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   INTRODUCTION TO  
           RELIGION IN AMERICA
                 (3 credit hours)

Catalogue Description:  Prerequisite: ENC 1101 with a minimum grade of "C. (Meets Area II Humanities requirement.)  REL2121, Introduction to Religion in America, provides a descriptive and analytical introduction to religion in the United States. Emphasis is placed on the major religious denominations which dominate the contemporary American scene.

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: 

This is an introductory course in religious studies with an emphasis on the historical development of religious communities in the United States. The course, however, takes as its starting point, instruction in the historical origins of religion itself.  It will then provide an historical and sociological overview of the responses to the unique American ecological and political environment that has produced distinctly American religions, the Americanization of those that arrive on these shores as well as the invention of new American denominations, sects and cults. Above all, the goal is an academic approach to the study of religion that will encourage religious literacy. Upon successful completion of this course the student through essay examinations, response essays, and/or formal research papers will: 

  1. Accurately demonstrate orally and in writing a definition of religion using the “four Cs” and accurately apply that definition to a religious tradition.
  2. Accurately demonstrate orally and in writing the arguments for and against the existence of an American Civil Religion.
  3. Accurately discuss orally and in writing the social, economic, political and intellectual forces that have shaped American religious communities from pre-colonial era to the present including, but not limited to: the Revolutionary War; westward expansion; the Civil War; Darwin’s theory of evolution; immigration; urbanization; the development of comparative religious studies, psychology and sociology; the rise of feminism; the problem of racism.
  4. Accurately analyze orally and in writing how a religion’s components interact with the culture to which it belongs, explaining how it shapes and is shaped by the surrounding society, noting in particular the following characteristics of American religion: voluntarism, millennialism, Arminianism, harmonialism, enthusiasm, perfectionism and communalism.
  5. Produce original arguments based on sound research methodology which includes the ability to cite credible sources appropriately while avoiding plagiarism, misquoting and misleading statements.
  6. Demonstrate orally and in writing his/her ability to critically employ concepts, theories and methods of analysis used in the Area II Humanities to clarify and evaluate enduring human concerns.

Room: 104, Social Science Building

Texts: James T. Baker, Religion in America: Primary Sources in U.S. History, Vols. I & II, Thomson/Wadwsorth, 2006, ISBN 0-0495-00511-8 and 0-0495-00512-6 respectively.

Instructor: Dr. Richard Baldwin

Phone: 769-1551, x. 6005.

E-mail: Use the ANGEL internal email for your class.  To make sure your email is not deleted as junk mail, include the class and period in the subject line of your email and your name in your message. Your emails will be answered within 48 hours (excluding weekends).

Office Hours:  MW 8:00-9:30 AM, MW,  2:00-3:00 MTWR and F 8:00AM-11:00AM.

For access to and interaction with any division chair or faculty member, if you live outside the local calling area, you may dial 1-800-311-3685. The World Wide Web address of the college is: http://www.gulfcoast.edu.

Grade: The final grade for the course will be determined by the average of the following: the two highest of the three major exams, the term paper, and the final exam. There are no make-up exams.  Grading scale will be A (90-100), B (80-89), C (70-79), D (60-69), F (59 and below).

Attendance:  More than four unexcused absences will result in withdrawal from the course.  Regular class attendance and participation are significant factors that help to promote success in college.  It is your responsibility to acquire any missed class information from another student.  Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class session.  Students are required to be in class at the beginning of each class period.  If a student arrives late, it is his/her responsibility to inform the instructor after class.  Failure to do so may result in the student being marked absent..

Withdrawals. Two withdrawals are permitted per credit course. After that, a grade will be assigned. Please be concerned about withdrawals. When admitting students into certain programs, universities may calculate withdrawals as grades. There are two kinds of withdrawals---student and administrative.

  1. Student Withdrawal - Student completes a withdrawal form and submits the form to the Office of Admissions and Records before the scheduled withdrawal deadline published in the college catalog. Student withdrawals initiated prior to the scheduled withdrawal deadline will be recorded as "W."
  2. Administrative Withdrawal - This withdrawal is completed by an instructor for excess absences (see Attendance Policy) or upon the request of the student to the instructor after the scheduled withdrawal deadline published in the college catalog. Administrative withdrawals initiated after the published withdrawal deadline will be recorded as "W" if passing and "F" if failing. The withdrawal deadline for an off-term, distance education or condensed semester is midterm for the course or the date of the second examination, whichever occurs first.
     

QEP Vision Statement
We believe that teaching Critical Academic Literacy (CAL) strategies will improve student learning. Students will construct knowledge as they develop their analysis, synthesis, and evaluation skills. CAL strategies must be taught explicitly through direct classroom instruction and be reinforced through consistent practice.

DISABILITY STATEMENT: Any student who feels she or he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Disability Support Services at 850-872-3834 or in the Student Union East room 59. The Office of Disability Support Services will coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities.

CELL PHONE POLICY:  CELL PHONES ARE NOT PERMITTED. TURN THEM OFF, MUTE THEM, AND DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ANSWER THEM. ANYONE CAUGHT USING A CELL PHONE DURING AN EXAM WILL RECEIVE A FAILING GRADE FOR THAT EXAM. You will NOT listen to music, send text messages, or surf the web during class. Doing so is disruptive and will result in your removal from the classroom and possible withdrawal from the class. Laptops are permitted only for taking notes on the lecture, and will be checked periodically. Absolutely NO “smokeless tobacco!”



 


Send comments and questions to Dr. Richard Baldwin, Gulf Coast State College.
This page last updated 11/21/11