KERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT – CERRO COSO COLLEGE

PHIL C164 COURSE OUTLINE OF RECORD

  1. DISCIPLINE AND COURSE NUMBER:
    PHIL C164
  2. COURSE TITLE:
    Survey of World Religions
  3. SHORT BANWEB TITLE:
    Survey of World Religions
  4. COURSE AUTHOR:
    Benvenuti, Anne C.
  5. COURSE SEATS:
    -
  6. COURSE TERMS:
  7. CROSS-LISTED COURSES:
  8. PROPOSAL TYPE:
    CC New Course
  9. START TERM:
    70 = Fall, 2011
  10. C-ID:
  11. CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION:
    In this course students compare a broad range of religious traditions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, indigenous and shamanic traditions, Islam, and Judaism, in terms of their common elements of belief and practice, moral philosophy and ethical codes, and historical development, as well contrasting their distinctive features.

  12. GRADING METHOD

    Default:
    S = Standard Letter Grade
    Optional:
    P = Pass/No Pass;A = Audit
  13. TOTAL UNITS:
    3

  14. INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS / UNITS & HOURS:

    Lecture
    54
    Lab
    Activity
    Open Entry/Open Exit
    Volunteer Work Experience
    Paid Work Experience
    Non Standard
    Non-Standard Hours Justification:

  15. REPEATABILITY

    Type:
    Non-Repeatable Credit
  16. MATERIALS FEE:
    No
  17. CREDIT BY EXAM:
    No
  18. CORE MISSION APPLICABILITY:
    UC Transfer;Associate Degree Applicable (AA/AS);CSU Transfer
  19. STAND-ALONE:
    No

  20. PROGRAM APPLICABILITY

    Required:
    Elective:
    General Education ()
    Liberal Arts: Arts & Humanities AA (AA Degree Program)

  21. GENERAL EDUCATION APPLICABILITY

    Local:
    CC GE Area III: Humanities = Philosophy;
    CC GE Area VI: Diversity = Diversity;
    IGETC:
    IGETC Area 3: Arts and Humanities = 3B: Humanities;
    CSU:
    CSU GE Area C: Arts, Literature, Philosophy and Foreign Languages = C2 - Humanities;
    UC Transfer Course:
    University of California, Irvine = RS 170 Comparative Studies of Religion.
    University of California, Santa Barbara = RS 108 Global Religion
    CSU Transfer Course:
    California State University, Long Beach = RS 102 and 103. Introduction to World Religions.

  22. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to

    1. Distinguish amongst major figures of world religious history. This will be assessed by an objective quiz.
    2. Distinguish between myths, ethical codes, beliefs, and ritual practices within and across religious traditions. This will be assessed by objective quizzes, and by an essay, scored by a rubric.
    3. Explain and illustrate grasp of the historical development of religions. This will be assessed by prepared discussions, scored by a rubric, and by essays, scored by a rubric.
    4. Analyze the influence of cultures on religions and religions on cultures. This will be assessed by prepared discussions, scored by a rubric; objective quiz items, and essays, scored by a rubric.
    5. Compare and contrast religions along major analytical groupings of mythos and belief, ritual and spiritual practice, and moral philosophy and ethical codes. This will be assessed by objective quiz items, and by essays, scored by a rubric.
    6. Synthesize their understanding of the broad development of world religions in describing contemporary religious responses to globalization. This will be assessed by objective quiz items, and by essays, scored by a rubric.
    7. Define religion as a construct distinct from other social/cultural constructs. This will be assessed by prepared discussions, scored by a rubric, and by essays, scored by a rubric.

  23. REQUISITES

    Advisory:
    Reading - 1 Level Prior to Transfer
    Writing - 1 Level Prior to Transfer

  24. DETAILED TOPICAL OUTLINE:

    Lecture:

    I.  What is religion?  (SLO:G)

                      A. Overview of some modern attempts at defining religion.

                      B. Religion in relation to governance in ancient and modern times.

                      C. Religious belief and other forms of knowledge; science and philosophy.

    II. Religions of Tribes and City States (SLO:A,B,C, D)

                      A. Religions of the Americas, North and South

                      B. Religions of Africa and African influences on 'imported religions.'

    III. Religions Arising in India (SLO:A,B,C,D)

                      A. Hinduism

                                        1. scriptures and beliefs/worldview

                                        2. moral philosophy and ethical codes

                                        3. personal and communal practices

                                        4. historical development and divisions within Hinduism.

                      B. Buddhism

                                        1. scriptures and beliefs/worldview

                                        2. moral philosophy and ethical codes

                                        3. personal and communal practices

                                        4. historical development and divisions within Buddhism.

                      C. Jainism and Sikhism

                                        1. scriptures and beliefs/worldview

                                        2. moral philosophy and ethical codes

                                        3. personal and communal practices

                                        4. historical development and divisions within Jainism and Sikhism.

    IV. Religions of China and Japan (SLO:A,B,C,D)

                      A. Taoism

                      B. Confucianism

                      C. Shinto

    V. Ancient Religions of Iraq and Iran (SLO:A,B,C,D)

                      A. Ancient Mesopotamia and Zorastrianism

    VI. Abrahamic Religions (SLO:A,B,C,D)

                      A. Judaism

                                        1. scriptures and beliefs/worldview

                                        2. moral philosophy and ethical codes

                                        3. personal and communal practices

                                        4. historical development and divisions within Judaism.

                      B. Christianity

                                        1. scriptures and beliefs/worldview

                                        2. moral philosophy and ethical codes

                                        3. personal and communal practices

                                        4. historical development and divisions within Christianity.

                      C. Islam

                                        1. scriptures and beliefs/worldview

                                        2. moral philosophy and ethical codes

                                        3. personal and communal practices

                                        4. historical development and divisions within Islam.

     

    VII. New forms of Old Religions (E,F)

                      A. Fundamentalisms

                      B. Neo-Indigenous shamanism and paganism

     

    VIII. Globalization and World Religions (E,F)

                      A. Movements of Retreat

                      B. Movements towards Dialog

                      C. Religious Syncretism

  25. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION--Course instructional methods may include but are not limited to

    1. Audiovisual;
    2. Demonstration;
    3. Discussion;
    4. Field trip;
    5. Group Work;
    6. Lecture;
    7. Outside reading;
    8. Problem Solving;
    9. Written work;
    10. Other Methods: Example of Demonstration The instructor may demonstrate a prayer, chant, or ritual from a variety of religious traditions, such as the Hindu Gayatri Mantra, The Muslim Call to Prayer, the Jewish Shabbat Blessing, etc. Example of a Discussion Assignment How do the most common prayers of Christianity, such as the Lord's Prayer relate to the beliefs and moral principles of Christianity? Example of a Field Trip Assignment Attend services at local mosques, temples, churches in order to analyze relationship of ritual practices to scriptures, beliefs, and teachings more broadly. Example of Outside Reading Assignment: Read chapter one. Example of Audiovisual Assignment: Show Joseph Campbell's Power of Myth series in order to provide broad themes to be applied across religious traditions. Example of Problem Solving Assignment: Create a typical moral dilemma situation, such as conflict between two moral goods, or choice of two evils, and seek a solution from within a specific religious framework. (A Hindu mother can only afford to educate one of her children, a son and a daughter. What should she do?) Example of Group Work Assignment: Do the above described problem solving assignment in small groups, then compare results in larger group.

  26. OUT OF CLASS ASSIGNMENTS: Out of class assignments may include but are not limited to

    Students will be expected to complete 108 hours of assignments outside of class.

    Research Papers. Example research paper assignment:

    Using only sources assigned in this class, In a 2,000 word paper written in MLA style, compare and contrast three major features of Buddhism and Hinduism.  Then, use those features which you found comparable to contrast these religions with one of the Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity, or Islam.

    Field experience reports.  Example field visit report assignment:

    Make notes on the physical description of the building or space that you visited, as well as the specific behavior of those in religious attendance.  Write a 400 word essay to answer the following questions: In what ways do your observations support or contradict what you expected to find, based on your readings.  Describe your emotional reactions to your visit. To what extent did your emotional responses direct your perceptions?

    Reading Assignment:  Read chapter one.

    Writing Assignment: Make a list of three common points between the class lecture and the material in the chapter, noting any differences in presentation of the ideas.

  27. METHODS OF EVALUATION: Assessment of student performance may include but is not limited to

    Quizzes: Example of quiz item.


    All religions include belief in God or gods.  True or False.




    Prepared Class Discussion Assignments:


    Evaluation will be based on a rubric published in the course syllabus, but may include word length, definition of terms, accuracy of information, level of detail, clarity of logic, and/or completeness of response.


    Movie Reviews


    Evaluation will be based on a rubric published in the course syllabus, but may include word length, definition of terms, accuracy of information, level of detail, clarity of logic, and/or completeness of response.


    Research Papers


    Evaluation will be based on a paper grading rubric published in the course syllabus, which may include evaluation of assigned format, number of words, definition and logical connection of terms, clarity of presentation, writing mechanics, and scholarly use of assigned sources.

  28. TEXTS, READINGS, AND MATERIALS: Instructional materials may include but are not limited to

    Textbooks
    Matthews, W. (2008) World Religions, 6th, Wadsworth
    Manuals
    Periodicals
    Software
    Other
    Carmody, D. L. and Brink, T.L., Ways to Center, (2006). Wadsworth. (alternative text).
  29. METHOD OF DELIVERY:
    Online (purely online no face-to-face contact) ;iTV – Interactive video = Face to face course with significant required activities in a distance modality ;Online with some required face-to-face meetings (“Hybrid”);Face to face;
  30. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
    Philosophy (Masters Required);Religious Studies (Masters Required);

  31. APPROVALS:

    Origination Date
    10/29/2010
    Last Outline Revision
    02/25/2011
    Curriculum Committee Approval
    02/25/2011
    Board of Trustees
    04/14/2011
    State Approval
    04/28/2011
    UC Approval
    70 = Fall 2011
    UC Approval Status
    Approved
    CSU Approval
    50 = Summer 2011
    CSU Approval Status
    Approved
    IGETC Approval
    IGETC Approval Status
    CSU GE Approval
    CSU GE Approval Status