Special Topics Course Proposal Form
ORIGINATING CAMPUS: ( ) Ammerman ( ) Eastern (X) Grant
Date Submitted to Campus Dean: _____10/18/11_____
To meet the ideals of Suffolk County Community College, new courses should, if appropriate, consider issues arising from elements of cultural diversity in areas of textbook choice, selection of library and audio-visual materials, and teaching methodology.
CAMPUS DEAN E-MAILS ENTIRE PROPOSAL PACKET TO THE COLLEGE CURRICULUM
COMMITTEE CHAIR AS A WORD DOCUMENT UPON ITS APPROVAL.
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PROCEDURES
1.
Instructor downloads and drafts proposal and syllabus from Special Topics link on the Curriculum Website
2.
Proposer sends the files (proposal and syllabus) electronically to the Academic Chair for distribution and support from Academic Department.
3.
Academic Chair initials the proposal upon approval and electronically forwards file and syllabus to the Campus
Dean.
4.
Upon approval, the Campus Dean initials the proposal and electronically forwards file and syllabus to the College
Curriculum Committee Chair for posting on the Curriculum Website.
5.
The College Curriculum Chair will electronically forward the files (including syllabus) to the College Associate Dean for Curriculum and Assessment.
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Proposed by
Marlene DuBois and Janet M. R. Simpson
Date of Proposal__09/26/2011_
Department/Discipline___Humanities_____________________________________
Course #___HUM295
I.
Course Title_______Comparative World Religions_
RELATIONSHIP TO STUDENTS
A. *Credit Hours__3__ Contact Hours____
Lecture Hours__3___ Lab/Studio Hours_____
*See Curriculum Website for Credit/Contact Hours Formula.
B. Class Size: 35, forcible by 2
C. Course Fees
Lab Fees__0___ Course Fees___0__
II. RELATIONSHIP TO MASTER SCHEDULE
A. **Proposed Semesters Course will run:
Fall__(yr.)___ Winter_(yr.)____ Spring_2012____ Summer_(yr.)____
B. **Projected Termination Date
Fall_2012____ Winter_(yr.)____ Spring_(yr.)____ Summer_(yr.)____
**Special Topics courses may run for only two semesters. Upon the completion of the second semester, the course must be withdrawn from the schedule unless it has been re-approved as a Special Topics course or approved as a permanent course. Under no circumstances may a Special Topics course run for more than four semesters.
III. Rationale for Course:
Although we currently run courses focused upon the history of religion (HIS120), the anthropology of religion (ANT201) and on the philosophy of religion (PHL 215), we do not offer
ALL FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY
9/2006

Special Topics Course Proposal Form a course exploring the distinctive belief systems and the mythic/cosmological foundations of the seven major world religions and their resulting worldviews. This course is designed to fill that gap. The course addresses what is relevant in current world events, as well as what is of vibrant interest to our students. It can be potentially linked to a variety of courses that are offered at the College to create a future interdisciplinary program in Religious Studies or
Cultural Studies. It can also be a valuable step in globalizing the curriculum at Suffolk County
Community College.
IV. Description of Course:
This course will explore and develop an understanding of the distinctive belief systems of seven of the major religions in the world today (Judaism, Christianity, Islam,
Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism and Taoism). This will occur primarily through an exploration of the foundational mythological stories, cosmologies, and worldviews that are unique to each of those religions. This course will enable students to understand the defining, core beliefs that have emerged from those religious mythologies and cosmological perspectives and the resulting attitudes on the part of each religion toward contemporary issues such as the role of women, exclusivist claims of each religion, spiritual practices and moral obligations.
V. Approvals
Department Approval__Marc Fellenz_____ Date___10/18/2011__
Academic Chair
Campus Dean Approval_James M. Keane Date___10/23/11
Campus Dean
9/2006
ALL FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY

Special Topics Course Proposal Form
Course Number and Title: HUM295 Comparative Religions I.
II. Description of Course:
This course will explore and develop an understanding of the distinctive belief systems of seven of the major religions in the world today (Judaism,
Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism and Taoism). This will occur primarily through an exploration of the foundational mythological stories, cosmologies, and worldviews that are unique to each of those religions. This course will enable students to understand the defining, core beliefs that have emerged from those religious mythologies and cosmological perspectives and the resulting attitudes on the part of each religion toward contemporary issues such as the role of women, exclusivist claims of each religion, spiritual practices and moral obligations.
III. Course Outcomes:
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
1.
Identify the unique foundational mythologies, cosmologies and worldviews of each of the seven major world religions: Judaism,
Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism.
2.
Name the defining core beliefs that have emerged in each religion and are expressed in and through their mythologies and worldviews.
3.
Name the most significant secondary belief systems of each religion.
4.
Identify and discuss the unique worldview or perspective each religion takes/generates on significant contemporary issues such as gender roles, religious exclusivism, moral obligations, etc. and how that perspective emerges from the foundational mythologies and cosmologies.
(What should students learn as a result of taking this course and how will they demonstrate that learning?)
Upon completion of this course students will have mastered the areas noted in the course outcomes and demonstrated that mastery via written papers, small group projects and exams.
IV. Required Texts and Materials:
(List textbooks, newspapers, journals, Internet resources, CD-ROMS, Videos, other teaching materials to be used in the course.)
The course will include texts such as:
The World’s Religions by Huston Smith
ALL FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY
9/2006

Special Topics Course Proposal Form
The History of God by Karen Armstrong
The Bible
The Koran
The Baghavad Gita
The I Ching
The Tao Te Ching
Additional handouts and electronic articles.
V. Assessment of Student Learning:
(Describe assessment measures, i.e., instruments that measure the attainment of course objectives.)
(1) Essay exams
(2) Papers
(3) One small group project resulting in a class presentation
(4) One visit to religious worship services and/or sacred sites outside of regular class meetings.
VI. Weekly Outline of Topics and Assignments:
Week 1 Administrative/Introduction to the Study of Comparative Religions
Introduction to Religious Mythologies
Week 2 Judaism – Mythologies and Cosmologies
Week 3 Judaism – Contemporary Belief Structures and Worldview
Week 4 Christianity – Mythologies and Cosmologies
Week 5 Christianity – Contemporary Belief Structures and Worldview
Week 6 Islam – Mythologies and Cosmologies
Week 7 Islam – Contemporary Belief Structures and Worldview
Week 8 Hinduism – Mythologies and Cosmologies
Week 9 Hinduism – Contemporary Belief Structures and Worldview
Week 10 Buddhism – Mythologies and Cosmologies
Week 11 Buddhism – Contemporary Belief Structures and Worldview
Week 12 Confucianism – Mythologies and Cosmologies
Week 13 Confucianism – Contemporary Belief Structures and Worldview
Week 14 Taoism – Mythologies and Cosmologies
Week 15 Taoism – Contemporary Belief Structures and Worldview
ALL FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY
9/2006