Religion, Conflict and Peace Courses | Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict

Featured Courses: Spring 2027

Around the world, religion shapes how people justify war or build peace and where we turn for meaning, healing and belonging. Enroll in a Religion and Global Affairs or Spirituality and Public Life course to explore these questions, challenge your assumptions and bring a more informed perspective to the issues that matter to you.

Download spring courses flyer

REL 204: Religious Freedom

Freedom of religion is a foundational ideal in the United States. This course considers the historical and philosophical origins of religious freedom and traces the emergence of legal, political and social institutions related to this ideal. Also examines complicated and ongoing debates about what can and should be specially protected as 'religion.'

Various instructors
On-ground and online options
A, B and C sessions

REL 204 Options

REL 335: The Spiritual Quest

What drives America’s spiritual seekers, within and beyond religion? How do culture, place and oppression shape their quests? What can they teach us about healing, justice, resilience and joy?

Tracy Fessenden
W | 10:30-11:45 a.m.
1/11/2027 - 4/30/2027 (C)

Course details

POS | REL 378: Religion, War and Peace

In-depth study of the religious, political and ethical dimensions of violence and war. Compares perspectives of Christian, Jewish and Islamic traditions as well as secular viewpoints.

John Carlson
T Th | Noon-1:15 p.m.
1/11/2027 - 4/30/2027 (C)

Course details

HST | POS | REL | SGS 396: Islam and Politics

Examines Islamic political ideas with respect to texts, history, society and movements from Muhammad to the present day.

Han Hsien Liew
M W | 1:30-2:45 p.m.
1/11/2027 - 4/30/2027 (C)

Course details

Approved Certificate Courses: Spring 2027

Explore what divides us and what brings us together, with ASU’s Undergraduate Certificate in Religion, Conflict and Peace. Discover how religion can fuel conflict and inspire peace, while gaining interdisciplinary knowledge and skills you can apply in your career and community.

Course	Title	Cross-listed
REL 201	Religion and the Modern World
REL 202	Religion and Popular Culture
REL 204	Religious Freedom
REL 311	Israeli Society and Culture	JST 348
REL 321	Religion in America
REL 349	Nature, Sustainability and Religion	JST 349, HPS 349, SOS 349
REL 366	Islam in the Modern World	HST 339
REL 374	Witchcraft and Heresy in Europe	HST 361
REL 378	Religion, War and Peace	POS 378
REL 379	Religion, Nationalism, and Ethnic Conflict	SGS 343
REL 381	Religion and Moral Issues
REL 390	Women, Gender and Religion
REL 396	Islam and Politics	HST 396, SGS 396, POS 396
REL 413	Sacred Crimes: Religion and Violence
REL 454	History of Genocide	HST 454
HST 302	Jews, Christians and Muslims in Early Modern World	JST 302
HST 350	Later Middle Ages
HST 372	Modern Middle East
ARB 335	Arabic Culture and Islam	SLC 335
ARB 341	Quran Text and Women
ASB 353	Death and Dying in Cross-Cultural Perspective	SOC 353
CEL 100	Great Ideas of Politics and Ethics
COM 312	Communication, Conflict, and Negotiation
IAS 430	Science and Religion
JST 445	Holocaust, War and German Memory
JUS 467	Terrorism, War, and Justice
PHI 318	Philosophy of Religion
PHI 406	Moral Dilemmas	IAS 406
POS 359	African Politics and Society
POS 364	National Security, Intelligence and Terrorism
POS 480	Global Justice
SOC 241	Modern Social Problems
SOC 420	Sociology of Religion
SGS 340	Violence, Conflict and Human Rights
SGS 341	Humanitarian Crisis and International Intervention
SGS 466	Migration, Environment and Global Security