressions of the Christian life. Students may not receive credit for taking both THRS 119 and THRS 120.
THRS 120
Christianity and Conquest
Units: 3
An introduction to the history, current status, and theological themes of Christianity, including Catholicism. Emphasis on the relationship between Western Christianity and European colonialism, including how Christian beliefs have been deployed both to rationalize and to resist imperialist and colonialist domination. Students may not receive credit for taking both THRS 119 and THRS 120.
THRS 121
Chicanx Religious Identities
Units: 3
An historical and contextual investigation of Chicanx identities in relation to religious and spiritual traditions, with special attention to Catholic Christianity. Students will engage in community based learning and reflect critically on constructions of power, privilege, and oppression.
THRS 125
Fundamentals of Africana Studies II
Units: 3
This course studies the history and development of religion and theology during and after the transatlantic slave trade. We will look at the development of Catholicism in its relation to African Traditional Religions and evaluate how they influenced and altered Black religious beliefs in the modern world. Cross listed with AFST 101.
THRS 137
Thinking Catholic
Units: 3
This course introduces students to the development of Catholic thought and practice, with particular attention to the theological foundations and the processes that foster the Catholic Church’s ongoing growth in understanding. This course is specifically for the Certificate in Catholic Theology and Ministry program for University Ministry scholars and is to be taken in advance of or concurrently with THRS 137P (a one unit practicum in ministry). Students may not receive credit for taking more than one of: THRS 137, THRS 114, THRS 119.
THRS 137P
Catholic Ministry Practicum
Units: 1
This practicum requires at least 1 hour per week (on average) of University Ministry activities as chosen by the student and consistent with the requirements of the University Ministry Scholars program. Students may elect to commit to weekly ministry activities and/or weekend retreats or service trips that require at least 14 hours of activity over the course of the semester. In addition to this ministry activity, students and instructor will have scheduled discussions exploring how best to integrate issues and insights raised by the students’ study of Catholic theology and by their experiences in ecclesial ministry. Special attention will be given to imagining the future of the Catholic Church. Prerequisite: This course is designed to be taken concurrently with (or after completion of) THRS 137.
THRS 231
Christian Changemakers
Units: 3
After an introduction to the principles of Catholic social teachings and their methodology, students learn about Christians who have created positive social change. Topics may include racial justice, environmental activism, economic justice, gender justice, peacemaking, and other areas of Christian social activism. Students engage in self-reflection about power and privilege as they reflect on their own vocations as changemakers. There are no prerequisites for this course.
THRS 232
Religion and Animals
Units: 3
An introduction to the subfield of animals and religion. Special attention will be given to Catholic and Jewish traditions, world views, and practices.
THRS 233
Religion and Food
Units: 3
An introduction to religious studies through a consideration of food, the systems that produce food, and the religious and ethical questions associated with food. We will consider the theme of religion and food in select Abrahamic traditions (Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions), Dharma traditions (Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist traditions), indigenous North American traditions, and ask what food means or should mean at USD as a value-based Catholic university. Cross-listed with FOOD 133.
THRS 294
Special Topics in Theology and Religious Studies
Units: 0.5 TO 4
An examination of selected issues or themes in theology and/or religious studies, to be chosen by the instructor. Course meets FTRI learning outcomes 1 and 2 in core curriculum.
THRS 301
Religion Café: Majors and Minors Seminar
Units: 3
Through the study of exemplary texts and presentations from invited Theology and Religious Studies faculty members, this seminar will introduce students to the various methodologies in the academic study of religion, as well as to the research interests of current faculty members in the department. This course will also address basic research methodologies, the use of the library and the internet, and the construction of a research paper. This seminar is required of all majors and is open to minors. The course should be taken as soon as possible following the declaration of the major or minor. Prerequisites: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute; declaration of THRS major or minor.
THRS 305
Buddhist Art and Pilgrimage in India
Units: 3
Pilgrimage is a core element of Buddhist practice, and the earliest Buddhist art was both located at and inspired by pilgrimage sites. Just as works of art are best encountered in person, the nature of pilgrimage can be explored most profoundly through travel. This team-taught study-abroad course involves pilgrimage to Bodhgaya, India, the site associated with the Buddha's awakening, one of the original and most important Buddhist pilgrimage destinations. The course is only offered as a study abroad course. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 311
Jewish Thought and Culture - Advanced Writing
Units: 3
An introduction to Jewish traditions with an emphasis on contemporary North America. Students will have the opportunity to both learn about Jewish traditions and learn from and with contemporary Jewish thinkers. We will further utilize our reflection on Jewish traditions to better understand how race, religion, and ethnicity interact in the contemporary United States and globally. This course fulfills the Advanced Writing requirement of the core curriculum. Students may not receive credit for taking both THRS 311 and THRS 313. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with FTRI.
THRS 312
Hindu Thought and Culture
Units: 3
A study of key aspects of the multiple ways of being religious that form the Hindu tradition, including scriptures, theologies, spiritualities, rituals, social practices, images of divinity, important figures, and contemporary developments. Points of contact with other Indic traditions, Christianity, and Islam will be considered as appropriate. Prerequisites: Any lower division course with FTRI.
THRS 313
Jewish Thought and Culture
Units: 3
An introduction to Jewish traditions with an emphasis on contemporary North America. Students will have the opportunity to both learn about Jewish traditions and learn from and with contemporary Jewish thinkers. We will further utilize our reflection on Jewish traditions to better understand how race, religion, and ethnicity interact in the contemporary United States and globally. Students may not receive credit for taking both THRS 311 and THRS 313. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with FTRI.
THRS 314
Buddhist Thought and Culture
Units: 3
An introduction to the academic study of Buddhism. The course systematically explores the historical development, philosophical premises, religious practices, social institutions, and cultural expressions of the world’s Buddhist traditions, with special emphasis on points of contact between Buddhist and Christian thought. Prerequisites: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute and any FDD1 or FDG1 course (lower level diversity course).
THRS 315
Islamic Thought and Culture
Units: 3
This course is designed to provide students with a basic introduction to Islam. The monotheistic belief system and the concept of Qur'anic law will be the focus of the early part of the course. Brief overview of its early history will be followed by discussions on questions of interpretation, reform, and renewal. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 318
Islam, Women and Literature
Units: 3
The course will set in perspective the diversity of cultural manifestations of Islam in its regard for women. It will require a selective exploration of literary works. The writings reflect debates regarding the ever-changing role of Muslim women within various religious, social, geographic, economic and political contexts, primarily in the last 50 years, a period of significant historical change in the Muslim world. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 319
Religion, Politics and Gender in Medieval Japan
Units: 3
The course is a religious, aesthetic, and intellectual history of medieval Japan, mapping both institutional shifts and the distinct cultures that emerged in the early Buddhist temple complexes of ancient Nara, in women’s quarters of the Heian court of Kyoto, in the medieval capital of Kamakura, among the samurai of the Warring States Period, and in the tea houses and pleasure districts of the Muromachi Period. The course will engage the Japanese experience from a wide range of thematic and cultural perspectives. The course will view Japan through the lens of aesthetics and ascetics. This means we will use lenses of religion and art to think about Japan’s premodern political and military cultures, the machinations of court intrigue, the brilliant and melancholy literary productions of aristocratic women, the rise of a Buddhist intelligentsia, and the emergence of the high arts that have come to define what we all know and love about Japanese culture today. Prerequisite: any lower division course with FTRI and any course with FDD1 or FDG1.
THRS 320
Indigenous Religions and Spiritualities
Units: 3
Using a religious studies method, this course introduces students to the diversity of Indigenous religious and spiritual traditions across Turtle Island, with special attention to local Indigenous communities. Students will also be introduced to Indigenous theories and decolonizing methodologies and consider the challenges that these fields pose to the study of Indigenous religions. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 323
War and Peace in the Christian Tradition
Units: 3
An examination of the three dominant paradigms for thinking about war and peace in the Christian tradition: holy war, pacifism, and just war. We will consider how these frameworks are employed today in both religious and secular contexts as we apply these frameworks to the evaluation of particular conflicts/issues, which may include: the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, humanitarian interventions, the ‘war on terrorism,’ preemptive and preventive war, drones, weapons of mass destruction, and care for veterans. Throughout, students will build skills in ethical analysis and reflexivity. This course may satisfy the Core requirement for Ethical Inquiry or Theological and Religious Inquiry but not both. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 326
Religion and the Performing Arts in Bali
Units: 3
This course will integrate the perspectives of religious studies, music, and ethnomusicology in exploring the faith and practices of Balinese Hindus and examining the complex integration of music, dance, drama, and other arts in their vibrant ritual life. Emphasis will be placed on indigenous, colonial, and neocolonial expressions of cultural, social, and economic power and privilege on the island. Offered as a study abroad course in Bali, Indonesia, in tandem with MUSC 341. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 330
Reproductive Justice and Catholic Theological Ethics
Units: 3
An exploration of reproductive justice as a theoretical and ethical framework. The course will consider areas of both common ground and conflict between a reproductive justice framework and Catholic theo-ethical principles and teachings. This course may satisfy the Core requirement for Ethical Inquiry or Theological and Religious Inquiry but not both. Prerequisites: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute; any course with FDD1 or FDG1.
THRS 331
Sexual Ethics in the Catholic Tradition
Units: 3
An examination of human sexuality from the perspectives of the Roman Catholic tradition, with explicit attention to feminist and revisionist contributions to contemporary questions in Catholic sexual ethics. This course will satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement for either Ethical Inquiry or Theological and Religious Inquiry (upper-division) but not both. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 332
HIV/AIDS and Christian Ethics
Units: 3
An examination of the intersection of Christian theological ethics and the dilemma of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Students will select a topic to explore in further detail in an individual research paper project. This course will satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement for either Ethical Inquiry or Theological and Religious Inquiry (upper-division) but not both. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 333
LGBTQ+ and Christianity
Units: 3
A critical analysis of how Christians have understood marginalized sexual identities and gender identities, with particular attention to issues of power, privilege, and intersectionality. Prerequisites: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute and any course with FDD1 or FDG1.
THRS 334
Christian Social Ethics
Units: 3
This course is designed to introduce students to the field of Christian social ethics. Students will read selections from Christian thinkers, examine various sources of and approaches to Christian ethical reflection, and critically assess a variety of contemporary moral issues. This course may satisfy the Core requirement for Ethical Inquiry or Theological and Religious Inquiry but not both. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 335
Catholic Social Thought
Units: 3
This course will examine the living tradition of Catholic social thought. Major themes in Catholic social teaching will be explored, including the role of the Church in civil society, economic justice, sustainability, peacemaking, and a consistent ethic of solidarity, among others. This course may satisfy the Core requirement for Ethical Inquiry or Theological and Religious Inquiry but not both. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 335P
Catholic Faith and Social Justice
Units: 1
This practicum requires at least 1 hour per week (on average) of University Ministry activities as chosen by the student and consistent with the requirements of the University Ministry Scholars program. Students may elect to commit to weekly ministry activities and/or weekend retreats or service trips that require at least 14 hours of activity over the course of the semester. In addition to this ministry activity, students and instructor will have scheduled discussions exploring how best to integrate issues and insights raised by the students’ study of social justice issues and by their experiences in ecclesial ministry. Special attention will be given to exploring how students envision deepening their solidarity with the poor and vulnerable as part of their Catholic faith and their responsibility to respond to the world’s urgent problems. Course should be taken concurrently with (or after previous completion of) THRS 335. Prerequisite: THRS 337P; THRS 335 (may be taken concurrently).
THRS 337
Catholic Faith and Interreligious Dialogue
Units: 3
This course investigates Catholic theology of interreligious dialogue, including official Catholic documents, and explores what such dialogue among religions on an important global issue might entail. Special attention will be given to what Catholicism might gain from as well as contribute to interreligious dialogue as we seek deeper understanding and more adequate responses to important global issues. This course is specifically for the Certificate in Catholic Theology and Ministry program for University Ministry scholars and is to be taken in advance of or concurrently with THRS 337P (a one unit practicum in ministry). Prerequisites: THRS 137 and THRS 137P or approval of instructor.
THRS 337P
Pluralistic Ministry Practicum
Units: 1
This practicum requires at least 1 hour per week (on average) of University Ministry activities as chosen by the student and consistent with the requirements of the University Ministry Scholars program. Students may elect to commit to weekly ministry activities and/or weekend retreats or service trips that require at least 14 hours of activity over the course of the semester. In addition to this ministry activity, students and instructor will have scheduled discussions exploring how best to integrate issues and insights raised by the students’ study of interreligious dialogue and by their experiences in ecclesial ministry. Special attention will be given to exploring the benefits of integrating commitment to Catholic faith with insights gained from dialogue with and appreciation of other religions. This course should be taken concurrently with (or after previous completion of) THRS 337. Prerequisites: THRS 137P and THRS 337 (may be taken concurrently).
THRS 338
Faith and Environmental Justice
Units: 3
This course explores how faith rooted approaches to ecological issues can play a pivotal role in addressing our current environmental crisis. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 340
Being Human: Race, Gender and Sexuality
Units: 3
What does it mean to be “human?” When someone is referenced as being less than human – “like an animal” – what are the implicit and explicit socio-theological assumptions that inform such dehumanizing rhetoric? This course explores the Christian theological development of the human person – or theological anthropology – with special attention to race, gender, and sexuality. Prerequisites: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute; any course with FDD1 or FDG1.
THRS 343
Christian Marriage
Units: 3
A theological study of Christian marriage with consideration of the historical development and current pastoral understanding of this sacrament. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 349
Art and the Theological Imagination
Units: 3
What role do the arts and creative expression play in the task of theology, the disciplined and critical reflection on belief and the nature of God? The meanings discoverable through art and the creative process lead to deeper questions, enhancing critical thought. Art expresses our nature as spiritual beings inseparable from the material world; it explores morality, politics, emotion, the subconscious, and the unknown. The “theological imagination” is a way of perceiving and appreciating the sensible world, as Margaret Miles points out, “with ‘a certain slant of light,’ in which other human beings, the natural world, and objects appear in their full beauty, transformed.” The thesis of the course is that great art, whether explicitly containing religious symbolism or not, reveals the depth dimension of reality, what might be called “God.” This course will consider the meaning and function of theological aesthetics, and attempt to cultivate tools for the appreciation of visual culture: a sharper awareness of seeing, attention to detail, and the habit of mind that recognizes the beautiful as well as the ambiguous. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 350
Christian Spirituality
Units: 3 TO 4
An exploration of diverse Christian spiritual traditions and an introduction to the methods of the theological sub-discipline of Christian Spirituality. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 353
Early Christianities
Units: 3
This course investigates the earliest Christianities from the first five centuries of the common era with an emphasis on the diversity and contestations of practices and beliefs that characterize the period. Students will focus on the demarcation of Christianity from Judaism, the forms of self-definition that emerge in the period of imperial persecution, and the shifts that take place when the movement gains the support of the Roman emperors in the fourth century. Emphasis will be placed on working with ancient texts and situating them in their broader historical and cultural contexts. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 356
Catholicism in the United States
Units: 3
A study of the history of the Catholic Church in the United States of America. Emphasis on racial and ethnic diversity in the Church, with attention to how social, political, and ecclesial power dynamics have shaped Catholics’ varied experiences. Required any lower division THRS course or permission of the instructor. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute; any course with FDD1 or FDG1.
THRS 358
Latinoa Catholicism
Units: 3
A culturally contextualized study of the beliefs and practices of Latinoa Catholics in the U.S., with particular emphasis on popular Catholicism. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 359
Jesus of Hollywood
Units: 3
A critical analysis of the life and message of Jesus of Nazareth through the lens of Hollywood films, including theological, historical, and socio-cultural issues raised by this cinematic tradition. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 360
Who Is Jesus?
Units: 3
A critical investigation of the person and ministry of Jesus in light of Scripture, the Christian tradition, and contemporary concerns. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 361
Jesus and Justice
Units: 3
A critical investigation of the person and ministry of Jesus in light of Scripture, the Christian tradition, and contemporary concerns. Emphasis on how members of groups traditionally underrepresented in society interpret Jesus’ life and message. Students may not receive credit for taking both THRS 360 and THRS 361. Prerequisites: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute; any course with FDD1 or FDG1.
THRS 362
Christian Understandings of Salvation
Units: 3
An examination of Christian understandings of salvation from biblical, historical, and contemporary perspectives. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 365
Black and Womanist Theologies
Units: 3
This course will explore Black and Womanist theologies in historical context, paying particular attention to the historical movements, foundational thinkers, and critical voices that have shaped and are reshaping Black and Womanist theologies. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute; any course with FDD1 or FDG1.
THRS 366
The Problem of God
Units: 3
The questions “What is God?,” “Does God exist?” and “What does it mean to believe in God?” are investigated against the background of classical theism and modern thought. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 367
Feminist Theology and Ethics
Units: 3
An exploration of contemporary feminist theologies and ethics from the Christian perspective to gain knowledge of feminist contributions and challenges to the whole of Christian traditions. Included is a survey of the historical emergence of feminist theologies, methods, major theological themes, and feminist Christian approaches to contemporary problems (from different contexts and multiple perspectives).This course may satisfy the Core requirement for Ethical Inquiry or Theological and Religious Inquiry but not both. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 369
Liberation Theology
Units: 3
A study of the origin, characteristics, method, central themes, and current expressions of liberation theology. Special emphasis on the understanding of revelation, God, Jesus Christ, the Church, the human being, Christian ethics, social justice, and Christian spirituality. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute; any course with FDD1 or FDG1.
THRS 372
Women, Gender, and Christianity in the Ancient World
Units: 3
An historical and contextual examination of the relationship between women, gender, and Christianity in late antiquity. Students will learn about the history of women and the role of gender in Christian literature from the first six centuries of the common era. Prerequisites: THRS 110 or THRS 112 or THRS 113 or THRS 114 or THRS 116 or THRS 119 or THRS 120 or THRS 121 or THRS 125 or THRS 203 or THRS 231 or THRS 232 or THRS 233 or THRS 294 or consent of the instructor.
THRS 375
Faith and Politics: Theological Perspectives
Units: 3
A theological study of the public and political roles of religion, including evaluation of the impact of religious beliefs on political behavior. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 376
Racial Justice: Catholic Perspectives
Units: 3
A study of Catholic approaches to the struggle for racial justice in US society and the US Catholic Church. Prerequisites: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute; any course with FDD1 or FDG1.
THRS 377
The Theologies of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X
Units: 3
An examination of the theologies, political philosophies and lives of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. Prerequisites: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute; any course with FDD1 or FDG1.
THRS 379
Literature, Theology and the Religious
Units: 3
An examination of the intersection between and history of religion and literature using novels, plays, poetry and essays. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 381
The Five Books of Moses
Units: 3
A study of the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), the history of their composition, and their theological contributions to Judaism and Christianity. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 382
The Prophetic Tradition of Israel
Units: 3
A study of Old Testament prophets in their historical, social, and political backgrounds. Attention is given to the contribution of the prophets to Jewish-Christian theologies and their significance for the contemporary world. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 383
The Gospel of Luke: Scriptures and Justice
Units: 3
A study of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, the contexts shaping their formation, and the legacies of these texts in 20th and 21st-century US struggles for inclusion, equity, and justice. Some of the major themes may include wealth and poverty, ethnicity and race, disability, healthcare, gender, sexuality, ecology, and the role of scriptures in imagining and contesting community. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 384
Gospel of Luke: Scriptures and Justice (Advanced Writing)
Units: 3
A study of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, the contexts shaping their formation, and the legacies of these texts in 20th and 21st-century US struggles for inclusion, equity, and justice. Some of the major themes may include wealth and poverty, ethnicity and race, disability, healthcare, gender, sexuality, ecology, and the role of scriptures in imagining and contesting community. This course requires frequent writing assignments with instructor feedback. Students cannot receive credit for taking both THRS 383 and THRS 384. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 385
Reading Paul, Reading Culture
Units: 3
A study of the Pauline writings, their early formation, and their legacies in Jewish and Christian communities from the ancient world to contemporary contexts. We will pay particular attention to the legacies of Pauline writings among US racially/ethnically minoritized communities and in feminist and queer biblical interpretation. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 387
Apocalypse and Revelation
Units: 3
The Book of Revelation may be one of the most popular, performed, and cited biblical texts, but it is a challenge to understand for most modern readers. Putting this text in conversation with other texts and contexts engaging apocalypse and revelatory knowledge, we consider how and why the Apocalypse and revelation, more generally, have meant so many things to so many different people. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 388
Bibles and Worlds
Units: 3
This course focuses on historical, political, social, cultural, and religious conditions of selected periods in biblical history. Biblical history may include the ancient contexts of Southwest Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean that shaped the formation of biblical texts, and it may also include modern and contemporary contexts around the world that have shaped how people relate to and engage biblical texts in the present. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 389
Gospels and Gospel Traditions: Advanced Writing
Units: 3
What is a gospel as a literary work? Why are there four gospels in the Christian Bible and many gospels that did not make it into the Bible? In this course, we examine some of the gospels that communities wrote in the first few centuries of the common era, including selections from the gospels found in the Christian Bible as well as gospel texts that were not included in the canon. We consider the historical and geographic contexts of the ancient Mediterranean that shaped early gospel formation alongside examples of how particular communities and artists around the world have depicted and employed gospel traditions in the last two centuries. With feedback from the instructor, students develop a research paper focusing on a particular passage or set of passages within a particular artistic, political, or communal setting. The course fulfills Advanced Writing in the core curriculum. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 390
The Holocaust: Religious Questions
Units: 3
A study of the Holocaust focused on the moral and religious dilemmas it raises for Jews and Christians. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 394
Special Topics in Theology and Religious Studies
Units: 0.5 TO 4
A study of selected major figures or problems or movements or periods in either Christianity and/or other religions. Specification will be made by the instructor. Prerequisite: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute.
THRS 495
Capstone in Theology and Religious Studies
Units: 3
A capstone seminar for THRS majors and minors in which students plan and execute senior projects (in most cases, 15-20 pg. term papers). Students will explicitly synthesize and apply knowledge and skills from two distinct disciplines, one of which must be represented within the scholarship and curriculum of the department. Classes will be conducted seminar-style, with required participation among all students. Prerequisites: THRS 301: Religion Café: Majors’ Seminar; declared major or minor in THRS.
THRS 496
Research Experience in Theology and Religious Studies
Units: 1 TO 3
This is a course intended to provide theology and religious studies majors with an applied experience in the conduct of original academic research by assisting on a faculty-led scholarly project. The experience is designed to build on the knowledge students gain in THRS 301. Students will meet with a faculty member, with whom a research relationship is established, on an on-going basis to discuss the research project, assess the student’s role and responsibilities, and collaborate on a research project in which the faculty member takes the lead. Students must register with a specific faculty member with whom they complete a contract outlining the roles and responsibilities of both the student and the faculty member. Up to 3 units of undergraduate research (496) can count toward the THRS major as upper division elective units. Prerequisites: THRS 301; declaration of THRS major; junior or senior standing.
THRS 498
Internship in Theology and Religious Studies
Units: 1 TO 3
This is a pass-fail only course involving fieldwork under the joint supervision of the THRS instructor and agency personnel. Students cannot be on academic probation and must obtain THRS instructor consent to enroll. Course content will include volunteering or working at an approved placement or community agency, monthly meetings with the instructor of record, reflection papers, agency performance evaluations, and a poster presentation at a THRS department event. Minimum required semester hours of agency work are as follows: 40 hours for 1 unit; 80 hours for 2 units; 120 hours for 3 units. Up to 3 units of internship (498) can count toward the THRS major as upper division elective units. Prerequisites: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute; declaration of THRS major; junior or senior standing.
THRS 499
Directed Individual Study
Units: 1 TO 3
Prerequisites: Any lower division course with the FTRI core attribute; consent of instructor; approval of the department chair and the dean.