REGIS UNIVERSITY
REGIS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS
RT 201: RELIGION AND THE HUMAN QUEST
FALL 2010
SECTIONS RU05/06 MWF 11:30-12:20/12:30-1:20 LOYOLA 15
PLEASE READ THIS SYLLABUS CAREFULLY AND ENTIRELY. NOT KNOWING ITS
CONTENTS WILL NOT EXEMPT YOU FROM ITS PROVISIONS
RT 201 BULLETIN DESCRIPTION: Considering human existence in relation to “the holy”
and drawing on Eastern and Western religious traditions, this course explores religious
perspectives on human questions about life, suffering, goodness, and ultimacy.
INSTRUCTOR: Randolph F. Lumpp, Ph.D.
Professor of Religious Studies
Director of Catholic Studies
Affiliate Faculty, College of Professional Studies
My Schools: Wheat Ridge High School (1959); Regis College (1959-60; Seattle University (B.A., Philosophy, 1963);
Marquette University (M.A., Theology, 1968); University of Ottawa (Ontario); Ph.D., Religious Studies, 1975).
Some Areas of Special Interest: Philosophy of Religion; Catholic Tradition Studies; Religion, Culture and Media; World
Religious Traditions; Native American Traditions.
Some Other Things I Enjoy: being a Boy Scout leader, flying airplanes, cooking, doing photography and listening to
music (particularly jazz and classical).
Some Things I Believe About College Education:
 I believe going to college is a privilege, not a requirement and not a right.
 I believe in the Jesuit philosophy of education that has been to prepare people to be constructive agents and leaders in their
communities.
 I believe that traditional undergraduate education is about growing up and getting one's head on straight for entering
responsible adult roles in society and community.
 I believe that, no matter what one is doing, one ought to try to do one's best.
Office: Loyola 1A
Phone: 303-458-3511
E-MAIL: rlumpp@regis.edu
NOTE: Federal privacy regulations require that discussion of privileged information (e.g., grades) is allowed only
through RegisNet. A RegisNet email account is necessary for use in this course.
OFFICE HOURS
Mondays 10:30-11:30 a.m.
1:30-2:00 p.m.
Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 a.m.
1:30-2:00 p.m.
Fridays 10:30-11:30 a.m
Other times by appointment
CLASS SCHEDULE:
RCC 420J MW 9:00-10:15
RT 210/05
MWF 11:30-12:20
RT 201/06
MWF 12:30-1:20
PURCHASE OF A TEXTBOOK IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS CLASS.
A detailed schedule of classes, readings and other assignments will be posted on the
class Moodle site and on my Faculty Web Page at www.academic.regis.edu/lumpp
under RT 201: Religion and the Human Quest
RT 201 Syllabus 2
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLOs)
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
1. Express and discuss a basic philosophy of religion in the context of question, “How
ought we to live?” and the guiding questions of the course;
2. Provide and explain a working definition of “religion”;
3. identify and use a basic vocabulary for the study of religion;
4. Employ a basic method for the analysis and interpretation of significant expressions
of the Holy as experienced in various religious traditions;
5. Demonstrate how the meanings of these expressions can be applied to the human
quest for meaning, the problem of evil and suffering, the social character of human
being, and the relation of humans to Holy power;
6. Speak and write effectively and critically about the foregoing topics.
COURSEWORK AND EVALUATION:
The final grade in this course will be based on the following:
GRADE POINT SCORE SUMMARY:
Attendance and Participation (See details below)
Tests and Quizzes: Midterm and Final 100 points x 2
Quizzes (online or in –class) 10 points x 10
Team work: presentations and team reports
100 points x 5 Theme Presentations
Supplemental Team Activity: 100 points
TOTAL:
1000 points =
10 %
30%
50%
10%
100%
Final Grade Percentage Ranges:
A = EXCELLENT 93.0-100%; A- = 90.0-92.9%; B+ = 88.0-89.9%; B = GOOD 82.0-87.9%; B- = 80.0-81.9%;
C+ = 78.0-79.9%; C = ACCEPTABLE 72.0-77.9%; C- = 70.0-71.9%; D = MINIMAL 65.0-69.9%; F = 64.9%
or below
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If you must leave class before the end of the session, please take your belongings and do not
reenter the class. Otherwise come prepared to stay for 50 minutes.
If you are ill with something contagious, stay home. I appreciate being informed if you know you
will be absent. If you cannot reach me by phone, leave a message on my voice mail or email.
Attendance includes being prepared for class, active involvement in classroom activities, and
scheduled presentations.
COURSEWORK AND EVALUATION:
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION (10%) is expected and required at all class sessions.
Two (2) absences will be allowed without penalty. (Athletes and others who will miss more than
two classes due to required participation in GAMES or other approved and required University events
should consider taking the course at another time.)
The idea of free absences is to allow for the unforeseen possibility of illness, death in the family or
other unavoidable circumstance. After two absences, points will be deducted from your final point total for
each additional absence beyond 2. Do not waste your free absences. You may need them if you have to
pick up your parents at the airport or take your roommate to the hospital or go to traffic court, or....
In the event of prolonged absence due to serious illness or some other serious cause, withdrawal
from the course may be advised, or some other remedy may have to be worked out with the instructor. In
any case, inform the instructor promptly about any such circumstances.
RT 201 Syllabus 3
Attendance: There are 38 meetings. You may miss two (2) without penalty. After two absences, points will be
deducted from your final point score for each additional absence. (0-2 absences=100 points; 3=50 points;
4=25points 5=10 points; 6=0 points)
Team Work: As with attendance points, the full points will be credited at the end of the term unless something
happens to reduce them. The way to lose points is to fail to participate actively in the class, particularly in team
activities such as online forum, preparation and delivery of in-class theme presentations, preparation of written
team reports, and supplemental learning activities.
TEAM SUPPLEMENTAL LEARNING ACTIVITY: (10%):
TEAM ACTIVITIES REQUIRE FULL PARTICIPATION OF ALL TEAM MEMBERS. THIS IS
EXPECTED AND REQUIRED.
IMPORTANT DEADLINE: Your CHOICE OF YOUR TEAM SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITY AND
DOCUMENTATION of your TEAM CHOICE must be submitted in writing to Dr. Lumpp no later
than FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17. Report any change in the status of your selected activity
IMMEDIATELY. Specific instructions for submitting will be provided in class.
SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: RETREAT, SERVICE, OR SITE VISITATION
TEAM REPORT AND RESPOND FORMAT
RETREAT: You may choose to attend a Regis University Ministry sponsored spiritual retreat and
afterward write a 3-4 page report of the retreat and your response to the experience. Documentation signed
by retreat leader must be submitted with the written report. Both are due at the time of the final exam.
Obtain the retreat schedule and signup procedure from University Ministry, STC-200.
SERVICE: You may perform 10 hours of service learning or community learning and write a report on
your learning experience. The first part of the written report should include information about the
sponsoring organization, its mission and activities as well as your specific duties and activities. The second
part of the written report should include your own response to the experience, particularly what you have
learned. The written report should be submitted with verification of your service work from an appropriate
agency supervisor.
 The Office of Service Learning has a list of appropriate sites AND DIRECTIONS ABOUT
PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO GET REGISTERED WITH THE OSL AND IN
THEIR COMPUTER. (www.regis.edu)
 FATHER WOODY SERVICE PROJECTS also offers a wide variety of appropriate opportunities.
(www.regis.edu)
Details for working through the Office of Service Learning are on their web pages. Failure to follow the
specified procedures and/or the posted deadlines can result in a loss of points.
RELIGIOUS SITE VISIT: Throughout the semester, teams will be presenting on assigned topics related
to the major religious traditions. Teams will have the option to visit one or two prearranged, approved
religious sites related to their topics of presentation. Details and arrangements for this option will be
determined in consultation and cooperation with the instructor.
IN-CLASS OR ONLINE QUIZZES (10%):
IN-CLASS: Quizzes or other short or impromptu exercises on readings, lectures, videos, etc., may be given at
any time. Home work assignments to be turned in at class may also be assigned. If you enter class after a timed
quiz or exercise has begun, additional time will not be given. Quizzes may be used to take roll. There will be no
makeup for quizzes..
ONLINE: Quizzes will also be administered online through Moodle. Online quizzes will be scheduled in
advance and will be open for a specified time period.
RT 201 Syllabus 4
QUIZ FORMAT: Quizzes may include any or all of the following formats:
An essay or report on an assigned topic (take home). Topics will be discussed in class. These assignments are
college-level compositions, prepared and evaluated according to criteria described in the syllabus. They must
correctly follow MLA Style.
Objective questions (e.g., multiple choice, matching, etc.) testing knowledge of basic information in assigned
material. There is no make-up of missed quizzes.
Theory and Applications. Short answer essays on the theoretical aspects of the study of religion and
application to the various items studied.
Take-home writing assignments: Topics related to course material will be assigned in class.
EXAMS (30%): There will be two (2) scheduled exams: a midterm and a final. They will have both inclass and take-home parts.
FORM FOR WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS (including take home parts of exams):
MOST WRTING ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY: SPECIFIC
INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE GIVEN IN CLASS
1. Typewritten, double-spaced, 1 inch margins on all sides; proper Standard American English grammar
and spelling.
Font: New Times Roman or Courier or the equivalent, 10 or 12 point.
2. Heading in upper LEFT-hand corner of page 1 should include:
Your Name
[Names of Team Members if a Team assignment]
RT 201 Section 5(6)
Assignment/Theme Name
Date Submitted
Subsequent pages must include an upper-right-hand header with your last name and the page numeral:
Smith 2
3. Center TITLE in caps one inch below heading on page 1. No title pages, folders, binders or extra pages,
please. STAPLE upper-left-hand corner.
4. Sources: ANY MATERIAL taken from someone else should be properly cited whether quoted directly or
not. Cite only sources actually used. Citing author and page parenthetically at the appropriate place in your
discussion can do this: (Taylor 175).
A Complete list of WORKS CITED arranged alphabetically by the author's last name should follow
directly after the body of your paper. Authority for form will be D. Hacker. A Writer’s Reference, 4th ed.
NOTE: The style REQUIRED here is MLA.
Four good reasons for citing your sources:
1. Avoiding plagiarism: “Plagiarize” comes from the Latin word for kidnapping. Do not
kidnap someone’s ideas and present them as your own. This is basic honesty. Any
plagiarized material submitted for this course will receive a failing grade.
2. Given the no plagiarism rule, there are also positive reasons for giving references to your
sources. You let the reader know where she or he can find more about your topic. If
you write about something worthwhile, it should encourage your reader to want to know
more about it. In any case you need to make that information available.
3. Still more important is letting your reader know what your presentation is based on. It
can make a big difference if you base your argument on Hillary Clinton or George W.
Bush.
RT 201 Syllabus 5
4. Most important of all and most difficult of all, is being able to tell the difference
between what you really think and what others think. This is part of critical thinking. It
is a very important part of a Regis education. It includes knowing why you think what
you think and where it comes from—what it is based on.
Academic Dishonesty
Regis University is committed to intellectual integrity in its academic pursuits. Sanctions
may, therefore, be imposed for cheating (defined as using inappropriate sources of
information on a test) or plagiarism (defined as presenting as one’s own, the ideas, words, or
products of another). Such sanctions may include a failing grade on the assignment, failure
of the course, or expulsion of the student from the course or the department.
Consistent with the College's Academic Integrity Policy, we will report all violations of this
course's academic integrity policy to the Dean's office. Students who have committed multiple
instances of academic dishonesty can be subject to institutional penalties like probation,
suspension, or expulsion, in addition to the penalties for this course.
INCOMPLETES for the course will be granted only upon request. Verbal requests must be confirmed in writing on
the form available in the Dean’s Office to the instructor without delay. The written request must include a
description of the work to be finished and a timetable for completion. The final arrangement will be subject to
instructor approval.
REGIS WRITING CENTER
The Writing Center is a free resource for Regis College undergraduates. All writers, no matter how
proficient they are, benefit from working with a writing consultant. Our consultants are
undergraduates who are recommended by faculty, pass a test, and take a class about writing issues
and how to work with other writers. They can help you at any point in your writing process, from
brainstorming for ideas to organizing a draft to polishing the final version. You get immediate and
personal feedback about your writing as well as answers to your questions. Appointments are
recommended. Drop by the Writing Center in Loyola 1 or call (303) 458-4039 for more information.
EQUAL ACCESS TO CLASSES AND LEARNING ACCOMMODATIONS
Equal access to education means equal opportunity to learn. If you have a documented disability requiring academic adjustments
for this course, please contact
Disability Services.
(Call for Fall 2004 location.)
Telephone 303-458-4941
Email: disability@regis.edu
Disability Services will review your documents with you and help determine appropriate, reasonable
accommodations. Following your meeting, please make an appointment with your instructor to
discuss your accommodation request in light of course requirements. You may self-disclose and
request an academic adjustment any time during the semester. Early attention to the matter is
strongly recommended. Accommodations are not applied retroactively.
Course Withdrawal Policy: Students are expected to know and observe the published deadlines for (a)
dropping the course and (b) withdrawing from the course. These deadlines are published on the
University’s Academic Calendar, which is available in the Bulletin, the course schedule and is in the
Dean’s Office. Please observe the following dates: Last Day to Drop the Course: Tuesday, September 2,
2010; Last Day to Withdraw from the Course (no refund): Friday, November 5, 2008. THESE
DEADLINES ARE NOT FLEXIBLE.
RT 201 Syllabus 6
DEW KNOT TRUSSED YORE CHECQUER
TWO FINED AWL YORE MISS STEAKS
HOLISTIC SCORING GUIDE FOR INDIVIDUAL
AND TEAM WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
10. (Outstanding) A paper in category 10 completes the task set by the assignment and
meets all the evaluation criteria specified. It is virtually free from errors in mechanics,
usage, and sentence structure. It shows evidence of excellent control of language, and is
distinguished by clear and orderly thinking.
9. (Very Good) A paper in category 9 may slight, but not ignore, the primary task of the
assignment. It may not be as thoughtful or as carefully reasoned as a 10 paper, but it will
not be characterized by mere statement and restatement of generalized ideas. There may
be minor weaknesses in paragraphing, but there is evidence of the ability to organize
information into coherent units. The paper is largely free from serious error in mechanics
usage and sentence structure, and is generally well written.
8. (Satisfactory) Although a paper in category 8 may accomplish the assignment less
completely than a 10 or 9 paper does, the paper comes to terms with the basic task of the
assignment. The reasoning may be less precise than one would expect to find in a 9 or 10
paper, but it does not contain serious errors in logic. It may insufficiently develop minor
points, but it gives evidence of the writer’s ability to support key ideas. It is organized
and paragraphed well enough to allow the reader to move with relative ease through the
discourse, though there may be some disjointedness and lack of focus. The paper may
contain errors in mechanics, usage and sentence structure, but not so frequently as to call
into question the writer’s command of Standard English or to consistently distract the
reader from the content. The paper shows generally accurate use of language.
7. (Minimally Satisfactory) A paper in category 7 shows serious difficulty managing the
task of the assignment and definite weakness in analytical thinking. Key ideas lack
adequate support of illustration. Errors in sentence structure, usage and mechanics
seriously interfere with readability. There may be distinct weaknesses in paragraphing
and organization, but the total effect will not be chaotic. The writer’s control of language
is uncertain.
6. (Poor) A paper in category 6 fails to come to terms with the assignment. The primary
task is ignored, misconstrued, badly mis-handled, or redefined to accommodate what the
writer wants to say or is able to say. There may be a combination of the following
defects: serious errors in reasoning, little or no development of ideas, and no clear
progression from one part of the paper to the next, and/or the writing exhibits serious and
frequent errors in sentence structure, usage and mechanics, showing a lack of control in
using Standard English.