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Academic Catalog 2021-2022

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  • Religious Studies and Africana Studies, BA

Religious Studies and Africana Studies, BA

2021-2022 Edition

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        • Philosophy, BA
        • Religious Studies, BA
        • Cultural Anthropology and Philosophy, BA
        • Cultural Anthropology and Religious Studies, BA
        • English and Philosophy, BA
        • Environmental Studies and Philosophy, BA
        • History and Philosophy, BA
        • History and Religious Studies, BA
        • International Affairs and Religious Studies, BA
        • Jewish Studies and Religion, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and Philosophy, BA
        • Political Science and Philosophy, BA
        • Religious Studies and Africana Studies, BA
        • Sociology and Philosophy, BA
        • Sociology and Religious Studies, BA
        • Philosophy, BS
        • Behavioral Neuroscience and Philosophy, BS
        • Computer Science and Philosophy, BS
        • Criminal Justice and Philosophy, BS
        • Economics and Philosophy, BS
        • Physics and Philosophy, BS
        • Political Science and Philosophy, BS
        • Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, BS
        • Information Ethics, Minor
        • Philosophy, Minor
        • Religious Studies, Minor
        • Ethics, Minor
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  • Course Descriptions
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  • Overview
  • Program Requirements
  • Plan of Study

The Department of Philosophy and Religion and the Program in Africana Studies offer an interdisciplinary combined major in religious studies and Africana studies. Students interested in the combined major integrate the study of religious traditions, religious praxis, and religious ethics with critical and systematic examination of the cultural, political, social, economic, and historical experiences of African Americans throughout the hemisphere and peoples of African descent around the world.

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

University-Wide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the University-Wide Requirements.

BA Language Requirements

All BA students are required to complete the BA language requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

Experiential Liberal Arts

All undergraduate students in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities are required to complete the Experiential Liberal Arts Requirement.

Religious Studies Major Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Required Foundational Course
PHIL 1110Introduction to Religious Studies4
Lived Religion Elective
Complete one of the following courses that is not used to satisfy another requirement:4
PHIL 1133
Selling Spirituality
PHIL 1220
The Meaning of Death
PHIL 1260
Apocalypticism in Film
PHIL 1271
Sex in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
PHIL 1280
Islam: Rituals, Traditions, and Debates
PHIL 1295
Religious Perspectives on Health and Healing
PHIL 1667
Science Fiction and Film: Moral Dilemmas and Ethical Analysis
PHIL 2230
Music and Religion
PHIL 2390
Cults and Sects
PHIL 3100
The Religious Worlds of Boston: Faith and Devotion in Urban Life
Comparative Religion Elective
Complete one of the following courses that is not used to satisfy another requirement:4
PHIL 1111
Introduction to World Religions
PHIL 1130
Ethics: East and West
PHIL 1220
The Meaning of Death
PHIL 1271
Sex in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
PHIL 1275
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Beyond: Eastern Religions
PHIL 1290
Chinese Philosophy and Religion
PHIL 1667
Science Fiction and Film: Moral Dilemmas and Ethical Analysis
PHIL 2395
Japanese Buddhism
PHIL 3100
The Religious Worlds of Boston: Faith and Devotion in Urban Life
Electives
Complete five of the following courses, one of which must be 2000-level or above and another one of which must be 3000-level or above, that is not used to satisfy another requirement:20
PHIL 1111
Introduction to World Religions
PHIL 1104
Goddesses, Witches, Saints, and Sinners: Women in Western Religions
PHIL 1120
Understanding the Bible
PHIL 1130
Ethics: East and West
PHIL 1133
Selling Spirituality
PHIL 1260
Apocalypticism in Film
PHIL 1271
Sex in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
PHIL 1275
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Beyond: Eastern Religions
PHIL 1280
Islam: Rituals, Traditions, and Debates
PHIL 1285
Jewish Religion and Culture
PHIL 1290
Chinese Philosophy and Religion
PHIL 1295
Religious Perspectives on Health and Healing
PHIL 2390
Cults and Sects
PHIL 3100
The Religious Worlds of Boston: Faith and Devotion in Urban Life
PHIL 4903
Seminar in Religion
PHIL 4992
Directed Study
Capstone
Complete the following course that is not used to satisfy another requirement:4
PHIL 4903
Seminar in Religion

Africana Studies Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Foundational
AFAM 1101Introduction to African American and Africana Studies4
or AFRS 1101 Introduction to African Studies
Introductory
Complete one of the following:4
AFAM 1101
Introduction to African American and Africana Studies
AFAM 1104
The African-American Experience through Music
AFAM 1113
Black Popular Culture
AFAM 1135
John Coltrane and the History of Jazz in the United States
AFAM 1225
Gender, Race, and Medicine
AFRS 1270
Introduction to Global Health
Humanities
Complete two of the following:8
AFAM 2296
Early African-American Literature
AFAM 2455
American Women Writers
AFAM 3663
The African American Novel
Social Sciences
Complete two of the following:8
AFRS 2307
Africa Today
AFAM 2399
Black Community and Social Change
AFRS 2465
The Scope and Dynamics of Conflicts in Africa
AFRS 2410
Possession, Sacrifice, and Divination in African Diasporic Religions
AFRS 2464
Natural Resources and Sustainable Development
AFRS 3424
Epidemiology of Pandemic Diseases and Health Disparities in the African Diaspora
Electives
Note: Electives may not double count for other AFAM or HIST combined-major requirements.
Complete one AFAM/AFRS course at the 2000 level or above4
Complete one AFAM/ AFRS course at the 3000 level or above4
Senior Capstone
Choose one capstone course from the list below.4
AFAM 4700
Capstone
PHIL 4903
Seminar in Religion

Integrative Requirement

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete the following course:4
PHIL 2410Possession, Sacrifice, and Divination in African Diasporic Religions4
or AFRS 2410 Possession, Sacrifice, and Divination in African Diasporic Religions

Program Requirement

128 total semester hours required

Four Years, Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENGW 11114Lived Religion Elective4Elective4Elective4
PHIL 11104Introductory Course4Elective4Elective4
Elective4Elective4  
AFAM 1101 or AFRS 11014Elective4  
 16 16 8 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Comparative Religion Elective4Co-opCo-opElective4
Social Sciences Course4  Elective4
PHIL 2000 Level Elective4   
Elective4   
 16 0 0 8
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Elective4Co-opCo-opElective4
Humanities Course4  Elective4
Social Sciences Course4   
AFAM/AFRS 2000 Level Elective4   
 16 0 0 8
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
AFAM/AFRS 3000 Level Elective4Humanities Course 4  
PHIL 3000 Level Elective4Integrative Requirement Course4  
Elective4PHIL Advanced Level Elective4  
Elective4Capstone4  
 16 16  
Total Hours: 128
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  • 2021-22 Undergraduate PDF

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  • 2021-22 Course Descriptions PDF