As a STEM major, this class was so refreshing and I loved the enthusiasm of the professors. There was quite a lot of readings to do that were very important to the class, but it wasn't that bad because they were pretty interesting. Even when I didn't understand the content of the readings, the class discussions were so intriguing especially for someone who doesn't study the humanities much. Seeing a professor's passion for a subject makes it a class more enjoyable for me and I did really like this class!

POV: 4th year RS double major

Structure: readings ~40 pgs/class, sometimes accompanied by short quizzes but with plenty of notice (and they're super easy as long as you do the reading); in class is pretty much all small- and large-group discussion with occasional brief lectures giving background about readings; 2 short papers (midterm and final)

Review: This was a great class! It was cool to take this with Prof Jones and Hoehler-Fatton because they approach the field of Religious Studies in two different ways and present a diverse set of experiences, focuses, and perspectives. They did a great job selecting units/readings that gave a broad overview of the field while also giving glimpses into its rich depths, which you dive more into in higher-level classes (there was lots of crossover in the readings/authors, especially w/RELG 3730). Class discussions were very engaging even with the large class size. Very manageable workload (even if you're a first year you'll be fine). If you have to skip a few readings here and there you'll be ok, but don't make a habit of it because it makes it hard to have good discussions and write your midterm and final papers well.