Academic Catalog 2010-2011 - Union Presbyterian Seminary

Union Presbyterian Seminary Academic Catalog 2010-2011BIB621 New Testament Seminar. Required of Ph.D. students in Bible; open to other students with permission of theinstructor. The seminar is designed to provide students in the graduate biblical program the opportunity to pursueadvanced study on current methods and conclusions in the scholarly investigation of the New Testament.COURSESBIB622 New Testament Exegetical Seminar. Required of Ph.D. students in Bible; open to other students with permissionof the instructor. May be taken more than once when topics vary. Exegesis of a book, larger section, or themein the New Testament, with careful attention to methods of interpretation. Seminar presentations and papers.TBA.BIB641/410 Issues and Methods in Old Testament: Old Testament Theology. Required of Ph.D. students inBible; open to M.Div. and Th.M. students by permission of instructor. Since its inception, modern Old Testament scholarshiphas raised the question if there is a single coherent theology underlying the diversity of traditions that havecome together in the OT canon. While several unifying themes have been suggested (the notion of covenant, God’slaw, or creation), most scholars today recognize the multiplicity of voices as the starting point to describe the theologicaldiscourse of the OT. In this seminar, we will explore this discourse focusing on key theological issues such asthe nearness and remoteness of God, God’s love, the persistence of evil, life and death. This will include close readingsof individual biblical texts as well as inter-textual studies across the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings.Fall 2011.BIB700-710 Dissertation Research. This course tracks the fall and spring semesters during which Ph.D. studentsengage in self-guided research in their dissertation subject. While no classroom requirements apply, each studentshould consult with her or his dissertation supervisor as often as either deems appropriate to make suresatisfactory progress in research and writing is taking place.Christian Education (Required Courses)EDU166 The Christian Life. Through study and practice, this course introduces students to Christian devotion,prayer, worship, and spiritual disciplines. This course fosters personal spiritual growth and equips the educatorto be a resource for spiritual development in the congregation.Spring 2011; Spring 2011 (ECP).EDU168 Understanding Congregations and Agencies. This course examines the congregation or agencythe student has chosen as a first field-based learning site. Students learn to tell the story of the congregation oragency in the language of context, systems, and symbols. They analyze the neighborhood of the site using categoriesprovided by the social sciences. They analyze the organization itself using systems theory.Fall 2011.EDU171 Group Process and Leadership Skills. Through a shared leadership group, students investigateselected leadership theories, identify group dynamics, learn how to facilitate group interaction, and apply groupprocess skills to congregational life.January 2012; Spring 2012 (ECP).EDU186 The Teaching Ministry of the Church. This course seeks to equip students to fulfill their role aseducational leaders as pastors and/or Christian educators. It includes biblical and theological reflection on theteaching ministry of the church. It considers the contextual nature of education and pays attention to basic planningskills, teaching methods and pedagogical concepts for learners across the lifespan. Teaching practice in the classroomand/or in congregational settings is an essential component of this course.Fall 2010; Fall 2011.EDU263 Theory for Education in Religion. Prerequisite: At least one theology course and one education course,or permission of instructor. This course integrates work in Bible, theology, and education around three questions:What is Christian education? How should we practically do Christian education? Why? Students study historical3-7