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Core Exploratory Courses: Explorations of the Christian Faith
RLGN 1101 Introduction to Christianity
(3) Spring 2008
An introduction to the Christian tradition of faith through a study of its central symbols, sacred texts, and practices.
RLGN 1102 Jewish Origins in Context
(3) Every term
A study of the Hebrew bible, commonly called by Christians the Old Testament, in the context of the ancient near eastern world. The course also will ask students to reflect on the impact of the Hebrew bible on Western civilization and its implications for the contemporary world.
RLGN 1103 New Testament Writings in Context
(3) Every term
A study of the New Testament writings in the context of Greco-Roman civilization. The course also will ask students to reflect on the impact of Christian scriptures on Western civilization and consider their implications for the contemporary world.
RLGN 1104 Dialogue with World Faith Traditions
(3) Fall 2007
The course will place the insights of the Christian faith in dialogue with those of major living world religions.
RLGN 1105 Moral Traditions and Contemporary Social Problems
(3) Spring 2008
A study of contemporary ethical issues in the light of the moral traditions central to the Christian faith. The course will examine such issues as marriage and family, war and peace, racism, abortion, and the environment. Servant leadership component.
Religion and Philosophy Departmental Courses
Area I: Biblical Studies
RLGN 2110 Introduction to Biblical Hebrew I
(3)
A beginning course designed to teach the fundamentals of Biblical Hebrew.
Prerequisite: None
RLGN 2111 Introduction to Biblical Hebrew II
(3)
A continuation of RLGN 2110.
Prerequisite: RLGN 2110
RLGN 2120 Introduction to Hellenistic Greek I
(3) Fall
A beginning course designed to teach the fundamentals of Hellenistic or Koine Greek, which includes the language of the New Testament.
Prerequisite: None
RLGN 2121 Introduction to Hellenistic Greek II
(3) Spring
A continuation of RLGN 2120.
Prerequisite: RLGN 2120
RLGN 2130 Readings in New Testament Greek
(3)
Selected readings from New Testament texts with some attention to developing intermediate Greek grammar.
Prerequisite: RLGN 2120 and 2121
RLGN 3110 The Law
(3)
A detailed study of the first five books of the Old Testament.
Prerequisite: RLGN 1102, or permission of professor
RLGN 3120 The Prophets
(3)
A detailed study of prophetic movements in Israel and of the individual prophets, their historical background, lives, messages, and contributions to the religious life of Israel.
Prerequisite: RLGN 1102, or permission of professor
RLGN 3130 The Writings
(3)
An examination of wisdom, apocalyptic and poetic literature of the Old Testament.
Prerequisite: RLGN 1102, or permission of professor
RLGN 3140 The Life and Teachings of Jesus
(3)
A study of the message of Jesus within the context of the synoptic gospels and its application to contemporary society.
Prerequisite: RLGN 1103, or permission of professor
RLGN 3150 The Apostolic Age
(3) Spring 2008
An examination of the origin and expansion of the early Christian Church, with studies in the Epistles and the Acts of the Apostles.
Prerequisite: RLGN 1103, or permission of professor
RLGN 3160 The Gospels
(3) Fall 2007
An examination of one of the four canonical gospels with emphasis on the historical context, history of interpretation, and modern appropriations of the text.
Prerequisite: RLGN 1103, or permission of professor
Area II: Historical Studies
RLGN 2210 Early Church History
(3)
A survey of the history of the Christian Church from the close of the Apostolic age to the end of the Middle Ages.
Prerequisite: None
RLGN 2220 Modern Church History
(3) Fall
A history of the Christian Church from the reformation era to the modern period.
Prerequisite: None
RLGN 2230 Race and Religion in America
(3) Spring
This course will examine the role that religion played and continues to play in American race relations and racial identities. The course will emphasize the history and the theorists of the civil rights contemporary era.
Prerequisite: None
RLGN 3210 United Methodist Studies
(3) Fall 2007
A survey of the history, theology, and polity of the United Methodist Church.
Prerequisite: A religion core course
RLGN 3220 A History of Christian Political Thought
(3)
A study of the impact of the Christian theorists and the institutions of the Church on the development of political theory in the West.
Prerequisite: A religion core course
Area III: Theology, Ethics, and the Social Scientific Study of Religion
RLGN 2320 Religion, Violence, and Social Change
(3)
An examination of models of non-violent social change that are grounded in religious faith commitments. The course will focus on the Christian faith tradition but will work comparatively with figures and movements from Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam. The course will include practice in the skills of peace-building that are guided by the principles of restorative justice.
Prerequisite: None
RLGN 3310 Contemporary Christian Thought
(3) Fall
A survey of the development of Christian thought, with particular attention to the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Prerequisite: A religion core course
RLGN 3320 The Ethics of Sexuality, Marriage, and Gender
(3)
A study of the moral issues related to sexuality, gender roles, and family life. Topics will vary per offering, but may include ethical reflection on such topics as the meaning and purpose of sexuality, gender roles, pre-marital and extra-marital sexuality, homosexuality, and family structure. (This course is cross-listed as WMST 3320.)
Prerequisite: A religion core course
RLGN 3340 Sociology of Religion
(3)
A sociological analysis of the interplay between religion and culture. Prerequisite: A religion core course
RLGN 3350 Psychology of Religion
(3)
Psychological interpretation of religious experience and growth.
Prerequisite: A religion core course
Area IV: Philosophy
PHIL 1410 Introduction to Philosophy
(3) Spring 2008
A survey of major philosophical themes and figures that were formative in Western civilization.
Prerequisite: None
PHIL 2410 Moral Philosophy
(3) Fall
A study of the major philosophical understandings of morality and the good life.
Prerequisite: None
PHIL 2420 Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
(3) Fall 2007
A historical survey of classical and medieval philosophy.
Prerequisite: None
PHIL 2430 Modern Philosophy
(3)
A historical survey of the philosophies of the Renaissance through the post-modern era.
Prerequisite: None
PHIL 2440 Elementary Logic
(3)
An introduction to the logic of propositions with attention to the structure and evaluation of informal arguments. The rhetoric of persuasion and its use of logic and emotions also will be discussed.
Prerequisite: None
PHIL 3410 Philosophy of Religion
(3)
An investigation of problems related to philosophical reflection on religious thought and experience.
Prerequisite: At least one prior course in philosophy or permission of professor
PHIL 3420 Themes in Political Philosophy
(3)
An introduction to the basic ideas of political philosophy. Topics considered include the social and historical context of political theory, the development of major ideas in political philosophy, critical analysis of theoretical arguments, and the relation of political theory to contemporary politics. (This course is cross-listed as POLS 3340.)
Prerequisite: None
PHIL 3430 Bioethics
(3) Spring 2008
A study of the ethical issues raised by the practice of nursing, medicine, and biomedical research.
Prerequisite: None
PHIL 4410 Selected Topics in Philosophy
(3) Spring
A seminar course on a major subject of concern in philosophy based on individual research and assigned readings.
Prerequisite: At least one prior course in philosophy or permission of professor
Area V: Church Leadership Courses
RLGN 3510 Christian Education in the Local Church
(3) Fall 2007
A study of issues confronting those participating in a local church setting. Required of all students in the Internship.
Prerequisite: A religion core course
RLGN 3520 Christian Worship
(3)
The study and practice of Christian worship in its historical and contemporary contexts. Topics will include the theology of worship, sacraments, liturgy, and the place of music in worship.
Prerequisite: A religion core course
RLGN 3540 Youth Ministry
(3)
The study and practice of ministry to persons from adolescence through young adulthood.
Prerequisite: A religion core course
RLGN 3560 Congregational Leadership
(3) Spring 2008
The study of the leadership styles and skills necessary for leadership of a religious institution. Topics may include congregational dynamics, leading institutional change, working with volunteers, avoiding burnout, and racial and gender issues in leadership.
Prerequisite: A religion core course
RLGN 3550 Internship
(1-6) As scheduled
Supervised participation in the local church setting. May be repeated for credit up to 6 hours.
Prerequisite: Two courses from Area V
Area VI: Capstone and Other Courses
RLGN 4610 Selected Topics in Religion
(3) Spring
A seminar course on a major subject of concern based on individual research and assigned readings.
Prerequisite: Permission of professor
RLGN 4620 Senior Thesis or Project
(3) As scheduled
A directed study normally taken in the fall of the senior year. The student should choose a project director from within the department and work with this director to refine a topic in the semester prior to which the student enrolls for the course. Thus, most students should select a director and topic by the end of the spring semester of the junior year.
Prerequisite: Application to Religion Department Chair
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