SYLLABUS

 

Date: 1/06

Course Title: World Religions 

Course Number: PHI-120-300

Semester: Spring 2006

 

I.       Faculty Information:

A.     Instructor: Dr. Al Campbell

B.     Office Location:

C.     Office Hours: By appointment

D.    Mailbox Location:

E.     Phone:

F.      E-mail: campbelle27@morainevalley.edu

G.    Web Site: www.wolverton-mountain.com

 

II.      Course Identification:

A.     Credit Hours: 3 Semester Hours

B.     Total Contact Hours: 3    Lecture: 3    Lab: 0

C.     Days and Hours Course Meets: Online

D.    Prerequisite: None

E.     Corequisite: None

F.     Catalog Description: Explores the principal doctrines (worldview), typical behavior (lifestyle) and sphere of influence of: Native American and African religions, Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Chinese religions, Shinto, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Baha’i.  The course emphasizes comparison and examines themes such as view of God, condition of man, and requirements for a moral life.   

 

III.    Textbook:

Religions of the World, 9/e, Lewis M. Hopfe, Prentice Hall, 2004. 

 

IV.    Course Goals:

A.  To explore the principal doctrines, typical behavior, and sphere of influence of seven of the world’s religions: Native American and African religions, Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Chinese religions, Shinto, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Baha’i.  

B.  To emphasize comparison between and examination of themes such as:

1.  View of God

2.  Condition of man

3.  Requirements for a moral life

4.  Relation to social and political forms

5.  The rites and rituals associated with spiritual practices and holidays.

 

V.   Course End Competencies:

A. The student will be able to define key terms specific to each religion.

B. The student will be familiar with and be able to describe methods of approach to religious studies.

C. The student will be able to compare and contrast the relation between doctrine, morality, faith and practice of each of the major world religions. 

D. The student will have (re) evaluated his/her own views on religion. 

 

VI.    Classroom Policies/Procedures:

A.    General Information Sheet: (attached)

B.   Withdrawal: A student who does not withdraw officially from a course may receive a grade of “F,” depending on course progress or course attendance, which will become a part of the student’s permanent record. The official withdrawal date is listed in the General Information Sheet.

C.  Cheating/Plagiarism Policy: Any student found cheating or plagiarizing at anytime during the course will receive an “F” for the course.

D.    Conduct: Each student is responsible for adhering to the Code of Student Conduct as stated in the college catalog.

 

VII.   Evaluation Criteria:

A.    Class Participation, Midterm, Term Paper, and Final Exam—each weighted at 25% of Final Grade.  The final exam will be a two-hour comprehensive examination consisting of objective questions on material from the entire course. 

B.    Your term paper will be a 12-page research project exploring a specific issue related to world religions.  The topic will be approved by the instructor.

C.    There will be no exam make-ups or late papers. 

 

VIII.    Course Schedule:

Work Due By End Of Week                                   Topic                                                          Assignment

 

               1……………………………………Introduction/Characteristics…………..Introduction/Chapter 1
 

               2……………………………………Native American Religions……………………………Chapter 2

 

               3……………………………………African Religions ……………………………………...Chapter 3
 

               4……………………………………Hinduism………………………………………………Chapter 4
 

               5……………………………………Jainism…………………………………………………Chapter 5
 

               6…………………………………...Buddhism………………………………………………Chapter 6
 

               7……………………………………Sikhism…………………………..…………………….Chapter 7
 

               8………………………………….. Midterm
 

                         3/13-17.............. Spring Break—No Classes
 

               9……….………………………….Chinese Religions……………………………………….Chapter 8
 

            10……………………………………Shinto………………………. ………………………… Chapter 9
 

            11…………..………………………..Zoroastrianism ………………………………………. Chapter 10

 

            12……………………………………Judaism………………………………………………..Chapter 11

 

            13……………………………………Christianity……………………………………………Chapter 12
 

            14……………………………………Islam…………………………………………………..Chapter 13

 

           15…………………………………….Baha’i…………………………………………………Chapter 14

 

           16…………………………………….Field Trip/Term Paper

 

           17…………………..…………………Final Exam

 

 Items on the syllabus may be added, deleted, or modified throughout the semester. Students will be apprised of any changes.