Advanced seminar for juniors and seniors majoring in Religious Studies, which is offered at least twice a year by various faculty. The seminar introduces students to the history of the discipline and a range of approaches to the study of religion, including established and emerging theories and methods. Instructors might also choose to emphasize UCSB's distinctive approach to Religious Studies and the strengths of its current faculty.

Prerequisites: Religious studies majors with upper division standing and consent of department.

4

Units

Letter

Grading

1, 2, 3

Passtime

Upper division only

Level Limit

Letters and science

College
These majors only rgstd
William Elison
4.2
14 reviews

Lecture

HSSB 1210
M W
12:30 PM - 13:45 PM
7 / 20
Spring 2024 . Thomas C M
HSSB 1214
M W
11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Winter 2025 . Johnson G B
HSSB 3001E
T
14:00 PM - 16:50 PM
See All
RG ST 104 Elison W N Spring 2021 Total: 6
RG ST 104 Elison W N Fall 2018 Total: 11
See All
14
4.2
RGST28 . 15 Days Ago

I thought Gandhi class would be mildly interesting, but upon hearing Elison drone on about god knows what killed any interest I had. Lectures were convoluted and had no direction or structure because he would just say whatever with no slides. So many assigned readings and films that we didn't really need. EASY grading, but so boring.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
RGST28 . 11 Months Ago

Reading is the core of the class. You need to read and stay on top of the readings to do well in the exams. Quizes are open notes and free A. The final exam is graded by your TA. I thought I did pretty good and got an A+ on the final. Midterm I thought I got an A+ and got an A-. So your entire grade is dependent on your TA. William is coated tho.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
RGST28 . 11 Months Ago

i loved this class! one of the easiest GE's that most people don't know about. he makes his lectures interesting, and although not structured, he's very passionate. i barely did any of the assigned readings but as long as you pay attention in class you'll be fine. easily graded midterm, weekly take home quizzes and final on a topic of your choosing

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
RGST162J . 2 Years Ago

Prof. Elison is great! His classes are interactive and thought-provoking. There are assigned readings and online quizzes alongside a couple papers, but everything is pretty manageable. Attendance is important, and lectures are discussion-driven and informative. Take his class!

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
HIST28 . 2 Years Ago

He is very passionate about the topic so the class is fun. The lectures are kinda confusing sometimes as there are no slides/powerpoints. He kinda just talks and the daily attendance and weekly quizzes are based on lecture information. So take really detailed notes during lectures. Participation during the lectures AND sections is mandatory.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
HIST28 . 3 Years Ago

I'll be honest, I wasn't a fan of his method of teaching (no powerpoints and info off the top of his head). Make sure you participate a lot in section since that's what brought my grade down.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
See all 14 reviews
RG ST 98
0 / 30 Enrolled
Internship
Janet Afary 3.6
100.0% A
RG ST 99
0 / 10 Enrolled
Independent Study in Religious Studies
T B A
100.0% A
RG ST 107
23 / 30 Enrolled
Black Gods of Cuba, Brazil, and Beyond: The Orishas
Elizabeth Perez 3.6
T R
12:30 PM - 13:45 PM
87.5% A
RG ST 111B
10 / 20 Enrolled
Mongolian Buddhism
Vesna Wallace 3.4
M W
17:00 PM - 18:15 PM
52.6% A
RG ST 112
12 / 30 Enrolled
Trickster Tales, Religion, and the Body
Janet Afary 3.6
T R
17:00 PM - 18:15 PM
47.8% A
RG ST 115G
62 / 70 Enrolled
The Dead Sea Scrolls and Their Community
Medina R W
T R
17:00 PM - 18:15 PM
55.4% A