THE
APPENDIX A: NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO PLAN A NEW BACCALAUREATE OR
MASTER’S PROGRAM
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Date: |
August 31, 2009 |
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Constituent Institution: |
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School/College: |
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Department: |
HCAS (religious
studies program) |
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Program Identification: |
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CIP Discipline
Specialty Title: |
Religion/Religious
Studies |
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CIP Discipline
Specialty Code: |
38.0201.018.000 |
Level: B |
X |
M |
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I |
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Exact Title of the
Proposed Degree: |
Religious Studies |
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Exact Degree
Abbreviation (e.g., BS, BA, MA, MS, CAS) |
BA |
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Does the proposed
program constitute a substantive change as defined by SACS? |
Yes |
XX |
No |
X |
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a) Is it at a more advanced level
than those previously authorized? |
Yes |
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No |
X |
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b) Is the proposed program in a
new discipline division? |
Yes |
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No |
X |
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Approximate date
for submitting the request to establish proposal (must be within one year of
date of submission of notification of intent to plan): |
Fall 2010 |
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Proposed date to establish degree
(month and year): (Date can be no
sooner than six months after the date of notification of intent to plan and
must allow at least three months for review of the request to establish, once
submitted). |
January 2011 |
1. Describe
the proposed new degree program. The
description should include
a)
a brief
description of the program and a statement of educational objectives
At present,
the multidisciplinary studies program at
From the
first planning meeting in 1988 to the present, faculty members involved in the religious
studies program have unanimously agreed that it ought to have an academic
rather than a devotional mission, recognizing the distinction between the critical
study of religion and its pious advocacy. This distinction occurs in the context of the
American legal tradition of “separation of church and state,” yielding a
general approach to the study of religion that has become standard in public
universities. This approach differs from
the model employed in theological schools sponsored by religious bodies. In terms of the stated mission, academic
curriculum, and public programs, the aim of
At the
local and regional level, many people are religious and understand their world
by way of their religion. At the same time,
our state is rapidly becoming more racially, culturally, and religiously
diverse. At the international and global
levels, religious issues are playing an ever more important role in the
evolution of world events. The religious
studies program provides students with tools to help them be more aware and
responsible as world citizens in a pluralistic society. We do not aspire to transmit any set of religious
beliefs; rather, we educate our students to think, speak, and write critically
about religion using insights and methods from a variety of disciplinary
perspectives. We educate our students to
employ methodologically mature approaches to questions of vital concern to the
world’s religions and to society at large so that they can analyze and
understand religious phenomena in relation to other currents in a broad range
of social and cultural contexts.
Creating a
stand-alone major in religious studies would bring the university more in line
with its peer institutions, help solidify the liberal arts mission of the
Our major
objective is to educate students to develop a critical understanding of
religion. The program’s specific
objectives, listed below, are consistent with and, in some cases, a restatement
of objectives found in the religious studies program charter, which guides the
current program.
In
supporting the university and
·
Provide a quality academic program that offers students a
stand-alone major.
·
Provide culturally diverse coursework that helps prepare students
for citizenship and work in a global community.
·
Promote
lectures, seminars, and related activities for the university community
and the region.
·
Encourage research in the field of religious studies
by faculty members and students.
·
Provide students and faculty members with opportunities to travel
and study abroad.
Students graduating from the program will be able to:
·
Understand and analyze religion as a cultural and
historical phenomenon.
·
Meaningfully discuss the strengths and limitations of
various research methods applied to the study of religion.
·
Describe the origins, historical development, and
contemporary expression of major living religions.
·
Communicate with a diverse array of people about
religious questions and issues.
·
Critically evaluate notions of religion communicated
in art, the media, and other public arenas.
·
Enter excellent graduate schools and compete for
prestigious scholarships and programs.
b)
the
relationship of the proposed new program to the institutional mission and how
the program fits into the institution’s strategic plan
The proposed program is consistent with and
provides substantial support for the vision and many elements of the strategic
plan for the UNC Tomorrow Commission
Final Report (December 2007), ECU’s
Phase I Response to UNC Tomorrow, ECU
Tomorrow: A Vision for Leadership and Service, Internationalization Goals for 2009 and a Plan for Achieving Them
(February 1, 2008), and other initiatives at East Carolina University and
in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences.
LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION
One of the
suggested strategies of the UNC Tomorrow
Report is to “Recognize and reward the role of the humanities … in
developing soft skills by strengthening the commitment of resources to the
liberal arts” (4.1.1). Consistent with
this mission, the university’s vision statement of ECU Tomorrow states that “We will provide our students with a
strong foundation in the liberal arts, recognizing that foundation as essential
for intellectual growth and lifelong learning.”
As the liberal arts
Religion is
a major worldwide dimension of human life and culture, and the scholarly study
of religion, listed as one of the bona fide disciplines by the National
Endowment for the Humanities, is now widely accepted in public higher education. As a result, the analytical study of religion
merits a place in and can make a significant contribution to an institution of
the size and with the mission of
CRITICAL THINKING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS
The UNC Tomorrow Report gives due emphasis
to the “soft skills” important to today’s graduate: “Today’s college graduates
need to develop ‘soft skills’ – those capabilities including the ability to
think critically, reason analytically, solve problems, communicate clearly both
orally and in writing, work in teams, and be comfortable within a diverse
workforce. These skills, which are
critical to lifelong learning and professional growth, have become a necessity
as economic sectors, occupations, and job characteristics continue to change
more rapidly today than in the past. In
many instances, it is proficiency with the soft skills, along with the ability
to think innovatively and creatively, that will carry students from one job or
career to another” (4.1).
The Report goes on to recommend that “UNC
should prepare its students for successful professional and personal lives in
the 21st century, equipping them with the tools they will need to
adapt to the ever-changing world” (4.1.1).
As part of its contribution to “21st Century Research,”
Religious studies, as a basic discipline in the liberal
arts, provides students significant training in these “soft skills.” Our lower level classes and especially our
seminar classes required for majors emphasize writing, competent oral
discussion of complicated concepts and issues, critical thinking, and
effectiveness in group collaboration. The
proposed major will allow the religious studies program to enhance, and
increase its ability to promote, these soft skills. Religious
studies, at many major public universities, is at the center of the liberal
arts program, providing students with the learning experiences that will turn
them into lifelong learners and careful thinkers.
DIVERSITY AND RESPECT
The university lists “respect” as one of the five enduring
values to which it is committed, saying “Respect for others is at the heart of
our community.” Consistent with this
commitment,
As world events and globalization enhance the need for
greater cultural and religious understanding in the 21st century,
the proposed major will contribute to enhanced awareness of diversity. The proposed degree curriculum, with its nonsectarian and analytical features, will promote cultural
diversity through its focus on religious diversity. To this end, religious studies at East
Carolina will also participate in the emerging
The Phase I Response, under the goal of “Globalizing
(Internationalizing) ECU,” lists as a major goal the internationalization of ECU’s faculty
and staff. The religious studies
program has contributed to this goal by bringing in Dr. Isaac Kalimi, PhD,
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, as the Whichard Distinguished Chair in the
Humanities for the 2009-2010 school year. We have also hired in a tenure-track position
Dr. Mary Wangila, a Kenyan scholar of African and indigenous religions. Dr. Wangila, who joined our faculty in fall
2008, holds the endowed professorship funded by Dr. Jesse Peel. Previously, in
2003, we hired Dr. Derek F. Maher, a Canadian scholar of Buddhism and Indian
and Tibetan religions. Thus, out of the
three faculty members at ECU with PhDs in religious studies, two are
international scholars with cross-cultural perspectives and international areas
of specialization.
INTERNATIONALIZATION
“Global Readiness” is a major objective advocated by the UNC Tomorrow Report: “UNC should educate
its students to be personally and professionally successful in the 21st
century …” (4.1). Specific strategies of
the UNC Tomorrow Report include
providing “more opportunities for students to work, study, and experience
different cultures overseas” (4.1.3). The report also urges the expansion of
“students’ global and cultural awareness that includes an understanding of
diverse cultures but also stresses the commonality of human problems through
such efforts as: Taking to scale successful existing UNC programs that focus on
global awareness and global education, and incorporating global awareness into
the general education curriculum, and encouraging all majors and graduate
programs to incorporate global awareness into their
curricula” (4.1.3). The very nature of
religion as a worldwide phenomenon, and the scholarly approaches to religion
embraced in the ECU religious studies program, makes this present proposal a
natural fit for these international goals.
As stated in the ECU
Tomorrow document, “ECU will internationalize our programs, students, and
faculty.” Harriot College “… will
provide programs and experiences for our students that will develop in them the
ability to interact effectively with people from many cultures and backgrounds
…” In particular, Harriot College will
“expand international opportunities for study.”
The Phase I Response, under the goal of “Globalizing
(Internationalizing) ECU,” lists five major goals: 1) incorporate international education
into the University's mission statement; 2) expand and diversify overseas
opportunities for
ECU students; 3) increase and
diversify ECU’s international student population; 4) internationalize ECU’s
faculty and staff; and 5) promote more global awareness through the ECU
curriculum. The religious studies
program contributes directly to goals 2, 4, and 5 and indirectly to goal
3. The religious studies program’s
contribution to goal 4 (internationalizing ECU’s faculty) has been discussed
earlier under “Diversity.” Goals 2 and 5
are discussed below.
Because religion is a worldwide
phenomenon, a baccalaureate degree in religious studies would contribute
significantly to enhancing the international curriculum at the university. Most of the courses in the proposed program
promote the goal of internationalization, some very explicitly, such as World
Religions, Tibetan Religion and Culture, Buddhism, Islam, and Islam in the
Modern World. Specifically, with regard
to internationalizing the curriculum, the Phase
I Response says that “New courses will be developed as needed to make ECU
students more globally aware and competitive.”
It also says that “Departments and schools will define and implement
curriculum enhancements to existing courses or will create new courses in each
student’s major as necessary to provide all ECU graduates with the
discipline-specific education essential to global readiness in the major.” The religious studies faculty strives to meet
this goal and currently has new course proposals on Hinduism, Indigenous Religion,
and African Religion moving through the curriculum process.
Related to
internationalization efforts, the UNC
Tomorrow Report calls for increasing “student proficiency in foreign
languages…” (4.1.1).
The proposed BA in religious studies requires that majors have competency
in a foreign language. In addition, the
religion faculty members have worked closely, in tutorial settings, with a
number of students to provide them with advanced skills in language, especially
Tibetan, beyond the typical four semester requirement. Details on specific students can be found
elsewhere in this document.
Study Abroad Program in Religion
With regard
to the Phase I Response goal of
expanding and diversifying overseas opportunities and as part of our program’s
contribution to this internationalization goal, the religious studies program has
distinguished itself with a successful quality study abroad program, despite
its small size and the disadvantages associated with being nearly invisible on
campus and in the catalog. With the coherence
and increased visibility of the proposed program, we can expand these kinds of
opportunities.
Summer 2009
will be the tenth year of what, according to
International Presence on Campus
The religious
studies program constantly seeks to address the Phase I Response call for
increasing the international presence on campus. An example of a recent initiative of the
religious studies program in this regard is our current efforts to bring to
campus for a year a prominent Jewish scholar and a prominent Muslim scholar to
work together to enhance the conversation about a range of issues related to
Jewish-Muslim relations. The religious
studies program has been awarded the Whichard Chair for the year 2009-2010, and
our search for a scholar of Jewish Studies has been successful. Additionally, religion faculty member Dr.
Derek Maher is working to bring in a Pakistani scholar of Islam through the
Fulbright Program. Our plan is to have
these scholars teach courses as well as provide lectures to the community and
colloquia for faculty and students.
SUPPORTING
STUDENT SUCCESS
The UNC Tomorrow Report recognizes the importance of helping to “ensure
that all students are better prepared to enter and succeed academically in
college” (4.2.6). The ECU Tomorrow plan calls for “Supporting
Student Success: Even as our research and extension enterprise grows, we remain
committed to providing a great education in the classroom and to preparing
tomorrow’s leaders through engagement, community service, and meaningful
leadership experiences.” The Phase I Response states that “The University
will foster the enrollment of promising students (from all sectors of society)
and work to ensure that when they depart the University, they are poised to
succeed both as individuals and as members of society.”
The religious
studies program has had remarkable success in supporting these initiatives. The cohesion and visibility offered by the
proposed program will enhance our ability to contribute even more significantly
to these goals. Our accomplishments have
come by emphasizing good teaching. Our
core professors have been awarded the UNC Board of Governors Distinguished
Professor for Teaching Award and the University Scholar-Teacher Award, and they
have won numerous grants for teaching. We
have a solid track record of attracting, retaining, and graduating academically
proficient and talented students who do well beyond
As of spring 2008:
Current
mean GPA of all Religion majors—2.77
Cf. all ECU declared majors—2.98
(non-declared 2.64)
Chancellor's
List 1 (3%)
Dean's List
3 (10%)
Honor
Roll 2 (7%)
As of spring 2007:
Current
mean GPA of all Religion majors—3.06
Cf. all ECU declared majors—2.90
(non-declared 2.37)
Chancellor's
List 9 (32%)
Dean's
List 8 (29%)
Honor
Roll 6 (21%)
As
of spring 2006
Current
mean GPA of all Religion majors—3.20
Cf. mean of all ECU
majors—3.0 (non-declared 2.6)
Chancellor's
List 10
Dean's List 2
Honor Roll 4
As of
spring 2005
Current
mean GPA of all Religion majors—3.42
Cf. mean of all ECU majors—2.819 (non-declared 2.379)
Chancellor's
List 2
Dean's List 4
Honor Roll 2
As of spring 2004
Current mean GPA of all Religion majors—3.368
Cf.
to 2.819 for all ECU majors (non-declared
2.379)
Chancellor’s List—4
Dean’s List—4
Honor Roll—3
The Phase I Response
intends that our graduates are “poised to succeed.” We emphasize good teaching in our program;
however, our core faculty is also very active in professional contexts at the
national level, reading papers and serving on professional society steering
committees. We work to introduce our
majors to the networks of the academic study of religion and, for those who
have interest in graduate school, we help them be as
successful as they can be in securing admission to good schools. Some accomplishments by our majors in recent
years are recorded below. Despite their
accomplishments, these excellent students have been hampered by a transcript
that does not clearly reflect the religious studies focus of their
undergraduate degree. The proposed
degree will correct this problem, attract an increased number of majors due to
the higher visibility of the program, and provide a more coherent course of
study. Our ability to recruit, retain, graduate, and ensure success of students will be
enhanced.
§
Wesley
Borton: one of only three undergraduates to be admitted to a summer intensive
Tibetan language program at Tibet University in Lhasa, a highly competitive
program jointly administered by Columbia University and the University of
Virginia; History Department essay prize; Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad
Scholarship ($1000); Rivers Scholarship ($350); one of eight to receive the
Honors Program Expanded Horizons Scholarship for study abroad ($1000); Phi
Kappa Phi Outstanding Senior ($1000); ECU finalist for the Jack Kent Cooke
Graduate Fellowship; full-ride (stipend, tuition, insurance, etc) graduate
fellowship for the M.A. and Ph.D. to University of Michigan. At the same time, the same student was also
accepted to graduate programs at
§
Joey
Bowers: accepted into the graduate program at Naropa Institute and obtained one
of only three merit scholarships granted to incoming students.
§
Bret
Parrish: accepted into the graduate program at Naropa Institute.
§
Kenton
Dover: accepted into the graduate program at
§
Caleb
Corwin: accepted into the graduate program in Psychology at UNC Asheville.
§
Cristin
Dragas: accepted to graduate program in cultural Anthropology at
§
Paulette
McFadden: Honored with the Alumni Award; accepted into the graduate program in
Anthropology (with a concentration in Religion) at ECU.
§
Blake
James: Graduate school acceptance to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
§
Nathan
Andrew Williams: Graduate school acceptance to
§
Jason
Lee Bethel: Graduate school acceptance to Emory University Candler School of
Theology, with a significant scholarship.
The religious studies major would serve as
a complement for a broad array of careers, including those in business,
counseling, education, foreign service, and social
work. Informal surveys of graduates of the religious studies
concentration in the Multidisciplinary Studies Program indicate that they have
moved into a variety of fields. We have found that more than a third of
our majors go on to graduate school in religious studies, theological
programs, or other fields. These students aspire to become either
academics or ministers. Another segment of our graduates find that the
quasi-major they now receive through the Multidisciplinary Studies Program
provides excellent preparation for various forms of employment in faith-based
communities, including ancillary institutional functions such as education,
finance, music, publishing, and recreation. A smaller number of the
remainder have pursued their education through our program out of personal
interest in religion, and these graduates end up following career paths that
take them in diverse directions, including, in recent years, a computer expert
in the business school, a music engineer, and a yoga instructor.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
The
UNC Tomorrow Report states that the
mission of UNC will be implemented, in part, through public service (4.7). It also states that “UNC should promote the
arts and cultural enrichment in all regions of the state” (4.4.4). Suggested strategies to achieve this include:
“Support and expand campus artistic and cultural programs, and increase
offerings of such programs to the public” (4.4.4). The Report
also states that “UNC should communicate its resources and expertise to wider
audiences” (4.7.4). The Phase I Response document correctly states
that Servire, our motto, is a
fundamental guiding principle of our work.
As detailed below, the religious studies program has made
significant public service contributions; these efforts will be enhanced with
the visibility and organizational streamlining to come with the proposed
degree.
As
part of its ECU Tomorrow commitment,
the university will “enhance and expand its position as an arts and culture
center, “in order to “significantly enhance
In addition
to our annual and very successful study abroad program that serves the region
as well as students on campus, the religious studies program has distinguished
itself with the annual Jarvis Lecture, which has developed as one of the most
popular public lecture series at the university. As such, it has been invited to become a part
of Harriot College’s Voyages of Discovery Lecture Series, and the 17th
annual Jarvis Lecture held in fall 2008 was one of the featured Voyages of
Discovery lectures. While not directly
related to the academic mission, one of the goals of the religious studies
program is serving the eastern
The Jarvis
Lecture has featured the following speakers:
The UNC Tomorrow Report states that UNC schools should “encourage and
reward public service …” (4.7.2). Members
of the religious studies committee have routinely provided various services to
community groups, including lectures, seminars, a N.C. Humanities
Council-funded public conference, and consultations in the region. Some of the speakers in the Jarvis Lecture
series conduct seminars for local religious leaders. One member of the religion faculty maintains
an email list of 700 people who receive regular mailings of religion-related
academic or cultural events in the region.
The 700 people have requested to be on the list and are active
participants in various events announced on the list. As part of his
Study Abroad in
The UNC Tomorrow Report presents the following major finding: “UNC
should become more directly engaged with and connected to the people of North
Carolina, its regions, and our state as a whole” (4.7). The Phase
I Response intends for ECU to play a significant role in creating “a region
recognized for its creativity, diversity, and … cultural richness.” Given its small size and the difficulties religious
studies confronts in terms of its visibility, we make substantial
contributions to the region’s diversity and cultural richness. If we can
gain greater visibility by developing a stand-alone major, we will be able to
help develop our community's cultural opportunities, diversity, and
international awareness.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
The UNC Tomorrow Report states that “UNC should increase community
awareness of environmental and sustainability issues” (4.6.3). Suggested strategies include: “Incorporate
environmental literacy into undergraduate curricula” and “provide community
workshops on sustainability” (4.6.2).
The Phase I Response document
says that “ECU will lead in the area of environmental sustainability and
demonstrate a clear sensitivity to the sustainability of its own operations and
to the advocacy of sustainability in its instructional, research, and outreach
programs.”
The current major explicitly
includes discussion of religion and the environment in a course, “Religion and
Social Issues.” The environmental
concern is also addressed in other courses, such as Buddhism and World
Religions. One member of the faculty is
active in local environmental initiatives.
For example, in a recent lecture, he has spoken to a local environmental
group on religion and the environment.
Preliminary plans are underway to feature this topic in an upcoming
Jarvis Lecture. In summary, the
visibility and cohesion of the proposed major will allow the religious studies program
to build on its record of making a contribution on this issue.
INNOVATIVE LEARNING
One of the
suggested strategies contained in the UNC
Tomorrow Report, is to “Incorporate experiential learning opportunities
across degree programs and throughout curricula through such activities as
undergraduate research, project-based and active learning, study abroad …”
(4.1.1). This strategy lists eight such
activities, three of which have played a significant role in our courses and
programs. Professors in our program each
year participate in the East Carolina Honors Undergraduate Research Program,
working closely with students to mentor them in developing research
skills. Without sacrificing traditional
emphases on reading, writing, and critical thinking, experiential learning is a
key element in the offering of a number of our courses, including our biblical
studies courses, World Religions, Religion and Social Issues, Women and
Religion, and Monasticism. One professor
has received teaching grants to develop and expand experiential learning opportunities
for majors.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
It is increasingly being recognized
that quality interdisciplinary research initiatives are needed and appropriate
in the modern context.
PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING
The UNC Tomorrow Report says “UNC should
communicate its resources and expertise to wider audiences” (4.7.4). Consistent with an emphasis of the
THE REGION’S HEALTH
The UNC Tomorrow Report says that UNC
schools “… should lead in improving health and wellness in
While
contributing to this initiative is not central to the mission of the religious studies
program, the proposed degree relates in that we will offer courses that explore
the various religions of the world so that aspiring medical professionals in
our courses are exposed to information about the beliefs and practices that
animate their increasingly multicultural clients and patients.
SUMMARY
The religious studies
program has done many things well. The
proposed major will provide a more coherent and comprehensible academic foundation
upon which the program can expand its contribution to students, the university, and the region. Our program mission is supportive of many
goals and strategies in the UNC Tomorrow
Report. As part of its 21st
century strategy to “expand educational opportunities on and off campus,”
Although
not stated explicitly in its planning documents, it is understood that the university
and
c)
the
relationship of the proposed new program to other existing programs at the
institution
The
proposed stand-alone major, to be housed in the Harriot College of Arts and
Sciences along with other stand-alone interdisciplinary degrees, is a
reorganization and renaming of the existing multidisciplinary studies religious
studies structured concentration. When
approved by curriculum committees and the UNC General Administration many years
ago, an explicit purpose of the multidisciplinary studies degree was to provide
a testing ground for new stand-alone degree programs. This format allows aspiring programs to
establish a track record, before submitting requests to establish stand-alone
majors, program, or departments. In this
way, it was hoped the university could avoid proliferating an array of new
programs that would not turn out to be effective. The religious studies committee took this
opportunity seriously and has for several years established that track record,
making a strong case for the current proposal for a stand-alone degree.
Following
an extensive assessment of our curriculum, we have greatly expanded our
offerings, adding special courses on Hinduism, indigenous religions,
Our efforts
to recruit majors are obstructed by the mislabeling of religious studies at
Faculty
members in both religious studies and philosophy are also poorly served by the
current situation. The current
hybridization of the fields of philosophy and religion at
The
proposed degree program will replace the current multidisciplinary studies
structured concentration in religion.
The new program will certainly be as successful as the current program,
and there is every reason to believe that, once unleashed from the
multidisciplinary studies program, the new degree will be even more
successful. The history of the program
supports this assertion. The religious
studies program has grown to its present status in a deliberate and thoughtful
manner. The religious studies
minor was implemented in 1989, and the major was added under the
auspices of the multidisciplinary studies program in 1998.
We
expect an enrollment of at least thirty-four majors in the first year of the
program. This figure is the number of
students who were seeking the concentration in religious studies through the multidisciplinary
studies program in the academic year 2008-09.
This number of
majors has been achieved despite institutional obstacles that prevent
interdisciplinary programs from obtaining the visibility enjoyed by
departments. For example, students who
might be interested in studying religion at
Thousands of students through the years have
benefited from the various courses offered, including senior seminars that
often enroll students from varoius disciplines.
For a relatively new major and for an interdisciplinary program without
the major resources of a department, the number of religious studies majors and
graduates is high. With the curricular
cohesion and program visibility that will come with a stand-alone major, the enrollment
pattern should continue to trend upward.
These
assertions are particularly relevant in the post 9/11 international
climate. Students across the country
have exhibited an increased interest in studying religion. A comprehensive study of the status of religious
studies across the country was conducted in 2003 by the
The
multidisciplinary studies program will continue serving it numerous
constituencies, after the religious studies stand-alone major is
implemented. Multidisciplinary
studies has 36 majors not counting
the religious studies majors. These majors are divided between neuroscience,
classics, Asian studies, Russian studies, and individual concentrations. For
comparison, these non-religious studies numbers are up from 25 majors in
2007-08.
According
to Calvin Mercer, the director of the multidisciplinary studies program, that
entity is currently viable without the religious studies students;
additionally, the multidisciplinary studies program is on a growth curve.
This is in part because of the relatively new initiatives in Asian studies
and Russian studies, programs that are growing due to faculty and student
interest. Professor Mona Russell has indicated that she will likely
propose a
d)
special
features or conditions that make the institution a desirable, unique, or
appropriate place to initiate such a degree program.
The baccalaureate in religious studies is an option students
have at eight public
First, with respect to private institutions that offer
religious studies programs, it should be noted that the approach to the study
of religion is decidedly different at public and private institutions. The study of religion at public institutions
is conducted in the context of the doctrine of the separation of church and state
and is avowedly analytical and nonsectarian in method. At private institutions, the study of religion
legitimately involves a devotional and advocacy dimension. Given this distinction between the study of
religion in public and private settings, it is appropriate that public
universities like
Second, religious studies is a vital dimension of the public
university and this program is especially needed in our region because of the
dearth of such programs east of I-95.
Third, given the liberal arts mission of
Finally, and very importantly, as has been
demonstrated, the proposed degree is, in a sense, already located at
2. List
all other public and private institutions of higher education in
UNC System
In the UNC
system, many schools, some smaller than
Degrees: Major
Degrees: Major in multidisciplinary studies
with concentration in religious studies
N. C.
Degrees:
Major
Degrees: Major in philosophy &
religion with specialization in religious studies
Degrees: Major, masters,
doctorate
UNC-Charlotte
Degrees: Major
UNC-Greensboro
Degrees: Major
UNC-Wilmington
Degrees: Major
Degrees: Major
Private: Barton,
Campbell, Catawba, Davidson, Duke, Elon, Gardner-Webb, Greensboro, Guilford,
High Point, Lees-McRae, Lenoir-Rhyne, Mars Hill, Meredith, Methodist, Mount
Olive, NC Wesleyan, Pfeiffer, Saint Andrews, Salem, Shaw, Wake Forest, Wingate.
3. Estimate the number of students that would be
enrolled in the program during the first year of operation.
|
Full-time |
34 |
Part-time |
0 |
This
figure is the number of students who were seeking the concentration in religious
studies through the multidisciplinary studies program in the academic year
2008-09.
4. If there are plans to offer the program away from campus during the first year of operation: N/A
a) briefly describe these plans, including potential sites and possible method(s) of delivering instruction.
N/A
b) indicate
any similar programs being offered off-campus in
N/A
c) estimate the number of students that would be enrolled in the program during the first year of operation:
|
Full-time |
N/A |
Part-time |
N/A |
5. List
the names, titles, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of the person(s)
responsible for planning the proposed program.
Derek Maher (director of the religious studies
program) and Calvin Mercer, both teaching faculty in religious studies, are
leading the planning process. Members of
the religious studies committee, made up of faculty members, are playing a
support role and have approved the proposal.
This religious studies committee will serve as the faculty curriculum
committee as well as the program advisory committee. This religious studies committee, a committee
within the Harriot College of Arts and Sciences, is now in place to advise the
current religious studies program.
·
Dr. Michael Brown,
Associate Dean, brownmi@ecu.edu (252 328
4170), Professor
·
Dr. Robert Bunger,
Anthropology, bungerr@ecu.edu (252 328
9435), Associate Professor
·
Dr. Seodial Deena,
English, deenas@ecu.edu (252 328
6683), Associate Professor
·
Dr. Michael Enright,
History, enrightm@ecu.edu (252 328
1031), Professor
·
Dr. Charles Garrison,
Sociology, garrisonc@ecu.edu (252 328
6486), Professor
·
Dr. Derek Maher,
Philosophy, Director of Religious Studies Program, maherd@ecu.edu (252 328
5332), Associate Professor
·
Dr. Laura Mazow,
Anthropology, mazowl@ecu.edu (252 328
9432), Assistant Professor
·
Dr. Calvin Mercer,
Philosophy, mercerc@ecu.edu (252 328
4310), Associate Professor
·
Dr. Kathleen Row,
Psychology (Chair), rowk@ecu.edu
(252 328 6492), Professor
·
Dr. Mary Nyangweso
Wangila, Philosophy, wangilam@ecu.edu
252 (737 2422), Assistant Professor
The intent to plan a new program has
been reviewed and approved by the appropriate campus committees and
authorities.
|
Chancellor: |
|
Date: |
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