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RELS 314 Hmong Spirituality

This course examines Hmong religion and spirituality practices, traditions, and concepts. Course focuses include animist traditions in Hmong spirituality, the role of the shaman (Txiv Neeb), Hmong cosmology, and Hmong teachings, music, ceremonies, and oral traditions to allow for a deeper understanding of Hmong spiritualities. The study of these various spiritual traditions will be grounded in a transnational social and cultural perspective. Students of all religious, racial, and ethnic backgrounds will be welcome in this course and will benefit by gaining a greater appreciation and understanding of Hmong culture and society, which form an important part of the multicultural mosaic of contemporary Minnesota.

Prerequisites

Special information

Overlap: ETHS 364.
4 Undergraduate credits

Effective August 15, 2022 to present

Meets graduation requirements for

Learning outcomes

General

  • Interpret foundational aspects of Hmong spiritualities and practice as well as Hmong cosmology.
  • Appraise the differences between animism and other forms of spiritual belief around the world (e.g., monotheism).
  • Analyze the connections of Hmong spiritualities and cultural practices within dynamic cultural, social, global diasporic, and political contexts.
  • Create a meaningful and informed personal response, as a member of a world community, to Hmong spiritual traditions and realities/lived experiences.

Minnesota Transfer Curriculum

Goal 6: The Humanities and Fine Arts

  • Demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.
  • Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within a historical and social context.
  • Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.
  • Engage in the creative process or interpretive performance.
  • Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities.

Goal 8: Global Perspective

  • Describe and analyze political, economic, and cultural elements which influence relations of states and societies in their historical and contemporary dimensions.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of cultural, social, religious and linguistic differences.
  • Analyze specific international problems, illustrating the cultural, economic, and political differences that affect their solution.
  • Understand the role of a world citizen and the responsibility world citizens share for their common global future.

Fall 2025

Section Title Instructor books eservices
01 Hmong Spirituality Vang, Yang Thai Books for RELS-314-01 Fall 2025 Course details for RELS-314-01 Fall 2025