Phone: (845) 257-2621
Location: JFT 1007
Web address: www.newpaltz.edu/religiousstudies
The interdisciplinary minor in Religious Studies gives students the opportunity to engage in the study of religion from the perspective of a number of different disciplines, including anthropology, art history, history, literature, philosophy, political science, and sociology. Some courses concern religion in general, while others focus on particular religious traditions, texts, and practices. REL270 Religions of the World is an introductory survey of the principal world religions and is required for the minor. The program director may, in individual cases, allow credit for appropriate cognate courses or independent study.
Program Director:
Dr. Christopher Link
Associate Professor, English
Office: JFT 1007
Phone: (845) 257-2346
E-mail: linkc@newpaltz.edu
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANT414 | The Anthropology of Performance | 3 |
| ARH340 | The Arts of Early China | 3 |
| ARH342 | The Arts of Japan | 3 |
| ARH344 | History of Buddhist Art | 3 |
| ARH361 | Art of the Renaissance in Italy | 3 |
| ARH362 | Northern European Painting from Van Eyck to Bruegel | 3 |
| ARH363 | Early Medieval Art | 3 |
| ARH364 | Later Medieval Art: Gothic | 3 |
| ARH378 | Sacred Spaces, Divine Images | 3 |
| ARH387 | Art of the Islamic World | 3 |
| ARH391 | Baroque Painting | 3 |
| BLK264 | African American Religion | 3 |
| ENG211 | Great Bks Asian Classics | 3 |
| ENG355 | The Bible | 4 |
| ENG404 | Medieval Literature | 4 |
| ENG408 | Seventeenth-Century Literature | 4 |
| HIS207 | Medieval Europe | 4 |
| HIS243 | Middle East to 1798 | 4 |
| HIS313 | Religion and Power in the Ancient Near East | 3 |
| HIS330 | Staging China | 3 |
| HIS336 | Religions of Asia | 3 |
| HIS343 | History of Islam and the Middle East 570-1918 | 3 |
| HIS344 | The Middle East in the 20th Century | 3 |
| HIS348 | Medieval Society | 3 |
| HIS349 | Renaissance and Reformation | 3 |
| HIS363 | Inquisition | 3 |
| HIS365 | Jihad and Crusades | 3 |
| HIS369 | Ancient Israel | 3 |
| HIS370 | Bible: Myth and History | 3 |
| HIS371 | Jews in the Middle Ages | 3 |
| HIS383 | Religion in the United States | 3 |
| JST205 | Intro to Jewish Cultural Studies | 3 |
| PHI252 | East Asian Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI311 | Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI320 | God, World, and Soul | 3 |
| PHI321 | Religion, Ethics, and Society | 3 |
| PHI325 | The Meaning of Life | 3 |
| PHI332 | Buddhist Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI334 | Indian Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI382 | Contemporary Buddhism | 1 |
| POL220 | Athens and Jerusalem: Political Thought in the Ancient and Medieval Worlds | 4 |
| POL336 | Middle Eastern Politics and Institutions | 3 |
| REL courses | See descriptions below | |
| SOC304 | Sociology of Religion | 3 |
REL270. Religions of the World. 3 Credits.
A survey of several major religious traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Attributes:
- Effective Expression/Written
- Ethical Reflection
- Liberal Arts
- Systematic Inquiry
- GE5: World History Global Aw
- GE4: World Civilizations
- GE3: WRLD
REL275. Islam. 3 Credits.
Introduction to Islam's history, beliefs, practices, and diversity. Topics include gender, war and recent portraits of Islam in the media and elsewhere.
Attributes:
- Effective Expression/Written
- Liberal Arts
- GE5: World History Global Aw
- GE4: World Civilizations
- GE3: WRLD
Restrictions:
- Must have the following level: Undergraduate
REL293. Selected Topics Relg Studies. 3-12 Credits.
Selected topics courses are regularly scheduled courses that focus on a particular topic of interest. Descriptions are printed in the Schedule of Classes each semester. Selected topics courses may be used as elective credit and may be repeated for credit, provided that the topic of the course changes.
REL301. History of Christian Thought. 3 Credits.
A survey of representative thinkers and documents of the Christian tradition, from biblical times to the present. Some attention will also be given to the Christian encounter with other religions and cultures.
Attributes:
- Effective Expression/Written
- Liberal Arts
- GE3: WEST
- GE4: Western Civilization
- GE5: World History Global Aw
Restrictions:
- Must not be enrolled in the following class: Freshman
REL393. Selected Topics Religious Stu. 3-12 Credits.
Selected topics courses are regularly scheduled courses that focus on a particular topic of interest. Descriptions are printed in the Schedule of Classes each semester. Selected topics courses may be used as elective credit and may be repeated for credit, provided that the topic of the course changes.
Restrictions:
- Must have the following level: Undergraduate
- Must not be enrolled in the following class: Freshman
REL493. Religious Studies Selected Top. 3-12 Credits.
Selected topics courses are regularly scheduled courses that focus on a particular topic of interest. Descriptions are printed in the Schedule of Classes each semester. Selected topics courses may be used as elective credit and may be repeated for credit, provided that the topic of the course changes.
Attributes:
- Liberal Arts
Restrictions:
- Must have the following level: Undergraduate
- Must not be enrolled in the following class: Freshman
REL495. Rel Studies Indep Studies. 1-12 Credits.
Faculty
Elstein, David
Professor, Philosophy
Ph.D., University of Michigan
Office: JFT 422
Phone: (845) 257-2314
E-mail: elsteind@newpaltz.edu
Fenkl, Heinz Insu
Professor, English
Phone: (845) 257-2743
E-mail: fenklh@newpaltz.edu
Festa, Thomas
Professor, English
Ph.D., Columbia
Office: JFT 908
Phone: (845) 257-2726
E-mail: festat@newpaltz.edu
Gatzke, Andrea
Associate Professor and Chair, History
Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Office: JFT 916A
Phone: (845) 257-3523
E-mail: gatzkea@newpaltz.edu
Heuer, Keely
Associate Professor and Chair, Art History
Ph.D., New York University
Office: SAB 108F
Phone: (845) 257-3829
E-mail: heuerk@newpaltz.edu
Kerner, Jaclynne
Associate Professor, Art History
Ph.D., New York University
Office: SAB 108H
Phone: (845) 257-3852
E-mail: kernerj@newpaltz.edu
Link, Christopher
Program Director
Associate Professor, English
Ph.D., Boston University
Office: JFT 1007
Phone: (845) 257-2346
E-mail: linkc@newpaltz.edu
Meeker, Lauren
Professor, Anthropology
Ph.D., Columbia
Office: WH 333
Phone: (845) 257-2989
E-mail: meekerl@newpaltz.edu
Milem, Bruce
Professor, Philosophy
Ph.D., Stony Brook University
Office: JFT 420
Phone: (845) 257-2621
E-mail: milemb@newpaltz.edu
Morrison, Heather
Professor, History
Ph.D., Louisiana State University
Office: JFT 1005
Phone: (845) 257-2329
E-mail: morrisoh@newpaltz.edu
Shimada, Akira
Professor, History
Ph.D., The University of London
Office: JFT 418
Phone: (845) 257-3538
E-mail: shimadaa@newpaltz.edu
Stapell, Hamilton
Professor, History
Ph.D., University of California
Office: JFT 918
Phone: (845) 257-2597
E-mail: stapellh@newpaltz.edu
Vargas, Michael
Professor, History
Ph.D., Fordham
Office: JFT 910
Phone: (845) 257-2358
E-mail: vargasm@newpaltz.edu
Werner, Daniel
Associate Professor and Chair, Philosophy
Ph.D., Indiana University
Office: JFT 914
Phone: (845) 257-2315
E-mail: wernerd@newpaltz.edu
