SMC Core Curriculum Course Proposal Form Fall 2013
Electronically submit this course form and attachments to the Chair of the CCC by October
1. Please submit a separate proposal for each desired learning goal.
1. Name of Proposer: Norris Palmer
2. Email address: npalmer@stmarys-ca.edu
3. Department/Program of Proposer: Theology & Religious Studies (TRS)
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Name of Department/Program housing the course: TRS
Name(s) of Program Director/Department Chair (if not the proposer): Zach Flanagin
Course Acronym, Number and Title: TRS 156 “Religions of India”
Proposal is for All Sections of the course: _____
Proposal is for instructor’s section(s) (Pathways to Knowledge only): __X___
8. Course Prerequisites (if any): None
9. Unit Value of Course: 1.0
10. Mark with an X the Learning Goal for which the course is being proposed. (Please
submit a separate proposal for each desired goal.)
Pathways to Knowledge (at most one)
Artistic Understanding – Artistic Analysis only: ____
Artistic Understanding – Creative Practice only: ____
Artistic Understanding – Both Artistic Analysis and Creative Practice: ____
Mathematical Understanding: ____
Scientific Understanding: ____
Social, Historical, Cultural Understanding: ____
Christian Foundations: ____
Theological Explorations: __X__
Engaging the World (as appropriate, generally zero to two)
American Diversity: ____
Common Good: ____
Community Engagement: ____
Global Perspectives: ____
11. Expected Attachments:
a) Syllabus: Please see attachment #1, Course Syllabus for TRS 154
b) Teaching and Learning: A narrative that explains how the course will guide
students toward achieving each Learning Outcome and how coursework (e.g.,
papers, exams, videotaped presentations) will be used to measure student
achievement of each Learning Outcome. Please address the outcomes directly and
one by one.
1) Learning Outcome #1: “Demonstrate an understanding of one or more aspects of
Christian tradition and/or another religious tradition or traditions, acquired
through focused study in a sub-field of theology or religious studies;”
CCC Course Proposal Form
2013-2014
September 4th, 2013
a) Teaching (related to Outcome #1):
Relative to the first learning outcome for the Theological Explorations learning goal,
students in this course study a number of religious traditions (Hinduism, Islam,
Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity) within a wide variety
of their historical and cultural settings. Our study examines both individual
traditions and the complex history of their interaction. We also examine how
religions interact with political, social, and economic systems as well as look at
examples of religious pluralism together with its promises and problems in historic
and contemporary settings within India and beyond.
b) Learning (related to Outcome #1):
As described in the syllabus, this course includes a variety of assessment
mechanisms (exams, online conversations, analysis of site visits, and term projects)
to demonstrate that the learning outcomes have been met. With respect to this first
learning outcome, a range of questions and essay prompts on the mid-term and the
final exam together with quizzes and aspects of their final project test students’
command not only of basic data points related to these traditions but also how they
have interacted with political, social, and economic systems as well.
2) Learning Outcome #2: “Demonstrate an ability to explore religious questions from
a believer’s point of reference and from the critical perspective of the academy.”
a) Teaching: (related to Outcome #2):
Relative to the second learning outcome for the Theological Explorations learning
goal, students in this course are taught (via lecture, primary and secondary texts,
site visits, video, etc.) how the various religions of India and their various forms are
understood from within a believer’s perspective. Students are also taught how it
may be approached from the critical perspective of the academy by examining it
through the lens of the academic study of religion via lecture and secondary
literature.
b) Learning: (related to Outcome #2):
This learning outcome is assessed by means of examination, analysis of site visits,
quizzes, and the final project, all of which require students not only to represent
aspects of the tradition from a believer’s point of view but also to apply one or more
critical perspectives from within the field of religious studies as presented within
class and/or secondary literature. One of the central essay questions on the final
exam requires students to provide an a believer’s perspective (from the traditions
examined) on a topic of current social concern (e.g., domestic violence, addiction,
etc.) and then critically appraise this perspective from within the academic study of
religion by referencing the secondary literature from this field as presented in the
course.
CCC Course Proposal Form
2013-2014
September 4th, 2013