Quaker Studies Minor
Jill Peterfeso, Department of Religious Studies
C. Wess Daniels, William R. Rogers Director of Friends Center and Quaker Studies
The Quaker studies minor explores Quaker spirituality in relation to the world. Through study of Quaker history and “social testimonies” (social ethics), it uses the perspective of this world-mending spirituality to reflect on justice issues. As an interdisciplinary exploration it seeks to understand forms of systemic oppression in our time (such as sexism, racism, classicism, militarism, religious imperialism and environmentalism) and how to transform them.
This study will develop several kinds of thinking in speaking, listening and writing: analysis, criticism, imagination, textual interpretation, social problem identification and problem solving, and self-reflective exploration. It will investigate the interrelated subtle aspects of individual selves, characteristics of a religious movement, large but obscured social systems and the student’s own religious and ethical commitments.
The minor requires a minimum of 16 credit hours (five courses).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| REL 110 | Quakerism | 4 |
| REL 295 | Religious Studies Methods & Theories | 4 |
| REL 465 | Theories/Methodology Quaker St | 4 |
| One course from the following list of courses approved by the Quaker Studies coordinator | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Note - Religious Studies majors seeking to minor in Quaker Studies must take an additional 300 or 400 level course from the following list that is approved by the Quaker Studies coordinator.
Select an additional 300 or 400 level course from the following list that is approved by the Quaker Studies coordinator.
Courses Approved by the Quaker Studies Coordinator
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Upper level special-topics Quaker Studies course | 4 | |
| PECS 330 | Nonviolence: Theories and Practice | 4 |
| HIST 215 | The Civil Rights Movement | 4 |
| HIST 308 | The Underground Railroad | 4 |
| AFAM/HIST 225 | African American History (HIST 225) | 4 |
| REL 120/ENGL 228 | American Nature Writing (ENGL 228) | 4 |
| REL 234 | African American Religion and Theology | 4 |
| REL 230 | Comparative Religious Ethics | 4 |
| REL 222 | Feminist Theologies | 4 |
| PHIL 231 | Philosophy and Sexuality 1 | 4 |
| PHIL 232 | Philosophy and Gender 1 | 4 |
| HIST 236 | Reformation: Luther to Fox (REL 236) | 4 |
| A different course proposed by the student and subject to the approval of the Quaker Studies coordinator | 4 | |
Or other courses addressing the normative Quaker testimonies of spirituality, simplicity, integrity, peace, equality and community by permission of the coordinator, or evidence of an internship (credit or non-credit) that provided direct experience with Quaker faith and practice.
Total credit hours required for Quaker studies minor is 16 credits.