Course Syllabus – SPRING 2016
HIST 4250 - Section 01 (20131)
History of World Religions
M W 3:35-4:50 pm / T 128
Instructor: Dr. Andrew Kurt
Office: Arts & Sciences 105-G Tel.: (678) 466-4880 Email:
[Note: I do NOT use e-mail within GAView/Desire2Learn, nor the D2L pager]
Office Hours: M & W 10am – 12pm / T & Th 10 – 11am / and by appt.
Course Description:Investigates the common themes of all religions: the origins, development, and present status of the major world religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Chinese Confucianism and Taoism, Christianity, and Islam. Provides students with a framework for understanding the various worldviews to be found in today's increasingly connected world. A field-based research project is required for the course. Option for all middle level teacher education students with a major concentration in social studies. Prerequisite: Any 1000 or 2000 level HIST course. (3.0 semester credit hours)
Required Textbook:
Jeffrey Brodd et al., Invitation to World Religions (Oxford University Press, 2013) [ISBN 978-0-19-973843-4]
Other Materials: Assigned readings posted on D2L or emailed; occasional handouts.
Important Dates:
March 4 (Fri.) Last day to withdraw without academic penalty (final grade of W)
March 6-13 NO CLASS (Spring Break)
May 2Last Day of Class
May 9(Mon.) Final Exam (2:45 p.m.)
Mid-term Progress Report: Will be issued on March 2 and will reflect approximately 30% of the entire course grade. Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a grade of "W." Students pursuing this option must fill out an official withdrawal form, available in the Office of the Registrar, or withdraw on-line using the Swan by March 4. Instructions for withdrawing are provided at this link.
Disability: In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), Clayton State University honors all requests for reasonable accommodations made by individuals with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contactthe Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 255, 678-466-5445,
Computer Use in This Course: Students are required to have reliable access to a notebook computer that that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic program and can utilize Desire2Learn (D2L)/GeorgiaView. D2L will be the primary forum for posting assignments and other materials for the course as well as grades. For further information on CSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy:
You can gain access to D2L by signing on to the SWAN portal and selecting “GaVIEW” on the top right side. If you experience any difficulties in Desire2Learn, please email or call The HUB at or (678) 466-HELP. You will need to provide the date and time of the problem, your SWAN username, the name of the course that you are attempting to access, and your instructor's name.
Computer Skill Prerequisites:
- Able to use the WindowsTM operating system
- Able to use Microsoft WordTM word processing
- Able to send and receive e-mail
- Able to use a Web browser.
- Able to access GeorgiaView
NOTE: Because typing on a computer has been shown to be a very ineffective form of note-taking, laptop use during class is highly discouraged. In addition, surfing the internet, checking social media and playing games are distracting to others in the class. Students who engage in these activities or who earn less than 75% on the first quiz will not be allowed to continue using laptops in the classroom. Laptop use must pertain solely to this course.
Assessment of Student Learning:
Quizzes: Four quizzes of 10% each will be given in this course in order to assess mastery of the course material including lectures and assigned readings. They may include multiple choice, matching, true/false, fill-in-the-blank, short answer or identifications. The fourth quiz will be cumulative in nature. Students must bring a Scantron answer sheet to class for the quizzes. Students may not leave the room for any reason during a quiz. It is also important to arrive on time. Once the professor has called for the class to hand in the quizzes, any quiz not handed in will not be accepted. You may not leave without permission during a quiz.
NOTE: Cell phone use for any reason during a quiz will result in a zero for this grade.
Make-up quizzes will be given for valid and documented absences only. It is the responsibility of the student to schedule make-up exams within 24 hours of a missed exam and supply the instructor with required documentation. NOTE: Although make-up quizzes cover the same material, they may have a different format than the original version.
Essays: Two short essays of 10% each are designed to help you in thinking out and articulating in writing an answer to a focused question concerning some of thereligions covered in this course (See D2L a week before due dates). Details: 2½-3 pgs; 12-pt Times New Roman font or equivalent, double-spaced text, 1” margins. Because this is an exercise meant to assess and improve your writing skills, careful preparation and editing are essential. Be sure to answer the question or its various parts well. Only hard copies will be accepted. Staple all pages; printing on both the front and back sides of the page is encouraged.
Brief Presentation (and written report): A 2-3 minute presentation answering a given question, plus a 1-2 page report handed in on the same day. More information to be provided.
Field-based Inquiry: Students in HIST 4250 participate in a field-based inquiry project as a supplement to course themes and a means of better understanding the religious diversity in our own community. Students will submit one-page written proposals on Wednesday, February 24 for approval. The project is open-ended and creativity is expected and encouraged. See handout for more explicit project details. A 2-pg report connecting your active engagement experience with assigned readings is due on Monday, April 4.
Timeline: At the end of the semester an original, annotated timeline composed from various sources will be required as a way of rehearsing and explaining in a visual format selected aspects of religious history. Your timeline should portray either (A) Significant moments of one major religion, with six historical highlights explained in full notes (min. 50 words) and at least five episodes from (an)other religion(s) merely listed for comparative purposes OR (B) Highlights from 500-1000 years of several world religions (at least three, with seven or more events explained in full notes (min. 50 words). The sources for the timeline information must be properly referenced, with a minimum of three scholarly sources specifically utilized.
Participation: The participation grade rests primarily on active participation in discussions and occasional participation at other times, as well as on your attendance. Attendance is expected for every class except when excused. Each unexcused absence will adversely affect your participation grade, and six unexcused absences will automatically result in a failing grade for the course. Exceptional participation can win extra points at semester’s end. (Excused absences require written documentation from a physician or other competent authority.) It is the responsibility of individual students to obtain any information or materials from missed classes.
NOTE: Arriving late, leaving early, using cell phones (including text-messaging), surfing the web or sleeping during class will also count toward absences.
Grade Components:Quizzes (4 x 10%) 40%
Essays (2 x 10%)20%
Brief Presentation (w/ report) 5%
Field-based Inquiry 15%
Timeline 10%
Participation 10%
Late policy: 5% deduction for writing assignments handed in after class begins and before it ends; a 15% deduction for assignments handed in within one weekday late (hard copy to my mailbox by 4pm the next weekday, M-F, with date & time written on top by the administrative asst. of the Humanities Dept.); no later work accepted unless excused.
Extra Credit:Available per instructor’s guidelines, usually with a possible 2% semester credit each for acceptable completion of an extra credit activity; see also D2L. Maximum extra credit to be added to the final semester average is 6% for the course.
University System of Georgia Grading Scale:
A = 90 % or higher(Excellent)B = 80-89 % (Good)C = 70-79 % (Satisfactory)
D = 60-69% (Passing) F = below 60 % (Failure)
Course Policies: Students must abide by all policies in the Clayton State University Student Handbook, and the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities.
University Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students' ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not, are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades.
Classroom Conduct: As a courtesy to others, please turn off all pagers and cell phones before entering the classroom. Once class has begun, students may not read newspapers, send or receive text messages or emails, hold private conversations, or engage in any activities that might be disruptive to others.University policy prohibits students from bringing food into the classroom.
NOTE: The permission of the instructor is required for audio taping of course lectures or discussion.
Disruption of the Learning Environment: Behavior which disrupts the teaching–learning process during class activities will not be tolerated. While a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting, more serious examples include belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior. A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class. A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights as soon as possible following dismissal. If found in violation, a student may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF.
Academic Honesty: Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses and will result in failing the particular examination or assignment and/or the course based on the judgment of the instructor. Cheating includes using unauthorized notes or copying another student's answers on a test.It also includes copying someone else’s homework, which will result in penalties for both parties involved. Plagiarism is presenting someone else's words or ideas as your own, without proper citation. This includes direct copying or paraphrasing information from other sources, including the internet. Clayton State University Judicial procedures are described at:
Course Learning Outcomes:
1. To develop and expand religious literacy.
2. To understand the diversity that exists not only between, but within major world religions.
3. To explore the development and spread of the major world religions historically.
4. To consider the ubiquity of religious practice across time and space.
CLASS SCHEDULE (Subject to Change) – See D2L for updatesand access to readings
*Bring the assigned readings for the week’s topic to class.
*Unless otherwise indicated, read and be ready to discuss the texts on the Wed. where this pertains ;read the first half of the assigned chapter by the first day on the specified topic and the second half of the chapter by the second day.
DATES / TOPIC / CHAPTERinBrodd et al. & other readings (see D2L)
M 1/11
W 1/13 / Introduction to Religion / Ch. 1
M 1/18
W 1/20 / Mon. – NO CLASS: MLK, Jr. DAY
Hinduism Due: 3 questions from readings / Ch. 4
M 1/25
W 1/27 / Hinduism (cont’d)
Intro to Buddhism / Hindu texts on D2L
M 2/01
W 2/03 / Buddhism (cont’d)
Wed. - QUIZ 1 [Bring Scantron] / Ch. 5; Buddhist texts on D2L
M 2/08
W 2/10 / Jainism; Sikhism
{HARD COPY ONLY}
Wed. - DUE: ‘Hinduism or Buddhism?’ Essay / Ch. 6;Ch. 7
M 2/15
W 2/17 / Chinese Religions / Ch. 8; texts on D2L
M 2/22
W 2/24 / Shinto; Zoroastrianism
{HARD COPY ONLY}
Wed. – DUE: Field-based Inquiry proposal / Ch. 9; pp. 124-26
M 2/29
W 3/02 / Mon. - QUIZ 2 [Bring Scantron]
Judaism / Ch. 10; texts on D2L
3/06 – 3/13 / SPRING BREAK
M 3/14
W 3/16 / Christianity / Ch. 11
M 3/21
W 3/23 / Early Christian texts; late Roman &
medieval history
Wed. - QUIZ 3 [Bring Scantron] / Texts on D2L– Read by Mon. & have with you
M 3/28
W 3/30 / Catholic – Orthodox – Protestant / See D2L
M 4/04
W 4/06 / Mon. – DUE: Field-based Inquiry {HARD COPY ONLY}
Islam / Ch. 12
M 4/11
W 4/13 / Mon. - DUE: Essay on Early Christianity
{HARD COPY ONLY}
Islam(cont’d) / See D2L
M 4/18
W4/20 / Islam(cont’d) ; Shia-Sunni-Sufi/Baha'i
Wed. – DUE: TIMELINE / See D2L
M 4/25
W4/27 / PRESENTATIONS (3-5 mins.) REPORT –
schedule to be announced {HARD COPY ONLY}
M 5/02
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M 5/09 / Traditional North American religions;
traditional African religions
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Final Exam (= QUIZ 4) on May 09 @ 2:45pm / Ch. 1, 2
[Bring Scantron]
For Teacher Education Students:
The content of this course syllabus also correlates to education standards established by national and state education governing agencies, accrediting agencies and learned society/professional education associations. Please refer to the course correlation matrices located at the following web site: .
In addition to helping students to improve and/or foster the above skills, this course either meets or exceeds the standard course objectives recommended by the Georgia Department of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). It also addresses Program Outcomes 1, 2, 3 & 5, as adopted by the history faculty at Clayton State University.
Conceptual Framework: The mission of the Teacher Education Unit is to prepare professional educators who engage in reflective practice and who are competent, caring, committed, collaborative,culturally responsive, and prepared to teach diverse learners in an ever-changing society. For the complete CSU Teacher Education Unit Conceptual Framework, follow the link below.
Teacher Education Policy: The content of this course syllabus correlates to education standards established by national and state education governing agencies, accrediting agencies and learned society/ professional education associations. Please refer to the course correlation matrices located at the following web site: