RELIGST

Religious Studies

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The department at a glance

All recorded grades

average GPA

A / AB grades

letter grades

How grades break down

Grades over time

Red: department · Gray: UW–Madison

About these statistics

GPA and percentages are weighted by recorded letter grades. UW comparisons use the same terms. Cross-listed courses count once within this department and once across UW; department totals should not be added together. Grade counts are not unique students. Offering counts reflect captured records, not a complete historical schedule.

Fall 2026

Recorded this term

courses with offerings

instructors recorded

Grades have not been recorded for this term. Historical results remain in the overview above.

Find your next class

28 courses

Historical grades cover up to five years through the selected term. Grade sorting prioritizes courses with at least 100 letter grades.

AGROECOL/ILS/RELIGST 304

Plants and Religion

3 credits

PLANTS AND RELIGION explores the role of plants in various religious traditions and applies humanities theories to interpret ecological themes in religious practices.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Reba Luiken

No recorded grade history

ASIAN/HISTORY/RELIGST 308

Introduction to Buddhism

3–4 credits

INTRODUCTION TO BUDDHISM covers the basic thought, practices and history of Buddhism.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Anne Hansen Sophea Kai

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Fall 2025

ASIAN/RELIGST 206

The Qur'an: Religious Scripture & Literature

3 credits

An introduction to the Qur'an as Islamic scripture, focusing on Muslim approaches to its themes, history, and use in law, theology, and piety.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Anna Gade

No recorded grade history

ASIAN/RELIGST 218

History of Medicine in South Asia

3 credits

HISTORY OF MEDICINE IN SOUTH ASIA explores historical South Asian conceptions of health, illness, and traditional healing systems like Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Anthony Cerulli

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2024

ASIAN/RELIGST 236

Asia Enchanted: Ghosts, Gods, and Monsters

3 credits

ASIA ENCHANTED: GHOSTS, GODS, AND MONSTERS explores Asian conceptions of the monstrous, ghostly, and divine through religious studies, literature, anthropology, and history.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Students must complete substantial required readings before every lecture, often with tight deadlines, creating significant time pressure.

Rania Huntington Adrian Beyer+1 more

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

ASIAN/RELIGST 274

Religion in South Asia

3 credits

Introductory survey of major South Asian religions and their cultural, historical, ritual, and philosophical foundations.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Workload includes three papers, reading quizzes, and discussion posts, with assessments described as easy but sometimes unclear. Attendance is effectively mandatory due to small daily assignments.

Jamal Jones

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2024–Fall 2025 · limited sample

ASIAN/RELIGST 307

A Survey of Tibetan Buddhism

3 credits

A survey of Tibetan Buddhism examining theory, practice, meditation, and identity.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Reviewers describe the workload as minimal, noting few assignments and open-book online exams. One student reported that readings were unnecessary because the instructor repeated topics during lectures.

Jampa Khedup PARIT Chiwarak

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

CLASSICS/HISTORY/RELIGST 517

Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean

3 credits

Examines ancient religions within their political, social, and cultural contexts, covering ritual, representation, and persecution.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Jeffrey Beneker: Success relies on reading and marking important quotes for citations in exams and papers, with clear guidance provided for achieving top grades.

Jeff Beneker

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2024–Spring 2025 · limited sample

CLASSICS/JEWISH/LITTRANS/RELIGST 227

Introduction to Biblical Literature (in English)

4 credits

Introduction to the text, development, history, and social context of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and early Jewish literature.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Jeremy Hutton

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

CLASSICS/JEWISH/RELIGST 335

King David in History and Tradition

3 credits

Examines the history, archaeology, and literary reception of King David in biblical and subsequent traditions.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Jeremy Hutton

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Fall 2024 · limited sample

CNSRSCI/RELIGST 173

Consuming Happiness

3 credits

Explores happiness and well-being through the lens of consumption, money, and the experience economy.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Christine Whelan, Dayana Kupisk: The workload involves extensive assigned readings and weekly quizzes, though exams are reported as relatively easy if students attend lectures and study.

Margaret Echelbarger Rachel Banda

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2024

ENGL/HISTORY/RELIGST 360

Early Medieval England

3 credits

This course introduces the peoples and cultures of Early Medieval England, examining texts in translation and interdisciplinary themes.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Jordan Zweck

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sample

FOLKLORE/RELIGST 326

The Supernatural in the Modern World

3 credits

Explores evidence of supernatural belief in the modern world through folk religion, medicine, legends, and media.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Lowell Brower

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2024–Fall 2025 · limited sample

GEN&WS/RELIGST 202

Queering Religion

3 credits

Explores the intersections of religiosity and queerness, including the role of religion in LGBTQ+ lives and LGBTQ inclusion in religious traditions.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

K.D. Thompson

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2025–Spring 2025 · limited sample

GERMAN/RELIGST/SOC 273

God & Money

3 credits

Explores historical connections between capitalism and religion, examining religious roles in social inequality and capitalism critique.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Weekly assignments determine most of the grade, and Stern is considered a tough grader. However, he provides final exam questions in advance, and the course is generally easy to score well in.

Adam Stern

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2024–Fall 2025 · limited sample

HISTORY/RELIGST 409

Christianity in the Atlantic World, 1500-1800

3 credits

Examines sweeping changes in Western Christianity from the late Middle Ages to democratic revolutions, including the Reformation, colonization, and religious renewal movements.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Eric Carlsson

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2023–Fall 2023 · limited sample

JEWISH/LEGALST/RELIGST 203

Jewish Law, Business, and Ethics

3 credits

Explores the development of Jewish law from antiquity to modernity, focusing on business practices and ethics.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Jordan Rosenblum Levi Sherman

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2023–Fall 2025

JEWISH/RELIGST 214

Religion and the First Amendment

3 credits

Examines the creation and interpretation of the First Amendment through the lens of American Jewish communities and minority religious engagement with the Supreme Court.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Susan Ridgely

No recorded grade history

LITTRANS/MEDIEVAL/RELIGST 253

Of Demons and Angels. Dante's Divine Comedy

3 credits

This course explores Dante's Divine Comedy, examining the journey of the human soul through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise within its historical and cultural contexts.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Reviewers note little to no out-of-class work, though exams are difficult without attending lectures. One reviewer found assignment criteria unclear, while others consider tests straightforward if lecture content is mastered.

Jelena Todorovic

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

RELIGST 102

Exploring Religion in Sickness and Health

3 credits

An introduction to the study of religion and health using humanities and social science approaches.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Corrie Norman: Reviewers report an absurd amount of reading, often 50 pages per lecture, and multiple four-page essays. Grading is described as overly harsh, with some noting unrealistic expectations for a 100-level course.

Abigail Fruk Corrie Norman Grieser

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

RELIGST 200

Introductory Topics in Religious Studies (humanities)

3–4 credits

RELIGST 200 is an introductory course covering various topics in religious studies within the humanities.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Suzanne Van Geuns

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2024 · limited sample

RELIGST 333

Early Christian Literature: Matthew-revelation

3 credits

An exploration of early Christian literature, examining the New Testament's sociohistorical context, composition, and theologies.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Corrie Norman: Assignments between tests are described as tedious, and the class demands analytical engagement rather than rote memorization.