Bergen Community College
Division of Arts and Humanities
Department of Philosophy and Religion
Course Syllabus
PHR-122 Women and Religion
Instructor: Michael Francesco
Website: http://womeninreligion.wikispaces.com/
Email Address: mfrancesco@bergen.edu
Semester and year: Fall 2013
Meeting Times: Tuesdays 6:20 – 9:05 PM
.
Section Number: PHR-122-601
Room B-218
PHR-122 Women and Religion analyzes the relationship of women to the major religious traditions of the
world, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and others. The course will examine
such issues as religious statements about the nature of women, religious codes of behavior for women,
and the extent and nature of women's religious participation within the various traditions.
3 lectures, 3 credits, General Education Course – Humanities Elective
Grading Policy
Test average.………………………….….........50%
Journal…………………………………………20%
Paper, Presentation or Project…………..……..15%
Participation………………………………….. 15%
GRADE SCALE
A 90-100% B+ 86- 89 % B 80- 85% C+ 76-79%
C 70-75% D 60-69% F 0-59%
Course requirements
Good classroom participation involves reading the assigned texts before each class and being able to
respond to questions and offer insightful comments on the material you have read. Asking and answering
questions on the material, and offering your point of view, is expected of students as each topic is presented
in class each week. The course schedule below will tell you what chapters to be ready for each week.
Three tests will assess how well you have mastered the material. The test average will be the best 3 of
4 test grades. If a test is missed, it will be scored as a zero, but it can be the one that is dropped. There will
be no makeup tests for missed exams due to absence since we are dropping the lowest test grade.
The journal involves your reaction, comments or reflections on the passages you will read from the
Scriptures of the World Religions book. Journals will be collected and periodically for evidence of
thoughtful reading and reaction to the texts. Part of your participation grade is based on my assessment
of whether you are prepared to discuss the readings for a given class (see schedule on webpage).
You can either do a written paper or a classroom presentation / project on any topic in the field of
religion that interests you. Please email by me with a brief description of your topic before you begin so I
can approve it and make suggestions in advance and schedule a date to present as early as possible.
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COURSE OUTLINE AND CALENDAR
The following course outline and calendar is tentative and subject to change, depending upon the
progress of the class. See the class webpage http://womeninreligion.wikispaces.com/
for further
details, changes and supplemental materials.
Topic & Assignments
Beginning with the second class, you will be expected to read the chapters
assigned below before each class and be ready to show knowledge of that
chapter through your participation. Click on each numbered tab for readings
and journal entries required for each week.
Week
1
Sept
2
3
4
5
Oct
6
7
8
9
10
Nov
11
12
13
14
15
16
Dec
Overview of course. Start 1.1 Introduction: Why Study Religion?
What Methods Should We Use?
Finish 1.1.
Start 1.2 Women in Ancient Religions: Female Deities. The Roots
and Origins of the Eraliest Known Religion.
Finish 1.2
Start 1.3 Women in Hinduism
Finish 1.3
Start 1.4 Women in Buddhism
Test #1:Introductory Material + Women in Ancient Religions +
Women in Hinduism. See tab 3.0 study sheet. Journal check #1.
1.4 Buddhism Continued
1.5 Women in Confucianism
1.6 Women in Taoism & Shinto
2.0 Early Monotheism
Test #2:Women in Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Shinto.
Journal check #2.
Start 2.1 Women in Judaism
Finish 2.2
Start 2.3 Women in Christianity
2.3 contunues
Finish 2.3
Start 2.3 Women in Islam
Test #3: Monotheism + Women in Judaism & Christianity. Journal
check #3.
Islam continued
Paper or presentation due.
Finish Islam
Final Exam : cumulative. Journal check #4
Dec17 LAST CLASS. Optional extra credit deadline: upload to
TurnItIn.com before 11:59 pm.
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Student
Learning
Objectives
1,3,4,5
1, 5,6
4,5
1, 2, 6
1, 4, 5
1, 2, 6
4,5
1, 2, 4, 6
2, 6, 7
1, 2, 6
2, 6, 7
1, 2, 6
1, 2, 4, 6
1, 2,5, 6
Student Learning Objectives: As a result of meeting the requirements in this course, students will be
able to
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
analyze, evaluate, and explain women's relationships to major religious traditions.
assess statements about women's nature made by major religious traditions.
assess religious codes of behavior addressed specifically to women.
evaluate the level of women's participation in various religious traditions.
describe and explain the interplay between societal norms and religious expressions of those
norms.
To achieve these objectives, students will be required to read and discuss both primary and secondary
sources. There will also be substantial critical and analytical writing projects.
Texts Used in this Course:
There is no single textbook that addresses all the aspects of this course, although there are several very
good books that examine women's relationship to individual religions. Parts of the following books will be
used and made available to the students through the Moodle and handouts:
1. Womanspirit Rising, Carol Christ and Judith Plaskow, Harper, San Francisco, 1992.
2. Women in World Religions, Arvind Sharma, SUNY, Albany, 1987.
3. Women in Religion, Mary Pat Fisher, Pearson, 2007.
4. Women and Religion, Maryanne Ferguson, Prentice Hall, 1995.
5. Serenity Young, An Anthology of Religious Texts by and about Women, Crossroads Publishing, New
York, 1994
Writing and Critical Thinking Requirement(s)
Because PHR-122 is a General Education course, it requires students to complete a variety of critical
thinking and writing assignments. These assignments may include class discussions and debates requiring
the application of critical thinking skills, short in-class essays, out-of-class writing projects (journals,
research papers, argument-analysis papers, book reviews, etc.), tests and examinations containing essay
components, and so forth. Instructors will respond to and comment on students' writing in detail.
BCC Attendance Policy:
All students are expected to attend punctually every scheduled meeting of each course in which they are
registered. Attendance and lateness policies and sanctions are to be determined by the instructor for each
section of each course. These will be established in writing on the individual course outline. Attendance
will be kept by the instructor for administrative and counseling purposes.
Philosophy and Religion Departmental Attendance Policy:
Students are expected to attend class regularly and punctually. Attendance will be taken at each class
session. It is expected that class will be conducted such that students will benefit in their written work by
the lectures and class discussion. If students occasionally arrive late, they should be encouraged to enter
quietly, not disturbing the class. If students miss class, they should be encouraged to use the course
calendar to stay abreast of material. It is probably a good idea for students to find study partners and to
exchange telephone numbers. Make-ups for examinations should be allowed by the instructor if, in the
instructor's judgment, the student has presented a good excuse for missing the work. Instructors may
penalize work which is late; however, the instructor's policies for make-ups and late work must be clearly
specified on the student guide.
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Student and Faculty Support Services
The Distance Learning Office – for any
problems you may have accessing your
online courses
Smarthinking Tutorial Service
The Tutoring Center
The Technology Assisted Learning Lab
(Math and English)
The Writing Center
The Online Writing Lab (OWL)
The Office of Specialized Services (for
Students with Disabilities)
The Sidney Silverman Library –
Reference Desk
Room C-334
201-612-5581
psimms@bergen.edu
On Line at:
Room S-118
Room C-110
www.bergen.edu/library/learning/tutor/smart/index.asp
201-447-7908
201-447-7988
Room C-110
201-447-7136
www.bergen.edu/owl
Room S-153
201-612-5270
Room L-226
201-447-7436
Logos – The BCC Philosophy Club
Logos usually meets on Tuesdays during the Activities Period, 12:30-1:25 PM, in Room L-342. I
encourage you to join the club. Since you are interested in the study of philosophy, you should find the
meetings and other activities of the philosophy club very interesting. For further information, check the
Philosophy & Religion bulletin board adjacent to Room L-325A or contact LOGOS Advisor, Dr. Vanda
Bozicevic (L-331, 201-493-7528, vbozicevic@bergen.edu). (LOGOS does not hold regular meetings
during the summer.)
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