Courses Taught and Programs of Study Supervised by Dr. Godlas

Note: General Log-in Instructions for Student Users of WebCT at UGA For all WebCT courses, students must have a MyID. To get a my id, follow the instructions at Getting a MyID. Note that your MyID is your UGA mail or Arches login ID. This is NOT your full UGA mail or Arches email address, just the part to the left of the @ sign in your UGA Mail or Arches email address. Your password is your UGA Mail or Arches password. If you have forgotten your UGA Mail or Arches login ID or password, go to Change Password / Show MyID form.

Once you have your UGA MyID you can log-in to WebCT.

See WebCT Frequently Asked Questions for general information and solving problems dealing with WebCt. For the WebCT component of Dr. Godlas' classes, click on the linked titles below. (These are only available for UGA students.)

New students should note the following:

Students who wish to use university computers can do so at no charge at the various computer labs on campus. See the List of UGA Computer Labs for information about the whereabouts of each lab, lab hours (for the most up-to-date hours you will have to click on the link for the lab you are interested in and then click on another link on that particular lab's page), the kinds and numbers of computers available, and the labs' phone numbers, as well a great deal of additional information.

Note on Rescheduling Final Exams
Students who have three final exams on the same day or two final exams at the same time may petition to take their exam at a different time. See the method for doing this at The UGA Final Exams Policy

Courses Taught:

RELI 1006: Introduction to the World's Religions (Usually taught in the Fall) A comparative and thematic study of the religious experience of the human community as expressed in the religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism , Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and the primal religions (of the indigenous peoples of Africa, Australia, and the Americas).

RELI 4303/6303 The Sufi Way: Islamic mysticism, both as a set of metaphysical doctrines and as it is expressed in religious practices. Particular attention will be give to the doctrinal development of Sufism, its literature, major figures, and the process of consciousness transformation.

REL 4301/6301 Islamic Thought in the Caliphal Age: Islamic scholarship from the 8th through the 14th centruies. Principle topics will include: the Qur'an and Qur'anic exegesis (tafsir), the "sciences" of hadith, Islamic law, theology, philosophy, and Sufi mysticism.

RELI4307/CMLT4307 Comparative Islamic Literature provides students with both a survey of some of the major genres and exemplary texts of Arabic, Persian, and Turkish Islamic literature (in translation) as well as extended training in the use of a systematic analytical methodology for fleshing out the nuances of the worldviews expressed in the texts. Keeping in mind the importance of the position of the reader on the "hermeneutical circle", a major part of the class will involve discussions where each student will analyze and compare his or her own worldviews with those of the texts we will be covering. The class is part of the "writing intensive" program, in which students will work closely with a TA on their writing in a step by step process.

REL 4302/6302 Islam and the Modern World: Islamic modernism and revivalism as a response to Western cultural penetration since the 18th century. Subject covered will include Sufi reformism, Wahhabism, the Salafiyya movement, Islamic "fundamentalism," the Iranian Revolution, women's rights, terrorism, and Western perceptions of Islam.

ARB 3006 Advanced Standard Arabic II: This course is the final course in our 6 semester sequence in Arabic. The course focuses on reading and understanding selected texts in Standard Arabic and on utilizing the Arabic learned during the previous year.

REL 4300/6300 Islam and Its World: Islam as a religious and sociocultural phenomena. The course covers the fundamental principles of the Islamic faith, Qur'an, the Sunna of Muhammad, Islamic sectarianism, Islamic law, theology, mysticism, and art. The course will also survey Islam in its various forms throughout the world.

ARB 4100/6100 Reading and Research in Arabic and Islamic Literature: The study of Arabic and other Islamic texts with emphasis upon extensive reading and individual and/or group research projects. Selection of topics will vary according to the interest of the instructor and students. Qualified students may study Persian and/or Turkish texts.

RELI4800 Reading and Research in Religion: A seminar in Islam, Spirituality, Feminism, and American Culture: through the lens of two American women's journeys from the 50's to the 90's. The focus of the seminar is the book Finding Fran, written by Prof. Lois Banner of the University of Southern California.

RELIGION 1001: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

RELI2001H Introduction to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
In this course I emphasize the comparative study of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Students are introduced to a method of analyzing the major beliefs of each religious tradition, a method that looks for the coherence of each tradition with itself. The beginning of the course focuses on analyzing the beliefs of modern Western culture. The last weeks of the course cover the beliefs that these religions have in common.

RELI6000, Theory and Method in the Teaching of Religion.

Islamic Studies Chat Room for Dr. Godlas' Students

Courses of Study Supervised

Dr. Godlas and Dr. Honerkamp jointly supervise the Arabic course of studies at UGA. (link fixed April, 2007) Currently an Arabic minor offered.

Dr. Godlas and Dr. Honerkamp also supervise the course of studies in Islam in the Department of Religion at the University of Georgia. Undergraduate students may major in Religion (link fixed 11 August, 2006) and take Islamic studies courses as part of their major requirements for a B.A. degree.

Students pursuing Islamic Studies may take additional courses on Islam offered by the History department.

UGA students who have already declared a major in religion should email Dr. Kirkland, the department undergrad. coordinator or their advisor if they have questions.

Anyone interested in applying for admission as an undergraduate to the University of Georgia should consult the UGA Undergraduate Admissions Web Site.

If you are a UGA student and are thinking about focusing on Islam or Arabic or preparing for a career in which you are hoping to use your knowledge of Islam or Arabic, email Dr. Godlas and Dr.  Honerkamp as early as possible when you are at UGA, preferably even before you begin your classes in your Freshman year.

Useful Links for UGA Undergraduates:

Religion Undergraduate program, a general overview.
Requirements for the Religion  Major, from the UGA Bulletin.
Requirements for the Religion Minor, from the UGA Bulletin.
Requirements for the Arabic Minor.
Advising and Graduation Requirements (link fixed 20 August, 2005), from the Franklin  College website.
University-Wide Degree Requirements, from the UGA Bulletin.
Advising and Graduation, Frequently Addressed Topics (link fixed 20 August, 2005), from the Franklin College website.
Other Useful Student Resources, from the Office of the Vice-President for Instruction.
Reading a DARS (Degree Audit Report System) sheet (pdf file, Adobe Acrobat is necessary for reading this).

Graduate Course of Studies in Islamic Studies

The University of Georgia offers an M.A. in Religion with a variety of concentrations, one of which is in Islam. The course of studies is designed to be completed in two years. All information about the M.A. in Religion, including application materials, can be obtained at the previous link. Among the requirements are comprehensive examinations and an M.A. thesis. For information about the M.A. in Religion in addition to that found at the previous link, e-mail the Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Carolyn Medine. If you apply for admission to the M.A. program and are thinking of concentrating in Islamic Studies or Arabic, please email both Dr. Honerkamp and Dr. Godlas, informing us of your application. Note that a Ph.D. in Religion with concentration in Islam is currently being planned.

You can apply online to the graduate program (M.A.) in the Department of Religion at the link to the Office of Graduate Admissions. See also the information page on Graduate Admission at the Graduate School.

For information on the cut off dates for graduate program applicants see Deadlines for Applicants

In order to guarantee that applicants will be considered for graduate financial assistance (which is in the form of teaching assistantships), application materials must be in by January 1. Nevertheless, if an applicant's materials are processed by the Graduate School by February 15, it is still possible that one might be considered for an assistantship.

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required of all applicants to the graduate program. Applicants are advised to take the GRE well in advance of the application deadlines. Since the GRE can now be taken on computer, there are numerous dates when one can take the exam. For information go to the GRE Online.

International students interested in applying to the graduate program should also carefully read Supplemental Information for International Applicants.

International students who would like to improve their American English can do so through the American Language Program at the University of Georgia.

For information on tuition and admission to the University of Georgia consult the UGA Admissions Information Page.

The only correspondence course offered by the Department of Religion is Religion 1001. Arabic and Islamic Studies courses are not offered by correspondence.

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