SRJC Course Outlines

10/6/2024 1:16:53 PMRELS 1 Course Outline as of Fall 2020

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  RELS 1Title:  INTRO TO RELIGIOUS STUDY  
Full Title:  Introduction to Religious Studies
Last Reviewed:3/11/2019

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum3.00Lecture Scheduled3.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled52.50
Minimum3.00Lab Scheduled06 min.Lab Scheduled0
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total3.00 Contact Total52.50
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50 

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:
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This course introduces the study of religion as a critical, academic discipline.  It will explore the meaning, origins and function of religion, and illustrate these by drawing on myths, rituals, symbols, and beliefs from cultures all over the globe and through human history.  The course will survey the evolution and content of various theories and methods in the study of religion, as well as career opportunities in the field.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:


Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
This course introduces the study of religion as a critical, academic discipline.  It will explore the meaning, origins and function of religion, and illustrate these by drawing on myths, rituals, symbols, and beliefs from cultures all over the globe and through human history.  The course will survey the evolution and content of various theories and methods in the study of religion, as well as career opportunities in the field.
(Grade or P/NP)

Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Spring 2010
Inactive: 
 Area:E
Humanities
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 C2HumanitiesSpring 2010
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 3BHumanitiesSpring 2010
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Spring 2010Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:TransferableEffective:Spring 2010Inactive:
 
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

Approval and Dates
Version:04Course Created/Approved: 10/27/2008
Version Created:2/7/2019Course Last Modified:8/17/2024
Submitter:Eric ThompsonCourse Last Full Review:3/11/2019
Version Status:Approved Changed CoursePrereq Created/Approved:3/11/2019
Version Status Date:3/11/2019Semester Last Taught:Summer 2024
Version Term Effective:Fall 2020Term Inactive:


COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1.  Identify and explain various methods and theories used in explicating the meaning, origins,
    functions, and elements of religions.
2.  Describe, compare and contrast corresponding elements of different kinds of religions from
    different parts of the world and different periods of history.
3.  Demonstrate appreciation for the diversity of religious expression.
 

Objectives: Untitled document
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
 
1. Distinguish among differing kinds of approaches to the study of religion
2. Identify the components of religious expression
3. Evaluate religious claims and explanations
4. Analyze the usefulness of definitions of religion
5. Recognize large-scale patterns in religious belief and practice
6. Organize various religions into taxonomies
7. Support or challenge descriptions of religion with evidence drawn from a wide diversity of
    religions from broad categories such as religions of the book, diasporic, doctrinal,
    imaginistic, and indigenous traditions.
8. Explain religious studies as a secular as well as a sacred enterprise
9. Describe the human diversity reflected in religious phenomena, including expressions and
      contributions by people ancient and modern, Western and non-Western, literate and oral, and
      the place and perspectives of women, and understandings of the natural world

Topics and Scope
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Topics will include but not be limited to the following, and will be illustrated by examples drawn from a diversity of religions from broad categories such as:  religions of the book, diasporic, doctrinal, imaginistic, and indigenous.
 
I.    The Religious Studies Major as a Career Choice
II.   Definitions of Religion
III.  Taxonomy of Religions
IV.  Theories of the Origin of Religion
V.   History of the Study of Religion as a Unique Discipline
VI.  Significance of the Historical Development and Changes that Occur in Religions
VII. Elements of Religion
    A. Myth
    B. Ritual
    C. Symbolism
    D. Mystical Experience
    E. Scripture: Production, Transmission and Canonization of Sacred Text
    F. Theology and Creed
    G. Apologetics
    H. Community
    I. Institution
VIII. Methodological Approaches to the Study of Religion
IX.   Relationships Between Orthodox Religion and Popular Folk Traditions
X.    The Role, Contributions and Perspectives of Women
XI.   Ethnicity, Race, Class and Sexual Orientation in Religion
XII.  Examples Drawn from Specific Religious Traditions
XIII. Relationship of Religion to Politics
XIV. Religion and Ecology

Assignments:
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1. Weekly reading assignments of between 20-50 pages
2. Written homework (study questions on assigned reading)
3. Quizzes (0 - 10)
4. Exams (1 - 4) including a comprehensive final exam
5. A research paper of 5-7 pages
6. Optional field trips, virtual or in-person
7. Optional presentations

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.Writing
40 - 80%
Homework on reading, essays, research paper
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.Exams
20 - 50%
Quizzes, optional midterm(s), comprehensive final exam
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
0 - 10%
Classroom participation, optional: oral presentations, reports on interviews, museum visits, or field trips


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Studying Religion: An Introduction. McCutcheon, Russel. Routledge. 2018
 
Big Gods; How Religion Transformed Cooperation and Confilct. Norenzayan, Ara. Princeton University Press. 2015 (classic)
 
The Study of Religion: An Introduction to Key Ideas and Methods. 2nd ed. Chryssides, George and Geaves, Ron. Bloomsbury Academic. 2014 (classic)
 
Studying Religion: An Introduction Through Cases. 3rd ed. Kessler, Gary E. McGraw-Hill. 2007 (classic)
 
Religion Explained: The Evolutionary Origins of Religous Thought. Boyer, Pascal. Basic Books. 2001 (classic)

OTHER REQUIRED ELEMENTS

Student Preparation
 Matric Assessment Required:ERequires English Assessment
 Prerequisites-generate description:NPNo Prerequisite
 Advisories-generate description:AAuto-Generated Text
 Prereq-provisional:NNO
 Prereq/coreq-registration check:NNo Prerequisite Rules Exist
 Requires instructor signature:NInstructor's Signature Not Required
   
BASIC INFORMATION, HOURS/UNITS & REPEATABILITY
 Method of instruction:02Lecture
 71Internet-Based, Simultaneous Interaction
 72Internet-Based, Delayed Interaction
 Area department:HUMANHumanities and Religion
 Division:71Language Arts & Academic Foundations
 Special topic course:NNot a Special Topic Course
 Program Status:1Major Applicable Course
 Repeatability:00Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
 Repeat group id:RELS1 RELS 1 - HUM 13
   
SCHEDULING
 Audit allowed:NNot Auditable
 Open entry/exit:NNot Open Entry/Open Exit
 Credit by Exam:NCredit by examination not allowed
 Budget code: Program:0000Unrestricted
 Budget code: Activity:4905Humanities & Fine Arts
   
OTHER CODES
Disciplines:Humanities
OR
Religious Studies
 Basic Skills:NNot a Basic Skills Course
 Level below transfer:YNot Applicable
 CVU/CVC status:YDistance Ed, Not CVU/CVC Developed
 Distance Ed Approved:YEither online or hybrid, as determined by instructor
 Emergency Distance Ed Approved:YFully Online
Partially Online
Online with flexible in-person activities
 Credit for Prior Learning:NAgency Exam
NCBE
NIndustry Credentials
NPortfolio
 Non-credit category:YNot Applicable, Credit Course
 Classification:YLiberal Arts and Sciences Courses
 SAM classification:ENon-Occupational
 TOP code:1510.00Religious Studies
 Work-based learning:NDoes Not Include Work-Based Learning
 DSPS course:NNO
 In-service:NNot an in-Service Course

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