Phone: (845) 257-2621
Location: Jacobson Faculty Tower Room 916
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, philosophy, history, literature and sociology. REL270 Religions of the World is an introductory survey of the principal world religions. The coordinator may, in individual cases, allow credit for appropriate cognate courses or independent study.

Program Coordinator: Christopher Link (Department of English)
Office: SCB 146
Phone: (845) 257-2346
E-mail: linkc@newpaltz.edu

ANT414The Anthropology of Performance3
ARH340The Arts of Early China 3
ARH342The Arts of Japan 3
ARH344History of Buddhist Art3
ARH361Art of the Renaissance in Italy 3
ARH362Northern European Painting from Van Eyck to Bruegel 3
ARH363Early Medieval Art 3
ARH364Later Medieval Art: Gothic 3
ARH378Sacred Spaces, Divine Images 3
ARH387Art of the Islamic World 3
ARH391Baroque Painting 3
BLK264African American Religion3
ENG211Great Bks Asian Classics 3
ENG355The Bible 4
ENG404Medieval Literature 4
ENG408Seventeenth-Century Literature 4
HIS207Medieval Europe 4
HIS243Middle East to 17984
HIS313Religion and Power in the Ancient Near East3
HIS330Staging China3
HIS336Religions of Asia3
HIS343History of Islam and the Middle East 570-19183
HIS344The Middle East in the 20th Century 3
HIS348Medieval Society 3
HIS349Renaissance and Reformation 3
HIS363Inquisition3
HIS365Jihad and Crusades3
HIS369Ancient Israel 3
HIS370Bible: Myth and History 3
HIS371Jews in the Middle Ages 3
HIS383Religion in the United States 3
JST205The Jewish Experience3
PHI252East Asian Philosophy3
PHI311Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy 3
PHI320God, World, and Soul3
PHI321Religion, Ethics, and Society3
PHI325The Meaning of Life3
PHI332Buddhist Philosophy3
PHI334Indian Philosophy3
PHI382Contemporary Buddhism1
POL220Athens and Jerusalem: Political Thought in the Ancient and Medieval Worlds4
POL336Middle Eastern Politics and Institutions 3
REL coursesSee descriptions below
SOC304Sociology 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
May not be repeated for credit

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
May not be repeated for credit

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.

May be repeated for credit

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
May not be repeated for credit

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
May not be repeated for credit

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.

May be repeated for credit

Faculty

Elstein, David 
Professor of Philosophy
Ph.D., University of Michigan
Office: JFT 422
Phone: (845) 257-2314
E-mail: elsteind@newpaltz.edu

Fenkl, Heinz Insu
Professor of English
Office: JFT 618
Phone: (845) 257-2743
E-mail: fenklh@newpaltz.edu

Festa, Thomas 
Professor of English
Ph.D., Columbia
Office: JFT 908
Phone: (845) 257-2726
E-mail: festat@newpaltz.edu

Gatzke, Andrea
Associate Professor of History
Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Office: JFT 312
Phone: (845) 257-3523
E-mail: gatzkea@newpaltz.edu

Kerner, Jaclynne
Associate Professor of Art History
Ph.D., New York University
Office: SAB 108H
Phone: (845) 257-3852
E-mail: kernerj@newpaltz.edu

Konowitz, Ellen
Associate Professor of Art History
Ph.D., New York University
Office: SAB 108D
Phone: (845) 257-3876
E-mail: konowite@newpaltz.edu

Link, Christopher A.
Program Coordinator
Associate Professor of English
Ph.D., Boston University
Office: SCB 146
Phone: (845) 257-2346
E-mail: linkc@newpaltz.edu

Maynard, Douglas C.
Professor of Psychology
Ph.D., Bowling Green State University
Office: WH 341
Phone: (845) 257-3426
E-mail: maynardd@newpaltz.edu

Meeker, Lauren
Associate Professor of Anthropology
Ph.D., Columbia 
Office: WH 333
Phone: (845) 257-2989
E-mail: meekerl@newpaltz.edu

Milem, Bruce
Professor of Philosophy
Ph.D., Stony Brook University
Office: JFT 420
Phone: (845) 257-2621
E-mail: milemb@newpaltz.edu

Miller, Jeff
Associate Professor of Political Science & International Relations
Ph.D., University of Virginia
Office: JFT 920
Phone: (845) 257-3934
E-mail: millerj@newpaltz.edu

Morrison, Heather
Associate Professor of History
Ph.D., Louisiana State University
Office: JFT 1005
Phone: (845) 257-2329
E-mail: morrisoh@newpaltz.edu

Shimada, Akira
Professor of History
Ph.D., The University of London
Office: JFT 418
Phone: (845) 257-3538
E-mail: shimadaa@newpaltz.edu

Stapell, Hamilton 
Professor of History
Ph.D., University of California
Office: JFT 918
Phone: (845) 257-2597
E-mail: stapellh@newpaltz.edu

Vargas, Michael
Professor of History
Ph.D., Fordham 
Office: JFT 910
Phone: (845) 257-2358
E-mail: vargasm@newpaltz.edu

Werner, Daniel 
Associate Professor / Chair of Philosophy
Ph.D., Indiana University
Office: JFT 914
Phone: (845) 257-2315
E-mail: wernerd@newpaltz.edu