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American Indian & Indigenous Studies at UC Santa Barbara

American Indian & Indigenous Studies Minor

Department of Religious Studies
The study of American Indian and indigenous peoples provides students with the opportunity to closely examine the histories, issues, and rich cultures of "first nations" throughout the hemisphere and globally. The Minor in American Indian and Indigenous Studies (AIIS) offers flexibility in its interdisciplinary approach as students work with faculty across campus in a wide range of subjects, methods, and interpretations. All courses to be applied to the minor must be completed on a letter-grade basis. This includes two preparation courses and 20 upper-division units. Students interested in pursuing the AIIS should check with the Religious Studies Undergraduate Advisor, for details about adding the AIIS minor.

Interdisciplinary Major in American Indian Studies/B.A. Degree

College of Letters and Science
An interdisciplinary major in American Indian Studies can be achieved with approval from the College of Letters and Science Interdisciplinary Studies program. Students wishing to enter the major must draw up a proposed program of study and work with the College and their academic departments to create a viable program of study. Interested students are advised to begin the process by the beginning of their junior year. Applicants to this program are normally not admitted as freshmen. Admission to the major in the senior year is not encouraged and will be granted only in exceptional circumstances. For more information, contact the Advising Office at the College of Letters and Science, 1117 Cheadle Hall, 805-893-2038 or 805-893-3201.

Religious Studies Summer Courses 2009

1. Introduction to the Study of Religion (A)

A consideration of major themes, issues, types of figures and phenomena, and traditions- all selected from the history of religion so as to illustrate the great variety of religious phenomena and to suggest some of the ways such things may be responsibly studied.

4. Introduction to Buddhism (B)

Same course as East Asian Cultural Studies 5
The historical and cross-cultural exploration of Buddhism through the examination of basic texts, institutions, and practices of diverse Buddhist traditions.

5. Introduction to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (B)

An introduction to the basic texts, institutions, and practices of western religious traditions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

7. Introduction to American Religion (B)

Religion and religions in America. Survey of the variety of religions or religious traditions in America, including Native American, Asian American, African American, Jewish, Roman Catholic, Muslim, and notably Protestant. Focus also on such common features as “civil religion.”

14. Intro to Native American Religious Studies (B)

This course is designed as an introduction to the contribution that Native American religions make to the general study of religion. Metaphysical and philosophical aspects of North American native culture. Major concepts of belief systems, religion, and medicine. Theories of balance, harmony, knowledge, power, ritual, and ceremony.

19. The Gods and Goddesses of India (A)

Not open for credit to students who have completed Religious Studies 158A An introduction to the gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. Consideration is given to mythological, iconographic, and pilgrimage traditions as well as to the various types of movements- ascetic, devotional, and Tantric- associated with each deity.

80A. Religion and Western Civilization I: Ancient (A)

The religions of classical antiquity; myths, rituals, and cults of Greece and Rome; religious dimensions of Greek and Roman philosophy; and beginnings and development of Christianity to time of Theodosius the Great (379-395C.E.)

101. New Religious Movements (B)

Looks at new religious movements over the past several decades, both sectarian movements within religious traditions and other movements within religious traditions and other movements that are combinative and eclectic in nature. Focus is primarily on the United States, though not exclusively.

113. Religion & Film (A)

An examination of religious themes and forms as they appear in significant works of modern film. The nature of man, the problem of suffering, the quest for meaning are among the topics considered.

114X. Dante’s “Divine Comedy” (E)

Dante’s masterpiece, The Divine Comedy, remains among the most astonishing works of world literature. This course follows the pilgram’s progress through Inferno, Pergatorio and Paradiso in search of “love that moves the sun and the other stars.” In English.