The Religious Studies curriculum at Whittier College equips students with skills to understand and interpret the complex role of religion in society - past and present, local and global. Focusing on religion as a social institution and as a significant component of cultural diversity, the program induces students to investigate how religious traditions are embedded in local environments. Because of its diverse character, the greater Los Angeles region provides an ideal opportunity for field trips and other activities that encourage students to apply and enhance what they learn in the classroom setting. The program sees the inquiry into religious practices and beliefs as an occasion for becoming self-conscious about both theoretical issues in the study of religion and the search for meaning and values.
Courses
REL 101 - Religious Diversity in America
REL 190 - Selected Topics
REL 200 - Exploring Religion
REL 201 - Monotheisms
REL 202 - Religions of Asia
REL 220 - Religion and Globalization
REL 222 - Judaism
REL 225 - Global Christianities I
REL 226 - Global Christianities II
REL 230 - Green Religion
REL 235 - Middle East: Muhammad to Mongols
REL 236 - Islam, the Middle East, and the West
REL 248 - Myanmar: History, Religion, Politics
REL 251 - Monks, Nuns and Ascetics
REL 253 - Women and Religion
REL 255 - Women and U.S. Liberation Theology
REL 257 - Black and Womanist Theologies
REL 260 - Religion and Social Justice
REL 290 - Selected Topics
REL 295 - Independent Study
REL 299 - Community Based Learning in Religious Studies
REL 307 - Religion and the Body
REL 311 - Gospel Literature
REL 313 - Heroes, Gods and Gurus
REL 315 - The Devil, Jinns, and Others
REL 330 - Buddha and Buddhism
REL 331 - Islam
REL 332 - Looking for Islam: Morocco
REL 333 - Hindu Religion and Culture
REL 334 - Religions of China and Japan
REL 340 - Global Ethics
REL 341 - New Religious Movements in S. California
REL 349 - Religious Fundamentalisms
REL 350 - Latin American Liberation Theologies
REL 351 - Religion and Politics in the US
REL 352 - Pilgrimage
REL 353 - Person, Cosmos, and Community
REL 361 - Ways of Understanding Religion
REL 390 - Selected Topics
REL 395 - Independent Study
REL 490 - Selected Topics
REL 495 - Independent Study
REL 499 - Senior Intellectual Memoir and Portfolio
