In all of the seminar discussions, it was apparent that context, or the particular teaching setting, was an altogether critical factor in envisioning how students should be introduced to a field of study. The justification of approach, included with each syllabus, is thus germane to how you use the syllabus. For the personal use of teachers. Not for sale or redistribution. Valparaiso students are mostly from the region, more suburban and small-town than urban.
People of color are seriously under-represented.
Two-thirds of the undergraduates are Lutheran or Roman Catholic. The third theology requirement is fulfilled in the junior or senior year by taking one of about 20 upper-division courses offered in any given semester. The course for which I am writing this syllabus is one of these. I do so in order to allow us to focus on certain movements and topics in some depth. Three topics which together receive over one-third of the scheduled time are Mormons, Black Muslims, and Religion and Politics.