Meghan Murphy-Lee, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Director
The interdisciplinary major in religious studies draws on the resources of UWM faculty members with a teaching and research interest in religion. This program provides students with a broad humanistic background in religion and an opportunity to develop special concentrations in specific areas of interest. There is no sectarian program of instruction. Rather, faculty members bring to their teaching the special academic characteristics of their own scholarly disciplines, and majors in the program draw upon a wide sample of those academic traditions. Thus, such subjects as the history and philosophy of religion and religion in art and literature are included in this program. Students choose from courses that consider religion in a wide array of cultural and historical contexts around the globe, including Buddhist, Christian, Classical Greek and Roman, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, African, and American Indian religions.
Religious studies serves students seeking a broadly humanistic program, those who are pursuing a wide range of pre-professional education programs, those anticipating teaching careers at the secondary or higher educational level, and those who will undertake further study for the religious ministry.
Religious Studies Courses
RELIGST 101 Introduction to World Religions
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Basic concepts of world religions; broad overview of various religious traditions in ancient and modern configurations.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: HU
Last Taught: Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 106 Anishinaabe Ethnobotany: Plants in Anishinaabe Philosophy
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Anishinaabe philosophical and religious beliefs incorporating botanical knowledge.
Prerequisites: none.
Course Rules: AIS 106 & ReligSt 106 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another.
General Education Requirements: CD
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 192 First-Year Seminar:
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Specific humanities topics are announced in the Schedule of Classes each time the class is offered.
Prerequisites: none.
Course Rules: Open only to freshmen. Students may earn cr in just one L&S First-Year Sem Course (course numbers 192, 193, 194).
General Education Requirements: HU
Last Taught: Fall 2010.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 193 First-Year Seminar:
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Specific social science topics are announced in the Schedule of Classes each time the class is offered.
Prerequisites: none.
Course Rules: Open only to freshmen. Students may earn cr in just one L&S First-Year Sem Course (course numbers 192, 193, 194).
General Education Requirements: SS
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 199 Independent Study
1-3 cr. Undergraduate.
Independent work under supervision of faculty or academic staff member. For further information, consult dept chair.
Prerequisites: 2.5 GPA; writ cons instr, dept chair, & asst dean for SAS.
Course Rules: Retakable to 6 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2019, Spring 2019.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 225 Society and Religion in the Ancient Mediterranean and Near East
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Using historical evidence (written texts, material remains) to examine religion and social organization in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Israel/Canaan, Minoan Crete, Mycenaean and archaic Greece.
Prerequisites: none.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 250 Selected Topics in Religious Studies:
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Focus on a particular religion or religious issue.
Prerequisites: Retakable w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
General Education Requirements: OWCB
Last Taught: Fall 2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2012, Spring 2011.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 289 Internship in Religious Studies, Lower Division
1-6 cr. Undergraduate.
Application of basic principles of Religious Studies in business, organizational, educational, political, or other appropriate setting.
Prerequisites: jr st; 2.50 gpa; cons supervising faculty member
Course Rules: One cr earned for academic work based on 40 hrs in internship. Retakable to 6 cr max.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 296 UROP Apprenticeship
1-3 cr. Undergraduate.
Undergraduate research participation in a project developed with a supervising member of the faculty or staff.
Prerequisites: acceptance to UROP; prior or conc reg in UROP seminar.
Course Rules: One credit for 45 hours research. Retakable to 9 cr max in any combination of UROP apprenticeship courses. Not open to jrs & srs.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 297 Study Abroad:
1-12 cr. Undergraduate.
Designed to enroll students in UWM sponsored program before course work levels, content, and credits are determined and/or in specially prepared program course work.
Prerequisites: acceptance for Study Abroad Program
Course Rules: Retakable w/chg in topic.
Last Taught: Summer 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Summer 2018.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 299 Ad Hoc:
1-6 cr. Undergraduate.
Course created expressly for offering in a specified enrollment period. Requires only dept and assoc dean approval. In exceptional circumstances, can be offered in one add'l semester.
Prerequisites: none. Additional prereqs may be assigned to specific topic.
Course Rules: Retakable w/chg in topic.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 309 Early Christianity
3 cr. Undergraduate.
The early Christian period: what people believed and why; how Christianity was understood, practiced, and integrated into people's lives. Emergence from, contact with other religious cultures.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: No cr for students w/cr in Hist 370 w/same topic.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 350 Advanced Topics in Religious Studies:
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Advanced study of a particular religion or religious issue.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: Retakable w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Spring 2016, Fall 2015.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 351 Anthropological Theories of Religion
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Anthropological theories of religion covering magic and witchcraft, moral order, sacred and profane, alienation, capitalism, neurosis, ritual, fetishism, fundamentalism, conversion, sacrifice, and healing.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: Anthro 351 & ReligSt 351 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 361 Russian and Slavic Folklore
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Folk beliefs of the past thousand years, including medieval folk epics, fairy tales, and legends; impact of ancient pagan beliefs on contemporary Slavic cultures. Counts as repeat of Russian 391 w/same topic. ReligSt 361 & Russian 361 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another. Prereq: jr st.
General Education Requirements: HU, OWCB
Last Taught: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018, Spring 2017.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 395 Seminar in the Study of Religion: Theories of Religion
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Critical inquiry into the questions of and about religion: what is religion, and how do we study it?
Prerequisites: jr st.
Last Taught: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Fall 2015, Fall 2014.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 451 Religious Practices and Values in Local and Global Communities
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Religious practices and values of six major world religions are examined in order to promote understanding and cooperation within a diverse community.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Last Taught: Spring 2017.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 489 Internship in Religious Studies, Upper Division
1-6 cr. Undergraduate.
Application of basic principles of Religious Studies in business, organizational, educational, political, or other appropriate setting.
Prerequisites: jr st; 2.50 gpa; cons supervising faculty member.
Course Rules: One cr earned for academic work based on 40 hrs in internship. Retakable to 6 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2016, Spring 2015.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 497 Study Abroad:
1-12 cr. Undergraduate.
Designed to enroll students in UWM sponsored program before course work level, content, and credits are determined and/or in specially prepared program course work.
Prerequisites: jr st; acceptance for Study Abroad Prog.
Course Rules: Retakable w/chg in topic.
Last Taught: Spring 2018, Fall 2017, Summer 2014, Summer 2013.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 499 Ad Hoc:
1-6 cr. Undergraduate.
Course created expressly for offering in a specified enrollment period. Requires only dept and assoc dean approval. In exceptional circumstances, can be offered in one add'l sem.
Prerequisites: jr st, add'l prereqs may be assigned to specific topic.
Course Rules: Retakable w/chg in topic.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 544 Religious Giving in Anthropological Perspective
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Seminar on religious directives for giving in historical and cross-cultural perspective, including Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, and Jewish ideas of charity, philanthropy, and social welfare.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: Anthro 544 & ReligSt 544 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 699 Advanced Independent Study
1-3 cr. Undergraduate.
Advanced level independent work under the supervision of ReligSt faculty or academic staff member.
Prerequisites: jr st; 2.5 GPA; writ cons instr, dept chair, & asst dean for SAS
Course Rules: Retakable w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2018.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
RELIGST 751 Religious Practices and Values in Local and Global Communities
3 cr. Graduate.
Religious practices and values of six major world religions are examined in order to promote understanding and cooperation within a diverse community.
Prerequisites: grad st.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/