E/RS: Ethics/Religion and Society Elective

Core Course Description

In an effort to increase student understanding of the purpose of and interconnectivity between core courses, the syllabus should include the following statement (which is not a Catalog text):

"Consistent with the mission of Xavier University as a Jesuit, Catholic university rooted in the liberal arts tradition, the Ethics/Religion and Society (E/RS) sequence of courses provides a basis for you to become intellectually, morally and spiritually educated individuals capable of critical reflection on ethical and religious questions of social significance from the perspective of multiple disciplines with unique methods.

"Purpose of the E/RS elective: Through the E/RS elective, you will develop a more proficient and durable ability to reflect critically on ethical and/or religious questions of social significance."

Ideally, the professor of the course should regularly draw the students' attention explicitly to the E/RS objectives of the course.

Student Learning Objectives

Student Learning Objectives are assessable and must be included in all syllabi. SLOs will be measured through the efforts of the Core Curriculum Assessment Committee and possibly through student evaluations. Each syllabus should contain the following:

"This course is part of the Xavier Core Curriculum, which aims to develop people of learning and reflection, integrity and achievement, in solidarity for and with others. It addresses the following core learning objectives at the intermediate level:

1b: Students apply the approaches of multiple disciplines to a significant issue.

6a: Students investigate the root causes of injustice with compassion and academic rigor.

[Encouraged but not required--Instructor choice] 6b. Students describe the evolution of their vocation and aspirations to contribute to the world.

It also addresses these core learning objective(s) at an advanced level:

[Instructor choose one or more of:]

3a. Students identify and critically assess multiple dimensions of an ethical issue in an attempt to reach a conclusion.

3b. Students examine the nature of beauty, truth, and virtue as means of gaining a sense of the divine.

4a. Students describe and examine the multifaceted character of society and how the inclusion of different perspectives can influence one's worldview.

4b. Students discuss and evaluate what constitutes human wellness.

5a. Students examine the diverse, complex, and interdependent nature of people in the world.

5b. Students examine the interconnections between humans and the natural environment.

[The above is a minimum for E/RS electives. Individual instructors are encouraged to add other core SLOs as appropriate.]

In addition to Xavier core learning objectives, this course includes these other key learning objectives:

[Additional SLOs to be determined by individual instructors/departments]"

Course Principles

Course principles are to be addressed substantively through topics and graded assignments in every course fitting the description. While these need not be stated in the syllabus, faculty are encouraged to regularly point out how assignments are achieving these goals.

1. While preserving the integrity of the discipline from which it comes, the course integrates in a substantive way the ethical and/or religious analysis of a socially significant issue or issues.

Substantive integration means that the incorporation of moral reflection and/or religious analysis is neither peripheral nor incidental, but rather is central and intentional. Simply devoting one or two classes in the semester to ethical and/or religious analysis is inadequate.
Substantive integration of moral reflection and/or religious analysis is to be demonstrated explicitly in the course's structure, choice of required texts, and assignments.
"Socially significant" means that the issue under study constitutes an important dimension in the structure of society and has implications that go far beyond its effects upon isolated individuals.
Ethical and/or religious analysis entails that the course clearly identifies the values, principles, and methodology that are to be used in moral or religious reflection on the issue.

2. The course provides regular and substantive opportunities for critical discussion.

Although the professor is expected to identify a set of values and principles according to which the social issue can be analyzed, the professor creates an atmosphere in which students feel comfortable to express their judgments.

By encouraging free discussion, the professor helps students to consider different points of view and to appreciate the complexity of issues.
A strictly lecture format is discouraged.

3. The course complements, in some demonstrable way, the other required courses that make up the E/RS Focus.

Minimally, this means that the professor of the E/RS course has some awareness of the method and content of the three required E/RS courses and makes occasional connections to one or more of them.
Ideally, this means that the professor has a good grasp of the method and content of the three required E/RS courses and makes regular and relevant connections to them.

Approval Procedure

E/RS elective courses may be offered by any department. If you would like to teach a an E/RS elective course, submit your application to the E/RS committee by contacting them here. The committee will review it and make a recommendation to CCC.