UNIVERSITY OF MARY UNDERGRADUATE COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Prefix/Course Number/Section: THE 110.01 00 DE

 

Course Title: Introduction to the Bible

Semester/Term: Spring 2022	Course Length: 5 weeks
Course Start and End Dates: 1/10/22-2/11/22
Credit Hours: 3	Course Format: Online
Course Location: On-Line	Course Schedule: Weekly lectures and discussion groups
Instructor: Dr. John Kincaid, PhD	Office Hours: Monday, 10-12 and by appointment
Office Location: Welder 162
Phone Number: 701-355-8174	Email: jakincaid@umary.edu
Availability for Phone/Electronic Meetings: Friday, 11-1 or by appointment

 

Course Description:

This course examines the structure and content of the Bible in its historical, literary, and canonical contexts with attention to traditional and modern interpretive approaches and the Bible’s role in faith, life, and liturgy.

Course’s Role in the Curriculum

Course is an elective for the core curriculum and Theology Major.

Relationship of the Course to UMary’s Mission and Values:

Benedictine Values: By modeling the values of hospitality, service, community, moderation, respect for persons, and prayer, the student is lead to understand with greater clarity what it means to be a human person made in the image of God and renewed in the image of Christ.

Servant Leadership: Servant leadership at the University of Mary is a pattern of living marked by competence in one’s chosen profession, courage in making ethical decisions based on Benedictine values, and compassion in serving the needs of others. In a context of relationship to God, to one another, and to self, we believe that leadership is making a difference for good. Rooted in the Gospel and in the founding vision of the Benedictine Sisters to serve spiritual, intellectual, and cultural needs of others, the model for servant leadership is Jesus Himself. At the University of Mary, students grow into leadership through service. Learners become leaders in the service of truth. This course will explore how God’s continued work in and through Benedictine monasticism impacts the world and culture through servant leadership.

Course Objectives:

1. Demonstrate comprehension of the covenantal narrative of redemptive history (spirituality and ethics)
2. Recognize how the story of Scripture develops in a variegated manner, being able to both rightly interpret passages in their original context and in light of Scripture as a whole. (spirituality and ethics, critical thinking)
3. Engage in an integrated mode of Biblical interpretation, wherein the text in view is read both accurately in its original context, within the entire narrative of Scripture, and within the Tradition and the rule of faith (CCC 112-114) (Spirituality and ethics, critical thinking)

BOOKS AND SUPPLIES

Required Texts, Resource Materials, and Other Materials/Activities that will Incur Student Costs:

The Augustine Bible. English Standard Version, Catholic Edition. Augustine Institute. ISBN: 978-1-950939-09-1

John Bergsma and Brant Pitre, A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament. Ignatius Press. ISBN: 978–1–58617­–722–5

Optional/Recommended Texts, Readings for extra credit:

Pope Benedict XVI: Jesus of Nazareth, three volumes

Brant Pitre, Michael P. Barber, John A. Kincaid, Paul, A New Covenant Jew: Rethinking Pauline Theology

POLICIES

Attendance and Excessive Absence Policy:

You are expected to “attend” online lectures and participate in discussion groups.

Excused Absence Policy:

The University has a policy on excused absences related to sponsored/sanctioned activities and events. The policy is available for review online. Students participating in such activities and events are expected to review this policy and comply with it. As long as appropriate prior notification is given according to this policy, students and faculty reach a mutual agreement concerning make-up work, and students complete the work in question, faculty shall not penalize a student for missing a class or exam when they were granted an excused absence from the university. Any questions concerning the policy may be referred to the course instructor who may refer the question to the athletic director, student activities director, or academic affairs for response.

Assignment & Exam Policy/ies:

While students are free to discuss assignments with their fellow students, weekly quizzes and the final exam is to be taken on your own.

Channel for Communication Relating to this Course

For questions or concerns related to this course, students should communicate them to the following individuals in the order listed below. Students should also review the university’s policy on academic grievances to learn more about the university’s process for responding to academic concerns.

Instructor, Dr. John Kincaid>Associate Dean, Dr. Leroy Huizenga lahuizenga@umary.edu> Dean, Dr. David Tamisiea, datamisiea@umary.edu

Statement Regarding Academic Honesty:

Students are expected to read the University of Mary’s Academic Honor Code and Honor Systemand abide by all the standards of conduct and requirements contained therein.  When a student is in doubt about whether or not an action might constitute an Academic Honor Code violation, s/he should request clarification from the instructor beforethe action in question is undertaken.  The Academic Honor Code is available for review on my.umary.edu under the General University Policies link.

Statement Regarding Reasonable Accommodations:

The University of Mary, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and in the spirit of our mission, offers support for disabled students who provide required documentation. Students with disabilities who need accommodations should apply to the Office of Student Accessibility Services.  For further information, contact Dr. Lynn Dodge, coordinator of Student Accessibility Services, in the Student Success Center (lower level of Welder Library) at (701) 355-8264 or ljdodge@umary.edu. 

Course Specific Policies/Procedures/Information:

Each session is a “module” in Canvas. Each week’s course content will be available no later than 8:00am, CST on Monday mornings. Here is the manner of proceeding: 1) Do the assigned readings, 2) Watch the course lecture, 3) participate in online discussion through the week, where you both submit one post and respond to the post of another student, and 4) Take the weekly test. The work for each module, including discussion participation and the weekly test is due no later than 11:59PM CST on Sunday.

 

WORKLOAD AND GRADING

Workload Expectations:

Since this is an intensive (3) semester-credit undergraduate course conducted on-line, you must be self-motivated and do you own work. As we are doing a full-semester long course in five weeks, expect to spend significanttime each week reading, observing the lecture, participating in on-line discussion, and completing the weekly test, as many 30 hours per week. If, in the case of serious need, you require more time for a given assignment, you need to contact the instructor immediately.

Major Assignments:

In addition to the weekly tests and on-line discussions, there is a final paper for this class due the last day of the class, Friday, February 11th.  The paper is to give an overview of the story of Scripture by means of the covenantal framework discussed in class, and this paper is to be roughly 5-6 double spaced pages and will be submitted electronically on Canvas.

Methods for Evaluation and Grading Scale:

Weekly tests: 25%

Participation in on-line discussion: 25%

Final Paper: 50%

Scale

99-94: A

93-90: A-

89-87: B+

86-83: B

82-80: B-

79-77: C+

76-73: C

72-70: C-

69-67: D+

66-63: D

62 and below: F

 

Tentative course schedule:

1. Module One, January 10th-January 16th: The “Genesis” of the Covenantal Story; The covenants with Adam, Noah, and Abraham

 Assignments for this module: Genesis 1–22 (Pentateuch/Torah) and Bergsma/Pitre, 93–148, participate in on-line discussion, take test one by the end of the day, January 16^th.

 

2. Module Two, January 17th-January 23rd: From Exodus to Exile: The covenants with Moses, David, and the Mystery of Israel

Assignments for this module: Read Exodus (Pentateuch/Torah) and Bergsma/Pitre, 166–top of 188; Leviticus 16–17; 24–26 and Bergsma/Pitre 205–218; Historical Books: Joshua 1–11 and Bergsma/Pitre, 291–top of 298; Judges 1–2 and Bergsma/Pitre, 319–328; I Samuel 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings and Bergsma/Pitre, 352–367, 385–404; Read also Psalms 2, 89, 110. In addition, participate in on-line discussion, take test two by the end of the day, January 23rd.

 

3. Module Three: January 24th-January 30th: The Prophetic Hope of Israel

Assignments for this module: Read Isaiah 1-11; 40-66 and Bergsma/Pitre 721-740; Jeremiah 30–33 and Bergsma/Pitre 779-top of 794; Ezekiel 34, 36–37; Bergsma/Pitre, 837 to very top of 854; Daniel; Malachi. In addition, participate in on-line discussion, take test four by the end of the day, January 30th.

 

4. Module Four: January 31st-February 6th: Jesus of Nazareth and the establishment of the New Covenant

Assignments for this module: Read Matthew, Luke-Acts, and John; start reading Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. In addition, participate in on-line discussion, take test four by the end of the day, February 6th. 

 

5. Module Five: February 7th-February 11th: Paul of Tarsus: The Heavenly Trumpet who turned the world upside down

 Assignments for this module:  Finish reading Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians; Finish course paper on Covenantal story of Scripture, plus participate in on-line discussion, take test five by the end of the day, all by the end of the day, February 11th.