Course Content and Outcome Guide for HST 247
- Date:
- 08-OCT-2008
- Posted by:
- Curriculum Office
- Course Number:
- HST 247
- Course Title:
- Religion in U.S. since 1840
- Credit Hours:
- 4
- Lecture hours:
- 40
- Lecture/Lab hours:
- 0
- Lab hours:
- 0
- Special Fee:
Course Description
Covers basic features of native American religions, European backgrounds of Christianity, development of different religious groups in the United States and their impact on American life. Prerequisite: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores.Intended Outcomes for the course
After successful completion of HST 247 the student will be able to:
- Use critical thinking to analyze and evaluate the nature and impact of religion on American life and culture.
- Understand and appreciate the value of a diversity of religious beliefs.
- Engage in private and public discussions involving the construction of fact-based arguments regarding issues in the history of religion in the United States.
Outcome Assessment Strategies
The SAC expects that instructors will assess student learning throughout the term using a variety of methods. The SAC encourages instructors to consider the following in determining the achievement of course outcomes:
-
Analyze primary and secondary sources of information.
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Individual or team oral presentations.
-
Formal written papers that present and analyze historical topics or issues.
-
Participation in, and contribution to, all class and team discussions and activities.
-
Quizzes, exams, and exercises
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Evaluate different interpretations of the same event.
-
Associate past events to contemporary times.
Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)
Themes
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Changes and persistence in religious beliefs or practices
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Religion and politics
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Religious movements, revivalism
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Theological commonalities among religious beliefs
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Intolerance
Concepts
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Religious freedom
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Civic religion
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Religious pluralism
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Self-understanding (world view)
-
Utopian communities
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Millennialism
Issues
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Freedom of religion
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“Immigrant” churches
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Ethnicity, gender and social class
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Inter- and intra-religious controversies
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Religious “crusades” and "revivals"
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Acculturation
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Anti-Communism
-
Post-modernism
COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS
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Critical thinking
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Evaluate interpretations of historical events
-
Effective communication orally and in writing
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Analyze the causal relationship between two or more historical events
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Problem solving
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Working collaboratively with others
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Clearly articulate thoughts to a given audience
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Close reading of primary and secondary sources by drawing on prior knowledge