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Index of Psychology of Religion Syllabi

There is a great variety of ways that psychologists teach this course. I've established this syllabus exchange in order to illustrate the diversity of courses that are available. If you are a college student, this collection will help you to learn what you may expect in a psychology of religion course. If you are an instructor, you may also get some ideas for your own course. You also will learn a great deal from the reading lists that are part of each syllabus. I only wish that I had the time to sit in on each of these courses! I want to thank each of the people who have shared their expertise. If you teach a similar course and would like to have your syllabus listed here, please send me a copy of your syllabus. I'll take it as a computer file (WordPerfect, Word, or ascii text), or as a "hard copy."

First, here is a link to my class page, where my students can find syllabi and other materials for my classes that deal with psychology and religion. At this point in time, I have syllabi from my Experimental Social Psychology class, which examined social psychological aspects of religion, and my Psychology of Religion class.

The Syllabi

The syllabi are listed in order of the instructor's last name. The institution, course number and other identifying information are also listed. As you may see, the list is growing. If you teach a course related to psychology and religion, please send me a copy of your syllabus. Contact me for more information!

• Dr. Ricardo Blanco Beledo's Philosophical & JudeoChristian Anthropology course
  Offered at Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
  This marks the first Spanish course listed here! The reading list for Dr. Beledo's course will be especially useful if you are interested in Spanish sources on religion, philosophy, anthropology, and their intersection with psychoanalysis.

• Dr. Kevin Byrd's Advanced Seminar: Psychology of Religion
  Offered at the University of Nebraska at Kearney
  Dr. Byrd's course blends more traditional empirical work with transpersonal psychology and Eastern religion for a very interesting overview of the field.

• Dr. Trey Buchanan's History and Systems of Psychology and Integration
  Psyc 711, Fall 1996
  Offered at Wheaton College, Wheaton Illinois
  This course is intended to help clinical psychology graduate students better integrate psychology and Christianity.
  

• Dr. Chris Burris's Psychology of Religion
  Psyc 485 / RS 490, Spring 1997
  Offered at Christian Brothers University, Memphis Tennessee
  Dr. Burris teaches a solid seminar from a social-psychological perspective.
  

• Dr. Rhonda Jacobsen's Behavioral Science Seminar
  Offered at Messiah College, Grantham Pennsylvania
  Jacobsen's course emphasizes the dialogue between psychology and religion.
  

• Dr. Susan H. McFadden's Psychology of Religion Course
  86-304, Fall 1996
  Offered at The University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh.
  For a strong developmental psychology perspective, see McFadden's course
  

• Dr. Wilbert McKeachie's Psychology and Religion Course
  Psych. 313, Winter 1994
  Offered at the University of Michigan
  McKeachie's places a stronger emphasis on Eastern religious traditions than do most courses.
  

• Dr. Michael Nielsen's Psychology of Religion Course
  Psyc 357, Spring 1997
  Offered at Georgia Southern University
  This class conveys both the classic theoretical psychological views on religion as well as more current research on religious behavior and thought.
  

• Dr. Michael Nielsen's Experimental Social Psychology Course
  Psyc 556, Spring 1997
  Offered at Georgia Southern University
  A senior-level course in which students learn about social-psychological research on religious behavior, and then conduct their own projects.
  

• Dr. Elizabeth Weiss-Ozorak's Psychology & Religion Course
  Psychology/Religion 475, Fall 1996
  Offered at Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania.
  Here you'll find a strong effort to consider not only what psychology says about religion, but also what religion might tell us about psychology.
  

• Dr. Sharon Packer's Psychology of Religion: New Insights from Social Science and Neuroscience course
  Offered at The New School of Social Research, New York, NY
  Also available electronically, via the internet, to anyone with a computer connection
  This course emphasizes an historical perspective on the field.
  

• Dr. Ray Paloutzian's Psychology of Religion Course
  Fall 1996
  Offered at Westmont College
  This class nicely draws together theory and research.
  

• David Smith's Psychology of Religion Course
  Spring 1997
  Offered at St. Xavier University, Chicago, Illinois.
  This class has a good mix of classic and contemporary perspectives.
  

• Dr. Jeremy Zwelling's Psychology and Religion Course
  Reli 293, Fall 1996
  Offered at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut
  This will give you an interesting perspective of psychology and religion from a course taught in a Department of Religion.

Related Psychology of Religion Pages at this Site

• Psychology of Religion Introduction page
  
• Methods of Research in Psychology of Religion
  
• Notable People in Psychology of Religion
  
• Graduate Study in Psychology of Religion
  
• Psychology of Religion's Future
  
• Resources in Psychology of Religion
  
• Claims of Child Abuse in a New Religious Movement
  
• A verdict in a "cult deprogramming" kidnapping case
  
• William James's The Varieties of Religious Experience
  
• Psychologists discuss their views on science and religion
  
• Psychology and religion course syllabi
  
• Journal Index
  
• Developmental Perspectives (under construction)
• Social Perspectives (under construction)
• Biological Perspectives (under construction)
• Analytic Perspectives (under construction)
• Religion & Mental Health

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