1 San Antonio Campus RLGN 1301—OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY SPRING TERM (February 26 to May 26, 2007) Tuesdays, 6:00-10:10 pm, WBU: 11550 I.H. 35 N., Room 102 John M. Andrewartha, Ph.D., Instructor Phone: (830) 980-2404 Email address: [email protected] Website: http://satx.wbu.edu/john.andrewartha Office Hours: Tuesdays, 5:15-6:00; 9:40-10:15 p.m. in class room I. COURSE DESCRIPTION: Historical literature with special attention to the institutions, religion, and national life of the Hebrew people. II. TEXTBOOKS: The Old Testament, New International Version, The Learning Bible. III. COURSE OUTLINE: Part One: Encountering the Pentateuch Part Two: Encountering the Historical Books Part Three: Encountering the Poetical Books Part Four: Encountering the Prophets IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR UNDERGRADUATE CREDIT: 1. Class attendance according to the policies of the current WBU catalog (see appendix) 2. Reading of ALL assigned passages in the Old Testament 3. Alert, active, informed participation in class activities, taking appropriate notes 4. Four major exams as indicated below V. GRADING: Students will be graded on their knowledge of the contents of the Old Testament, as demonstrated by their performance on exams, quizzes, and class participation. 1. MAJOR EXAMS: Four exams will be given, each being "final" over the covered material. 2. CLASS PARTICIPATION: Students will be graded on their attendance and active, alert, informed participation in class activities.2 3. ASSIGNED READINGS: A requirement of the course is to read through the assigned portions of the Old Testament (with its notes) during the term. Students will be required on the final exam to attest, on their honor, that they did so. This requirement is to read ALL the assignment; credit will not be given for partial work. VI. CLASS OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to help the students develop an overall understanding of the Old Testament as a distinctive body of literature considered sacred by both the Hebrew people and Christians, appreciate its value for living to both groups, and begin to develop the ability to think critically and theologically about it and to interpret its teachings for themselves. The student also should be able to: 1. List in order and spell correctly the names of the books of the Old Testament 2. Demonstrate a general knowledge of the content, primary personalities, major events, and themes of each book 3. Demonstrate a grasp of the basic outline of Hebrew history, the major covenants, and the religious and political developments related to the Hebrew people throughout the Old Testament historical periods 4. Show competence in recognizing and understanding Old Testament religious and social principles that may be applied to contemporary life 5. These outcome competencies will be demonstrated by scores of 60 percent or more VII. CLASS PROCEDURE: The major class activities will be lectures by the instructor, with guided discussion by the students based upon their reading of the texts and their theological outlook. The class meets four hours each week for eleven weeks, from 6:00 pm to 9:40 pm, with a ten minute break approximately half-way through the class. VIII. CLASS ASSIGNMENTS: Students are expected to have read the text materials prior to 4. EVALUATION: Major Exams 80% WBU GRADE SYSTEM: A = 90-100% Readings Assignment 15% B = 80-89% Class Participation 5% C = 70-79% D = 60-69% F = Below 60%3 the dates assigned for discussion and to be prepared to answer questions on the assigned material. DATES: NIV Bible: Including the Introductions to each book. VIIII. OPPORTUNITY FOR EXTRA CREDIT: At the end of the final exam there will be this optional question, “List in Canonical Order and spell correctly the names of the books of the Old Testament.” Answering this question correctly will add 10 points to the final exam grade. Feb. 27 Introduction to course; Old Testament introductory essays—pps. 1-36 Mar. 6 Genesis, Exodus Mar. 13 Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy Mar. 20 Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel Mar. 20 FIRST EXAM (last half of class) over Genesis-Deuteronomy Mar. 27 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther Apr. 3 No Classes—Easter/Spring Break Apr. 2-7. All WBU offices closed Apr. 6. Apr. 10 Job; Psalms 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 14, 15, 19, 23, 27, 32, 37, 42, 51, 98, 100, 103, 121, 136, 145, 150 Apr. 10 SECOND EXAM (last half of class) over Joshua-Esther Apr. 17 Proverbs 1-15, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Isaiah 1-39 Apr. 24 Isaiah 40-66, Jeremiah, Ezekiel Apr. 24 THIRD EXAM (last half of class) over Job-Song of Songs May 1 Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos May 8 Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi May 15 FINAL EXAM over Isaiah-Malachi4 This syllabus is only a plan, not a contract. Though there is no current expectation fo do so, the Instructor may modify the plan during the course. The requirements for the course, assignments, their due dates, criteria for measuring student progress and performance, and other aspects of the syllabus may be changed by the Instructor if, in his professional judgment, it becomes necessary. Please do not call or come to the office to request your grades. University policy forbids us to give them out from the office. All students receive official grade notices by mail from the University. They may be found on the IQ Web site also. It is University policy that no otherwise qualified disabled person be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the University. Any student who needs special arrangements to meet the course requirements should inform the Instructor immediately upon entering the course. APPENDIX Class Attendance—External Campuses: ? Students enrolled at one of the University’s external campuses should make every effort to attend all class meetings. All absences must be explained to the satisfaction of the instructor, who will then determine whether the omitted work may be made up. When a student reaches that number of absences considered by the instructor to be excessive, the instructor will so advise the student and file an Unsatisfactory Progress Report with the campus dean.