Title: Syllabus
Course: REL 201 RTZ

Comparative Religions

“Let us embrace the beauty of every culture and faith to create peace in our world.”

– Mitra Sen

Rationale:

This course will provide distance learners with an opportunity for learning about religious diversity that will influence their academic and personal lives.  This course will prepare any students who indefinitely interacts with many religious cultures outside of their own professionally and personally in their academic and work experiences.

Course Aims and Outcomes:

Aims:

To discover how each religious tradition studied interprets its ultimate point of reference (or Absolute):  God, Tao, etc.; to determine the goal of human  life according to each  tradition studied; to assess each religion's strengths and weaknesses within its cultural context; to develop an objective conceptual framework as to what each tradition offers to today's world.  This course will evaluate each religion’s relationships with nature and the environment. This course meets contemporary and international awareness or historical awareness criteria.

Specific Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course, students will:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of historical, cultural, geographical and philosophical framework that comprises each of the traditions studied
2. Identify, interpret, and evaluate the major themes of each tradition studied
3. Recognize the major religious figures of each tradition studied, and develop an understanding of the ideas and movements associated with them
4. Recognize both globally and on a more parochial level the comparative impact of diverse religious traditions upon each other and their respective cultures
5. Express, both verbally and in writing, an awareness of contemporary religious dynamics.
6. Cross analyze other religions within their own traditions, across geographic borders and in comparison to other world religions
7. Discuss each religion’s acceptance, care and protection of the environment
8. Identify historic and modern geographic locations of each religion studied.

Format and Procedures:

This is an online course that requires reading, writing, midterm, final exam, service learning, site visit and a group project.  Attendance is fluid in an online course.  I do not take roll call or have a set time for attendance. I do, however, have access to see when and how long you have logged into the course and what parts of the course you are accessing and for how long.  I will use this information to determine if you are engaged in the course and attending.  If you expect to not log into the course for more than two days please let me know so that I do think that you are missing class. Participation is determined by your participation in discussion postings.  I do require a discussion post each week that is well thought out from the materials presented in the course.  You will also be required to respond to two classmates original discussion posts.  Again, these replies must be well thought out and do not mimic anyone else’s comments.  Replies must be more than a sentence and have the ability to create a flow of discussion. Comments similar to – “Great post, thanks!” or “That is a new way of thinking.” Or “My thoughts precisely!” are not considered to be discussion replies. See the discussion rubric for grade scoring and expectations: Discussion Rubric.docx.

Course policies: [Or alternative instructor course policies statement here]

1. Participation is expected in this course.
2. Be respectful of your colleagues and do not get in the way of people who want to learn.
3. Respect all beliefs – your classmates, yours and the religions discussed!
4. Do not use this class as a stage to propagate your personal religious beliefs to your colleagues.
5. Plagiarism and cheating will result in a zero for this course!

My Assumptions: [Or alternative instructor general course statement here]

It is impossible for a person to be completely unbiased in their relationship, discussion and participation in the topic of religion.  As your instructor, I will try to remain as impartial and unbiased as I can throughout this course. I am influenced by my life’s experiences and will bring those experiences to this course, hopefully in an enriching and enlightened manner.  If you feel at any time that I am condescending or disrespecting any belief or culture please feel free to call me on those behaviors!

Course Requirements:

Whatever tasks and assignments you include in your course should be aligned with the specified learning outcomes (final learning state, skills, knowledge, attitudes and values the students leave the course with) you have defined and specified earlier.

Course readings:

- Required text: World’s Religions. Houston Smith. ISBN-10:0061660183
- Refer to each unit on [Your LMS] for additional course materials for the week.

Grading Procedures:

1. Service Learning: 300 pts
2. Create a religion – group project: 150 pts
3. Religion and Me Essay: 25 pts
4. Tao Artistic Piece: 25 pts
5. Comparison Project: 200 pts
6. Site Visits: 50 pts x 2 visits = 100 total pts
7. Discussions: 25 pts x 15 discussions = 375 total pts
8. Quizzes: 25 pts x 15 quizzes = 375 pts
9. Midterm exam: 150 pts
10. Final exam: 150 pts

Total pts = 1850 pts

[Your grading percentage/points structure here]

Academic Integrity

[ Insert your college's policies and procedures on academic integrity ]