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Religious Studies
This program encourages and facilitates interdisciplinary study of religious thought and its effects on civilization. Students may select courses that focus on one tradition or a broader thematic study across traditions and cultures. Courses are mainly drawn from the Departments of Global Humanities, History, Global Asia Program, and others. The program is available to those without a bachelor’s degree. Credits earned may be applied to a major or minor. Units applied to one certificate may not be applied to another ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV certificate or diploma. Students may apply for relevant transfer credit to a maximum of 15 transfer units.
¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Requirements
Prospective students must apply for ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV admission and meet the normal admission requirements. Certificate program admission approval must be obtained from the department advisor.
Program Requirements
Students complete a total of at least 30-31 units, 13-14 of which are earned by completing the four required courses. The remaining units are selected from the elective list. Students are responsible for meeting the prerequisite requirements for courses used toward the certificate.
Required Courses
Students complete 13-14 units including both of
Introduction to concepts central to the academic study of religion, exploring various relevant methodologies. Provides a framework for understanding the many ways in which humans experience the phenomenon of the sacred through symbol, ritual, doctrine, and engagement, in a variety of religious traditions and cultures. Breadth-Humanities.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Jason Brown |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
|
Online | |||
OT01 | TBD | ||
OT02 | TBD | ||
OT03 | TBD | ||
OT04 | TBD | ||
OT05 | TBD | ||
OT06 | TBD |
In-depth investigation of a specific aspect of religious history and tradition. Religions will be studied through the cultural and historical contexts that pervade and structure religious meaning and expression. May be repeated for credit when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units. Breadth-Humanities.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Jason Brown |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
B101 | TBD |
and two of
Charts the emergence and changes in the expression of human religious behavior. It covers the earliest rituals of the Palaeolithic, the importance of fertility cults, ancestor cults, alliance rituals, shamans, witchcraft, and monotheism. Breadth-Humanities/Social Sciences.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
David Maxwell |
Online |
Study of key works influencing major religious traditions. Primary texts illustrate core elements in the religious understanding of human life and its relationship to the sacred. May be repeated once for credit when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: HUM 130 is recommended. Breadth-Humanities.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Jason Brown |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Introduces the religions of ancient Greece and Rome. Archaeological materials, ancient texts and art are used to examine Graeco-Roman religions within their historical framework and understand how ancient peoples experienced religion. Examines the extent to which specific social, political and cultural developments impacted the religious landscape. Students with credit for HS 232 or HUM 216 may not take this course for further credit. Breadth-Humanities.
Studies a specific Asian religious tradition through the cultural and historical contexts that structure religious meaning. May be repeated for credit when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units. Breadth-Humanities.
Elective Courses
Students complete a total of 17 units, chosen from
Introduces students to a topic in Global Asian Studies not otherwise covered in depth by regularly scheduled courses. Sample topics include South Asian diasporas; Global Asia in Vancouver; refugee experiences; or Korean culture. This course may be repeated for credit only when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 15 units. Students with credit for ASC 202 may not take this course for further credit.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Jee-Yeon Song |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
In this interdisciplinary course, students will investigate a topic relating to the histories, societies, cultures, knowledges, geographies, and/or ecologies of China, Chinese-speaking people, and/or people of Chinese descent in Asia and beyond. May be repeated for credit only when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units. Recommended: GA 101.
In this interdisciplinary course, students will investigate a topic relating to the histories, societies, cultures, knowledges, geographies, and/or ecologies of Japan, Japanese-speaking people, and/or people of Japanese descent in Asia and beyond. May be repeated for credit only when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Angela May Kruger |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Content will vary according to interests of faculty and students but will involve Global-Asia-related study within one or more of the social science or humanities disciplines. This course may be repeated for credit only when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Cheryl Naruse |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 11:30 a.m.–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
An introduction to the world of late Medieval and Renaissance Europe (c.1200-c.1500). Breadth-Humanities.
This course offers a broad survey of the development of classical Islamic civilization. It begins with an examination of the origins of Islam in seventh century Arabia and concludes with the break-up of the Abbasid Caliphate of Baghdad in the 13th century. Emphasis will be place on gaining an understanding of the doctrines of Islam, the significance of the rise and fall of the early Arab-Islamic empires, and the role of Islam in world history. Breadth-Humanities.
An advanced examination of the complex history and patterns of the Religious Reformation in sixteenth century Europe. Emphasis will be placed on the religious thought of the period, and on its social and political context. Prerequisite: 45 units, including six units of lower division history. Strongly recommended: HIST 220 or 223.
Examines select problems in the social, cultural, and political history of early modern England. Content may vary from offering to offering: see course outline for further information. HIST 404 may be repeated for credit only when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Recommended: HIST 315.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
John Craig |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
An advanced examination into the concepts and methodology of the history of religion. Content may vary from offering to offering; see course outline for further information. HIST 468W may be repeated for credit only when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units, including nine units of lower division history. Writing.
Introduction to the central myths and literary sources of the ancient Greeks and Romans. The course investigates the nature, function, and meaning of myths in the classical world. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
David Mirhady |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D101 |
David Mirhady |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
D102 |
David Mirhady |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
D103 |
David Mirhady |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 4:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
D104 |
David Mirhady |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 5:30–6:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Alessandra Capperdoni |
Online | ||
OT01 |
Alessandra Capperdoni |
TBD | |
OT02 |
Alessandra Capperdoni |
TBD | |
OT03 | TBD | ||
OT04 | TBD |
Introduction to classic texts of Asian thought and literature. Readings and discussions of primary texts and their central ideas introduce students to philosophical, literary, and religious themes in Asian traditions. May be repeated once for credit when a different topic is taught. Breadth-Humanities.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Shuyu Kong |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Online | |
B101 | TBD |
Examination of Eastern and Western Christendom from Late Antiquity to the 12th-Century Renaissance, emphasizing religious, political, cultural, and social change. Breadth-Humanities.
Detailed interdisciplinary analysis of a selected topic, issue, or figure in the Middle Ages. May be repeated for credit when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units. Breadth-Humanities.
Detailed interdisciplinary study of the role of mythology within a particular culture or tradition. May be repeated for credit when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units. Recommended: HUM 102W. Breadth-Humanities.
Interdisciplinary study of the life and works of a figure, school, or movement that has made a lasting contribution to the humanistic tradition in more than one field of endeavour (e.g., philosophy, politics, literature, economics, religion). May be repeated for credit when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units. Students with credit for this topic under another Humanities course number may not take this course for further credit. Breadth-Humanities.
Interdisciplinary study of a selected theme that has made a lasting contribution to the humanistic tradition in more than one field of endeavour (e.g., philosophy, politics, literature, economics, religion). May be repeated once for credit when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units. Students who have credit for a course with this content under another Humanities course may not take this course for further credit. Breadth-Humanities.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Spyros Sofos |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 11:30 a.m.–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
B101 | TBD | ||
Evan Freeman |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
B301 | TBD |
Special topic in the humanities to be offered by the Woodsworth chair. Prerequisite: 45 units.
An examination of the relations between religion and the social environment. Consideration will be given to classical theoretical debates in the anthropology and sociology of religion. Specific topics vary from year to year, and may include: religion in personhood and communities; religion, gender, ethnicity and social class; secularization and secularism; the role of religion in political mobilizations; interreligious relations; religious freedom and citizenship. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
* when topics are appropriate; consult with the advisor; other courses with appropriate content may be counted with prior approval of the advisor.