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Syllabus for RELS 2600 - Approaches to the Study of Religion
Course description: An introduction to the critical issues and methods of the academic study of religion in the university. This course provides students with critical tools for research, analytical thinking, and writing in the academic study of religion. The topics and individuals this course covers are by no means exhaustive, but those chosen are meant to represent several major currents of thought. This course also provides students with the opportunity to meet with faculty in the department during many class meetings. The academic study of religion is an academic rather than a religious exercise. From the perspective of the liberal arts, the academic study of religion is not theological or confessional, nor is it the search for eternal truth. It does not examine religious ideas and behaviors in terms of “right” and “wrong;” rather, it investigates critically the ways in which religious ideas and practices develop within specific historical and cultural contexts and the ways in which religious ideas and practices shape history and culture. It assumes that all discourse, including religious discourse, has historical, social, economic, and political origins and implications. Moreover, it applies the methodological tools of several disciplines in the liberal arts (such as historiography, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, and literary theory) to religious phenomena. Requirements and Grading 1. Students are expected to read all assigned material in advance of class, be prepared to discuss the readings judiciously, and to bring the Course Pack and any other readings assigned for that day. Attendance is required. Any absence may affect your grade negatively, and more than one absence is considered excessive. 2. Students are required to prepare weekly writing assignments and should be prepared to revise writing when necessary. Weekly assignments include summaries and analyses of the reading assignments, one web assignment, and one journal assignment. Guidelines for each of these will be provided. 3. Each student will be responsible for a presentation to the class on background information and major issues pertinent to one of the readings assigned for one class meeting. Guidelines for presentations. 4. Each student will write a 5-6 page paper related to the academic study of religion and will prepare a short presentation to the class of your topic. Paper must follow the Turabian style, as outlined in A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 6th revised edition (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996). Guidelines for Paper . 5. Final exam: All students will take a final exam designed to show that they have integrated the knowledge gained over the course of the semester. Textbooks
Schedule of Classes and Readings (CP = Coursepack)
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Students have the responsibility to know and to observe the requirement of the UNC Charlotte Code of Student Academic Integrity. This code forbids cheating, fabrication or falsification of information, multiple submissions of academic work, plagiarism, abuse of academic materials, and complicity in academic dishonesty. Any special requirements or permission regarding academic integrity in this course include a judgment that the student’s work is free from academic dishonesty of any type; and grades in this course therefore should be and will be adversely affected by academic dishonesty . Students who violate the code can be expelled from UNC Charlotte. The normal penalty for a first offense is zero credit on the work involving dishonesty and further substantial reduction of the course grade. In almost all cases the course grade is reduced to F. Copies of the code can be obtained from the Dean of Students Office. Standards of academic integrity will be enforced in this course. Students are expected to report cases of academic dishonesty to the course instructor. |