Sociology (SOCI) 231

Overview

Sociology 231: Sociology of Religion is designed to introduce students to the study of religion from a sociological perspective.

Course Objectives

The course author has the following three overarching objectives:

1. to provide instruction in the process of critical sociological thinking.
2. to present a historical and sociological overview of religion in the world.
3. to encourage awareness and questioning of religious belief systems, including those aspects of the scientific world view that broach religious questions and topics.

Outline

Sociology 231 consists of the six units listed below:

• Unit 1: Introduction
• Unit 2: Opportunistic Corruption
• Unit 3: Superstition, Violence, Intolerance and Evil
• Unit 4: Emergent Religions and Unorganized Belief Systems
• Unit 5: Opportunism Revisited
• Unit 6: Conclusion

Evaluation

To receive credit for Sociology 231, you must achieve a minimum grade of “D” (50 percent) on the final examinations, and an overall grade of “D” (50 percent) for the entire course. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

Assign- ment 1	Assign- ment 2	Research Essay Outline	Assign- ment 3	Assign- ment 4	Assign- ment 5	Forum Participation	Research Essay	Final Exam	Total
10%	10%	5%	10%	10%	10%	10%	15%	20%	100%

The final examination for this course must be taken online with an AU approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators that can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbooks

Other Materials

The course materials also include an online study guide and course manual.

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.

Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the SOCI 321 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least “D” (50 percent) on the examination.

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form