Syllabus

[[Introduction to the Study of Religion]]

REL 100 Section 002

Fall 2015, Lecture

Dr. Nathan Loewen

Email: nrloewen@ua.edu

Office: 3033 Houser Hall

Graduate Teaching Assistant: Paul Eubanks (pneubanks@crimson.ua.edu)

REL Department Office: Manly Hall 212

REL Department Website: http://religion.ua.edu/

Office Hours and Contact Information

Dr. Loewen: 10-12 most Fridays, or by appointment

Mr. Eubanks: 10-12 Tuesdays and Thursdays

Prerequisites

UA Course Catalog Prerequisites

No prerequisites or none listed.

Course Description

UA Course Catalog Information

[[catalog_description]]

Core Designations:

Humanities

As a general introduction to the academic study of religion, REL 100 is focused on the problem of defining religion, in theory and in practice. This Core Humanities course examines classic approaches to defining and explaining the relationships between religion and human beliefs, practices, and culture. Doing so will identify the theories of religion's role or purpose implicit in each surveying a broad number of debates in the history of Religious Studies, such as the definition of religion, the insider/outsider problem, and theories about the origins and function of religion. This course is an ideal way to introduce yourself to the academic study of religion as carried out in a public university. HU INB

Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students are expected to learn how to:

1. Explain key terms and concepts related to the academic study of religion.

2. Identify and distinguish among various theories of religion.

3. Apply theories of religion in the analysis of discourses and topical issues.

4. Deploy reading and research skills in the service of religious studies.

5. Describe some of the beliefs, practices, texts and institutions of relevance to the people studied by scholars of religion.

Required Texts

UA Supply Store Textbook Information

[[requiredTexts]]

Please alert the professor if you have trouble aquiring the textbook.

Online content: The course site on Blackboard will contain files and links that will be studied in this course. You must be registered for this course to access this content (https://ualearn.blackboard.com). The course schedule, posted on Blackboard, will list the content for which students will be responsible.

Emergency Contact Information

UA's primary communication tool for sending out information is through its web site at www.ua.edu. In the event of an emergency, students should consult this site for further directions. Additional course information will be posted using Blackboard Learn.

Severe Weather Guidelines

The guiding principle at The University of Alabama is to promote the personal safety of our students, faculty and staff during severe weather events. It is impossible to develop policies which anticipate every weather-related emergency. These guidelines are intended to provide additional assistance for responding to severe weather on campus.

UA is a residential campus with many students living on or near campus. In general classes will remain in session until the National Weather Service issues safety warnings for the city of Tuscaloosa. Clearly, some students and faculty commute from adjacent counties. These counties may experience weather related problems not encountered in Tuscaloosa. Individuals should follow the advice of the National Weather Service for that area taking the necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service and the Emergency Management Agency issue a warning, people in the path of the storm (tornado or severe thunderstorm) should take immediate life saving actions.

When West Alabama is under a severe weather advisory, conditions can change rapidly. It is imperative to get to where you can receive information from the National Weather Service and to follow the instructions provided. Personal safety should dictate the actions that faculty, staff and students take.

The Office of University Relations will disseminate the latest information regarding conditions on campus in the following ways:

Weather advisory posted on the UA homepage
Weather advisory sent out through UA Alerts to faculty, staff and students
Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA at 90.7 FM
Weather advisory broadcast over Alabama Public Radio (WUAL) at 91.5 FM
Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA-TV/WUOA-TV, and on the website at http://wvuatv.com/content/weather. WVUA-TV Home Team Weather provides a free service you can subscribe to which allows you to receive weather warnings for Tuscaloosa via e-mail or cell phone. Check http://wvuatv.com/content/free-email-weather-alerts for more details and to sign up for weather alerts.

In the case of a tornado warning (tornado has been sighted or detected by radar; sirens activated), all university activities are automatically suspended, including all classes and laboratories. If you are in a building, please move immediately to the lowest level and toward the center of the building away from windows (interior classrooms, offices, or corridors) and remain there until the tornado warning has expired. Classes in session when the tornado warning is issued can resume immediately after the warning has expired at the discretion of the instructor. Classes that have not yet begun will resume 30 minutes after the tornado warning has expired provided at least half of the class period remains.

Disability Statement

If you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary.

If you have a disability, but have not contacted the Office of Disability Services, please call (205) 348-4285 (Voice) or (205) 348-3081 (TTY) or visit 133-B Martha Parham Hall East to register for services. Students who may need course adaptations because of a disability are welcome to make an appointment to see me during office hours. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services, 133-B Martha Parham Hall East, before receiving academic adjustments.

Policy on Academic Misconduct

All students in attendance at The University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University of Alabama expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. At the beginning of each semester and on examinations and projects, the professor, department, or division may require that each student sign the following Academic Honor Pledge: “I promise or affirm that I will not at any time be involved with cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or misrepresentation while enrolled as a student at The University of Alabama. I have read the Academic Honor Code, which explains disciplinary procedure resulting from the aforementioned. I understand that violation of this code will result in penalties as severe as indefinite suspension from the University.”

See the Code of Student Conduct for more information.

UAct: Ethical Community Statement

The University of Alabama is committed to an ethical, inclusive community defined by respect and civility. The UAct website (http://www.ua.edu/uact) provides extensive information on how to report or obtain assistance with a variety of issues, including issues related to dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, sexual violence or other Title IX violations, illegal discrimination, harassment, child abuse or neglect, hazing, threat assessment, retaliation, and ethical violations or fraud.