Schedule of Classes
A glowing range of classes are offered each semester ranging through various religious and cultural perspectives. Introductory courses on Christianity, Islam and Judaism are offered most semesters, and our faculty have several tailored courses highlighting their specialties, including religious traditions, mystics, ethics and the divine.
The Religious Studies program also supports an engaging study abroad program for students to further their hands-on experience as well.
Summer 1 2025 - 5/5/2025 - 6/25/2025
Introduction to Christianity
REL 1250/CRN 31526
Online - Async
Taught by Charles Mabee
Key ideas, major concepts, and peculiar language of the Christian religious experience. Focus on history of Christianity, creeds and doctrines of various denominations, Christianity’s cultural influences, and Christian ethical systems.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area.)
World Religious Traditions
REL 1850/CRN 30408
Online - Async
Taught by Michael Pytlik
Examines the core teachings and practices of the world's major religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Chinese religions. Emphasis is on terminology developed within each tradition, identification of human problems that each attempts to solve, and the insights and problematic issues that arise from these attempts.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area.)
Directed Readings in Religious Studies
REL 4920/CRN 31958
Permission of coordinator ([email protected])
Taught by Michael Pytlik
Individual study of topic(s) not covered in available courses. May be repeated for additional credit.
Prerequisite(s): REL 1100 and REL 2100 and permission of concentration coordinator.
Summer 2 2025 - 6/30/2025 - 8/20/2025
Introduction to Islam
REL 1150/CRN 30418
Online - Async
Taught by Aly Lela
Pre-Islamic Arabia, Muhammad and early Islamic history; the Qur'an and basic beliefs, practices and law; the Islamic Caliphate; Islam in the modern world and Muslims in America; women in Islam and other contemporary issues.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education.)
Prerequisite for writing intensive: completion of the university writing foundation requirement. Prerequisite(s): WRT 1060 or equivalent with a grade of (C) or higher.
Religion in the Modern World
REL 3140/CRN 30114
Online - Async
Taught by Randall Engle
Focuses on key issues of religious life in the modern world. Examples of topics include the role of women in religious leadership, the relation of science and religion, religious fundamentalism, and religiously motivated acts of terrorism.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the knowledge applications integration area. Prerequisite for knowledge applications: completion of the general education requirement in the social science or the global perspective knowledge exploration area, not both.)
ST: Cross and Crown
REL 3735/ CRN 32153
Study Abroad: permission of coordinator ([email protected])
Taught by Randall Engle
This course will survey the events that brought the Tudors to the throne, and England out of the medieval period and into the early modern world. Particular focus will be given to the Tudor establishment of the Church of England, but other topics will be addressed such as the English Reformation, the development of the nation state, the monarchy, and the blossoming of English literature and music.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the western civilization knowledge exploration area or in the global perspective knowledge exploration area, not both.)
Fall 2025 - 9/3/2025 - 12/13/2025
Introduction to Religion
REL 1100/CRN 40379
Online - Async
Taught by Andrew Guffey
Critical, comparative study of the human religious experience, as well as an examination of various methodological approaches employed by academic disciplines in the study of religion.
Intro to Islam
REL 1150/CRN 41207
MW 1-2:47 p.m.
117 South Foundation Hall
Taught by Aly Lela
Pre-Islamic Arabia, Muhammad and early Islamic history; the Qur’an and basic beliefs, practices and law; the Islamic Caliphate; Islam in the modern world and Muslims in America; women in Islam and other contemporary issues.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education. Prerequisite for writing intensive: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.)
Prerequisite(s): WRT 1060 or equivalent with a grade of (C) or higher
Intro to Judaism
REL 1200/CRN 43289
Online - Async
Taught by Michael Pytlik
Religious beliefs, practices and philosophies embedded within the major historical experiences (Biblical and Diasporic) of Jewish people including main institutional branches of Judaism, central characteristics of Jewish culture, and their relationship with non-Jewish groups and societies.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education. Prerequisite for writing intensive: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.)
Prerequisite(s): WRT 1060 or equivalent with a grade of (C) or higher
Introduction to Christianity
REL 1250/CRN 40766
MWF 9:20 - 10:27 a.m.
117 South Foundation Hall
Taught by Randall Engle
OR
REL 1250/CRN 41838
Online - Async
Taught by Charles Mabee
Key ideas, major concepts, and peculiar language of the Christian religious experience. Focus on history of Christianity, creeds and doctrines of various denominations, Christianity’s cultural influences, and Christian ethical systems.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area.)
World Religious Traditions
REL 1850CRN/ 40205
Online - Async
Taught by Charles Mabee
Examines the core teachings and practices of the world’s major religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Chinese religions. Emphasis is on terminology developed within each tradition, identification of human problems that each attempts to solve, and the insights and problematic issues that arise from these attempts.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area.)
Religion in the Modern World
REL 3140/CRN 43290
MWF 10:40 - 11:47 a.m.
117 South Foundation Hall
Taught by Randall Engle
Focuses on key issues of religious life in the modern world. Examples of topics include the role of women in religious leadership, the relation of science and religion, religious fundamentalism, and religiously motivated acts of terrorism.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the knowledge applications integration area. Prerequisite for knowledge applications: completion of the general education requirement in the social science or the global perspective knowledge exploration area, not both.)
Islam in America
REL 3450/CRN 44816
Online - Async
Taught by Aly Lela
Examination of the history, development, and challenges facing the Muslum community in the United States. Emphasis on the Diversity of this community and its role in the greater Detroit area.
The Book of Genesis
REL 3700/CRN 44199
TR 10 - 11:47 a.m.
212 South Foundation Hall
Taught by Joe Klein
Examination of the major themes in the Book of Genesis, including creation, relationship between people and God, and human nature. Course will incorporate archaeology, rabbinic and Christian commentary, and literary analysis.
ST: Christianity and Politics
REL 3900/CRN 43291
Online - Async
Taught by Andrew Guffey
Course Description: An examination of Christian political thought and action, especially in American history and contemporary society.
Directed Readings in Religious Studies
REL 4920/CRN 40200
Arranges or Asynchronous
Permission of concentration coordinator ([email protected])
Taught by Randall Engle
Individual study of topic(s) not covered in available courses. May be repeated for additional credit.
Prerequisite(s): REL 1100 and REL 2100
Winter 2026 - 1/6/2026 - 4/28/2026
Introduction to Religion
REL 1100/CRN 10763
Online - Async
Taught by Andrew Guffey
Critical, comparative study of the human religious experience, as well as an examination of various methodological approaches employed by academic disciplines in the study of religion.
Intro to Islam
REL 1150/CRN 13198
MW 1 - 2:47 p.m.
376 Mathematics and Science Center
Taught by Aly Lela
Pre-Islamic Arabia, Muhammad and early Islamic history; the Qur’an and basic beliefs, practices and law; the Islamic Caliphate; Islam in the modern world and Muslims in America; women in Islam and other contemporary issues.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education. Prerequisite for writing intensive: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.)
Prerequisite(s): WRT 1060 or equivalent with a grade of (C) or higher
Intro to Judaism
REL 1200/CRN 13760
TR 10 - 11:47 a.m.
117 South Foundation Hall
Taught by Joe Klein
OR
REL 1200/CRN 13580
Online - Async
Taught by Michael Pytlik
Religious beliefs, practices and philosophies embedded within the major historical experiences (Biblical and Diasporic) of Jewish people including main institutional branches of Judaism, central characteristics of Jewish culture, and their relationship with non-Jewish groups and societies.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education. Prerequisite for writing intensive: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.)
Prerequisite(s): WRT 1060 or equivalent with a grade of (C) or higher
Introduction to Christianity
REL 1250/CRN 12165
MWF 9:20 - 10:27 a.m.
204 Dodge Hall
Taught by Randall Engle
OR
REL 1250/CRN 11247
Online - Async
Taught by Charles Mabee
Key ideas, major concepts, and peculiar language of the Christian religious experience. Focus on history of Christianity, creeds and doctrines of various denominations, Christianity’s cultural influences, and Christian ethical systems.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area.)
World Religious Traditions
REL 1850/CRN 10300
Online - Async
Taught by Charles Mabee
Examines the core teachings and practices of the world’s major religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Chinese religions. Emphasis is on terminology developed within each tradition, identification of human problems that each attempts to solve, and the insights and problematic issues that arise from these attempts.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area.)
Islamic Ethics
REL 3100/CRN 14358
Online - Async
Taught by Aly Lela
Major principles and theories of Islamic ethics. Application of these ideas to issues of deforestation, global warming, sustainability, women’s rights, abortion and cloning. Comparisons with other philosophical and religious theories.
Religion in the Modern World
REL 3140/CRN 12515
MWF 10:40 - 11:47 a.m.
101 Mathematics and Science Center
Taught by Randall Engle
Focuses on key issues of religious life in the modern world. Examples of topics include the role of women in religious leadership, the relation of science and religion, religious fundamentalism, and religiously motivated acts of terrorism.
(Satisfies the university general education requirement in the knowledge applications integration area. Prerequisite for knowledge applications: completion of the general education requirement in the social science or the global perspective knowledge exploration area, not both.)
ST: War and Religion
REL 3900/CRN 13302
Online - Async
Taught by Andrew Guffey
Course Description: An exploration of how religion resists, encourages, justifies and condemns war in theology and in political action.
Directed Readings in Religious Studies
REL 4920/CRN 10301
Arranges or Asynchronous
Permission of concentration coordinator - ([email protected])
Taught by Randall Engle
Individual study of topic(s) not covered in available courses. May be repeated for additional credit.
Prerequisite(s): REL 1100 and REL 2100
Religious Studies / Center for Religious Understanding
Religious Studies / Center for Religious Understanding