Autumn 2026 Courses
**Updated 3/6/2026. Listings are subject to change. Students, confirm meeting arrangements in BuckeyeLink when enrolling. All courses are full-term, 3 credit hour offerings unless otherwise noted.**
Core Courses
COMPSTD 3990
Approaches to Comparative Study| LEC | MWF 11:30AM-12:25PM | Derby Hall 030 | Jason Payne | Class #16565
Introduces comparative studies majors to theoretical tools, methods of investigation, and key concepts in comparative studies research and scholarship.
Prerep: English 1110 (110) or equiv. CompStd major, or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit for 398.
RELSTDS 2102.02
Comparative Sacred Texts| LEC | TR 12:45PM-02:05PM | Jennings Hall 160 | Kate Kaura | Class #26145
Introduction to religious views of the universe, the supernatural, social organization, ethics, etc., through sacred texts (oral and written) of diverse cultures and historical periods.
Prereq: English 1110.xx, or GE foundation writing and info literacy course, or equivalent. Not open to students with credit for CompStd 2102.02. GE lit and diversity global studies course. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts course.
RELSTDS 2370
Intro to Comparative Religion| LEC | MW 12:40PM-01:35PM | Hitchcock Hall 324 | Isaac Weiner | Class #24839
REC| F 10:20AM-11:15AM | University Hall 051 | TBA | Class #26708
REC| F 11:30AM-12:25AM | Campbell Hall 048 | TBA | Class #26709
REC | F 11:30AM-12:25AM | Derby Hall 048 | TBA | Class #27410
REC | F 12:40PM-01:35PM | Derby Hall 048 | TBA | Class #27411
Introduction to the academic study of religion through comparison among major traditions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.) and smaller communities.
Prereq: English 1110 or equiv. Not open to students with credit for 2370H or CompStd 2370H or 2370. GE cultures and ideas and diversity global studies course. GE foundation historical and cultural studies and race, ethnicity and gender div course
RELSTDS 2370H
Intro to Comparative Religion| LEC | TR 11:10PM-12:30PM | TBA | Patrick Dunn | Class #37250
Individual Religious Traditions Courses
CLAS 3404
Magic in the Ancient World | LEC | MWF 1:50PM-2:45PM | Ramseyer Hall 115 | Sarah Johnston | Class #36667
An introduction to the theory and practice of magic in the ancient Mediterranean, how people viewed it, and how it survived in later epochs.
GE cultures and ideas and diversity global studies course. GE foundation historical and cultural studies course.
ENGLISH 2280
The English Bible| LEC | TR 11:10AM-12:30PM | Evans Lab 2002 | James Fredal | Class #36682
The Bible in English translation, with special attention to its literary qualities, conceptual content, and development within history.
Prerep: 1110.01 (110.01) or equiv. Not open to students with credit for 2280H (280H) or 280. GE lit course. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts course.
HEBREW 2700
Introduction to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament| LEC | TR 02:20PM-03:40PM | Scott Lab E024| James Moore | Class #28449
Introduction to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament is taught from a historical perspective. The HB/OT is a collection of texts designed to create and fortify the ethnic identify of a single group within imperial contexts, while focusing on the formation of gender, identity and race. The student will study the cultural dimensions of the ancient societies in which the HB/OT was written.
Prereq: English 1110.xd, or GE foundation writing and info literacy course. Not open to students with credit for 2700H, JewshSt 2700, or 2700H. GE lit and diversity global studies course. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts and race, ethnicity and gender div course. Cross listed to JewshSt.
HISTORY 2221
Introduction to the New Testament: History and Literature| LEC | MWF 10:20AM-11:15AM | Scott Lab E040 | David Brakke | Class #25822
Introductory survey of the New Testament writings in translation, including non-canonical sources of the early Christian movement.
Prereq or concur: English 1110.xx, GE foundation writing and info literacy course, or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit for 2221E, Clas 2221, 2221E, 2401, or 2401E. GE lit and historical study course. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts and historical and cultural studies course. Cross listed in Clas.
HISTORY 3229
History of Early Christianity| LEC | T 02:20PM-03:40PM | Denny Hall 250 | Caspian Goggin | Class #35880
A survey of the history of Christianity from its Jewish and Greco-Roman roots to the late sixth century.
Prereq or concur: English 1110.xx, or permission of instructor. GE historical study and diversity global studies course. GE theme traditions, cultures, and transformations course.
JEWSHST 2201
Introduction to Jewish Culture, Thought and Practice| LEC | TR 03:55PM-05:15PM | Hagerty Hall 251 | Adena Tanenbaum | Class #27625
An introduction to the historical, ideological, and cultural growth of Judaism examined from a variety of methodological perspectives.
Prereq: Not open to students with credit for 201. GE cultures and ideas and diversity global studies course. GE foundation historical and cultural studies course.
JEWSHST 2700
Introduction to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament| LEC | TR 02:20PM-03:40PM | Scott Lab E024| James Moore | Class #28449
Introduction to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament is taught from a historical perspective. The HB/OT is a collection of texts designed to create and fortify the ethnic identify of a single group within imperial contexts, while focusing on the formation of gender, identity and race. The student will study the cultural dimensions of the ancient societies in which the HB/OT was written.
Prereq: English 1110.xd, or GE foundation writing and info literacy course. Not open to students with credit for 2700H, JewshSt 2700, or 2700H. GE lit and diversity global studies course. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts and race, ethnicity and gender div course. Cross listed to JewshSt.
JEWSHST 3704
Women in the Bible and Beyond| LEC | TBA | Online | TBA | Class #27041
An examination of social, legal, and religious positions of women as they appear in the Hebrew Bible and the ways in which they have been represented and interpreted in later textual, visual, and audio sources.
Prereq: English 1110. Not open to students with credit for 2704, JewshSt 2704, or 3704. GE lit and diversity global studies course. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts and race, ethnicity and gender div course. Cross listed in JewshSt.
HEBREW 3704
Women in the Bible and Beyond| LEC | TBA | Online | TBA | Class #27041
An examination of social, legal, and religious positions of women as they appear in the Hebrew Bible and the ways in which they have been represented and interpreted in later textual, visual, and audio sources.
Prereq: English 1110. Not open to students with credit for 2704, JewshSt 2704, or 3704. GE lit and diversity global studies course. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts and race, ethnicity and gender div course. Cross listed in JewshSt.
MEDREN 2666
Magic and Witchcraft in the Middle Ages and Renaissance | LEC | MWF 11:30AM-12:25PM | Journalism Building 300 | David Brewer | Class #26391
A study of the history of witchcraft and magic from 400 to 1700 C.E. within sociological, religious and intellectual contexts.
Prereq: Not open to students with credit for Medieval 240. GE culture and ideas and diversity global studies course. GE foundation historical and cultural studies course.
PHILOS 2120
Asian Philosophies| LEC | TR 11:10AM-12:30PM | Hagerty Hall 180 | Steven Brown | Class #23959
A survey including at least three of the following philosophies system of Asia: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Taoism, and Confucianism.
GE lit and diversity global studies course. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts and historical and cultural studies course.
PHILOS 2120
Asian Philosophies| LEC | WF 09:35AM-10:55AM | Mendenhall Lab | Connor Griffith | Class #25677
A survey including at least three of the following philosophies system of Asia: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Taoism, and Confucianism.
GE lit and diversity global studies course. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts and historical and cultural studies course.
RELSTDS 2222
From Ishtar to Christ: The History of Mediterranean Religions | LEC | MWF 11:30PM-12:25PM | Denney Hall 238 | Sarah Johnston | Class #37259
This course introduces students to the historical facts of 10 ancient Mediterranean religions in a context that trains them to study religions more generally. It also teaches them how two of the most prominent religions today--Judaism and Christianity--succeeded within a richly diverse religious marketplace, and how religions respond to their political, economic, and social environments.
Prereq: Not open to students with credit for Clas 2222. GE historical study course. GE foundation historical and cultural studies course. Cross-listed in Clas.
RELSTDS 3673
The Buddhist Tradition| LEC | WF 11:10PM-12:30PM | Jennings Hall 136 | Melissa Curley | Class #36722
History and structure of Buddhism from founding to present in South, Southeast, and East Asia; emphasis on rituals, beliefs, and local and regional variations. 2370 (270) recommended.
Prereq: Not open to students with credit for CompStd 3673 (323), EALL 3223 (323), or RelStds 323. Cross-listed in EALL 3223.
Comparative/Interdisciplinary Courses
AFAMAST 4342
Religion, Meaning, and Knowledge in Africa and its Diaspora| LEC | WF 11:10AM-12:30PM | Jennings Hall 050 | Spencer Dew | Class #27858
While the practice of religion in Africa is as diverse as its people, three major belief systems define the practice: African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity. This course will examine classical and contemporary definitions of African Traditional Religion/s and the introduction and adaptations of Islam and Christianity in Africa, as well as religious practices in the African Diaspora.
Prereq: Not open to students with credit for RelStds 4342. GE cultures and ideas and diversity global studies course. GE theme traditions, cultures, and transformations course. Cross-listed in RelStds.
CLAS 3404
Magic in the Ancient World | LEC | MWF 1:50PM-2:45PM | Ramseyer Hall 115 | Sarah Johnston | Class #36667
An introduction to the theory and practice of magic in the ancient Mediterranean, how people viewed it, and how it survived in later epochs.
GE cultures and ideas and diversity global studies course. GE foundation historical and cultural studies course.
RELSTDS 2102.01
Literature and Religion | LEC | WF 11:10AM-12:30PM | TBA | Spencer Dew | Class #29178
Study of relationships between religion and secular literature; analysis of religious and spiritual elements of literature and film of diverse cultures and historical periods.
Prereq: English 1110 (110) or equiv. Not open to students with credit for 2102.01H, CompStd 2102.01 (202.01), or 2102.01H (202.01H). GE lit and diversity global studies course. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts course.
RELSTDS 3667
Messages from Beyond: Divination, Prophecy, and the Occult in Religion and Culture | LEC | WF 11:10AM-12:30PM | Mendenhall Lab 173| Daniel Frank | Class #27031
In this course, we will explore how people from antiquity to our time have sought to find meaning in the complexity and uncertainty around their physical and social environment to access what they perceived as hidden realms as sources of meaning. Students will learn how messages from beyond guide their daily lives, provide them with sources of authority or companionship for their art of philosophy.
Prereq: Not open to students with credit for NELC 3667. GE theme lived environments course. Cross-listed in NELC.
RELSTDS 3681
Religion and Work | LEC | MW 09:35AM-10:55AM | TBA | Issac Weiner | Class #36721
This course centers the workplace as a critical site for understanding contemporary patterns of American religiosity. We will explore a range of perspectives on how spiritual practices, experiences of religious discrimination, and productive labor promote and/or inhibit various dimensions of well-being, including emotional, career, spiritual, and creative.
GE theme health and well-being course.
RELSTDS 4342
Religion, Meaning, and Knowledge in Africa and its Diaspora| LEC | WF 11:10AM-12:30PM | Jennings Hall 050 | Spencer Dew | Class #27858
While the practice of religion in Africa is as diverse as its people, three major belief systems define the practice: African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity. This course will examine classical and contemporary definitions of African Traditional Religion/s and the introduction and adaptations of Islam and Christianity in Africa, as well as religious practices in the African Diaspora.
Prereq: Not open to students with credit for AfAmASt 4342. Cross-listed in AfAmASt.
GE cultures and ideas and diversity global studies course. GE theme traditions, cultures, and transformations course.
RELSTDS 4873
Contemporary Religious Movements in Global Contexts | LEC | MW 12:45PM-02:05PM | Bolz Hall 124 | Hugh Urban | Class #29179
Examination of contemporary religious movements within the context of larger political, cultural, and economic processes, including post-colonialism, modernization, and globalization.
Prereq: One course in CompStd, RelStds, or IntStds; or Grad standing; or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit for CompStd 4873 or IntStds 4873. GE theme citizenship for div and just wrld course. Cross-listed in IntStds.