Course Syllabus HIST 1115 /RELS 1115

Introduction to World Religions: Eastern Traditions Class Schedule: Professor: Craig Skrumedi e-mail:craig_skrumedi@cbu.ca – send all e-mails to this address VERY IMPORTANT: All messages are to be sent to this email address. Do not attempt to contact me through Moodle messaging - otherwise you will not receive a response. Please send all emails directly from your CBU email account. Moodle messaging is not the same as sending an email directly from your CBU account. Use your CBU email. Course Description: First, I'd like to welcome everyone to the class. I hope students find the class stimulating and at times thought provoking. I wish you all the best of luck. Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns that may arise during the semester. I typically respond to emails within 24 hours. If you haven't received a response within 24 hours, send your email again. This is your course, so do not hesitate to email me. As an overview, the history, practice, and meaning of the Hindu and Buddhist traditions will be examined along with Jainism and Sikhism. Their contribution to our understanding of religion as a whole and present day role of these traditions in world events will be discussed. We will begin by examining the concept of religion and the development of various disciplines for the modern study of religion. We will examine the history, worldviews, doctrines, rituals and practices of the major Eastern religions. Course Evaluation: Students have the option to write their exams at anytime within the exam period. This means that students can pick a time within the exam period to write their exam. Students do not have to come to CBU to write their exams. Students can write from a secure Internet connection, e.g., like the one in your home or residence. However, students can only access Moodle and the exam once during this period. Make sure you are fully prepared to write the exam when you login to Moodle, as this will be your only attempt. All exams will be two hours in duration. The exam period begins at 8:00 am Atlantic Standard Time (AST) and will close at 11:55 pm Atlantic Standard Time (AST). Also, if a student wants to start the exam at the latest possible time while still having the full two hours, then the exam attempt must start at 9:55 pm. Midterm Exam 1 (40%) - Section 1: Chapter 6 - Hindu Traditions and Lecture Material

Midterm Exam 2 (30%) - Section 2: Chapter 8 - Buddhist Traditions and Lecture Material Final Exam (30%) - Section 3: Chapter 9 - Sikh Traditions and Chapter 7 - Jaina Traditions plus Lecture Material N.B. Lecture material will be unavailable during the exam periods. It is your responsibility to make copies of the material prior to the exams. I suggest students do this as soon as possible because last minute technical issues will not serve as valid reasons. I will not, under any circumstance, make the lecture material available during the examination. Students requiring special accommodation should contact the Jennifer Keeping Accessibility Centre at www.cbu.ca/jkac for available resources and inform me of your needs at the beginning of the course, not during the exam periods. Exam dates are not negotiable and extensions will not be granted except for documented medical and/or compassionate grounds. If students require an extension for the above mentioned reasons, you must contact me within 24 hours to make alternate arrangements. Required Text: The following work is available in the CBU bookstore, and is required for this course: Oxtoby, Amore, Hussain, & Segal (eds). A Concise Introduction to World Religions (Oxford University Press, 2015). Third Edition. Do not buy the second edition of this book as the material has changed. I repeat, do not buy the second edition. A copy is at the reserve desk at CBU library. Ask the librarian for assistance if you are unclear as to how to access reserve documents. Lecture Outline: The lectures have been divided in the following manner and each new section will be made available at the end of the midterms. Section 1: Defining Religion and Chapter 6: Hindu Traditions Section 2: Chapter 8: Buddhist Traditions Section 3: Chapter 9: Sikh Traditions and Chapter 7: Jaina Traditions 1) Lecture 1 - Defining Religion 2) Lectures 2 to 5 - Hinduism 3) Lectures 6 to 8 - Buddhism 4) Lectures 9 to 11 - Sikhism

5) Lectures 12 to 13 - Jainism Readings: Since we are investigating four religions, students will be required to read the appropriate textbook chapter(s) as they pertain to the sections and lecture material. These readings should be completed before the end of each section. Sections officially end on the eve of the exam(s). It is best to read the textbook chapters before reading the lecture material. Be sure to take notes from the readings, as there will be exam questions drawn from the readings. Tip: Be mindful of technical terms and maintain a glossary throughout the course. Exam Outline: The three exams will deal with the specific religions covered in the course and are open book, i.e., you can use your textbook and printed lecture material. 1) Midterm 1: This exam will cover definitions of religion and all of Hinduism. 2) Midterm 2: This exam will cover all of Buddhism. 3) Final Exam: This exam will cover all of Sikhism and Jainism Students are required to read the appropriate chapters in the course textbook and course lectures posted on MOODLE for each exam. NOTE: Students must read the appropriate textbook chapters in order to pass the exams. Relying solely on the lectures will most likely result in a failure because both the lecture notes and the textbook readings are weighted equally. The lecture notes are supplemental material to the readings. The exams will be done through MOODLE. Students can pick their time within the exam schedule. Students must set aside a two hour period to complete the exams. NOTE: If you start the exam and then decide to exit during your examination, you will not be allowed to return to MOODLE and complete the exam. Once you start the exam, you must complete it in the allotted time specified. The format for all exams will be multiple choice. All questions will be randomly generated so each student will receive a different set of questions.