I. ASCRC General Education Form
Group
VII: Social Sciences
Dept/Program
Sociology
Course Title
Prerequisite
Course #
Sociology of Alternative Religions
none
Credits
SOC 130S/RELS 130S
3
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Instructor
Rob Balch
Date
Sept.
11,
2008
Phone / Email
243-2982,
rob.balch@umontana.edu
Program Chair
Celia Winkler
Dean
Gerald Fetz
III. Description and purpose of the course: General Education courses must be introductory
and foundational. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/gened/GEPreamble_final.htm
Same as RELS 130S. Unconventional religious groups in American society. Topics include
recruitment, conversion, commitment, defection, leadership, belief systems, organizational
structure and change.
IV. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
Systematically study individuals, groups, or
This course presents a systematic study of
social institutions
new religious movements, including the
historical contexts in which they arise, their
belief systems and social organization, and
the experiences of individuals during their
membership careers.
Analyze individuals, groups, or social problems In addition to the above, the course examines
and structures
“cults” as a social problem, including
allegations of violence and member abuse, as
well as how the practices of new religions
come to be defined as social problems.
The course examines the most common
Give considerable attention to ways in which
methods used by social scientists to study
conclusions and generalizations are developed
unconventional religions, with special
and justified as well as method of data
collection and analysis
attention to the sources of bias in each.
V. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
Describe the nature, structure, and historical
development of human behavi8or,
organizations, social phenomena, and/or
relationships
Students will learn to use social science
concepts to describe 1) societal conditions
influencing the appeal of alternative
religions, 2) the beliefs and social
organization of these groups, and 3) the
experiences of individual members.
Use theory in explaining these individual, group, Students will learn to use social science
or social phenomena
theories to understand and analyze
controversies about alternative religions and
their impact on individual members.
Understand, assess, and evaluate how
Students will be introduced to the methods
conclusions and generalizations are justified
used to study new religious movements as
based on data
well as sources of bias in each method and
the problems of making generalizations
about alternative religions.
VII. 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
*Please note: As an instructor of a general education course, you will be expected to provide
sample assessment items and corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.