Concentration in Anthropology and Religion

Concentration in Anthropology and Religion

This joint major offers the student numerous ways to understand how religion works as a dynamic aspect of culture, and how individuals interact with their social environments to create systems of belief and ritual in their efforts to make sense of the world.

Six courses in religion and six courses in anthropology are required with a grade of C or higher, as specified below. Those 12 courses must include Anthropology of Religion (taken either as CAS AN 384 or as CAS RN 387). Candidates for the BA with this joint major may not pursue a second concentration in religion or anthropology. They are, however, encouraged to take courses beyond the required 12 in either or both disciplines. Qualified seniors should consider Independent Work for Distinction, either AN 401/402 or RN 401/402. To ensure the most suitable program of study for the prospective student’s areas of interest, courses should be selected in consultation with the program advisor. For further information about the joint program, contact Professor Frank Korom, the program advisor or either department chair.

Religion: CAS RN 103 Religions of the World: Eastern, or CAS RN 104 Religions of the World: Western; one 200-level course on the major world traditions (CAS RN 209–219); CAS RN 200; and three additional courses from the approved list for the concentration, numbered 220 or higher.

Anthropology: CAS AN 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology; CAS AN 252 Ethnicity and Identity; CAS AN 384/RN 387 Anthropology of Religion; CAS AN 461 Ethnography and Anthropological Theory I; and two social anthropology courses at the 300 level or above from the approved list for the concentration.

Approved list for 2009-2010

Anthropology

Fall 2009

  • AN312 Peoples and Cultures of Africa
  • AN319 Anthropology of Muslim Cultures and Politics
  • AN337 Evolution and Creation New Course
  • AN371 Political Anthropology and the Modern World
  • AN375 Culture, Society, and Religion in South Asia
  • AN461 Anthropological Theory I
  • AN593 Topics in Anthropology: Social Movements

Spring 2010

  • AN252 Ethnicity and Identity
  • AN305 Culture and Food
  • AN310 North American Indians
  • AN320 Women in the Muslim World
  • AN362 Culture and Environment
  • AN384 Anthropological Approaches to Religion
  • AN547 Muslim Societies

Religion

Fall 2009

  • RN100 Religion & Culture
  • RN103 World Religions: East
  • RN104 World Religions: West
  • RN111 Multireligious America
  • RN214 Islam
  • RN220 The Holy City
  • RN239 Religion & Science
  • RN312 Buddhism in America
  • RN313 Hinduism in America
  • RN344 Islam and the West
  • RN375 Culture, Society, and Religion in South Asia
  • RN453 Sex and the Body in World Religions
  • RN495 Theoretical Approaches to the Study of Religion
  • RN561 Religion and International Relations

Spring 2010

  • RN100 Religion & Culture
  • RN103 World Religions: East
  • RN104 World Religions: West
  • RN106 Death & Immortality
  • RN214 Islam
  • RN242 Magic, Science & Religion
  • RN247 Religion & Healing
  • RN341 Sufism
  • RN366 Zen Buddhism
  • RN387 Anthropological Approaches to Religion
  • RN415 Traditional African Religions in the Diaspora
  • RN425 Topics in South Asian Religions: Visual Piety
  • RN435 Women, Gender & Islam
  • RN468

Approved list for 2010-2011

Anthropology

Fall 2010

  • AN101  Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
  • AN 220 Urban Anthropology
  • AN240 Legal Anthropology
  • AN319 Anthropology of Muslim Cultures and Politics
  • AN337 Creation & Evolution
  • AN350 Asians in America
  • AN379 China: Tradition & Transition
  • AN461 Ethnography & Anthropological Theory 1
  • AN564 Public Religion and Politics Across Cultures

Spring 2011

  • AN101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
  • AN250 Understanding Folklore & Folklife
  • AN252 Ethnicity & Identity
  • AN307 Turkey & Middle East Perspective
  • AN320 Women in the Muslim World
  • AN355 Religious Fundamentalism in Anthropological Perspective
  • AN384 Anthropological Study of Religion
  • AN438 Ethnography of American Culture
  • AN462 Ethnography & Anthropological Theory 2

Religion

Fall 2010

  • RN103 Religions of the World: Eastern
  • RN104 Religions of the World: Western
  • RN220 The Holy City: Jerusalem in Time, Space, & Imagination
  • RN224 Women & Religion
  • RN242 Magic, Science & Religion
  • RN312 Buddhism in America
  • RN345 Islamic Law
  • RN375 Culture, Society & Religion in South Asia
  • RN427 Wandering as Practice and Play
  • RN429 Religion & Politics in South Asia

Spring 2011

  • RN103 Religions of the World: Eastern
  • RN104 Religions of the World: Western
  • RN213 Hinduism
  • RN214 Islam
  • RN239 Religion & Science
  • RN312 Buddhism in America
  • RN341 Sufism
  • RN384 The Holocaust
  • RN387 Anthropology of Religion
  • RN439 Jewish Bioethics
  • RN468 Symbol, Myth, & Rite
  • RN561 Religion and International Relations

Approved list for 2011-2012

Anthropology

Fall 2011

  • AN240 Legal Anthropology
  • AN310 Studies in North American Ethnography (Area)
  • AN317 Power & Society in the Middle Ease (Area)
  • AN319 Anthropology of Muslim Cultures and Politics (Area)
  • AN379 China, Tradition and Transition (Area)
  • AN384 Anthropological Study of Religion

Spring 2012

  • AN320 Women in the Muslim World
  • AN355 Religious Fundamentalism in Anthropological Perspective
  • AN372 Psychological Anthropology
  • AN438 Ethnography of American Culture (Area)

Religion

Fall 2011

  • RN103 Religion of the World: Eastern
  • RN104 Religion of the World: Western
  • RN200 Theoretical Approaches to the Study of Religion
  • RN224 Women and Religion
  • RN241 Topics: Religion and Evil
  • RN242 Magic, Science, and Religion
  • RN243 Shamanism
  • RN316 Modern Islam

Spring 2012

  • RN103 Religion of the World: Eastern
  • RN104 Religions of the World: Western
  • RN203 Religion and Film
  • RN210 Buddhism
  • RN212 Christianity
  • RN214 Islam
  • RN220 Holy City: Jerusalem
  • RN241 Religion and Evil
  • RN384 The Holocaust
  • RN439 Jewish Bioethics

Approved list for 2012-2013

Anthropology

Fall 2012

  • AN310 North American Indians (area)
  • AN312 People and Cultures of Africa (area)
  • AN316 Contemporary European Ethnography (area)
  • AN317 Power and Society in the Middle East (area)
  • AN319 Anthropology of Muslim Cultures and Politics (area)
  • AN375 Culture, Society and Religion in South Asia (area)

Spring 2013

  • AN250 Folklore & Folklife
  • AN252 Ethnicity and Identity
  • AN260 Sex and Culture
  • AN308 Food, Culture and Society
  • AN318 South East Asia: Tradition and Development
  • AN320 Women in the Muslim World
  • AN355 Religious Fundamentalism
  • AN372 Psychological Anthropology
  • AN384 Anthropological Study of Religion
  • AN438 Ethnography of American Culture
  • AN505 Asian Development: The Case of Women
  • AN571 The Anthropology of Emotion

Religion

Fall 2012

  • RN111 Multireligious America
  • RN375 Culture, Society and Religion in South Asia (area)
  • RN384 The Holocaust
  • RN429 Religion nd Politics in South Asia
  • RN216 Judaism
  • RN242 Magic, Science, and Religion
  • RN341 Islamic Mysticism: Sufism
  • RN561 Religion and International Relations

Spring 2013

  • RN103 World Religions: Eastern
  • RN104 World Religions: Western
  • RN212 Christianity
  • RN213 Hinduism
  • RN214 Islam
  • RN224 Women and Religion
  • RN239 Religion and Science
  • RN382 History of Religion in Pre-Colonial Africa
  • RN384 Holocaust
  • RN387 Anthropology of Religion
  • RN435 Women, Gender and Islam
  • RN439 Jewish Bioethics
  • RN494 Magical Texts
  • RN561 Religion and International Relations