MASTER OF SCIENCE IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:		An advanced level graduate program for civil servants who are middle and upper level management types without this credential.
REQUIREMENTS:	32 semester/48 quarter credits Critical Analysis, Annotated Bibliography, Proposal and Thesis 26 semester/39 quarter credits through this program 25%-50% from core curriculum
PREREQUISITES:		A bachelor degree or the equivalent in the same, or in a related area, plus considerable working experience.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS:		DISTANCE EDUCATION
CURRICULUM:		(CORE REQUIREMENTS) Authority and Freedom in the Church Modern Approaches to GOD The law and the Prophets Archaeology and The Bible Systematic Theology Biblical Perspectives Augustine and Aquinas Gospel of John Early and Medieval Christian Thought Reformation and Modern Christian Thought Research Methodology

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COURSE OUTLINES / SYLLABI

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1. Course Designation: 1.1        School:   Arts and Sciences 1.2         Department:   Religion 1.3         Course Number:      REL 360               Title:         Authority and Freedom in the Church 1.4          Recommended Text List: FACULTY AND/OR STUDENT WILL SELECT A CURRENT EDITION

Course Objectives: Student will be able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge on the teachings of the new testament on authority and freedom. Course Description: The teaching of the new testament on authority and freedom and the interpretation and application of that teaching in the life of the church in the past and present. The problem of theological freedom and responsibility as it relates to ecclesiastical authority.

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1. Course Designation: 1.1        School:   Arts and Sciences 1.2         Department:   Religion 1.3         Course Number:      REL 370               Title:         Modern Approaches to God 1.4          Recommended Text List: FACULTY AND/OR STUDENT WILL SELECT A CURRENT EDITION

Course Objectives: Student will be aware of the religious stance in a world viewed largely in its scientific and technological dimensions. Course Description: Contemporary issues in God drawn from religious and secular sources. Science, technology, and the future of man in relation to the church and the message of Christ.

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1. Course Designation: 1.1        School:   Arts and Sciences 1.2         Department:   Religion 1.3         Course Number:      REL 361               Title:         The Law and The Prophets 1.4          Recommended Text List: FACULTY AND/OR STUDENT WILL SELECT A CURRENT EDITION

Course Objectives: Student will understand the formation of sacred literature in the ancient world, particularly that of ancient Israel. Course Description: Detailed discussion of social, poolitical and religious movements important for understanding what the Biblical authors intended to say.

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1. Course Designation: 1.1        School:   Arts and Sciences 1.2         Department:   Religion 1.3         Course Number:      REL 362               Title:         Archaeology and The Bible 1.4          Recommended Text List: FACULTY AND/OR STUDENT WILL SELECT A CURRENT EDITION

Course Objectives: Student will be able to conduct research concerned with the ancient near East in Biblical times. Course Description: The nature and function of archaeology and its relation to Biblical studies. The geographical, political, social and literary world of the Bible.

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1. Course Designation: 1.1        School:   Arts and Sciences 1.2         Department:   Religion 1.3         Course Number:      REL 363               Title:         Systematic Theology 1.4          Recommended Text List: FACULTY AND/OR STUDENT WILL SELECT A CURRENT EDITION

Course Objectives: Student is broadly exposed to the classical function as "faith seeking understanding" as theology attempts to mediate between religion and culture. Course Description: Various contemporary models of doing theology; the transcendental methods, Neoorthodoxy, praxis-liberation theology, proces stheology, theology as story.

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1. Course Designation: 1.1        School:   Arts and Sciences 1.2         Department:   Religion 1.3         Course Number:      REL 364               Title:         Biblical Perspectives 1.4          Recommended Text List: FACULTY AND/OR STUDENT WILL SELECT A CURRENT EDITION

Course Objectives: Student will acquire broad based knowledge about Biblical perspectives. Course Description: Dominant themes of Biblical literature in reference to the variety of ancient contexts out of which they came, emphasis upon diverse and at times divergent religious dimensions, with explicit concern for current literary, archaeological, historical and theological methodologies.

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1. Course Designation: 1.1        School:   Arts and Sciences 1.2         Department:   Religion 1.3         Course Number:      REL 365               Title:         Augustine & Aquinas 1.4          Recommended Text List: FACULTY AND/OR STUDENT WILL SELECT A CURRENT EDITION

Course Objectives: Student will acquire broad based knowledge about religion. Course Description: Augustine's influences, among Catholics and Protestants, as the greatest of the church fathers. Particular emphasis is on his neoplationism, and his writings against the donatists and Belgians.

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1. Course Designation: 1.1        School:   Arts and Sciences 1.2         Department:   Religion 1.3         Course Number:      REL 366               Title:         Gospel of John 1.4          Recommended Text List: FACULTY AND/OR STUDENT WILL SELECT A CURRENT EDITION

Course Objectives: Student will acquire broad based knowledge about the gospel of John. Course Description: Analysis of the background and text of the fourth gospel, leading to discussion of its understanding of Christian experience and belief.

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1. Course Designation: 1.1        School:   Arts and Sciences 1.2         Department:   Religion 1.3         Course Number:      REL 367               Title:         Early and Medieval Christian Thought 1.4          Recommended Text List: FACULTY AND/OR STUDENT WILL SELECT A CURRENT EDITION

Course Objectives: Student will acquire broad based knowledge about early and medieval Christian thought. Course Description: The development of Christian theology from teaching of fathers of the church and the great ecumenical councils to the rise and decay of medieval scholaticism, with emphasis on the achievements of St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas.

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1. Course Designation: 1.1        School:   Arts and Sciences 1.2         Department:   Religion 1.3         Course Number:      REL 368               Title:         Reformation and Modern Christian Thought 1.4          Recommended Text List: FACULTY AND/OR STUDENT WILL SELECT A CURRENT EDITION

Course Objectives: Student will acquire broad based knowledge about reformation and modern Christian thought. Course Description: The Protestant reformation in its Lutheran, Calvinist, Anglican and radical forms; the progress of Catholic reform; the influence of modern philosophy and science; and the movement toward Christian unity.

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1. Course Designation: 1.1        School:   Arts and Sciences 1.2         Department:   Religion 1.3         Course Number:      REL 369               Title:         Research Methodology 1.4          Recommended Text List: FACULTY AND/OR STUDENT WILL SELECT A CURRENT EDITION

Course Objectives: Student will demonstrate proficiency in field of expertise, especially since student is preparing a major paper. Course Description: Preliminary research to determine the feasibility of the proposed thesis or dissertation topic with sufficient data in summary.