Religion Degrees Online

Accreditation Information :
Pre Requisite Courses :
Qualifying Exams :

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Courses :

The Christian Ministries major consists of 42 semester credits. For course sequence, request a program calendar. Credits are listed in parentheses.

BIBL300 • Understanding the Bible (4)
Orientation to the Bible as history, literature, and theology. Attention to the nature of the Bible, including issues of inspiration, authority, and canonicity. General historical, literary, and theological overview. Search for integrating motifs and unifying themes within the broader context of the historical and literary diversity.

BIBL341E • The Gospel in Cross-Cultural Perspective (4)
How the gospel is influenced, expressed, and experienced through social and cultural systems. Emphasis is on Western and non-Western social structures in light of cultural components of the biblical witness. Skills for hearing and speaking the gospel with cultural sensitivity. Special issues: global theology, missiological concerns, incarnation theology, ethnographic analysis.

BIBL441 • Significance of the Old Testament (3)
Introduction to the Old Testament, which emphasizes foundational themes including creation, life, justice, people of God, covenant, and the Old Testament polemic against the prevailing culture of its time. Development of methodological tools for investigating these themes will enable learners to properly contextualize these themes to their culture. Prerequisite: BIBL300.

BIBL442 • Significance of the New Testament (3)
Introduction to the New Testament emphasizing major themes including the kingdom of God, eternal life, and justification in Christ. Emphasis also on the hermeneutical issues related to understanding these themes in their original literary and historical settings, and applying them in ministry situations today. Prerequisite: BIBL300.

CHMN350 • Personal Spiritual Formation (4)
Investigation of the development of a spiritual life and its disciplines, according to the New Testament and the history of the disciples of Jesus. Includes the integration of faith development, leadership formation, and personality. Special focus is on the spiritual life in the context of Christian community and ministry.

CHMN391 • Ministry Practicum 1 (2)
The integrating experience of the Christian Ministries major, including placement in a ministry setting under the direct supervision of an experienced mentor. Emphasis is on application of ongoing course work and participation in relevant aspects of ministry. Learners will gain experience in the refinement and integration of a working philosophy of ministry. Opportunity for assessment of personal ministry skills and lifelong leadership development. Graded on an S/U basis.

CHMN451 • Communication in Ministry (3)
Introduction to the essential communication skills needed in ministry, including effective listening, storytelling, and public speaking skills. Special attention to communication that meets the listener’s needs.

CHMN452 • Leadership in Ministry (3)
Introduction to some of the essential leadership skills needed in ministry, including basic skills for self leadership, and for leading people, teams, and team leaders, with special attention to leadership as influence through good relationships.

CHMN491 • Ministry Practicum 2 (3)
A continuation of CHMN391. Prerequisite: CHMN391.

THEO320 • Theology of Ministry (4)
Introduction to the theology and practice of Christian ministry. Focus is on a conceptual, theological, and biblical understanding of ministry from individual, community, lay, and ordained perspectives. Opportunity to develop a usable, working philosophy of ministry. Presents a model for critical thinking about the practice of ministry in the contemporary setting.

THEO441 • Christian Theology (3)
Examination of Christian doctrine from a systematic perspective. Subjects include, but are not limited to, the Triune God, the person and work of Jesus Christ (incarnation and atonement), and salvation. The unity and diversity of Christian belief will constitute the backdrop for subjects covered.

THEO442 • Apologetics (3)
Investigation of the rational foundation of the Christian faith. Critical examination of historical and philosophical arguments for the faith as well as analysis of its relation to modern and non-Christian philosophies, movements, and worldviews will form the substance of the course. Prerequisite: THEO441.

GENS413P • The Modern World: Trends and Forces Impacting Organizations (3)
Survey of technological, economic, political, cultural, and religious trends as well as forces shaping our global and personal futures. Exploration of alternative Christian worldviews and modes of thinking and learning that might be useful in responding to these challenges.

Courses of Instruction
101 Introduction to Old Testament Literature (3)
The application of critical methodology to the history, literature, and religion of the ancient Hebrews.
Attention is given to the historical context, the development, and the message of the Hebrew faith. This
course satisfies 3 hours of the Religion and Philosophy requirement for General Education.

102 Introduction to New Testament Literature (3)
The application of critical methodology to the biblical text to discover the basic meaning and message of
the New Testament. Attention is given to the secular and religious history of the period as well as to the
life and teachings of Jesus, the letters of Paul, and the origins of the Christian Church. This course
satisfies 3 hours of the Religion and Philosophy requirement for General Education.

201 Religions of the World (3)
An examination of the origin, basic beliefs, historical developments, and sociological manifestations of
the world’s great religions. This course satisfies 3 hours of the Religion and Philosophy requirement for
General Education.

207 Spirituality in Business and Commerce (3)
This course will consider the role of spiritual values and ethics in the workplace and how the application
of spiritual and ethical values can contribute positively to the bottom line. The student will consider how
humanizing the workplace can help restore a higher conscience and consciousness to business, as well as
bringing heart into the business and commercial arenas.

212 Death and Dying (Same as SOC 212) (3)
The goal of this course is to examine the phenomenon of death and dying within various cultural and
religious contexts with the view of understanding how such perspectives inform our understanding of the
end of life. This approach will survey the principles and perspectives of science and the humanities as
they apply to the experience of death and dying. Numerous studies and instructional methodologies will
be examined for the purpose of correcting stereotypes and myths concerning death and the reactions of
people to death and dying. The course will pay particular attention to the phenomenon of death and dying
through the lenses of social science and religion.

260 Religion in America (3)
A study of the history and expression of religion in America through Protestantism, Catholicism, and
Judaism. Attention will also be given to a comparison of mainstream and divergent groups and the
religious expressions in America since 1950. Alternate years.

304 Studies in the Prophets (3)
The historical background, function, message, contribution, and contemporary significance of the Hebrew
prophets. Alternate years. Prerequisite: REL 101.

305 Studies in the Poetry and Wisdom Literature (3)
The historical background, function, message, contribution, and contemporary significance of the poetry
and wisdom literature of the Old Testament. Alternate years. Prerequisite: REL 101.

306 African-American Religions (3)
A reading/lecture/dialogue course designed to survey the development of Afro-American religion from its
African roots to the present. The course will focus on the black folk tradition and denominational
structures, as well as some of the significant leaders and movements within black religion in America.
Special emphasis will be given to the liberation tradition within black Protestantism, Catholicism, and
Islam.

308 Introduction to Islam (3)
This course will present the history, basic beliefs, sacred writings, and institutional structures of Islam. In
addition, this course will investigate both current events between Western and Muslim countries and
struggles within Islam itself.

311 Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels (3)
A study of the life and teachings of Jesus through a careful examination of the synoptic gospels in the
light of available historical, cultural, and literary studies. Alternate years. Prerequisite: REL 102.

312 Life and Letters of Paul (3)
An introductory course on the life and thought of Paul. The Pauline letters are studied within the
historical context of first century Christianity, and their contemporary importance for the church in today’s
world is explored. Alternate years. Prerequisite: REL 102.

313 Johannine Literature (3)
A study of the Gospel of John, the Epistles of John, and the Revelation. The student will master the
contents of the books and the major critical issues involved in their interpretation, and will demonstrate
competence in using modern research and interpretive methods. Every third year. Prerequisite: REL
102.

315 Archaeology and the Bible (3)
A survey of the contributions of Near Eastern archaeology to Biblical studies.

351 Developing Spiritual Discipline (3)
This course has a dual purpose of introducing learners to the rich tradition of Christian mysticism as well
as to increase the learner’s awareness and practice of spiritual formation. Learners will be exposed to a
variety of spiritual resources that will enable them to learn and experiment with different traditions and
approaches to deepening their spiritual life.

380 Church Music (Same as MUS 380) (3)
A study of the relationship of music to worship in the history of the Western Church. By examination of
influences that have shaped the musical practices of various denominations, both liturgical and
nonliturgical worship are discussed in addition to the multifaceted purposes of music as religious
expression in contemporary society. Alternate years.

403 History of Christianity (3)
A study of the history of the Christian religion and Church from the first century to the beginning of the
modern period. The course highlights the theological and sociological developments in the Early Church,
the Middle Ages, the Reformation, and post-Reformation periods.

465 Senior Research Thesis (1)
An opportunity for students to demonstrate critical skills in the area of research and writing. The
projects/papers will be reviewed by an external evaluator. The course is required of all seniors and must
be successfully completed prior to graduation. Prerequisite: Senior status.

In-Service Guidance

255 Ministry Formations (3)
A seminar designed to acquaint the student with the ministry as a profession and to help the student define
his/her role in relationship to the ministry as a vocation, become acquainted with the basic skills of
pastoral care and develop communication skills necessary for the ministry. Required of all students who
are receiving ministerial tuition grants.

453, 454 Internship I, II (3,3)
A program designed to give senior students in-depth training as they serve as apprentices under highly
trained, local supervisor-mentors for two semesters. The student is expected to write weekly experiential
reports and to meet with their mentor one hour each week on one-on-one supervision of their work.
Discussion about practical application will be held weekly with the supervisor, and weekly seminars will
be held at the college to discuss the learning activities. The student is expected to spend 7-8 hours each
week in the field, active in the apprenticeship. Required of all fourth year students who are receiving
ministerial tuition grants. Prerequisite: 2.0 grade point average.

The study of religion is as much a process of transformation as an education. As a student of Religion at Trinity, you learn to develop and exercise a respectful and open attitude toward a variety of beliefs and practices among the peoples of the world. You are challenged to learn critical thinking in order to separate the “wheat from the chaff,” the substance from the superficial, not only in the discipline itself, but in all of life’s endeavors. You study many religious persuasions; Tibetan Buddhists, Swiss Calvinists, French Catholics, Irani Muslims, while maintaining an enlightened balance between understanding and acceptance.

Religion as a major engages you in studies of history, literature, philosophy, science and economics. It teaches you how to think clearly and analytically. It demands that you learn to articulate your thoughts both orally and in writing. It has its pragmatic side, offering a framework in which to examine moral values in different societies and the ways in which these societies resolve their moral conflicts. Religion offers the student a broader tablet, a chance to develop powers of perception more profoundly than in narrowly defined disciplines.

The study of Religion at Trinity is distinguished by the diversity that is the mark of the liberal arts education. There is no limitation on the specific religious traditions or disciplines you may explore. Student faculty interaction is both close and productive, offering working relationships that enrich and inspire. The diversity of the faculty and their individual academic specialties reflect the diversity of this venerable, distinguished college and its enduring commitment to the liberal arts. Trinity College offers an intellectual environment in which you are encouraged to explore, to test yourself, and to challenge the spiritual and pragmatic implications of religion in the context of the emerging world order, an environment in which the subject matter comes alive.

Program Requirements
65 credits for the Associate of Arts degree

Biblical and Theological Studies: (37 Credits)
BIBL 150 Old Testament History Literature 3
BIBL 151 New Testament History and Literature 3
BIBL 152 Life of Christ 2
BIBL 153 Acts 2
BIBL Old Testament Bible Elective 3
BIBL New Testament Bible Elective 3
BIBL 253 Hermeneutics 3
HITH 151 Pentecostal Heritage 2
ITCS 101 Introduction to Missions 2
PMIN 150 Personal Evangelism 2
THEO 161 Introduction to Theology 2
THEO 162 Christianity and Culture 2
THEO 251 Systematic Theology I: Scripture, God, Creation 3
THEO 252 Systematic Theology II: Humanity, Sin, Christ, Salvation 3
THEO 254 Ethics 2

General Education: (28 Credits)
BUSI 158 Personal Finance 3
COMM 210 Fundamentals of Speech 3
ENGL 111 English Composition I 3
ENGL 112 English Composition II 3
HIST History Elective 3
MATH 111 College Math OR 3
MATH 200 College Algebra
PHED 110 Health Concepts 1
PMIN 101 Spiritual Formation 1
PSYC 101 Introduction to College 2
PSYC 210 General Psychology 3
SOCI 213 Marriage and Family 3

Courses
CHR 101. Old Testament (3 hours)
An introduction to the history, literature, and theology of the Old Testament.

CHR 150. New Testament (3 hours)
An introduction to the history, literature, and theology of the New Testament.

CHR 210. History of Christianity (3 hours)
An introduction to developments in Christian history from the first century to the present.

CHR 250. Theological Research and Writing (3 hours)
An introduction to basic theological vocabulary, bibliography, library resources, and research methodologies with a rigorous emphasis on improving writing skills.

CHR 300. Introduction to Christian Theology (3 hours)
An introduction to the major topics in Christian theology. Issues explored include the nature of theological language and theological methods, the concept of revelation, the character of God, the character of humankind, the reality of sin, the significance of Jesus the Christ, the identity of the church, and the shape of Christian hope.

CHR 302. Biblical Interpretation (3 hours)
A study of the principles and methods by which the Bible is interpreted.

CHR 305. Old Testament Prophets (3 hours)
Prerequisite: CHR 101
A study of the prophets of the Old Testament, including the nature and history of the prophetic movement in Israel and the messages of selected prophets. Emphasis will be given to Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Second Isaiah.

CHR 310. Jesus (3 hours)
Prerequisite: CHR 150
An investigation of the Gospels’ portraits of Jesus in the light of other ancient literature, the world of Jesus, and scholarship about the Jesus of history.

CHR 315. Paul (3 hours)
Prerequisite: CHR 150
A study of the life and thought of Paul based on Acts and the letters of Paul in their literary, historical, social, and religious contexts.

CHR 320. New Testament Theology (3 hours)
Prerequisite: CHR 150
An introduction to New Testament theology, with emphasis on such themes as the Kingdom of God, the person and work of Jesus, and the nature of the church.

CHR 325. Contemporary Christian Theology (3 hours)
A survey of Christian theology since the 1960s with reference to earlier theology. Attention will be given to secular theology, process theology, Latin American liberation theology, black theology, feminist theology, evangelical theology, narrative theology, and theology of hope.

CHR 330. Approaches to Christian Ethics (3 hours)
An exploration of Christian ethics that focuses on classic texts drawn from a broad range of church history. Although the course will deal with some specific moral issues, the focus will be on how thinkers have used insights from the Bible, theology, philosophy, the sciences, and human experience to address a range of questions that may include: What does it mean to be moral? Why be moral? How do we know what is moral? How do we become moral? How can we make responsible decisions?

CHR 335. Christian Ethics In America (3 hours)
An exploration of Christian ethics that focuses on the implications of Christian faith for life in civil and political society in the United States. The course will engage readings in Christian ethics since the 1960s that address a variety of issues that may include character, race, economic justice, the environment, family/ marriage, gender, sexuality, the professions, politics, and violence. The course may also require participation in service-learning opportunities.

CHR 350.World Religions (3 hours)
An introduction to the thought and practice of the major world religions.

CHR 353. Religious Groups in America (3 hours)
An examination of the history, theology, and numerical status of various religious groups in contemporary America with primary focus on Christian denominations.

CHR 363.Women and Christianity (3 hours)
Prerequisite: CHR 101 or CHR 150, and WGS 180 or permission of the instructor.
A biblical, historical, and theological examination of the role of women within the Christian tradition.

CHR 365. The Baptist Tradition (3 hours)
A study of the Baptist identity and its free-church character in the light of Baptist history.

CHR 370. History of Christian Theology (3 hours)
A study of the major Christian thinkers and the impact of their ideas in the development of Christian theology.

CHR 380. Biblical Hebrew (4 hours)
An extensive introduction to biblical Hebrew, covering grammar, vocabulary, and readings from the Old Testament. The schedule includes a one-hour per week laboratory session. This course does not count toward credit in foreign languages.

CHR 385. Junior Colloquium (1 hour)
Prerequisites: junior status and declaration of a major in the department.
A course of readings and discussion based upon topics selected by members of the department and essays prepared by senior-level majors in the department.

CHR 400. Supervised Independent Reading (1-3 hours)
An intensive study of a topic in religion, limited in scope, for the purpose of developing a bibliography, concentrated reading, and tutorial discussion with the instructor.

CHR 410. Seminar on Selected Topics in Religion (1-3 hours)
An in-depth investigation of a significant topic in religion not available through other departmental offerings.

CHR 420. Directed Independent Research (3 hours)
Prerequisites: junior or senior status and departmental approval.
Requirements include selection of a problem area or project, survey of relevant literature, research, and formal report of findings.

CHR 485. Senior Colloquium (2 hours)
Prerequisites: senior status and declaration of a major in the department.
A course of readings and discussion based upon topics selected by members of the department and essays prepared by senior-level majors in the department. Each senior enrolled will prepare an essay under the direction of a member of the department and present the essay to the class.

Jewish Studies Minor

The interdisciplinary Jewish Studies Minor gives students a basic grounding in the history, literature, thought and primary language of Jewish civilization. The minor in Jewish studies adds breadth to any major and is useful for students seeking to enter the workplace right after college, as well as those who intend to apply to graduate programs such as medicine, law or business. In conjunction with a major in political science, history, or religion, the minor in Jewish studies can also help prepare students for graduate programs in Middle Eastern studies, Jewish history or Jewish studies. Required courses are flexible in order to tailor the minor to the student’s needs.

Course Descriptions
BMS 105. Introduction to the Old Testament - 3 creditsThis course introduces students to the Old Testament as history, literature, and sacred story. An introduction to each book of the canon and Apocrypha/deuterocanon will be given in the course.

BMS 106. Introduction to the New Testament - 3 creditsThis course introduces students to the New Testament as history, literature, and sacred story. An introduction to each book of the canon will be given in the course.

BMS 107. Religion in Human Experience - 3 creditsThis course introduces students to various academic definitions of religion, the dimensions of religion, and the many scholarly methods used to study religion. The course also gives students opportunities to explore the nature of the sacred, the meaning of life, the possibility of life after death, and to give thought to other such personal questions and the answers to those questions. (Fall 2007 and alternate years)

BMS 205. Hebrew Prophets - 3 creditsThis course will survey the background, context, and issues relevant to each of the books of the Old Testament prophetic literature. Students will research the primary resources and explore various issues of biblical scholarship within the limits of the English Bible. Prerequisite: BMS 105 or 106. (Spring 2006 and alternate years)

BMS 206. Jesus - 3 creditsThe course will provide students an opportunity to investigate original source material on the historical figure of Jesus of Nazareth. Students will also evaluate current scholarly works that debate the reliability of the New Testament era documents, apply various methods for determining the historicity of the figure of Jesus, and posit an identity for the historical Jesus that is located in the first century Greco-Roman-Jewish matrix. Prerequisite: BMS 105 or 106. (Spring 2007 and alternate years)
BMS 209. Philosophy of Religion (Cross-listed as PHL 209) - 3 creditsA philosophical reflection on religious experience and conceptions of the divine. Topics to be discussed include: the existence of God, faith and reason, religious language and symbolism, and the religious situation in our time. Reading from both classical and contemporary authors. (Spring 2006 and alternate years)

BMS 225. The Ministry and Literature of Paul - 3 creditsIn the context of the “close reading” of the Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline corpus of letters, students will master the content of the Biblical materials, formulate a timeline for the life and ministry of the “Apostle to the Gentiles,” investigate various theories of “the historical Paul,” exegete texts to identify key themes in Pauline theology, integrate course content with their academic fields of study and relate the letters of Paul to issues of personal identity and contemporary societal issues. Prerequisite: BMS 105 or 106. (Fall 2007 and alternate years)

BMS 305. Christian Faith - 3 creditsA writing and discussion course designed to introduce students to eight major doctrines of the Christian religion: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Human Nature, Church, Salvation, Consummation, and Revelation. Prerequisite: BMS 105 or 106. (Fall 2008 and alternate years)
BMS 306. World Religions - 3 creditsBy means of readings, films, field trips, group discussions, lectures, and expressive and research papers, the course introduces students to the experiential phenomena of selected major world religions. A typical selection is Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Prerequisite: BMS 105 or 106. (Fall 2007 and alternate years)

BMS 319. Religion in America (Cross-listed as SOC 319) - 3 creditsThe course will examine the context of religion both in concept and in its practical sequences for individuals and public institutions within American society. Material will emphasize the role or effect of religion upon American life and culture and the impact of the social environment upon various American religious traditions. Prerequisite: BMS 105 or 106. (Spring 2007 and alternate years)

BMS 325. Contemporary Issues in Missiology - 3 creditsStudents will engage in theological reflection on the mission of the church, and learn about various historical and contemporary mission strategies. Students will identify and articulate their responses to contemporary issues faced by Christian missionaries in cross-cultural contexts, such as emerging postmodern perspectives, cultural and religious pluralism, global poverty and economic disparities, gender issues, and balancing evangelism with socio-economic development. Practical realities of missionary life will be explored through case studies. Prerequisite: BMS 105 or 106 or permission of the instructor. (Spring 2008 and alternate years)

BMS 366. Church Leadership Practicum - 3 creditsIn this course, students will engage in a minimum of 50 clock hours of church or campus-related ministry. Students may be placed in various churches or para-church organizations in the region under careful on-site supervision. Students may also be placed in leadership positions in College Campus Ministries under the supervision of the Chaplain of the College. In the process of professional skill development in the performance of ministry, students will integrate critical reading and academic analysis in the various areas of ministry defined by the BMS major programs: pastoral ministry, children and youth, drama, international missions, media and music. To enroll in this course, students must have junior standing in one of the BMS options or permission of the instructor. (Spring 2008 and alternate years)

BMS 395. Special Topics - 3 creditsAn in-depth investigation of a current topic in religion, such as the thought of a religious leader, the study of a theological or religious issue, or a religious movement. A special topics course in BMS may also include the study of a biblical language or topic or period in church history of Christian theology. (Offered when interest is expressed and departmental resources permit)

BMS 465. Internship - 6 creditsStudents will engage in an exceptional experiential learning experience as a para-professional in the ministry of the church. Written requirements for these internships include a final paper where students must engage in reflective self-assessment and relate the experience to previous classroom learning/theory in the particular ministry studies option. All students in this course will keep a daily reflective journal upon which mid-term and final grades will be based. In addition, all students who complete this course will make public oral presentations of their learning and findings. An additional learning outcome specific to this course is that students will develop a personal mission statement that articulates application of a worldview consistent with the many expressions of historic Christianity. Students will invest 35 clock hours per academic credit, for a total of 210 clock hours during the semester in which they are enrolled. To enroll in this course, students must have senior standing in one of the BMS options or the permission of the instructor. (Spring 2009 and alternate years)

BMS 497. Independent Study - 3 creditsA carefully supervised study of topics and issues in BMS beyond the other course offerings. Normally, the independent study would be taken by only those students who have previously accumulated at least six credits in BMS. Students who enroll in the course must have at least a 3.00 grade point average. Interested students must take initiative to seek out instruction for the course prior to the pre-registration period. No more than six credits may be accumulated toward the BMS minor. Minimum requirements will be at least one meeting per week between the student and the supervisory professor.

Religion Minor

The religion minor includes 15 hours of coursework in addition to REL 101-102. The required courses for the religion minor are: REL 204, 240, 320 or 420, and six hours of upper-level religion courses.

Course Descriptions for Religion (REL)

101. Introduction to the Old Testament (3 hours) An introduction to the history, literature, and theology of the Old Testament.

102. Introduction to the New Testament (3 hours) An introduction to the history, literature, and theology of the New Testament.

203. The Baptist Heritage (3 hours) The history, function, structure, doctrine, and interrelationships of Southern Baptist denominational work. (This course is required of all students who receive ministerial aid from the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board of Ministerial Education.)

204. Principles of Interpretation (3 hours) A study of the formation of the Bible, the history of biblical interpretation, and modern methods of biblical interpretation.

240. Introduction to Christian Missions (3 hours) A study of the biblical, theological, and practical foundations of Christian missions.

303. The Ancient Near East (3 hours) A study of the history, cultures, and religions of the ancient Near East from ca. 3000 B.C.E. to 333 B.C.E. Prerequisite REL 101.

304. The Greco-Roman World (3 hours) A study of the history, cultures, and religions in the Mediterranean basin from 333 B.C.E. to 476 C.E. Prerequisite REL 102.

320. Christian Theology (3 hours) A study of Christian theology from the standpoint of the New Testament, historical Christianity, and modern day systematic theological expression.

340. History of Christian Missions (3 hours) A study of the worldwide expansion of Christianity. Special emphasis will be given to the life and contribution of William Carey.

401. Old Testament (3 hours) An intensive historical and literary analysis of a selected portion of the Old Testament (may be repeated as a different topic). Prerequisite: REL 101.

402. New Testament (3 hours) An intensive historical and literary analysis of a selected portion of the New Testament (may be repeated as a different topic). Prerequisite: REL 102.

403. Christian Ethics (3 hours) A study of the major theoretical paradigms of ethics from the ancient Greeks through the contemporary theorists, including Christian ethicists; attention is given to the application of ethical theory to contemporary ethical issues. Same as PHI 403.

404. Philosophy of Religion (3 hours) A study of the philosophical issues related to the logic of, challenges to, and problems for Christian theism. Same as PHI 401.

411. History of Christianity (3 hours) A study of Christianity’s historical foundations, expansion, historical theology, and cultural influences.

413. Renaissance and Reformation (3 hours) A study of the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation with primary attention given to the interrelationship of these movements.

420. History of Christian Thought (3 hours) A study of the philosophical and cultural influences on the development of Christian theology and ideology. Same as PHI 450.

430. History of the Bible (3 hours) A study of the languages, texts, canons, and translations of the biblical literature; specific attention is given to the history of the English Bible.

440. Biblical Archaeology (3 hours) A study of the contribution of archaeological research to biblical studies and the proper relation of the two fields with attention to specific issues.

443. Travel in Biblical Lands (1-3 hours) An intensive travel program in lands of the Bible, with specific attention given to archaeological and historical sites, especially those of importance for biblical studies.

444. Archaeological Field Work (1-3 hours) Participation in an archaeological excavation in a biblical land with emphasis on field methodology and application of the results of biblical studies.

450. The Dead Sea Scrolls (3 hours) A study of the background, discovery, translation, contents, and impact of the Dead Sea Scrolls on the world of Judaism, 100 B.C.E. to 100 C.E., from which classical Judaism and Christianity developed.

480. Service Practicum (1-3 hours) A supervised learning experience in mission work overseas or in the United States.

481. Christian Preaching (3 hours) A study of the history, content, theory, and practice of Christian preaching.

482. Christian Ministries (3 hours) A study of the various responsibilities of ministers within the total church program with special emphasis given to pastoral care and administration.

The Department of Humanities and Religious Studies offers an integrated approach to the study of world cultures. In courses on Western European, Asian, and American cultures, students explore ideas, ideals and values as they are expressed in art, music, drama, history, literature, philosophy and religion.

The Humanities concentration provides a strong interdisciplinary foundation while also allowing students the opportunity to focus their studies. For example, students can concentrate on a specific era, such as the Ancient World, the Middle Ages and Renaissance, or the Modern World. Students may also concentrate on a single cultural field such as American Studies or Asian Cultures.

The Religious Studies concentration is an in-depth comprehensive study of religious belief and practice on a global scale that surveys diverse interpretations of religious experience within and across cultural boundaries and examines religious institutions and sacred texts within an historical framework.

Students majoring in Humanities and Religious Studies may prepare for careers in teaching from the elementary level (as part of a Liberal Studies major program) through the secondary level (as part of a single subject credential program in English/Humanities). A major in Humanities and Religious Studies is also suitable preparation for postgraduate study in several advanced degree programs, including the Master of Arts program in History/Humanities and the Liberal Arts Master’s Program. Providing a solid grounding in the liberal arts, the major helps graduates qualify for continued professional preparation for careers in teaching at the community college or university level, as well as library, museum, or curatorial work. Humanities and Religious Studies majors are also well-prepared for careers in government and fields such as the law and counseling, which require interaction with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.