RELN 366: Religion Travel Course
Prerequisites: Permission of the Office of Student Affairs and instructor
Credit Hours: (3)
This course combines a selected topic in religious studies with an international or domestic travel component providing an opportunity for “on location” study of religion by immersing students in living religious cultures and by exploring archaeological and material remains as well as the geography of sites of religious significance. This course may be taken again for credit with different topics or areas of study. This course may be taken twice with a different topic each time. Enrollment requires instructor approval.
Detailed Description of Content of Course
This course provides for integrating the content of existing RELN courses and/or new or special-ized course content with travel, international or domestic. Each time this course is offered, the topic and a detailed description of the course content and schedule will be submitted to the De-partment Curriculum Committee.
Detailed Description of Course
This course will combine classroom teaching with international or domestic travel. Topics in reli-gious studies will be targeted each time the course is taught, but examples of topics may include (but are not limited to) a historical geography of the Old Testament with travel to Israel and Jordan; an archaeological study of the New Testament with travel to Italy, Greece, Turkey and/or Israel; or an introduction to Hinduism and Buddhism with travel to India, China, or Japan. The Department Curriculum Committee will review course content and schedule each time it is taught.
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
In addition to international travel, this course may include lectures, discussions, videos, group and individual presentations, and guest speakers.
Student Goals and Objectives of the Course
1. Students will describe living religious cultures and relate those cultures to the academic study of the religious tradition in question, as well as relating aspects of living religious cultures to var-ious religious texts and traditions.
2. Students will identify geographic features and relate those features to religious narratives and traditions.
3. Students will demonstrate familiarity with the material remains of the locations being visited and relate the material remains to religious narratives and traditions.
4. Students will analyze religious traditions in light of their travel experience and explain how their travel experience impacts their understanding of the particular religion being studied.
*The methods used to measure these objectives will be determined by the instructor.
Assessment Measures
Different faculty members may teach this course. Each individual instructor will determine the specifics of the evaluation process. Assessment measures may include: essay examinations, quizzes, objective tests, journals, individual oral reports, group presentations, written assign-ments, projects, research papers, evaluation of class participation, and class attendance.
Other Course Information
This course may be used to fulfill a department elective for all Philosophy and Religious Studies majors. All course information is subject to review by the Department Curriculum Committee each time the course is taught.
Review and Approval
March 28, 2012