Course Syllabus – SPRING 2012

  HIST 4250 - Section 01 (23572)
  History of World Religions

Instructor: Dr. David Gilbert                       

E-mail: davidgilbert@clayton.edu

[Students should use e-mail within GeorgiaView]

Classroom: : Lecture Hall: B-11

M & F:  8:25 a.m. to 9:40 a.m. 

Office:  Arts & Sciences 110-J

Telephone: (678) 466-4815

Office Hours:  M-W-F  9:50 to 10:50 a.m. & 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. and Tuesday  11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  and by appointment.

Course Description:  This is a senior-level history course required for Middle Grades Education Social Science majors, and an elective course for History and other baccalaureate programs. The course traces the origin and development of the world’s major religious traditions and examines their impact on human history. The course also explores the key beliefs and practices of each religion. (3.0 semester credit hours)

Prerequisites:  HIST 1111 with a minimum US grade of D. 

Required Textbooks (2): 

1. World Religions: A Historical Approach (4th Edition) by S.A. Nigosian (Bedford/St. Martins's, 2008) [ISBN 0-312-44237-8] 

2. Islam Observed: Religious Development in Morocco and Indonesia by Clifford Geertz (The University of Chicago Press, 1968) [ISBN 0-226-28511-1]

Important Dates (Subject to modification):

January 9               First day of class

January 16             MLK Holiday

February 10           Class meets in Testing Center

March 4                 Last day to withdraw without academic penalty

March 5 – 12         Spring Break                    

April 30                 Last day of class

May 3 - 7              Final Exams

Mid-term Progress Report:

The mid-term grade in this course, issued on March 1, reflects approximately 40% of the entire course grade.  Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a grade of "W."  Students pursuing this option must fill out an official withdrawal form, available in the Office of the Registrar, by March 4.

Disability:

In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), Clayton State University honors all requests for reasonable accommodations made by individuals with disabilities.  Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 255, 678-466-5445, disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu

Computer Use in This Course:

Students are required to have reliable access to a computer that can utilize GeorgiaView. This will be the primary forum for posting assignments and announcements for the course.  This site is also the preferred method for communicating with your instructor and tracking your grade.

NOTE: Since surfing the internet is distracting to oneself and others, personal computers may be used in the classroom for note-taking only. 

Please make certain that your computer is configured properly by completing the tutorial located at: http://ctl.clayton.edu/cid/tutorials/Vista/student/vistahelp.htm

Computer Skill Prerequisites:

•   Able to use the WindowsTM operating system
•   Able to use Microsoft WordTM word processing
•   Able to send and receive e-mail
•   Able to use a Web browser.
•   Able to access GeorgiaView

Assessment of Student Learning:

Tests:  There will four tests (including a final exam) during the semester. These may include multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, true/false, short answer, identifications and essay questions.  Students are required to bring a SCANTRON form to each test.  Students may not leave the room for any reason during an exam. It is also important to arrive on time for all exams. Once any member of the class has finished an exam and exited the room, no late students will be allowed to begin the test.

NOTE: Using a cell phone for any reason during a test will automatically result in a zero for the exam.

Make-up exams will be given for valid and documented absences only.  It is the responsibility of the student to schedule make-up exams within 24 hours of a missed exam and supply the instructor with required documentation.  NOTE:  Although make-up exams cover the same material, they may have a different format than the original test.

 Quizzes:   In-class quizzes will be utilized to gauge student progress in the course.  There is no make-up for missed in-class quizzes. 

 Writing:  To improve historical thinking and writing skills, there will be five graded in-class writing activities over the course of the semester.

Attendance:  Ten unexcused absences will automatically result in a failing grade for the course. (Excused absences require written documentation from a physician or other competent authority.)  It is the responsibility of individual students to obtain any information or materials from missed classes.  

Extra Credit:  Final grades are based on completion of the actual course requirements.  No "extra credit" is available in this course. 

Grade Components:

Tests (4)              20% each

Quizzes:               10%

Writing:               10%
 

University System of Georgia Grading Scale:

A = 90 percent or higher      (Excellent)

B = 80 to 89 percent            (Good)

C = 70 to 79 percent            (Satisfactory)

D = 60 to 69 percent            (Passing)

F = below 60 percent           (Failure)

Course Policies:

Students must abide by all policies in the Clayton State University Student Handbook, and the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities.

University Attendance Policy:

Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students' ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not, are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades.

Classroom Conduct:

As a courtesy to others, please turn off all pagers and cell phones before entering the classroom. Once class has begun, students may not read newspapers, send or receive text messages, hold private conversations, or engage in any activities that might be disruptive to others.  University policy prohibits students from bringing food into the classroom.

NOTE:  The permission of the instructor is required for audio taping of course lectures or discussion.

 Disruption of the Learning Environment:

Behavior which disrupts the teaching–learning process during class activities will not tolerated. While a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting, more serious examples include belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior.  A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class.  A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights as soon as possible following dismissal.  If found in violation, a student may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF.

Academic Honesty:

Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses and will result in failing the particular examination or assignment and/or the course based on the judgment of the instructor.  Cheating includes using unauthorized notes or copying another student's answers on a test. It also includes copying someone else’s homework, which will result in penalties for both parties involved. Plagiarism is presenting someone else's words or ideas as your own, without proper citation. This includes direct copying or paraphrasing information from other sources, including the internet. Clayton State University Judicial procedures are described at: http://adminservices.clayton.edu/judicial/

General Education Outcomes:

Along with historical content, HIST 4250 is also designed to help develop and promote certain logical and analytical skills that every college graduate is expected to have. The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia mandates that every college graduate must be able to think or to reason critically, and this course is intended to help teach students to learn to think, analytically, contextually, and diachronically, regardless of your major or future vocation. Among the skills that you will acquire and/or develop this semester are:

·     Reading comprehension: The ability to identify the ideas in something you have read and differentiate the "thesis" or major theme being presented from the evidence supporting it.  The sources for this skill are reading the textbook.

·     Listening comprehension: The ability to listen to what someone has to say and identify what is important. The sources for this are the instructions given by the instructor.

·     Identifying evidence: While it is one thing to see evidence when it is clearly labeled in a lecture or text, it is something else to analyze primary sources in which evidence is not clearly indicated.  The source for this evidence will be primary documents used in the course.

·     Selectivity: This skill includes examining relevant material(s) and leaving out extraneous information. You will do this whenever you take notes or answer a question on an exam.

·     Communication skills: The ability to write in such a way that clearly communicates your ideas to others. The sources for this are the in-class writing activities and written components of the exams. See Clayton State University Writing Criteria.

·     Viewing comprehension: This includes looking at various materials and identifying important ideas and concepts. The source for this material presented in the class and in the textbook.

·     Computer Skills: Students will be introduced to on-line information dealing History through links provided on the GeorgiaVIEW component of the course. 

READING SCHEDULE (Subject to Change)

See GeorgiaVIEW for updates 

For Teacher Education Students:

The content of this course syllabus also correlates to education standards established by national and state education governing agencies, accrediting agencies and learned society/professional education associations. Please refer to the course correlation matrices located at the following web site:  http://a-s.clayton.edu/teachered/Standards%20and%20Outcomes.htm .

.

In addition to helping students to improve and/or foster the above skills, this course either meets or exceeds the standard course objectives recommended by the Georgia Department of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).  It also addresses Program Outcomes 1, 2, 3 & 5, as adopted by the history faculty at Clayton State University.

Conceptual Framework:

The mission of the Teacher Education Unit is to prepare professional educators who engage in reflective practice and who are competent, caring, committed, collaborative, culturally responsive, and prepared to teach diverse learners in an ever-changing society.  For the complete CSU Teacher Education Unit Conceptual Framework, follow the link below.

Teacher Education Policy:

The content of this course syllabus correlates to education standards established by national and state education governing agencies, accrediting agencies and learned society/ professional education associations.  Please refer to the course correlation matrices located at the following web site:

http://a-s.clayton.edu/teachered/Standards%20and%20Outcomes.htm