Undergraduate University Curriculum Committee
Course Proposal Form for Courses Numbered 0001 – 4999
(Faculty Senate Resolution #8-16, March 2008)
Guidelines for submission may be accessed via the web at: www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/fsonline/cu/curriculum.cfm.
Note: Before completing this form, please carefully read the accompanying instructions.
1.
Course Prefix and Number:
2.
Date:
3.
Requested Action (check only one box):
X
RELI 2693
09/10/2008
New Course
Revision of Active Course
Unbanking of a Banked Course
Renumbering of Existing Course
from:
4.
#
to
#
Justification for new course, revision, unbanking, or renumbering:
This course addresses the ECU and UNC Tomorrow integrated planning global readiness goal. It
serves both the ECU mission and the Harriot College mission to enable students to discover and
evaluate knowledge. It addresses the mission of the College of Arts and Sciences by "enhancing and
promoting diversity awareness" and creating multi-cultural awareness. Finally, it addresses a
significant gap in the offerings of the Religious Studies Program. With 800 million adherents, Hinduism
is one of the most important religions in the world. This course will serve religious studies majors,
minors and ECU's foundations curriculum as required by ECU's integrated plan by developing the 21st
century thinking skills that are necessary for understanding religion in general and Hinduism in
particular and through applying critical theories and methods of analysis.
5.
Course description exactly as it should appear in the next catalog:
RELI 2693. Hinduism (3) (FC:HU) Various theories and methods to explore the
art, doctrines, history, literature, mythology, and practices throughout the various
stages of the religion.
6.
If this is a course revision, briefly describe the requested change:
7.
Page Number from current undergraduate catalog:
8.
The Writing Across the Curriculum Committee must approve Writing
Intensive (WI) Credit for all courses prior to their consideration by the UCC.
If WI credit is requested, has this course been approved for Writing
Intensive (WI) credit (yes/no)?
If Yes, will all sections be Writing Intensive (yes/no)?
100, 117, 503
no
9.
The Academic Standards Committee must approve Foundations
Curriculum Credit for all courses prior to their consideration by the UCC. If
FC credit has been approved by the ASC, then check the appropriate box
(check at most one):
X
10.
English (EN)
Humanities (HU)
Fine Arts (FA)
Health (HL)
Course Credit:
Lecture Hours 3 Weekly or
Lab
Weekly or
Studio
Weekly or
Practicum
Weekly or
Internship
Weekly or
Other (e.g., independent study):
Per Term
Per Term
Per Term
Per Term
Per Term
3
s.h.
s.h.
s.h.
s.h.
s.h.
Total Credit Hours 3
s.h.
11.
Anticipated yearly student enrollment:
12.
Affected Degrees or Academic Programs:
Degree(s)/Course(s)
Catalog Page
MULT: Religious Studies
Asian Studies
13.
117
100
Science (SC)
Social Science (SO)
Mathematics (MA)
Exercise (EX)
Credit Hours
Credit Hours
Credit Hours
Credit Hours
Credit Hours
50
Change in Degree Hours
n/a
n/a
Overlapping or Duplication with Affected Units or Programs:
x
Not Applicable
Applicable (Notification and/or Response from Units Attached)
14.
Approval by the Council for Teacher Education (required for courses
affecting teacher education programs):
x
Not Applicable
Applicable (CTE has given their approval)
15. Instructional Format: please identify appropriate instructional format(s):
x Lecture
Internship
Lab
Student Teaching
Correspondence
Studio
Clinical
Honors
Seminar
Colloquia
Practica
Other
16.
17.
Statements of Support:
x
Current staff is adequate
Additional Staff is needed (describe needs in the box below):
x
Current facilities are adequate
Additional Facilities are needed (describe needs in the box below):
x
Initial library resources are adequate
Initial resources are needed (in the box below, give a brief explanation
and estimate for cost of acquisition of required resources):
x
Unit computer resources are adequate
Additional unit computer resources are needed (in the box below,
give a brief explanation and an estimate for the cost of acquisition):
x
ITCS Resources are not needed
Following ITCS resources are needed (put a check beside each need):
Mainframe computer system
Statistical services
Network connections
Computer lab for students
Describe any computer or networking requirements of this program
that are not currently fully supported for existing programs (Includes
use of classroom, laboratory, or other facilities that are not currently used
in the capacity being requested).
Approval from the Director of ITCS attached
Syllabus – please insert course syllabus below. Do not submit course
syllabus as a separate file. You must include (a) the name of the textbook
chosen for the course, (b) the course objectives, (c) the course content
outline, and (d) the course assignments and grading plan.
RELI 2693 – Hinduism
Course Goals:
Goal 1. Students will learn about Hinduism from within the discipline of Religious
Studies. The class will explore this religion from its controversial origins to its modern
manifestations. We will examine the various strata of sacred texts that mark its
evolution, including the Vedas, the Upaniṣads, the epics and other mythology
compilations, the devotional sources, philosophical literature, and the tantras. We will
examine the various modes of religious expression embedded in these sources, such
as those related to ritual life, soteriology, mysticism, gnosis, and social organization. We
will also explore Hindu art and architecture. By way of these inquiries, the student will:
(i) Identify Hindu beliefs, practices, myths, rituals, traditions, history, and art, (ii)
Compare and contrast the assumptions, beliefs, and outlooks of different Hindu
traditions and the practices that result from those assumptions.
Goal 2. Students will learn the research methods used in Religious Studies. Students
will become familiar with various research methods employed in the academic study of
religion by:
(i) Engaging critical theories of Religious Studies and related disciplines
(ii) Cultivating critical thinking skills and reading comprehension skills
(iii) Formulating, researching, and defending a thesis in a major research paper
(iv) Learning to communicate more effectively, verbally and in writing.
Goal 3. Students will learn about the contribution made by Religious Studies to general
knowledge by:
(i) Learning some of the connections between Religious Studies and other related
disciplines, such as anthropology, philosophy, sociology, and the like
(ii) Positioning Religious Studies in the humanities in general
(iii) Promoting the construction of a unified comprehensive worldview
(iv) Relating this knowledge to other realms of discourse in a way that helps the
student to reflect in a mature manner on their own and others’ cultures
Grading:
 two exams with essays and short answers (20% each)
 two quizzes (10% each)
 research paper (20%)
 final exam (20%)
A= 100%-90%; B =89%-80%; C=79%-70%; D=69%-60%; and F= less than 60%.
Grades are rounded to the nearest whole number.
Required Readings:
 Gavin Flood, An Introduction to Hinduism. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 1996.
 Wendy Doniger O’Flaherty, Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism. Chicago:
University of Chicago Press, 1990.
 Stephen Mitchell, Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation. New York: Three Rivers
Press, 2002.
Additional readings will be available on the course Blackboard website.
http://ecu.blackboard.com/ Students are responsible for checking their email address
linked to Blackboard system so that they are assured of remaining up-to-date with
reading assignments, exam dates, and any other information relating to the course.
Outline of Topics and Readings
August 21 – Introduction of Course, Syllabus Review
August 26 – Methodological Orientation: What is Hinduism?

Flood, Preface through p. 22

“Who Invented Hinduism?” in David Lorenzon, Who Invented Hinduism? Essays
on Religion in History. New Delhi, Yoda Press, 2006.

Discussion of Research Methods in Religious Studies
August 28 – Orientation to the subcontinent

Flood, 23-35

Mapping exercise
September 2 and 4 – Indo-European Mythology, Linguistics, and Archeology

Dumezil, Destiny of a King, 1-27

Colin Renfrew, Archaeology & Language. The Puzzle of the Indo-European
Origins. London: Jonathan Cape, 1987.
September 9 – Counter-Arguments to the Indo-European Hypothesis

John Brough, “The Tripartite Ideology of the Indo-Europeans: An Experiment in
Method,” Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies 22 (1959), no. 1/3, 6985.
September 11 and 16 – Indus Valley Civilization

Flood, 127-174

Jane McIntosh, A Peaceful Realm: The Rise And Fall of the Indus Civilization.
Boulder: Westview Press, 2001.

Discussion of Research Methods in Religious Studies: research paper
methodology and standards
September 18 and 23 – The Vedic Vision of Reality

Flood, 35-50

O’Flaherty, 1-46
September 25, 30, and October 2 – Upaniṣadic Religiosity

Flood, 51-102

Introduction and Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad in S. Radhakrishnan, The Principal
Upaniṣads. Atlantic Highlands, NJ: Humanities Press, 1953.

Introduction in Swāmi Āraṇya, Yoga Philosophy of Pataňjali. Albany, N.Y.: State
University of New York, 1983.
October 7 and 9 – Mythology and Epics

Flood, 103-127

O’Flaherty, 46-91 and 138-187

Cornelia Dimmitt and J.A.B van Buitenen, Classic Hindu Mythology: A Reader in
the Sanskrit Purāṇas. Delhi: Sri Satguru, 1998, 1-99
October 14 – Fall Break – No class
October 16, 21, and 23 – Bhagavad Gita

Flood, 128-147

Stephen Mitchell, Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation. New York: Three Rivers
Press, 2002.

Discussion of Research Methods in Religious Studies: paper proposals
October 28-30 – Vedanta and Philosophy

Flood, 224-249

O’Flaherty, 91-131
November 4 – No class
November 6 and 11 – Śaivism, the Goddess, and Tantra

Flood, 148-197

O’Flaherty, 131-138

David Gordon White, The Alchemical Body. Chicago: University of Chicago
Press, 1996, Preface-14 and 263-334.
November 13 – Women in India

Wendy Doniger O’Flaherty, Women, Androgynes, and Other Mythical Beasts.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982, chapters 1-3.
November 18 and 20 – Ritual Life

Flood, 198-223.
November 25 – Art and Architecture

Movie at http://www.akshardham.com/
November 27 – Thanksgiving break – No class
December 2 – Contemporary Expression of Hinduism

Flood, 250-273

David Smith, Hinduism and Modernity. Oxford: Blackwell, 2003, 3-20 and 181198.
PAPERS DUE
December 3 – CLASSES END
December 11 – FINAL EXAM - 11:00 - 1:30 Thursday, December 11