News

Fulfill Degree Requirements with Religious Studies!  All courses are fully online (asynchronous) and fulfill Gen Ed requirements. Summer Pre-Session (05/17/2021 - 06/05/2021) RELI 160A1 - Gods, Goddesses, and Demons: Divinity in South Asia RELI…

The Department of Religious Studies and Classics is happy to announce the winners of the Lionel Rombach and Ora Bretall Scholarship Awards for the 2020-2021 academic year.  Awardees for the Ora Bretall Award are (alphabetical by last name): Jillian…

Dr. Vijay Patel, a 2008 graduate in Religious Studies now working as Director of Dental Services at Marana Health Center, is the College of Humanities 2020 Young Professional Achievement Award recipient.   Patel graduated with honors from the…

Donna Swaim, a revered teacher and mentor whose 50-year University of Arizona career stretched broadly across campus, from humanities to medicine to athletics, and included trips to dozens of countries for student study abroad, has passed away. She…

Professor Daisy Vargas was interviewed by the Religion News Service for the following article about the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the US Supreme Court.   Amy Coney Barrett nomination fight leaves progressive Catholics feeling unseen   …

The Department of Religious Studies and Classics is excited to offer support to students who would like to begin their study of Ancient Greek this winter!   Greek 101- Elementary Classical Greek I will be available fully online during the upcoming…

Fulfill some of your General Education with Religious Studies. Tier I Traditions and Cultures, Diversity Emphasis RELI 160A1 Gods, Goddesses & Demons RELI 160D4 Intro to World Religions   Tier II Humanities, Diversity Emphasis RELI 350 Hindu…

In June 2020, Religious Studies lecturer Konden Smith Hansen won the “Best First Book” prize from the Mormon History Association for his recent book, Frontier Religion: Mormons and America, 1857-1907. Frontier Religion examines the dramatic…

Professor Kristy Slominski was recently interviewed by the podcast Straight White American Jesus in an episode called “Sexless Ed: The Orange Wave.” In it, she describes the role of evangelical leaders from southern California, such as Tim LaHaye,…

In Fall 2020, Corey Wegwert, a former University of Arizona Religious Studies major, joined the Master of Arts in Religious Studies Program at Duke University. He will be pursuing study on the intersection of race, gender, and class within American…

Three professors in the Department of Religious Studies and Classics have been promoted, demonstrating excellent performance in teaching, service and research.   Courtney Friesen is promoted from Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and…

By Caleb Simmons, Associate Professor of Religious Studies   To say the least, this year has been difficult. COVID-19 and the restrictions that have resulted because of the pandemic have certainly changed all of our lives. Many have lost and…