Grant Potts –

Interim Dean of Language Arts Humanities and Communications

Professor of Philosophy

 

Biography

Dr. Grant H. Potts received his Masters in Religious Studies from Arizona State University and his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He also received additional graduate training in Philosophy from Texas State University. He is a member of the steering committee for the Ritual Studies research group in the American Academy of Religion (AAR), and also serves as a respondent for the college-wide religious literacy project for the AAR and on the Academic Relations Committee. At Austin Community College, he also serves as Chair of the department and is involved in faculty advising and distance learning initiatives.

Teaching Philosophy

Dr. Potts’ goal is to develop core thinking, reading, and writing skills in his students, including basic research skills, while introducing them to the disciplines of Philosophy and Religious Studies (depending on the course). He uses a variety of teaching techniques, and both provides lecture and runs discussion-based classes and group-based activities. Potts seeks to challenge his students while supporting them so that they can succeed in meeting that challenge. More then anything else, he wants his students to leave his classroom with the ability to think more carefully and responsibly about the topics they explore, and to have developed the skills and learned the tools available for them to do so.

Areas of Interest

Dr. Potts’ research, writing, and presenting primarily focus on issues related to spirituality, ethics, and ritual from a social, cultural, religious, and philosophical perspective. He also is concerned with understanding contemporary religious movements in the United States.

Courses Taught at ACC

PHIL-1304: Introduction to Comparative Religion
PHIL-1301: Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL-2306: Ethics
PHIL-2316: Philosophy of Religion
HUMA-1301: Prehistory to Renaissance – Great Questions Seminar

Courses Taught Elsewhere

History of Eastern Religions
History of Western Religions