Jun 02, 2025

2025-2026 UH Mānoa Catalog [DRAFT]

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2025-2026 UH Mānoa Catalog [DRAFT]

Religious Traditions & Ancient Civilizations, Religious Traditions Track, BA

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Admissions: Open

Process: Declaration

Min. Total Credits: 120 (79 in core & major + 41 in electives)

UHM General Education Core Requirements

Foundations

Written Communication (FW)

(3 credits)

Quantitative Reasoning (FQ)

Note: This requirement changed in Fall 2018. If you entered the UH System prior to that, please see your college/school advisor.

(FQ; 3 credits) replaces Symbolic Reasoning (FS; 3 credits) effective Fall 2018

Global and Multicultural Perspectives (FG)

(FGA, FGB, FGC; 6 credits)

Global and Multicultural Perspectives (FGA)

REL 149 - Introduction to the World’s Goddesses Credits: 3

Global and Multicultural Perspectives (FGC)

REL 150 - Introduction to the World’s Major Religions Credits: 3

Diversification

* See degree, college and major requirements for courses that can also fulfill these.

Arts (DA), Humanities (DH), and Literatures (DL)

(6 credits from 2 categories)

Arts (DA*)
Humanities (DH*)
Literatures (DL*)

Humanities (DH)

REL 151 - Religion and the Meaning of Existence Credits: 3
OR
200+

Natural Sciences

Biological Science (DB*; 3 credits)
Physical Science (DP*; 3 credits)
Laboratory (science) (DY*; 1 credit )

Social Sciences (DS)

(DS*; a total of 6 credits from 2 different departments)

REL 300+

UHM Graduation Requirements

Focus

**The STAR Degree Check indicates Focus classes by “E,” “H,” “O,” and “W.” Class Availability indicates Focus sections with “ETH,” “HAP,” “OC,” and “WI.”

Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Issues (H)

(H or HAP**; 1 course, any level)

Contemporary Ethical Issues (E)

(E or ETH**; 1 course, 300- or 400-level)

Oral Communication (O)

(O or OC**; 1 course, 300- or 400-level)

Writing Intensive (W)

(W or WI**; 5 courses, at least two of which are at the 300- or 400-level)

Hawaiian Or Second Language (HSL)

competence at the 202 level

Credit Minimums

120 total applicable
30 UH Mānoa credits
45 upper division (300+ level) credits

Grade Point Average

2.0 cumulative or higher (Note: Other GPAs may be required.)
Good academic standing

College Requirements

Credit Maximums

8 KRS activity
9 Directed Reading / Research
12 Practicum / Internship

Note

This was prepared to provide information and does not constitute a contract. See below for major requirements. Meet regularly with your major advisor.

Major Requirements for BA in Religious Traditions & Ancient Civilizations: Religious Traditions Track

Admission: Open
Application: NA
Min. major credits: 30
Min. exit GPA: 2.5 GPA in the major
Min. C grade (not C-) in all courses

Requirements

Religious Traditions Core Courses (9 credits)

Foundations: 3 credits from:

Any 100-level REL course

Theory & Methods: 6 credits from:

REL 300 - Myth, Religion, and Society Credits: 3 *^DH
OR
CLAS 300 - Myth, Religion, and Society Credits: 3 *^DH
REL 304 - Indigenous & Decolonial Approaches to Religion and Culture Credits: 3
OR
CLAS 304 - Indigenous & Decolonial Approaches to Religion and Culture Credits: 3

Major Elective Courses (21 credits)

21 credits from the following (18 must be upper division, selected from the approved courses below)

Religious Traditions
Religious Traditions (6 credits total)
Themes in Religion
Themes in Religion
Themes in Religion (9 credits total)
Other
Other (6 credits total)

Approved Elective courses:

Religious Traditions:

REL 200 - Understanding the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) Credits: 3
REL 201 - Understanding the New Testament Credits: 3
REL 202 - Understanding Indian Religions Credits: 3
REL 203 - Understanding Chinese Religions Credits: 3
REL 204 - Understanding Japanese Religions Credits: 3
REL 205 - Understanding Hawaiian Religion Credits: 3
REL 207 - Understanding Buddhism Credits: 3
REL 208 - Understanding Judaism Credits: 3
REL 209 - Understanding Islam Credits: 3
REL 210 - Understanding Christianity Credits: 3
REL 211 - Understanding Ancient Religions Credits: 3
REL 308 - Zen (Ch’an) Buddhist Masters Credits: 3
REL 310 - Global Christianity Credits: 3
REL 311 - Ka Baibala ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (The Bible in Hawaiian) Credits: 3
REL 351 - Christian Ethics in Modern Life Credits: 3
REL 352 - Sufism: Mystical Traditions of Islam Credits: 3
REL 354 - Islam in History Credits: 3
REL 371 - Prophecies of the Last Days Credits: 3
REL 373 - Vedic Hindu Mythology Credits: 3
REL 374 - Classical Hindu Mythology Credits: 3
REL 390 - Hawaiian Gods Credits: 3
REL 409 - Life and Teachings of Jesus Credits: 3
REL 475 - Seminar on Buddhism Credits: 3
REL 476 - Daoism: Philosophy and Religion Credits: 3
REL 478 - New World Rituals and Ideologies Credits: 3
REL 490 - Buddhism in Japan Credits: 3
CLAS 305 - Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics I Credits: 3
CLAS 306 - Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics II Credits: 3
CLAS 301 - Biblical Hebrew I Credits: 3
OR
REL 301 - Biblical Hebrew I Credits: 3
CLAS 302 - Biblical Hebrew II Credits: 3
OR
REL 302 - Biblical Hebrew II Credits: 3

Themes in Religion:

REL 303 - Creation and Evolution Credits: 3
REL 333 - Cults and New Religions Credits: 3
REL 345 - Religion and Conflict in American History Credits: 3
REL 348 - Religion, Politics, and Society Credits: 3
REL 353 - Witches and Witchcraft Credits: 3
REL 356 - Women and Religion Credits: 3
REL 361 - Love, Sex, and Religion Credits: 3
REL 363 - Religion and Art Credits: 3
REL 383 - Mysticism East and West Credits: 3
REL 394 - On Death and Dying Credits: 3
REL 422 - Anthropology of Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion Credits: 3
REL 431 - Health/Medicine in Religion Credits: 3
REL 433 - Religion and Food Credits: 3
REL 444 - Spiritual Ecology Credits: 3
REL 445 - Sacred Places Credits: 3
REL 452 - Sociology of Religion Credits: 3
REL 480 - Field Methods in Religion Credits: 3

Other:

Any 300+ REL or CLAS course not used to fill other elective requirements.

Notes

*Note: 300+ courses not included on the program requirements may be substituted with advisor and instructor approval. A minimum of 15 credits must have been taken at UH Mānoa.

Advising Center for the Colleges of Arts, Languages and Letters; Sakamaki D202; (808) 956-8755; advising@hawaii.edu
Religions & Ancient Civilizations Department: Moore 483; (808) 956-8520; www.hawaii.edu/religion/
Religion Undergraduate Advisor: Ramdas Lamb, PhD; (808) 956-8569; ramdas@hawaii.edu

4-Year Plan

This is a sample academic plan. Students should meet with an academic advisor prior to registration to formulate their own plan.

Year 1

Fall

100-level REL course (FGC) Credits: 3 *
FW (or FQ) Credits: 3
DS Credits: 3
HSL 101 Credits: 3
Elective (FGA/B) Credits: 3

Credits 15

Spring

REL 151 or 200+ (Rel. Traditions) Credits: 3
DS Credits: 3
FQ (or FW) Credits: 3
DA or DL Credits: 3
HSL 102 Credits: 3

Credits 15

Total Credits 30

Year 2

Fall

CLAS 300 - Myth, Religion, and Society Credits: 3 (DH)
OR
REL 300 - Myth, Religion, and Society Credits: 3 (DH)
DB (or DP) Credits: 3
DY Credits: 1
HSL 201 Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3

Credits 16

Spring

CLAS 304 - Indigenous & Decolonial Approaches to Religion and Culture Credits: 3
OR
REL 304 - Indigenous & Decolonial Approaches to Religion and Culture Credits: 3
DP (or DB) Credits: 3
HSL 202 Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3

Credits 15

Total Credits 61

Year 3

Fall

Electives (Rel. Traditions) Credits: 3
Elective (Themes in Rel.) Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 2

Credits 14

Spring

Elective (Themes in Rel.) Credits: 3
Elective (Rel. Traditions) Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3

Credits 15

Total Credits 90

Year 4

Fall

Elective (Themes in Rel.) Credits: 3
Elective (Other) Credits: 3
Elective 300+ Credits: 3
Elective 300+ Credits: 3
Elective 300+ Credits: 3

Credits 15

Spring

REL 300+ (Other) Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective 300+ Credits: 3
Elective 300+ Credits: 3
Elective 300+ Credits: 3

Credits 15

Total Credits 120

Notes:

Students must incorporate all focus requirements into this plan. Focus designations (i.e., W, E, O, H) are CRN specific & semester specific.
*Can be double counted with major; see your academic advisor for details.
Minimum 45 upper division (300+ course) credits are required.