Course Syllabus
Athabasca University
Religious Studies (RELS) 204
Introduction to World Religions (Revision 2)
This version of RELS 204 closed. To current version
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Delivery mode: Individualized study.
Credits: 6 - Humanities
Prerequisite: None.
Centre: Centre for Global and Social Analysis
RELS 204 has a Challenge for Credit option
Course Web site
Overview
RELS 204 is a junior-level course designed to acquaint students with the major religious traditions of the world, and to the academic discipline of religious studies.
The religions studied are Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. They are examined through a study of their history, doctrinal concerns and development, literature, and ritual practices.
Outline
Unit 1: Methodology and Introduction
Unit 2: Judaism
Unit 3: Christianity
Unit 4: Islam
Unit 5: Hinduism
Unit 6: Buddhism
Unit 7: Chinese Religions
Evaluation
To receive credit for RELS 204, you must submit all assignments and achieve a course composite grade of at least “D” (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| 2 Exercises (10% each) | 2 Research Papers (20% each) | 2 Exams (20% each) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20% | 40% | 40% | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Course Materials
Textbooks
Ludwig, Theodore M. 2001. The Sacred Paths, 3rd. ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Smart, Ninian, and Richard D. Hecht, eds. 1982. Sacred Texts of the World: A Universal Anthology. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company.
Other materials
The course materials include a study guide and a student manual.