A blended course on the evolution of the First Amendment religious Freedom principles from the 1940s, through the civil rights era, to today. Participants will address contemporary issues that concern the constitutional relationship of religion and government along with current debates over the meaning of free exercise of religion. Part of a pilot program for the Certificate in Religion in Public Life offered in cooperation with the Religious Freedom Center of the Newseum, http://www.religiousfreedomcenter.org/admissions/areas-of-study/religious-leaders . The course will be taught online from February 8 to May 18, 2016. Participants will need to attend a three day immersion course at the Religious Freedom Center in Washington D.C. on March 21-23 2016. Travel expenses are the responsibility of the students. Designed and administered Lauren W. Herman (JD, MTS) of the RFC of the Newseum, supervised by Dean Lettini. (http://www.religiousfreedomcenter.org/contact/directory/?entry=23 )