RELN 112
Survey of World Religions (GE)
1. Catalog Entry
RELN 112
Survey of World Religions (GE)
Credit hours (3)
This introductory course presents the classical expressions of the world鈥檚 most widespread
and historically significant religions. Students will learn about the origins, foundational
figures, scriptures, beliefs, and practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism,
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Note(s): General Education and Humanistic or Artistic Expression designated course.
2. Detailed Description of Course
This course introduces students to the world鈥檚 most widespread and historically significant
religions, including but not limited to Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism,
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Although several different instructors teach this
course and may emphasize a variety of approaches to the subject matter, all instructors
will cover the historical development, beliefs, scriptures, and practices of the major
religions of the world. Such a course is inevitably cross-cultural and encourages
students to develop a comparative perspective regarding religion both diachronically
within a religion and comparatively across religions.
3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Though primarily a lecture course, this course will also involve students in small
group and open class discussion and in a variety of formal and informal writing activities.
Because this course is taught by several instructors, the specific format may vary,
but in every case the course will involve a plurality of instructional strategies
designed to engage students in doing philosophy not just learning about philosophers.
Whether or not a formal research paper is assigned in the class, students will be
expected to employ basic research skills, including the use of computer technology,
to investigate and gather information on various topics and figures discussed in class.
Among the teaching activities students can expect in this course are the following:
1) Lecture and discussion led by instructor
2) Small-group discussion
3) In-class formal and informal debates
4) Individual and group oral presentations
5) Informal in-class and out-of-class writing assignments
6) Journals
7) Individual and collaborative research activities involving library and Internet
searches
8) Written and oral analysis of texts
9) Written summaries/evaluations of out-of-class events
10)Videos, slides, and multimedia presentations
4. Goals and Objectives of the Course
Students should be able to:
1) Identify the major religious traditions in the world both past and present
2) Trace the historical development of the beliefs and practices of these religious
traditions
3) Show an awareness of the geographical spread of these religions and the impact
of diverse cultures upon their beliefs and practices
4) Apply their knowledge and skills in order to understand religious traditions
or expressions which were not covered in their formal
study
5) Demonstrate a comparative perspective with regard to the beliefs and practices
of these religions
6) Understand the relationship of religious and cultural differences to contemporary
events
7) Appreciate the importance of Religious Studies as a means to understanding
humans as individuals and members of communities
8) Appreciate the importance of Religious Studies as a means to understanding
diverse cultures
CORE Curriculum Learning Goals
Students who complete RELN 112: Survey of World Religion in the University CORE Curriculum
will also demonstrate competency in the following CORE Curriculum Goals:
Goal 7
福利导在线观看 students will understand that human experience has given rise to
significant questions and be aware of the nature and methods of inquiry in the humanities.
福利导在线观看 students will:
1) Identify principles, concepts, or developments crucial to inquiry in a humanities
discipline;
2) Recognize how a method of inquiry in the humanities can be applied to a disciplinary
question.
Goal 11
福利导在线观看 students will understand how social and cultural (for example,
political, historical, economic, environmental, religious, or geographic) forces shape
experiences in the global setting.
福利导在线观看 students will be able to:
1) Identify how different perspectives shape human life around the world.
2) Recognize social and cultural forces that affect relationships between cultures
in the world.
5. Assessment Measures
Student progress in achieving the course-specific objectives and the General Education
goals established for this course will be measured in a variety of ways. Because this
course is taught by several instructors, the specific assessment instruments employed
may vary, but in every case the instructor will employ a number of the following methods
to evaluate aspects of student learning:
1) Graded and ungraded homework assignments may be used to measure the student's
ability to read texts carefully, to identify
underlying values and assumptions, to articulate central concepts, to analyze
and construct logical arguments, and to employ
basic research methods.
2) Journals may be used to measure the development of self-reflection and progress
in critical and creative thinking about the ideas,
issues, and texts of the course.
3) Class discussions, debates, and small group discussion may be used to measure
the student's logical reasoning and oral
communication skills as well as the student's ability to work with others
in a shared process of inquiry.
4) Individual and group oral presentations may be used to measure the student's
understanding of particular philosophical positions or
issues as well as the student's ability to present logical and persuasive
arguments.
5) Quizzes and objective tests may be used to measure the student's basic knowledge
of the course material and the student's ability to
read carefully and think with clarity.
6) Essay exams may be used to measure the student's understanding of the nature
and methods of philosophy, knowledge of the
course material, ability to analyze and construct arguments, and ability to
think and to write with clarity.
7) Research reports may be used to measure the student's ability to employ appropriate
research methods and technologies.
8) Term papers may be used to measure the student's understanding of the nature
of philosophical inquiry and knowledge of specific
figures or issues addressed in the course, as well as to measure the student's
ability to develop a sustained and persuasive
argument, to think and write with clarity, and to demonstrate an appreciation
of the significance of philosophy to his or her own
life and concerns.
6. Other Course Information
None
Review and Approval
July 1991
May 1994
May 1995
January 27, 1997
April 17, 1998
March 31, 1999
September 18, 2001
June 20, 2015
March 01, 2021