I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 1/27/11)
Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change existing
gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses.
Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses
(X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be
submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status.
Group
III. Language
VII: Social Sciences
X
(submit
III Exception: Symbolic Systems * VIII: Ethics & Human Values
separate forms
IV: Expressive Arts
IX: American & European
if requesting
V: Literary & Artistic Studies
X: Indigenous & Global
more than one
VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
XI: Natural Sciences
general
w/ lab  w/out lab 
education
group
*Courses proposed for this designation must be standing requirements of
designation)
majors that qualify for exceptions to the modern and classical language
requirement
Dept/Program Sociology
Course #
SOCI 130
Course Title
Prerequisite
Sociology of Alternative Religions
none
Credits
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
3
Date
2-21-12
Instructor
Rob Balch
Rob Balch
Phone / Email 243-2982, rob.balch@umontana.edu
Program Chair Jim Burfeind & Dan Doyle, co-chairs
Dean
Christopher Comer
III. Type of request
New
One-time Only
Renew X
Change
Remove
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
Renewal of previous approval
Description of change
IV. Description and purpose of new general education course: General Education courses
must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General
Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/archives/minutes/gened/GE_preamble.aspx
Focus on new religious movements that present alternatives to established faiths. Topics
include movement origins, charismatic leadership, belief systems, recruitment and conversion,
commitment, extreme behavior, societal reactions to new religions, and movement trajectories.
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
Systematically study, individuals, groups or
social institutions;
The course uses sociological concepts to
analyze the origins and structure of new
religious movements, the characteristics and
experiences of members, and similarities and
differences between new religions and
established faiths.
… analyze individuals, groups, or social
In addition to the above, the course addresses
problems and structures; and/or
societal reactions to new religious
movements, including counter-movements,
media portrayals, and the process of defining
alternative religions as social problems.
Issues raised by critics (e.g., coercive
persuasion, violence, and sexual abuse) are
examined in light of research evidence.
… give considerable attention to ways in which The course examines the various methods
conclusion and generalizations are developed
used by social scientists to study new
and justified, as well as the methods of data
religious movements, with specially
collection and analysis.
attention to the sources of bias in each.
Research on contemporary North American
movements is compared with historical and
cross-cultural evidence.
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
Students will be able to describe the nature,
Students will learn to use social science
structure, and historical development of human
concepts to describe societal conditions
behavior, organizations, social phenomena,
influence the appeal of alternative religions,
and/or relationships;
the beliefs and social organization of these
movements, and the experiences of
individual members.
… use theory in explaining individual, group, or Students will learn to use social science
social phenomena; and/or
theories to 1) understand the appeal of
alternative religions in different times and
places; 2) ask meaningful questions when
pertinent issues arise, whether in the media,
other college courses, or their own
experiences; and 3) understand group
processes and the actions of individual
members. Students will also learn that the
theories social scientists use to explain
“cult” behavior are the same theories that
they use to account for ordinary social
behavior.
… understand, assess, and evaluate how
conclusions and generalizations are justified
based on data.
Students will learn the methods used to
study religious movements, as well as
sources of bias in each and the difficulties in
making generalizations. Ideally, students
will be able to evaluate the evidence offered
by religion experts, media reports, exmembers, and so forth, whenever
controversies about new religions arise.
VII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will carry
at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the 100-200 level. If the course has more than one
pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200
level), provide rationale for exception(s).
Not applicable.
VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
See attached syllabus. Digital copy also sent.
Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall.
General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and
corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.