Religion in Theory and Practice - Demystifying the Field for Burgeoning Scholars - Russell T. McCutcheon
6. A Baker’s Dozen of Tough Choices
Religion in Theory and Practice - Demystifying the Field for Burgeoning Scholars - Russell T. McCutcheon
Russell T. McCutcheon [+]
University of Alabama
Russell T. McCutcheon is University Research Professor and, for 18 years, was the Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Alabama. He has written on problems in the academic labor market throughout his 30-year career and helped to design and run Alabama’s skills-based M.A. in religion in culture. Among his recent work is the edited resource for instructors, Teaching in Religious Studies and Beyond (Bloomsbury 2024).
Description
Revised from an earlier published article, which itself resulted from a paper first delivered as part of the Craft of Teaching seminar at the University of Chicago (aimed at early career scholars), this chapter succinctly outlines some of the challenges that face not just novice but even experienced instructors in their introductory courses (e.g., are you teaching an introduction or a survey—and do you know the difference?). Regardless how each is decided, the chapter provocatively raises thirteen key moments where instructors must make a decision concerning their practical teaching goals and how they can best be attained.