| 8/31/2025 9:00:54 PM |
| Changed Course |
| CATALOG INFORMATION
|
| Discipline and Nbr:
RELS 1 | Title:
INTRO TO RELIGIOUS STUDY |
|
| Full Title:
Introduction to Religious Studies |
| Last Reviewed:8/25/2025 |
| Units | Course Hours per Week | | Nbr of Weeks | Course Hours Total |
| Maximum | 3.00 | Lecture Scheduled | 3.00 | 17.5 max. | Lecture Scheduled | 52.50 |
| Minimum | 3.00 | Lab Scheduled | 0 | 6 min. | Lab Scheduled | 0 |
| | Contact DHR | 0 | | Contact DHR | 0 |
| | Contact Total | 3.00 | | Contact Total | 52.50 |
| |
| | Non-contact DHR | 0 | | Non-contact DHR Total | 0 |
| | Total Out of Class Hours: 105.00 | Total 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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Students will engage in the study of religion as a critical, academic discipline. Students will explore the meaning, origins, and function of religion through studying myths, rituals, symbols, and beliefs from cultures all over the globe and throughout human history. The course will provide a survey of 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:
Course Eligibility for ENGL C1000 ( or ENGL 1A) OR Course Eligibility for EMLS 10 ( or ESL 10)
Limits on Enrollment:
Schedule of Classes Information
Description:
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Students will engage in the study of religion as a critical, academic discipline. Students will explore the meaning, origins, and function of religion through studying myths, rituals, symbols, and beliefs from cultures all over the globe and throughout human history. The course will provide a survey of 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:Course Eligibility for ENGL C1000 ( or ENGL 1A) OR Course Eligibility for EMLS 10 ( or ESL 10)
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: | Fall 2025
| Inactive: | |
| Area: | E
L3
| Humanities
Arts and Humanities
|
| |
| CSU GE: | Transfer Area | | Effective: | Inactive: |
| | C2 | Humanities | Spring 2010 | |
| |
| IGETC: | Transfer Area | | Effective: | Inactive: |
| | 3B | Humanities | Spring 2010 | |
| |
| CSU Transfer: | Transferable | Effective: | Spring 2010 | Inactive: | |
| |
| UC Transfer: | Transferable | Effective: | Spring 2010 | Inactive: | |
| |
| C-ID: |
Certificate/Major Applicable:
Major Applicable Course
COURSE CONTENT
Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1. Identify and describe various methods and theories used in explaining 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 knowledge of the diversity of religious expression.
Objectives:
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At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Distinguish among different 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 variety of religions from broad categories, such as religions of the book and 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 including 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 topics listed below and will be illustrated by examples drawn from a wide variety of religions from broad categories, such as religions of the book and diasporic, doctrinal, imaginistic, and indigenous traditions.
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. Essays (2-5)
3. Research paper (minimum 1000 words)
4. Quizzes (2-7)
5. Exams, essay and/or objective format (2-5)
6. Additional assignments as determined by instructor may include
a. Oral presentations
b. Reports on interviews, museum visits, or field trips
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% |
| 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% |
| Exams and quizzes | |
| Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories. | Other Category
0 - 20% |
| Classroom participation, additional assignments (if assigned) | |
Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Religion Today: A Critical Thinking Approach to Religious Studies. 2nd ed. Aden, Ross and Kramer, Chris A. Rowman and Littlefield. 2025.
Understanding Religion: Theories and Methods for Studying Religiously Diverse Societies. Hedges, Paul. University of California Press. 2021. (classic).
Studying Religion: An Introduction. McCutcheon, Russell. Routledge. 2018. (classic).
Big Gods: How Religion Transformed Cooperation and Conflict. 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 Religious Thought. Boyer, Pascal. Basic Books. 2001. (classic).
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