JUST/CLAS/RELG 3022 and PHIL 3729: Searching for God: Home

The Brooklyn College Library's electronic resources (e.g. journals, ebooks, databases, etc.) are available to registered students, faculty, and staff when off-campus, including while abroad.

• To authenticate for remote access to Library databases you will be prompted to use your CUNYfirst Username and Password to log in (same credentials for logging into Blackboard). You may see a redirection screen to the new login screen.
• Using Firefox as your browser is recommended.
• For further assistance go to the library's Ask a Librarian or read more on Library Remote Access.

All CUNY members have free access to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Chronicle of Higher Education.

• Use CUNY.edu email to sign up.
• Faculty & staff renew every year.
• Students have access until graduation.
  • renewal requires working CUNY.edu address.  

NY Times: Anyone who initiates an account will have an active subscription for one year from the date she/he creates the account. If you already have an annual subscription to the NYTimes, you can cancel it and will receive a refund. However, if you only have a monthly subscription, the New York Times will not issue a refund for that month.

Newspaper Icons

Items located on the NYTimes site, access with free CUNY account..

Items located on Wall Street Journal site, access with free CUNY account..

You are to write an 8-10 page research paper on a topic of your choice (pending approval by me) that directly relates to the course. Easy ways of coming up with a topic are to develop one of the units or sub-units into a paper (e.g., the theology of Ugarit, Plato, Maimonides, Aquinas, etc.) or to develop a sub-theme across units (e.g., the development of the concept of the logos from Parmenides through Plotinus, Targum, and the Gospel of John).

Due dates for Term paper:

• Topic: You must submit a topic for approval by the end of Week 3 (Friday, 5 PM).
• Bibliography: You must submit a bibliography by the end of Week 5 (Friday, 5 PM).
• Outline: Due by end of Week 8 (Friday, 5 PM).
• Rough Draft: Due by end of Week 10 (Friday, 5 PM).
• Final Draft: Due by end of Week 14 (Friday, 5 PM).

Learn tips and tricks for finding, creating and citing your sources from your Brooklyn College Librarians.

1. Cite Your Sources
2. Research - Judaic Studies
3. Center for Learning holds online tutoring sessions, including to help your writing.

• Course objectives and outcomes will be assessed at each session, as students lead and contribute to discussions of key themes and issues by reading and commenting on texts in class.
• In the term paper, students will identify literary texts that reflect key themes and concepts and students will demonstrate their ability to present a thesis supported by relevant texts. The idea of the rough draft is to get feedback for the final paper. Students who get the rough draft in on time should therefore be able to rewrite it with input from my comments for the final draft. The final draft may not be rewritten for a better grade. Students who engage in cheating or plagiarism on the paper will receive a zero for the assignment, an F for the semester, and a recommendation to the college that they be expelled from school.
• The midterm and final examinations will give students the opportunity to respond to a series of questions to demonstrate their knowledge about the authors and works read and about the ways in which these ethical issues are addressed in the various sources. The best way to prepare for them is to do the readings on time and come to class. Then, step back and ask yourselves what was the main point(s) of each unit and what was our basis for drawing those conclusions. That will be the focus of the exam questions.

Students are expected to have done the readings, attend, and participate in class discussion. Unexcused absences and late attendance will count against this grade.

Note: If the class is conducted virtually (e.g., on Zoom), students must have their videos on to get participation credit. Feel free to use the Zoom Backgrounds feature to obscure any distractions in the background where you are seated during class time.

Academic dishonesty of any type, including cheating and plagiarism, is unacceptable at Brooklyn College. Cheating is any misrepresentation in academic work. Plagiarism is the representation of another person’s work, words, or ideas as your own. Students should consult the Brooklyn College Student Handbook for a fuller, more specific discussion of related academic integrity standards.

Academic dishonesty is punishable by failure of the “…test, examination, term paper or other assignment on which cheating occurred” (Faculty Council, May 18, 1954).

In addition, disciplinary proceedings in cases of academic dishonesty may result in penalties of admonition, warning, censure, disciplinary probation, restitution, suspension, expulsion, complaint to civil authorities, or ejection (Adopted by Policy Council, May 8, 1991).

NOTE: If you have a question about how to cite correctly ask your teacher BEFORE submitting your work.

• The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism.
• Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both.
• View complete text of CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and Brooklyn College procedure for policy implementation.
• If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member must report the violation.
• Please read the section entitled “Academic Regulations and Procedures” in the Brooklyn College Undergraduate Bulletin or Graduate Bulletin for a complete listing of academic regulations of the College.

Bereavement Policy:

• Students who experience the death of a loved one must contact the Division of Student Affairs, 2113 Boylan Hall, if they wish to implement either the Standard Bereavement Procedure or the Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure. The Division of Student Affairs has the right to request a document that verifies the death (e.g., a funeral program or death notice). Contact Email: studentaffairs@brooklyn.cuny.edu
• Typically, this death involves that of a family member, in parallel to the bereavement policy for faculty and staff. However, it is up to the discretion of the Division of Student Affairs to determine if a death outside of the immediate family warrants implementation of the student bereavement policy.
•  As an option, and in consultation with the Division of Student Affairs, students may take the Leave of Absence Bereavement after the Standard Bereavement.
• Reference to the Student Bereavement Policies will be noted on course syllabi.
• Students requesting a religious accommodation should contact the Division of Student Affairs as well. The chief student affairs officer, or a designee, and the student will engage in an interactive process with the goal of finding an acceptable accommodation.

Bereavement Procedure:

• Upon approval from the Division of Student Affairs, the student is allowed one week, commencing from the day of notification to the Division of Student Affairs, of excused absence.
• Should the student feel that he/she needs additional days, these should be discussed with individual course instructors and/or the Division of Student Affairs.
• The Division of Student Affairs will contact the student’s faculty and academic staff of the student’s courses.
• Faculty and academic staff will be advised that extensions must be granted to the student for the period of one week of excused absence.
• Further extensions may be negotiated with the student when he or she returns to campus.
• Students are encouraged to discuss options with their instructors.

Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure:

• Students may be allowed to withdraw from the semester in which the death occurs.
• The Bereavement Leave of Absence is for one semester only.
• Students who have opted to take the Bereavement Leave of Absence and have already attended classes for the semester of the leave will be allowed to re-enter the following semester without having to reapply to the college.
• Students who wish to take the leave of absence prior to the beginning of the semester will be required to reapply for the following semester.
• Students who are in good academic standing will be given the opportunity to successfully complete the credits for the semester in which they return.
• Students will consult with the Division of Student Affairs, on a case-by-case basis, as to whether they should withdraw from their courses during this leave of absence or to request incompletes from the faculty member.
•  Given that there may be a potential impact on financial aid, students who receive financial aid and who take the Bereavement Leave of Absence, upon arrangement with the Division of Student Affairs, will meet with a financial aid adviser prior to taking this option.

• The New York State Education Law provides that no student shall be expelled or refused admission to an institution of higher education because he or she is unable to attend classes or participate in examinations or study or work requirements on any particular day or days because of religious beliefs.
• Students who are unable to attend classes on a particular day or days because of religious beliefs will be excused from any examination or study or work requirements.
• Faculty must make good-faith efforts to provide students absent from class because of religious beliefs equivalent opportunities to make up the work missed; no additional fees may be charged for this consideration.
• If classes, examinations, or study or work requirements occur on Friday after 4 p.m. or on Saturday, similar or makeup classes, examinations, or study or work requirements will be made available on other days, where possible and practical.
• The faculty and the administration will not allow any adverse or prejudicial effects to accrue to students availing themselves of this regulation.
• If students have complaints about the application of this policy, they are entitled to bring action or a proceeding for enforcement of their rights in the Supreme Court of Kings County