NEW COURSE PROPOSAL FORM [Gender and Religion in American Culture]
1. List School, Department, course number and course title
School of Liberal Arts
Theology and Religious Studies
TRS 171: Gender and Religion in American Culture
2. Justification for the course
The course will contribute to the department’s offerings on religion in North America and
Religion and Culture. The course will be applicable to both TRS majors and minors.
Course Description
This course explores the relationship between religion and gender in American history and
culture. We will cover gender as a category of analysis for the study of religion, and the
ways that religions construct, reconstruct and deconstruct gender norms. Human beings
live and practice religion, and thus religion cannot be separated from the gendered bodies
they inhabit. We will use historical and modern case studies to explore the way that
notions of femininity and masculinity have played a role in the religious lives of Americans.
This course explores the relationship between gender and religion in American history and
culture and gives students the opportunity to:
 become familiar with some of the theories, methods, and concerns of religious
studies and gender studies;
 think critically and creatively about religion, and about the role of the body, practice,
and material culture in religion;
 use gender as a category of analysis to study religion in print, practice, and culture;
 explore the intersection of religion, gender, race, ethnicity, class, and sexuality, and
 acquire first-hand knowledge of the relationship between gender and religion
through projects requiring fieldwork/interviews.
The course objectives align well with the “Theological Explorations” component of the new
Core Curriculum (which is part of the “Theological Understanding” section of the Core).
The assignments include a final exam, weekly quizzes, presentations, and two papers. The
pass/fail option will not be allowed.
3. Student Population
I expect to have TRS majors and minors in the course, and I also expect to have students in
the course fulfilling the “theological understanding” component of the Core Curriculum.
4. Relationship to present College curriculum
The course will fall under the department’s “Religion and Culture” category of courses. This
course does not overlap with present courses in the department or on campus, thus I see
no potential for a negative impact in any way.
5. Any extraordinary implementation costs
None.
6. Library Resources
The Library Review is complete and will be submitted to the UEPC by the December
meeting.
*7. Course credit and grading options
Course is worth 1 credit. Students will spend three hours a week in class, and will be
expected to spend at least 3 hours in preparation for each class (the reading is significant).
The format of the class is lecture and discussion.
8. Prerequisites, corequisites (If applicable)
TRS 097
9. Course description wording for the appropriate College catalog
This course explores the relationship between religion and gender in American history and
culture. We will cover gender as a category of analysis for the study of religion, and the
ways that religions construct, reconstruct and deconstruct gender norms. Human beings
live and practice religion, and thus religion cannot be separated from the gendered bodies
they inhabit. We will use historical and modern case studies to explore the way that
notions of femininity and masculinity have played a role in the religious lives of Americans.
10. Course content
Tentative Syllabus attached
11. Review of experimental offering
I taught a version of this course in the spring of 2011, although it was titled “Women and
Religion in North America.” I received strong evaluations for the course. I plan to revise the
course further to make it align more with the new focus on gender. The syllabus I have
attached is tentative (and it has the dates of the spring 2011 “Women and Religion” course
on it).