HomeMy WebLinkAboutPHR-122Departmental Policy Syllabus
1/31/05; revised, 5/7/14, 5/8/14
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Bergen Community College
Division of Arts & Humanities
Department of Philosophy & Religion
Course Syllabus
PHR-122 Women and Religion
Basic Information about Course and Instructor
Semester and year:
Section Number:
Meeting Times and Locations:
Instructor:
Office Location:
Phone:
Departmental Secretary: [optional]
Office Hours:
Email Address:
Course Description
PHR-122 Women and Religion analyzes the relationship of women to the major religious traditions of
the world, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and others. The course will
examine such issues as religious statements about the nature of women, religious codes of behavior for
women, and the extent and nature of women's religious participation within the various traditions.
3 lectures, 3 credits
General Education Course – Humanities Elective
Student Learning Objectives: As a result of meeting the requirements in this course, students will be
able to
1. analyze, evaluate, and explain women's relationships to major religious traditions;
2. assess statements about women's nature made by major religious traditions;
3. assess religious codes of behavior addressed specifically to women;
4. evaluate the level of women's participation in various religious traditions;
5. describe and explain the interplay between societal norms and religious expressions of those
norms;
6. locate, evaluate, and use effectively information from a variety of relevant sources;
7. state and support in clear, logical, and concise writing their own views on philosophical issues; and
8. participate actively in discussions of philosophical ideas and issues (re: SLOs 1-5).
Departmental Policy Syllabus
1/31/05; revised, 5/7/14, 5/8/14
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In pursuit of these objectives, students will be required to read and discuss both primary and secondary
sources. There will also be substantial critical and analytical writing projects.
Learning Assessment
The Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) in this course are intended to be aligned with as many of the
college's General Education Goals as possible. They are also correlated with the overall Learning Goals
of the Philosophy Program. In addition, student progress in reaching the course's SLOs is to be
assessed through various means of assessment, such as the "Suggested Means of Assessment" listed
below.
Student Learning Objective Suggested Means of Assessment
1. analyze, evaluate, and explain women's relationships to
major religious traditions.
Essay examinations
Quizzes and objective tests
Writing assignments
2. assess statements about women's nature made by major
religious traditions.
Essay examinations
Quizzes and objective tests
Writing assignments
Graded class presentations
3. assess religious codes of behavior addressed specifically to
women.
Essay examinations
Quizzes and objective tests
Writing assignments
Graded class presentations
4. evaluate the level of women's participation in various
religious traditions.
Essay examinations
Quizzes and objective tests
Writing assignments
Graded class presentations
5. describe and explain the interplay between societal norms
and religious expressions of those norms.
Essay examinations
Quizzes and objective tests
Writing assignments
Graded class presentations
6. locate, evaluate, and use effectively information from a
variety of relevant sources;
Writing assignments*
Graded class presentations
7. state and support in clear, logical, and concise writing their
own views on issues covered in the course; and
Essay examinations
Writing assignments
8. participate actively in discussions of ideas and issues
covered in the course (re: SLOs 1-5).
Graded class discussions
*Writing assignments for the purpose of assessing student success on SLO 5 will include r esearch and
writing projects, possibly including term papers, in which a student identifies an information need,
accesses and evaluates appropriate resources, and uses the information effectively and ethically for a
specific purpose.
Course Content
This course analyzes the lives and contributions of women in the major religious traditions of the world,
including Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and indigenous,
ancient and native religions. It examines religious views about the nature of women, religious codes of
behavior involving women, feminine images and expressions of the divine, and women's religious
participation and roles within the various traditions, including the analysis of religion's impact on women
by female scholars.
Departmental Policy Syllabus
1/31/05; revised, 5/7/14, 5/8/14
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Special Features of the Course (if any) [to be designated by the instructor]
E.g., the use of learning technologies in the course (Internet, PowerPoint, web enhancement via a parallel
course website, etc.); the inclusion of technological literacy learning in the course; etc.
Course Texts and/or Other Study Materials
Recommended Texts:
There is no single textbook that addresses all the aspects of this cour se, although there are several very
good books that examine women's relationship to individual religions. As these works, however, often
presuppose a background knowledge of the religions that students may not have, it is probably wiser to
use anthologies such as those recommended here.
Christ, Carol, and Judith Plaskow, eds. Womanspirit Rising: A Feminist Reader in Religion.
San Francisco: Harper, 1992.
Sharma, Arvind, and Katherine K. Young, eds. Feminism and World Religions. Albany:
SUNY, 1999.
Very good, but more specialized, are the following:
Reuther, Rosemary Radford. Women and Redemption: A Theological History. Minneapolis: Fortress,
1998 (Christianity)
Gross, Rita M. Buddhism after Patriarchy. Albany: SUNY, 1993
Toubia, Nahid, ed. Women of the Arab World: The Coming Challenge. London: Zed, 1988
Sahab, Fatna. Women in the Muslim Unconscious. New York: Pergamon, 1984
Mitter, Sara. Dharma's Daughters: Contemporary Indian Women and Hindu Culture. New Brunswick:
Rutgers UP, 1991
Plaskow, Judith. Standing Again at Sinai: Judaism from a Feminist Perspective. San Francisco: Harper,
1991.
Writing and Critical Thinking Requirement(s)
Because PHR-122 is a General Education course, it requires students to complete a variety of critical
thinking and writing assignments. These assignments may include class discussions and debates
requiring the application of critical thinking skills, short in -class essays, out-of-class writing projects
(journals, research papers, argument-analysis papers, book reviews, etc.), tests and examinations
containing essay components, and so forth. Instructors will respond to and comment on students' writing
in detail.
Grading Policy
A student's final grade for the course is based primarily on his or her performance on the required work
for the course (writing assignments, examinations, class presentations, etc.) and on his or her overall
mastery of the material covered in the course. A student's class participation may also be evaluated, and
the grade thereon may be used as a factor in determining the student's final grade for the course; but a
class participation grade will count for no more than twenty percent (20%) of the final grade. A student's
research and writing work will count at least fifty percent (50%) of the final grade.
Departmental Policy Syllabus
1/31/05; revised, 5/7/14, 5/8/14
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Attendance Policy
BCC Attendance Policy:
All students are expected to attend punctually every scheduled meeting of each course in which they are
registered. Attendance and lateness policies and sanctions are to be determined by the instructor for
each section of each course. These will be established in writing on the individual course outline.
Attendance will be kept by the instructor for administrative and counseling purposes.
Philosophy and Religion Departmental Attendance Policy:
Students are expected to attend class regularly and punctually. Attendance will be taken at each class
session. It is expected that class will be conducted such that students will benefit in their written work by
the lectures and class discussion. If students occasionally arrive late, they should be encouraged to enter
quietly, not disturbing the class. If students miss class, they should be encouraged to use the course
calendar to stay abreast of material. It is probably a good idea for students to find study partners a nd to
exchange telephone numbers. Make-ups for examinations should be allowed by the instructor if, in the
instructor's judgment, the student has presented a good excuse for missing the work. Instructors may
penalize work which is late; however, the instructor's policies for make-ups and late work must be clearly
specified on the student guide.
Attendance Policy in this Course:
[To be designated by the instructor]
Other College, Divisional, and/or Departmental Policy Statements [optional but recommended]
Examples:
Statement on plagiarism and/or academic dishonesty.
ADA statement.
Sexual Harassment statement.
Statement on acceptable use of BCC technology.
Statement on the purpose and value of faculty office hours.
Student and Faculty Support Services [optional but recommended]
List support services, e.g., the Writing Center, the Math Lab, the Tutorial Center, Online Writing Lab
(OWL), Office of Specialized Services, etc. Include information on the BCC Library.
Example:
Departmental Policy Syllabus
1/31/05; revised, 5/7/14, 5/8/14
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Student and Faculty Support Services
The Distance Learning Office – for
any problems you may have
accessing your online courses
Room C-334 201-612-5581
psimms@bergen.edu
Smarthinking Tutorial Service On Line at: http://www.bergen.edu/pages1/Pages/4787.aspx
The Tutoring Center Room L-125 201-447-7908
http://www.bergen.edu/pages1/pages/2192.aspx
The Writing Center Room L-125 201-447-7908
http://www.bergen.edu/pages1/Pages/1795.aspx
The Office of Specialized Services
(for Students with Disabilities)
Room S-131 201-612-5270
http://www.bergen.edu/oss
BCC Library – Reference Desk Room L-226 201-447-7436
Special Note on the Tutoring Center
The Henry and Edith Cerullo Learning Assistance Center encompasses the Tutoring Center, the English
Language Resource Center, and the Writing Center. The website of the Learning Assistance Center is
located at www.bergen.edu/pages/2192.asp. Tutoring services are available for this course in the
Tutoring Center. I strongly recommend that you make use of those services as we pr ogress through the
course. As listed above, the Tutoring Center is located in Room L -125, and its phone number is 201-447-
7908.
Include the following statement on Logos – The BCC Philosophy & Religion Club
Logos – The BCC Philosophy & Religion Club
Logos usually meets on Tuesdays during the Activities Period, 12:30-1:25 PM, but sometimes also on
different days and at different times. I encourage you to join the club. Since you are interested in the
study of philosophy, you should find the meetings and o ther activities of the Philosophy & Religion club
very interesting. For further information, check the Philosophy & Religion bulletin board adjacent to Room
L-325A or contact LOGOS Advisor, Professor Jennifer Lyden (L -326, 201-493-3540,
jlyden@bergen.edu). (LOGOS does not hold regular meetings during the summer.)
Include a Course Outline and Calendar [can be combined in a single syllabus section]
The Course Outline and Calendar must include all of the following elements:
A daily or (at least) weekly schedule of topics to be covered.
Dates for exams, quizzes, or other means of assessment. (This does not mean that all evaluation
of students must be in groups and at the same time. Exams and other means of assessment can
be listed as "to be scheduled individually.")
Due dates for major assignments – e.g., when is a paper due; if the topic has to be approved,
when; if an outline or draft is an interim step, when it is due.
Any required special events must be included in the outline/calendar, e.g., a lecture by a visiting
speaker, a dramatic or musical performance, a field trip.
Designation of Student Learning Objectives – by number – for each topic (see sample below).
A note to students stating that the course outline and calendar is tentative and subject to cha nge,
depending upon the progress of the class.
Departmental Policy Syllabus
1/31/05; revised, 5/7/14, 5/8/14
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Sample Format for Course Outline and Calendar
Note to Students: The following Course Outline and Calendar is tentative and subject to change,
depending upon the progress of the class.
Week(s) Date(s) Topic/Activity Learning
Objectives Assignments/Events
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
SAMPLE COURSE OUTLINE
Note: This section of the departmental syllabus is under revision in order to bring it into
conformity with the BCC policy on the layout and content of syllabi for general education courses.
Required Texts: Christ, Carol, and Judith Plaskow, eds. Womanspirit Rising: A Feminist
Reader in Religion. San Francisco: Harper, 1992.
Sharma, Arvind, and Katherine K. Young, eds. Feminism and World
Religions. Albany: SUNY, 1999.
Course Requirements:
1. Students must complete all reading assignments by the date specified on the Calendar of
Assignments.
2. Students must participate fully in class discussions of the assigned readings.
3. Students must write two short research papers (4-5 typed pages) drawn from topics listed on the
Supplemental Assignment sheet. Papers must conform to MLA style of documentation.
4. There will be a midterm and a final examination.
5. Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes. Excessive absences will seriously affect a
student's final grade.
Evaluation: 20% each paper; 20% midterm; 20% final exam; 20% class participation.
Calendar of Assignments
Week 1 Introduction to course; theoretical principles. Sharma and Young, pp. 18-21.
Week 2 God Language.
Mary Daly in Christ and Plaskow, pp. 53-2; Rita Gross in Christ and
Plaskow, pp. 167-73.
Departmental Policy Syllabus
1/31/05; revised, 5/7/14, 5/8/14
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Week 3 Judaism.
Phyllis Trible in Christ and Plaskow, pp. 74-83; Judith Plaskow in Christ and
Plaskow, pp. 179-84.
Week 4 Judaism, cont’d.
Ellen Umansky in Sharma and Young, pp. 179-213.
Week 5 Christianity.
Rosemary Reuther in Christ and Plaskow, pp. 43-52; Elisabeth Fiorenza in
Christ and Plaskow, pp. 84-92.
FIRST PAPER DUE
Week 6 Christianity, cont’d.
Eleanor McGlaughlin in Christ and Plaskow, pp. 93-106; Elisabeth Fiorenza in
Christ and Plaskow, pp. 136-148.
Week 7 MIDTERM EXAM
Week 8 Islam.
Riffat Hassan in Sharma and Young, pp. 248-78.
Week 9 Islam, cont’d.
Handouts.
Week 10 Hinduism.
Vasudha Narayanan in Sharma and Young, pp. 25-77.
Week 11 Buddhism.
Rita Gross in Sharma and Young, pp. 78-109.
Week 12 African Religions.
Handouts.
SECOND PAPER DUE
Week 13 Native American Religions.
Handouts.
Week 14 Woman-centered alternatives.
Starhawk in Christ and Plaskow, pp. 259-68; Christ in Christ and Plaskow,
pp. 273-287.
Week 15 FINAL EXAM and course wrap-up