Sacred Spaces explores the ways religious communities create, inhabit, and experience sacred space in everyday life, with particular attention to the diverse religious landscape of greater Dallas.
Grounded in the academic study of religion and material culture, the course examines how spaces—built, adapted, temporary, virtual, and shared—become sites of meaning, ritual, identity, and encounter with the divine. Students investigate how different religious traditions conceptualize sacredness, represent the divine, and express belief through architecture, ritual practice, and community life, while also considering newer religious movements and the evolving place of religion in American public life.
A central theme of Sacred Spaces is that religion is not only a system of beliefs, but a lived, embodied experience shaped by place, practice, and human relationships. Through comparative study and guided experiential learning, including site visits, conversations with religious leaders, and reflective fieldwork, students develop skills in observation, interpretation, and civil discourse across differences. The principal goals of Sacred Spaces are for students to gain a deeper understanding of religious diversity in their own community, to reflect critically on how sacred meaning is created and shared, and to cultivate respect, curiosity, and empathy toward the religious experiences of others while clarifying their own perspectives and values.
To meet the religious studies graduation requirement, either World Religions or Sacred Spaces must be completed during a student’s tenure in Upper School.
Attendance Expectations & Requirements
Each section of Sacred Spaces has SEVEN in-person class meetings scheduled. Students are encouraged to attend all class meetings, and are REQUIRED to attend at least FIVE in-person meetings on the Midway Campus.
Students must complete and turn in an attendance plan to the instructors showing how they plan to meet the minimum attendance requirements.
Session 1 with Dr. O’Dell-Chaib (Must attend FIVE sessions)
> Thursday, May 28th (2:30 – 4:00 pm)
> Tuesday, June 2nd (2:30 – 4:00 pm)
> Thursday, June 4th (2:30 – 4:00 pm)
> Tuesday, June 9th (2:30 – 4:00 pm)
> Thursday, June 11th (2:30 – 4:00 pm)
> Tuesday, June 16th (2:30 – 4:00 pm)
> Thursday, June 18th (2:30 – 4:00 pm)
In addition to the in-person sessions, there will be seven visits to religious sites and spaces in the Dallas / North Dallas area during the course. These visits will be scheduled on weekday afternoons and evenings. Students will be expected to attend AT LEAST THREE of these site visits.
Final date for all Coursework – Friday, June 26th at midnight
“[Summer courses] have been an amazing way to knock out the required elective for the year in a fast, effective, and low stress manner. Not having to worry about getting this elective done during the school year, especially as a Leadership Institute student and person with other interests, the open block for other courses now is a beauty.”
Student Testimonial