PSY421 Psychology of Religion
PSY421 Psychology of Religion
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Oct 10, 2025
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Psychology
Faruk Obuća
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
Psychology of religion offers the introductory presentation of the multifaceted knowledge in the field. As such it primarily puts focus on state-of-science perspectives on the psychological processes underlying spirituality, religious behaviour, and religious experience. The course will review foundational concepts and thus provide insight into the established and novel research methodologies, i.e. findings emerging from basic psychological sub-disciplines addressing the developmental, biological and cognitive basis of religiousness and their connections to emotion, personality and social behaviour. Furthermore, the course provides explanatory and examining aspects of the religion as a meaning system by looking into the range of associated practices and experiences.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Raymond F. Paloutzian (2017). Invitation to the Psychology of Religion, 3rd edition, by Guilford Press.
Additional Literature
Loewenthal, K.M. (2000). The Psychology of Religion: A Short Introduction. UK: Oneworld Publications.Teaching Methods
This course employs a range of teaching and learning methods: lectures
Seminars
And tutorials
Individual and team-work in-class activities. "
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction, syllabus presentation, course presentation | |
| 2 | Religion in Psychological Perspective | Chapter 1 |
| 3 | Religion in Psychological Perspective | Chapter 1 |
| 4 | Intellectual Journey to the Psychology of Religion | Chapter 2 |
| 5 | Intellectual Journey to the Psychology of Religion | Chapter 2 |
| 6 | Psychological Theories Look at Religion & Quiz | Chapter 3 |
| 7 | Psychological Theories Look at Religion | Chapter 3 |
| 8 | Midterm Exam | |
| 9 | Logic and Methods in the Psychology of Religion | Chapter 4 |
| 10 | Logic and Methods in the Psychology of Religion | Chapter 4 |
| 11 | Developmental Processes in Religiousness and Spirituality | Chapter 5 |
| 12 | Developmental Processes in Religiousness and Spirituality | Chapter 5 |
| 13 | Student presentations | |
| 14 | Student presentations | |
| 15 | Wrap up | all relevant chapter |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSY421.1 | Course | Monday 09:00 - 11:50 | A F1.26 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 13:00 - 16:00 | B F2.3B | |
| Tuesday | 13:00 - 15:00 | B F2.3B |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 4
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Home study
14 hours ⏳ (14 week × 1 h)
Presentation
18 hours ⏳ (3 week × 6 h)
Midterm Exam
28 hours ⏳ (7 week × 4 h)
Final Exam
30 hours ⏳ (10 week × 3 h)
Quiz
18 hours ⏳ (3 week × 6 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [PSY421] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Oct 10, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| PSY421 | Psychology of Religion | 2 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | PSY103 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Faruk Obuća | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 13:00-16:00 Tuesday: 13:00-15:00 |
|||||||
| fobuca@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | Psychology of religion offers the introductory presentation of the multifaceted knowledge in the field. As such it primarily puts focus on state-of-science perspectives on the psychological processes underlying spirituality, religious behaviour, and religious experience. The course will review foundational concepts and thus provide insight into the established and novel research methodologies, i.e. findings emerging from basic psychological sub-disciplines addressing the developmental, biological and cognitive basis of religiousness and their connections to emotion, personality and social behaviour. Furthermore, the course provides explanatory and examining aspects of the religion as a meaning system by looking into the range of associated practices and experiences. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Raymond F. Paloutzian (2017). Invitation to the Psychology of Religion, 3rd edition, by Guilford Press. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
| Teaching Methods | This course employs a range of teaching and learning methods: lectures, seminars, and tutorials, individual and team-work in-class activities. " | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction, syllabus presentation, course presentation | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Religion in Psychological Perspective | Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Religion in Psychological Perspective | Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Intellectual Journey to the Psychology of Religion | Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Intellectual Journey to the Psychology of Religion | Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Psychological Theories Look at Religion & Quiz | Chapter 3 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Psychological Theories Look at Religion | Chapter 3 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm Exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Logic and Methods in the Psychology of Religion | Chapter 4 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Logic and Methods in the Psychology of Religion | Chapter 4 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Developmental Processes in Religiousness and Spirituality | Chapter 5 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Developmental Processes in Religiousness and Spirituality | Chapter 5 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Student presentations | |||||||||
| Week 14 | Student presentations | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Wrap up | all relevant chapter | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Presentation | 1 | 20 | 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz | 1 | 20 | 1,2 | Not Allowed | |
| Not Allowed | |||||
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | Home study | 1 | 14 | 14 | |||
| Presentation | 6 | 3 | 18 | Midterm Exam | 4 | 7 | 28 | |||
| Final Exam | 3 | 10 | 30 | Quiz | 6 | 3 | 18 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 06/10/2025 | |||||||||