Here is a full course program for Research Methodology in Religious Studies. The course is designed for upper-level undergraduate students or graduate-level participants in religious studies or humanities programs.

Course Title: Research Methodology in Religious Studies

Course Code: REL 4300R (original; adapted for FCNS)

Florida Course Numbering System: REL 4300

Credits: 3 Semester Credit Hours

Level: Upper Division (Undergraduate Seniors or Entry Graduate Level)

Prerequisites: REL 2300 (Introduction to World Religions) or Instructor Permission

Course Description:

This course introduces students to key research methodologies used in the academic study of religion. It covers qualitative and quantitative methods, textual analysis, ethnography, historiography, and interdisciplinary approaches. Students will learn to formulate research questions, conduct literature reviews, choose appropriate methods, and design a viable religious studies research project.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Explain major methodological approaches in the study of religion.
2. Critically analyze religious texts, practices, and communities using academic tools.
3. Design and justify a small-scale research project in religious studies.
4. Apply ethical principles and cultural sensitivity in field research.
5. Develop skills in academic writing and peer review.

Course Outline:

Module 1: Foundations of Research in Religious Studies

• Week 1: What is Research in Religious Studies?
• Week 2: Historical Development of Methodology in the Discipline
• Week 3: Objectivity, Reflexivity, and Insider/Outsider Debate

Module 2: Research Design and Proposal Writing

• Week 4: Formulating Research Questions
• Week 5: Literature Review Techniques
• Week 6: Research Ethics in Religious Contexts (IRB, Consent, Sensitivity)

Module 3: Textual and Historical Methods

• Week 7: Hermeneutics, Exegesis, and Comparative Textual Study
• Week 8: Archival Research and Historiography in Religious Studies

Module 4: Fieldwork and Ethnographic Approaches

• Week 9: Participant Observation and Interviewing
• Week 10: Case Studies in Religious Communities
• Week 11: Field Notes, Data Analysis, and Grounded Theory

Module 5: Interdisciplinary and Emerging Methods

• Week 12: Digital Humanities and Religion
• Week 13: Sociology and Anthropology of Religion
• Week 14: Visual and Material Culture Studies

Module 6: Capstone Project and Presentation

• Week 15: Writing the Final Research Proposal
• Week 16: Student Presentations and Peer Review Workshop

Assessments:

• Participation and Discussion: 15%
• Literature Review Assignment: 15%
• Methodological Reflection Paper: 20%
• Fieldwork Simulation Report: 20%
• Final Research Proposal and Presentation: 30%

Required Readings:

• The Study of Religion: An Introduction to Key Ideas and Methods by George D. Chryssides & Ron Geaves
• Research Methods for the Study of Religion edited by Michael Stausberg and Steven Engler
• Selected articles and primary source excerpts (provided via LMS)

Instruction Methods:

• Lectures and seminars
• Group workshops
• Guest lectures from researchers
• Peer feedback sessions