Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

Catalog description

This course is designed to provide an undergraduate-level overview of the psychology of religion and spirituality. It will emphasize both theory and research in this topic area. Following the order outlined in the text for the course, we will cover religion/spirituality "from the inside out," beginning with biological aspects of r/s and working outward, all the way up to social aspects of r/s. The course will be primarily lecture- and textbook-based but will also include both large-group and small-group discussion. Grading will be based on three exams (with the lowest score dropped), a required final exam, and a variety of assignments. A major aim of the course is to encourage students to apply ideas from the course to their lives; however, because some issues raised in the class might be very personal and/or controversial, the class will not require personal sharing about r/s beliefs (in either discussion or written form). In designing the assignments, care has been taken to provide a menu of options that vary in terms of length/complexity and emphasis on personal experience vs. more abstract reflection. Prereq: PSCL 101 .