C A L I F O R N I A   S T A T E   U N I V E R S I T Y   B A K E R S F I E L D 2001-2003 Catalog

Faculty Towers, 104D
(661) 664-2291
(661) 665-6904 (fax)
email: kkessler@csub.edu
http://www.csub.edu/Philosophy/

The Department offers two major tracks in Philosophy, a Pre-Law Concentration, two major tracks in Religious Studies, and minors in both Philosophy and Religious Studies.

The unexamined life is not worth living.
—Socrates

PHILOSOPHY

Program Description

The program in Philosophy enables students to explore critically various systems of beliefs and values, to grapple with the foundations of their own beliefs and values, and to develop habits of critical thinking, writing, and reading. Students in the philosophy program will gain the ability (1) to explore critically and understand the major areas of philosophy, namely, those concerned with values, theories of knowledge, and theories about the nature of reality, and (2) to think logically and analyze critically. A carefully designed set of courses in the upper division affords students the opportunity to master the major areas of philosophy, namely, those concerned with values, theories of knowledge, metaphysics, and social and political philosophy.

"Students do best [on the LSAT, GMAT and GRE exams] who major in a field characterized by formal thought, structural relationships, abstract models, symbolic languages, and deductive reasoning. [This is why] the most consistent performers are philosophy students."

—Based on the findings of a 1985 study conducted
by the U. S. Department of Education

Requirements for the Major in Philosophy

Graduate School Track

1. Twelve upper division courses in philosophy, including:

a. PHIL 302 History of Western Philosophy I

PHIL 303 History of Western Philosophy II

PHIL 304 History of Western Philosophy III

PHIL 305 History of Western Philosophy IV

b. PHIL 350 Symbolic Logic

c. PHIL 306 Contemporary Issues in Philosophy

d. One course from each of the following groups:

(1) Group A: Theories of Knowledge

PHIL 351 Theories of Knowledge

PHIL 352 Philosophy of Science

(2) Group B: Metaphysics

PHIL 340 Metaphysics

PHIL 341 Self and Mind

(3) Group C: Value Theory

PHIL 331 Aesthetics

PHIL 332 Theories of Ethics

PHIL 478 Special Topics in Applied

Ethics

(4) Group D: Social and Political

Philosophy

PHIL 333 Political Philosophy and Thought

PHIL 334 Law and Morality

PHIL 335 Philosophy of Law

e. One additional upper division course in philosophy

f. PHIL 490 Senior Seminar

 

2. Completion of an approved minor.

 

1. Ten upper division courses in philosophy, including:

a. Three of the following four courses:

PHIL 302 History of Western Philosophy I

PHIL 303 History of Western Philosophy II

PHIL 304 History of Western Philosophy III

PHIL 305 History of Western Philosophy IV

b. One course from each of the following groups:

(1) Group A: Theories of Knowledge

PHIL 351 Theories of Knowledge

PHIL 352 Philosophy of Science

(2) Group B: Metaphysics

PHIL 340 Metaphysics

PHIL 341 Self and Mind

PHIL/RS 342 Philosophy of Religion

(3) Group C: Value Theory

PHIL/COMM 317 Ethical Issues in the Media

PHIL 331 Aesthetics

PHIL 332 Theories of Ethics

PHIL 380 Philosophy of Ecology

PHIL 478 Special Topics in Applied Ethics

(4) Group D: Social and Political Philosophy

PHIL 333 Political Philosophy and Thought

PHIL 334 Law and Morality

PHIL 335 Philosophy of Law

(5) Group E: Breadth Requirement

PHIL 306 Contemporary Issues in Philosophy

PHIL 343 Asian Philosophy

PHIL 381 Feminist Philosophy

c. One additional upper division course in philosophy.

d. PHIL 490 Senior Seminar

 

2. Completion of an approved minor.

 

1. Ten upper division courses, including:

a. Three courses selected from the following:

PHIL 302 History of Western Philosophy I

PHIL 303 History of Western Philosophy II

PHIL 304 History of Western Philosophy III

PHIL 305 History of Western Philosophy IV

b. One course selected from the following:

PHIL 332 Theories of Ethics

PHIL 333 Political Philosophy and Thought

c. One course selected from the following:

PLSI 370 Legal Reasoning

PHIL 350 Symbolic Logic

d. One course selected from the following:

PHIL 351 Theories of Knowledge

PHIL 352 Philosophy of Science

PHIL 430 News as Ideology

e. One course selected from the following:

PHIL 340 Metaphysics

PHIL 341 Self and Mind

INST 363 Personhood

PHIL 306 Contemporary Issues in Philosophy

f. One course selected from the following:

PHIL 334 Law and Morality

PHIL 335 Philosophy of Law

g. One additional upper division course in Philosophy or a course listed above.

h. PHIL 490 Senior Seminar

 

2. Completion of a Special Minor for Pre-Law: four courses selected from the following (two courses must be selected from Economics and two from Political Science). Only one of the four courses may be lower division.

ECON 201 Essentials of Microeconomics

ECON 404 Law and Economics

PLSI 314 Judicial Power and the Constitution

PLSI 315 Civil Liberties

PLSI 333 Political Philosophy and Thought (same as PHIL 333 Political Philosophy and Thought)

PLSI 370 Legal Reasoning

 

Requirements for the Minor in Philosophy

Four courses, totaling twenty units, at least fifteen of which must be upper division.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Note: All upper division courses in Philosophy carry as prerequisites PHIL 102 and ENGL 110 or equivalents, with PHIL 100 strongly recommended. Some courses also carry additional prerequisites. Any prerequisite may be waived with the consent of the instructor.

Lower Division

PHIL 100 Introduction to Philosophy (5)

A study of philosophical methods and some of the major philosophical ideas which have resulted from the application of that method. These ideas are taken from the past as well as the present, from the East as well as the West. They concern the kinds, sources, and tests of knowledge; the nature of reality, of self and God; and the various kinds of value that ought to inform our lives. (CAN PHIL 2) [F, W, S]

PHIL 102 Logical Reasoning (5)

This course is designed to develop critical thinking skills related to the analysis and evaluation of arguments. It involves an analysis and criticism of deductive and inductive reasoning; an understanding of justification and evidence; and analysis of fallacious argument in various areas of inquiry. (CAN PHIL 6) [F, W, S]

PHIL 201 Contemporary Moral Problems (5)

An overview of historical and recent ethics theory and concepts, and an examination of contemporary moral issues and dilemmas, such as abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, affirmative action, animal rights and gender relationships. Emphasis is given to the relationship between theory and practice. (CAN PHIL 4) [F, W, S]

PHIL 289 Experiential Prior Learning (variable units)

Evaluation and assessment of learning which has occurred as a result of prior off-campus experience relevant to the curriculum of the department. Requires complementary academic study and/or documentation. Available by petition only, on a credit, no-credit basis. Not open to postgraduate students. Interested students should contact the department office. May not be counted toward major or minor requirements.

PHIL 296/396 Human Corps Community Service I (variable units)

This course provides students a volunteer community service experience working with nonprofit, governmental, educational or community-based service organizations. Offered on a credit, no-credit basis only.

Upper Division

PHIL 302 History of Western Philosophy I (5)

A study of the development of Western philosophy from its Greek origins through the Hellenistic period, with emphasis on Plato and Aristotle. [F]

PHIL 303 History of Western Philosophy II (5)

A study of the development of Western philosophy from Medieval philosophy through the Modern Rationalists, Descartes, Leibniz and Spinoza. [Alternate Years]

PHIL 304 History of Western Philosophy III (5)

A study of the modern Empiricists, Locke, Berkeley and Hume, and the Critical Philosophy of Kant. [Alternate Years]

PHIL 305 History of Western Philosophy IV (5)

A study of Western philosophy from post-Kantian idealism through phenomenology and positivism. [Alternate years]

PHIL 306 Contemporary Issues in Philosophy (5)

This course will address those issues at the forefront of current research in philosophy. Topics may include issues in contemporary analytical philosophy such as mind and consciousness, philosophy of language and issues in value theory. (Formerly PHIL 301.) [Alternate Years]

PHIL 310 Existentialism (5)

Various types of existential philosophies are examined in the writings of nineteenth-century philosophers of existence such as Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, and of twentieth century exponents such as Heidegger, Sartre, Beauvoir, Camus, Buber, Fanon, and others. Concepts explored may include the meaning of freedom, the choice of values after the "death of God," relations between individual and society, embodiment and existential psychoanalysis. [Alternative years]

PHIL 311 Marx, Marxism and Post-Marxism (5)

An examination of the central ideas of Marxist philosophy, economics and social theory, both through the writings of Marx and others who contributed to the development of this tradition such as Engels, Lenin, Mao, Horkheimer, Althusser and others. Study will include the question of the relevance of Marxism in a post-communist world, through the writings of contemporary social theorists. [Offered Irregularly]

PHIL 315 Philosophy, Technology and Our

Future (5)

The nature of technology, its recent history, and probable future are explored, and questions of human goals, and the quality of life are raised. An examination of the ethical/legal/social questions raised by modern technologies will be emphasized. [F]

PHIL 317 Ethical Issues in the Media (5)

An analysis of ethical dilemmas in the media, with emphasis on ethical issues as they influence news gathering, reporting, advertising, and entertainment. An evaluation of the ethical "culture" of newsrooms and their codes of ethics. And an analysis of case studies as the basis for learning how to recognize and resolve ethical conflicts. Prerequisite: COMM 315 for Communications majors. This course carries credit in either Philosophy or Communications. [W]

PHIL 331 Aesthetics (5)

This course is devoted to a variety of philosophical issues that arise when thinking about the arts. Such issues include: the problem of defining art, the nature of our experience of art, philosophical problems relating to art criticism, special problems surrounding the popular arts, and the social, ethical and political dimensions of art. [Offered irregularly]

PHIL 332 Theories of Ethics (5)

A review of ethical systems and theories with analysis of the meaning and function of crucial ethical concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, freedom, choice, responsibility, intention, and consequence. Consideration will also be given to the justification of ethical judgments. [Alternate Years]

PHIL 333 Political Philosophy and Thought (5)

An examination of various theories of the nature of social and political life. Significant contributions to Western political philosophy, such as those of Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Mill, Marx, and Rawls, will be examined along with the concepts of rights, equality, justice, obligation, liberty and utility. Additional readings may contribute to analysis of the development of political institutions and civil society in the West and their effects on non-European nations and cultures. Carries credit in either Philosophy or Political Science. [F, W, S]

PHIL 334 Law and Morality (5)

An exploration of the philosophical and moral foundations of legal systems and of contemporary legal practice. Topics discussed include advocacy, the professional/client relationship, confidentiality, and pro bono work. [Alternate Years]

PHIL 335 Philosophy of Law (5)

This course addresses issues common to both philosophy and law through the study of legal theories from Natural Law, Positivism and Legal Realism, to Law and Economics and Critical Legal Studies. Attention will be paid to the nature, origin and scope of rights, the specifics of legal reasoning and constitutional law, and the roles played by the legal system in the contemporary world. Additional issues may include capital punishment, sex and gender discrimination, changes in tort law, and the growth of the prison industry or other selected topics. [Offered Irregularly]

PHIL 340 Metaphysics (5)

The course investigates various theories of the nature of reality, such as materialism, dualism and idealism, realism. Additionally, the course will explore debates regarding issues such as God, consciousness, free will, identity, necessity, properties and causality. [Alternate Years]

PHIL 341 Self and Mind (5)

A critical exploration of various theories of self and mind and their relationships to the brain, body, consciousness, beliefs, knowledge and personhood. The course will also explore the possibility of nonhuman minds such as those of animals and machines, and the implications for their relationships to humans. [Alternate Years]

PHIL 342 Philosophy of Religion (5)

An examination of the following issues: the nature of religion and religious experience, various conceptions of God, evidence for the existence of God including the classical arguments, faith and its relationship to knowledge, the problem of evil, meaning and the logical status of religious language, the possibility and nature of personal immortality. Carries credit in Philosophy or Religious Studies. [Alternate Years]

PHIL 343 Asian Philosophy (5)

A study of the major Confucian philosophers: Confucius, Mencius, and Hsun Tzu; of the Taoist masters Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu; of the chief sources of Hindu philosophy – the Upanishads, the Bhagavadgita – and the three major Vedanta philosophies which grew out of them; and of Buddhist thought, in both the Theravada and Mahayana (including Zen) traditions. Carries credit in Philosophy or Religious Studies. [Alternate Years]

PHIL 350 Symbolic Logic (5)

The course is designed to develop our understanding of different logical notions, such as validity, consistency, logical truth and the formal structures that underlie good reasoning. There will be a focus on developing an ability to translate from a natural language to formal languages such as the propositional and predicate calculus, and a focus on developing an ability to use formal proof systems. [Alternate Years]

PHIL 351 Theories of Knowledge (5)

A critical examination of the nature, possibility and limits of human knowledge. Focus will be placed upon historical and contemporary theories and may consider such topics as the distinction between justified belief and knowledge, the nature of justification, skepticism, perception, meaning, experiential and non-experiential knowledge, self-knowledge, logical and mathematical knowledge and feminist epistemology. [Alternate Years]

PHIL 352 Philosophy of Science (5)

A critical examination of the underpinnings of scientific knowledge. The course will critically evaluate theories, methods, presuppositions and biases of scientific knowledge claims. Questions concerning the nature and influence of testimony, evidence, culture, statistical reasoning and verification will be explored. [Alternate Years]

INST 363 Personhood (10)

Psychological, philosophical and biological perspectives on the person as mind, body and brain will inform exploration of public policy issues such as those related to models of illness and wellness, health care, gender and sexuality, intelligence, and legal issues such as insanity plea, commitment, eyewitness testimony and spousal and child abuse. Satisfies Themes 2 and 3 of the upper division General Education requirements. Prerequisite PHIL 100 or 201 and PSYC 100 or BIOL 100. [Alternate years].

PHIL 363 Philosophy and Religion in

Literature (5)

An examination of such concepts as freedom, love, morality, God, death, afterlife, faith, and meaninglessness in novels, short stories, and poetry. Authors include Rumi, Kabir, Tagore, Pope, Dickenson, Millay, Hopkins, Hesse, Maugham, Greene, Camus, and Betty. Carries credit in Religious Studies or Philosophy. [S]

PHIL 377 Special Studies in Philosophy (1-5)

Topics to be offered will be announced prior to registration. May be repeated for different course content. [Offered irregularly]

PHIL 380 Philosophy of Ecology (5)

This course will cover major debates in environmental ethics, including the rights of animals and ecosystems, possible debts to future generations and differing conceptions of human relationships with the earth, such as biocentrism vs. anthropocentrism. Additional topics may include global warming, the use of nuclear technologies, the environmental justice movement, ecofeminism, rural-urban resource conflicts and social ecology. [Offered irregularly]

PHIL 381 Feminist Philosophy (5)

An exploration of the diversity of feminist theory and practice through the writings of historical and contemporary philosophers. Topics may include feminist revisions of the philosophical canon, critiques of patriarchy, feminist approaches to reason and rationality, the ethics of care, the intersecting critiques of sexism, racism and homophobia, and feminist approaches to social change. Recommended prerequisite: PHIL 100 or INST 205. [Offered irregularly]

PHIL 396 Human Corps (5)

PHIL 430 News as Ideology (5)

Investigation of cultural world-views and professional values that structure news coverage in the United States. Emphasis is on socioeconomic relations and theories of knowledge from which these world-views and values emerge. Analysis is of news coverage of contemporary and historical events, including representations of non-western cultures and of non-dominant social groups in the United States. Additional prerequisite: COMM 274. Carries credit in Philosophy or Communications. [Offered irregularly]

PHIL 450 Advanced Symbolic Logic (5)

A study of set theory, number, meta-logic, and various modal logics. Additional prerequisite: PHIL 350 or its equivalent; or consent of the instructor. [Offered Irregularly]

PHIL 477 Special Studies in Philosophy (1-5)

Topics to be offered will be announced prior to registration. May be repeated for different course content. [Offered irregularly]

PHIL 478 Special Topics in Applied Ethics (5)

Topics to be offered will be announced prior to registration. Such topics as medical ethics, business ethics, legal ethics and others will be covered on a periodic basis. May be repeated for different course content. [Offered irregularly]

PHIL 489 Experiential Prior Learning (variable units)

Evaluation and assessment of learning which has occurred as a result of prior off-campus experience relevant to the curriculum of the department. Requires complementary academic study and/or documentation. Available by petition only, on a credit, no-credit basis. Not open to postgraduate students. Interested students should contact the department office. May not be counted toward major or minor requirements.

PHIL 490 Senior Seminar (6)

Consideration of the nature of philosophy and of various related subjects. Additional prerequisite: senior standing. [S]

PHIL 496 Internship in Applied Philosophy (1-5)

Supervised field experience in the community in applying specific philosophical skills in dealing with individuals and in community organizations and institutions. Career-oriented experience in the community setting is combined with academic activities in the college setting. Hours in the field, placement, and academic requirements such as conferences, readings, and reports are arranged in consultation with the work supervisor and faculty supervisor. Prerequisites vary depending on the specific internship, but enrollment is limited to students with good academic records who are committed to developing an understanding of the philosophical foundations of professional life. [Offered irregularly]

PHIL 497 Cooperative Education (5)

The Cooperative Education program offers a sponsored learning experience in a work setting, integrated with a field analysis seminar. The Cooperative Education office contracts the field experience on an individual basis, subject to approval by the department. The field experience, including the seminar and reading assignments, is supervised by the cooperative education coordinator and the faculty liaison (or course instructor), working with the field supervisor. Students are expected to enroll in the course for at least two quarters. The determination of course credits, evaluation, and grading are the responsibility of the departmental faculty. Offered on a credit, no-credit basis only. Department will determine application of credit.

PHIL 499 Individual Study (1-5)

Individual program with regular consultations and/or examinations as instructor may require. Admission with consent of department chair.

PHIL 577 Special Studies in Philosophy (1-5)

Topics to be offered will be announced prior to registration. May be repeated for different course content. Requires graduate level standing.

PHIL 580 Advanced Research Participation (1-5)

Individual investigation under the supervision of an identified instructor. (Experience as a research or teaching assistant does not count for credit.) Prerequisite: 3.0 GPA and consent of department chair.

PHIL 599 Advanced Individual Study (1-5)

Special projects developed by the individual in consultation with an identified instructor. Prerequisite: 3.0 GPA and consent of department chair.

PHIL 677 Special Studies in Philosophy (1-5)

Topics to be offered will be announced prior to registration. May be repeated for different course content. Requires graduate level standing.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Program Description

The program in Religious Studies is intended (1) to enable students to become acquainted with current scholarship in the study of religion, (2) to help them to improve their skills in writing and critical thinking, particularly with reference to religion, and (3) to increase student multicultural understanding of the role religion plays in the lives of individuals, societies, and cultures.

The program is not intended as a professional or pre-professional degree, but as part of the liberal arts tradition, seeks to make students better, more thoughtful, more tolerant world citizens. It explores the subject of religion with a variety of methodologies common to the humanities, while respecting reasonable differences in points of view and avoiding any attempt to proselytize.

The program includes courses of three general types: those which examine religious issues from a philosophical point of view; those which explore the history and literature of particular religions; and those which examine religion from a social-scientific point of view. The courses of all three types are analytical, critical, and sympathetic, but in no case dogmatic or sectarian.

Requirements for the Major in Religious Studies

Standard Major

1. A minimum of 7 courses, including:

a. RS 110 Religion in Western Civilization

b. RS 111 Religion in Asian Cultures

c. RS 490 Senior Seminar

 

2. Completion of an approved minor.

 

1. A minimum of nine courses, including:

a. RS 110 Religion in Western Civilization

RS 111 Religion in Asian Cultures

b. One course from each of the following groups:

(1) Group A: History and Literature of

Religion

RS 301 Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)

RS 302 New Testament

RS 332 Judaism

RS 335 Christianity

RS 338 Islam

RS 345 India

RS 348 China and Japan

(2) Group B: Social-Scientific Study of

Religion

RS 311 Psychology of Religion

RS 313 Sociology of Religion

RS 361 Mythology and Symbolism in Religion

RS 381 New Religious Movements

(3) Group C: Philosophical and Religious Thought

PHIL 302 History of Western

Philosophy I

PHIL 332 Ethical Theory

RS 342 Philosophy of Religion

RS 343 Asian Philosophy

c. Three upper division courses in Religious Studies, with the approval of the advisor.

d. RS 490 Senior Seminar

 

2. Completion of an approved minor.

 

Requirements for the Minor in Religious Studies

Four courses, totaling twenty units, at least fifteen of which must be upper division.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Note: All upper division courses in Religious Studies carry as a prerequisite ENGL 110 or its equivalent. Some courses also carry additional prerequisites. Any prerequisite may be waived with the consent of the instructor.

Lower Division

RS 100 Introduction to Religion (5)

A comparative study of the way people express themselves religiously. Topics might include religious experience, beliefs about God, salvation and liberation, the expression of religion in scripture, myth, ritual, ethics, community, art, faith, life after death, immortality, reincarnation, worship, prayer and meditation, the near-death experience and the effect of religion on individuals and societies. Specific religious traditions, Eastern and Western, provide examples for the study of these topics. [F, W, S]

RS 110 Religion in Western Civilization (5)

A comparative study of the religions and cultures which have shaped Western civilization. This course traces the development and interaction of religions and various aspects of Western civilization. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and the role they have played in shaping the values and world views of Western civilization receive special attention. Some religions and cultures of the ancient Near East, Greece, Rome, and ancient Europe may also be studied. [F, W, S]

RS 111 Religion in Asian Cultures (5)

A comparative study of the religions and cultures of India, China, and Japan. The origins and development of selected religious traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shintoism are examined. The interaction between religion and various aspects of culture such as art, literature, politics, and economics is included. [Usually S]

RS 289 Experiential Prior Learning (variable units)

Evaluation and assessment of learning which has occurred as a result of prior off-campus experience relevant to the curriculum of the department. Requires complementary academic study and/or documentation. Available by petition only, on a credit, no-credit basis. Not open to postgraduate students. Interested students should contact the department office. May not be counted toward major or minor requirements.

RS 296/396 Human Corps Community Service I (variable units)

This course provides students a volunteer community service experience working with nonprofit, governmental, educational or community-based service organizations. Offered on a credit, no-credit basis only.

Upper Division

RS 301 Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) (5)

A study of the Hebrew Bible with special attention given to the historical development of the religion and literature of ancient Israel. Several Hebrew literary forms are examined, including historical narrative, poetry, law, prophecy and apocalypse, as well as the Hebrew wisdom tradition. [Alternate years]

RS 302 New Testament (5)

The history, literature, and religion of early Christianity considered against the background of the Greco-Roman world and culture. The gospels and epistles of the New Testament are analyzed and discussed. [Alternate years]

RS 311 Psychology of Religion (5)

A study of the psychological dimension of religion, Western and Eastern. Attention is given to various psychological theories of religion, including those of Freud, Jung, and James. Such topics as religious experience, meditation, psychic phenomena, and the role of religion in personality development are included. Carries credit in Religious Studies or Psychology. [Alternate years]

RS 313 Sociology of Religion (5)

A study of the sociological dimension of religion, Western and Eastern. The various sociological theories of religion, including those of Durkheim and Weber, are examined. Such topics as religion and social change, the social aspects of religious experience, and religious institutionalization are studied, with particular attention to the function of religion in contemporary secular societies. Carries credit in Religious Studies or Sociology. [Alternate years]

RS 332 Judaism (5)

A study of the history and literature of post-biblical Judaism from the Maccabean Revolt to the founding of the Jewish State. Attention will be given to major events and major movements during this period, such as Messianism, Rabbinic Judaism, Hasidic Judaism, the Jewish Enlightenment, Zionism, and the Nazi Holocaust. [Alternate years]

RS 335 Christianity (5)

A study of the history and literature of the Christian tradition from its beginnings as a Jewish sect in Judea to its transformation into Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant branches. Some attention will be given to the development of sectarian and heretical movements. [Alternate years]

RS 338 Islam (5)

A study of the history, literature, religion, governments, and culture of Islamic civilization from its beginnings in the Arabian desert to its spread throughout Asia, Africa, and the Western world. Attention will be given to tensions between traditional Islamic culture and modern Western society. [S]

RS 342 Philosophy of Religion (5)

An examination of the following issues: the nature of religion and religious experience, various conceptions of God, evidence for the existence of God including the classical arguments, faith and its relationship to knowledge, the problem of evil, the meaning and the logical status of religious language, the possibility and nature of personal immortality. Carries credit in Philosophy or Religious Studies. [Alternate years]

RS 343 Asian Philosophy (5)

A study of the major Confucian philosophers: Confucius, Mencius, and Hsun Tzu; of the Taoist masters Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu; of the chief sources of Hindu philosophy – the Upanishads, the Bhagavadgita – and the three major Vedanta philosophies which grew out of them; and of Buddhist thought, in both the Theravada and Mahayana (including Zen) traditions. Carries credit in Philosophy or Religious Studies. [Alternate years]

RS 345 India (5)

A study of India’s culture, especially her religious, mythical, and artistic expressions; the values and living patterns of her citizens; the historical events leading up to her independence from Great Britain; and the social, economic and spiritual effect of independence on her people. [W]

RS 348 China and Japan (5)

A study of the cultures of China and Japan. Emphasis will be placed on their philosophical, religious, and artistic expressions, as well as on typical oriental attitudes towards family, community, and state. The overall objective of the course is to understand something of the Chinese and Japanese people as they perceive themselves today, both religiously and socially. [Alternate years]

RS 361 Mythology and Symbolism in Religion (5)

An exploration of the nature, function, and types of mythology and symbolism in religion. Such topics as mythology and truth, symbol and reality, and literalism versus symbolic modes of comprehension and expression are studied. Source readings are drawn from the world religions. [Alternate years]

RS 362 Spirituality and Mysticism (5)

A study of spirituality and mysticism, including classical expressions of mystical experience. Meditation and prayer, spiritual art and music, nature mysticism, and what it means to live spiritually are topics typically covered. Different traditions, both Eastern and Western, will be compared. [Alternate years]

RS 363 Philosophy and Religion in Literature (5)

An examination of such concepts as freedom, love, morality, God, death, afterlife, faith, and meaninglessness in novels, short stories, and poetry. Authors include Rumi, Kabir, Tagore, Pope, Dickinson, Millay, Hopkins, Hesse, Maugham, Greene, Camus, and Betty. Carries credit in Philosophy or Religious Studies. [S]

RS 365 Native American Religion (5)

Religious life among Native Americans is rich and diverse. This course will sample some of this diversity from the remote past to the present with primary focus on North American cultures. Issues relevant to gender, ritual practice, moral values, sacred stories and world views will be examined. Native and non-native sources will be studied, including the experiences of individual women and men. Native American guest speakers and video interviews will be utilized where appropriate. [Alternate years]

RS 377 Special Studies in Religion (1-5)

Topics to be offered will be announced prior to registration. May be repeated for different course content. [Offered irregularly]

RS 381 New Religious Movements (5)

An historical and sociological examination of popular cults and sectarian movements in contemporary America. Among the groups this course may highlight include the Shakers, Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Unification Church, Hare Krishna, the Nation of Islam, and the so-called religions of the New Age. [Offered irregularly]

RS 396 Human Corps (5)

RS 401 Religion in Ancient Western Civilization (5)

An examination of Egyptian, Mesopotamian and Canaanite cultures. This course will consider their influence upon western civilization, using such examples as religious beliefs and practices, literature, law, government and the development of writing. [F]

RS 444 Buddhism and Christianity in Dialogue (5)

A comparative historical, systematic and critical investigation of such topics as the nature of ultimate reality, the meaning of life in the world, salvation and enlightenment as presented in various Buddhist and Christian traditions. Along with traditional materials, students will read contemporary academic and nonacademic texts that address various aspects of this ongoing interreligious dialogue. [Alternate years]

RS 465 The Meaning of Death (5)

A study of various attitudes toward death and dying in world cultures. Problems of aging, disease, euthanasia, the impact of technology on the dying, grief, suicide and the impact of life after death are topics typically covered. [F]

RS 477 Special Studies in Religion (1-5)

Topics to be offered will be announced prior to registration. May be repeated for different course content. [Offered irregularly]

RS 489 Experiential Prior Learning (variable units)

Evaluation and assessment of learning which has occurred as a result of prior off-campus experience relevant to the curriculum of the department. Requires complementary academic study and/or documentation. Available by petition only, on a credit, no-credit basis. Not open to postgraduate students. Interested students should contact the department office. May not be counted toward major or minor requirements.

RS 490 Senior Seminar (6)

Consideration of the nature of religion and of religious studies and of various related subjects. Prerequisite: Senior Standing. [S]

RS 496 Internship in Applied Religious Studies

(1-5)

Supervised field experience in applying religious studies skills in dealing with individuals and in community organizations and institutions. Career-oriented experience in community setting is combined with academic activities in the college setting. Hours in the field, placement and academic requirements such as conferences, reports, and readings are arranged in consultation with the work supervisor and faculty supervisor. Prerequisites vary depending on the specific internship, but enrollment is limited to students with good academic records who are committed to understanding the religious elements present in professional life.

RS 497 Cooperative Education (5)

The Cooperative Education program offers a sponsored learning experience in a work setting, integrated with a field analysis seminar. The Cooperative Education office contracts the field experience on an individual basis, subject to approval by the department. The field experience, including the seminar and reading assignments, is supervised by the cooperative education coordinator and the faculty liaison (or course instructor), working with the field supervisor. Students are expected to enroll in the course for at least two quarters. The determination of course credits, evaluation, and grading are the responsibility of the departmental faculty. Offered on a credit, no-credit basis only. Department will determine application of credit.

RS 499 Individual Study (1-5)

Individual program with regular consultations and/or examinations as instructor may require. Admission with consent of department chair.

RS 577 Special Studies in Religion (1-5)

Topics to be offered will be announced. May be repeated for different course content. Requires graduate level standing.

RS 580 Advanced Research Participation (1-5)

Individual investigation under the supervision of an identified instructor. (Experience as a research or teaching assistant does not count for credit.) Prerequisite: 3.0 GPA and consent of department chair.

RS 599 Advanced Individual Study (1-5)

Special projects developed by the individual in consultation with an identified instructor. Prerequisite: 3.0 GPA and consent of department chair.

RS 677 Special Studies in Religion (1-5)

Topics to be offered will be announced. May be repeated for different course content. Requires graduate level standing.