2014-15-Undergraduate-Catalog

READING EDUCATION (RDG)Course Descriptions • 452RDG 424 The Diagnostic Teaching of ReadingTraining in techniques for evaluation of reading progress, diagnosis of reading difficulties and correction of readingproblems. Prerequisite: EDU 324. Must submit evidence of Praxis I score that satisfies licensure regulations for theCommonwealth of Virginia. Three credits.RDG 425 Reading and Writing in the Content AreaThis course will examine effective methods of teaching reading and writing within the frameworks of content areasother than language arts. Students will become familiar with the theoretical foundations of teaching reading andwriting in content area coursework, as well as have opportunities to apply those theories to their own reading andwriting skills improvement. The focus will be on reading and writing principles and practices employed to increasestudent achievement in the content areas. For their application projects, students will have tutoring experienceswith local middle and secondary school students who need tutoring in reading and writing skills. Prerequisite: EDU301. Must submit evidence of Praxis I score that satisfies licensure regulations for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Threecredits.RELIGION (REL)REL 101 Introduction to Religious ThoughtA wide-ranging study of religious thought and experiences. Both Christian and non-Christian ideas examined.Three credits.REL 110 The Global Context of Christian LeadershipThis course explores the global context of 21st century Christian leadership. It examines the challenge of Christianmission and leadership in a post-modern and post-Christian world. Three credits.REL 112 Christian DiscipleshipThis course will focus on the beliefs, attitudes and practices that define Christian discipleship. Drawing upon bothfilm and a variety of types of literature (both fictional and non-fictional), it will consider various possible crossdenominationalunderstandings of what it means to be a Christian, contrasting those that focus on “beliefs” withthose that focus on “character” and “practices.” Of particular interest will be the distinctive spirituality and moralityassociated with Christian life. The course will introduce the spiritual or devotional practices (both corporate andpersonal) by which Christians cultivate their relationship to God and through which Christian identity andcharacter are formed. Finally, the course will look at ways Christians make decisions in relation to significantcontemporary moral challenges. Three credits.REL 202 World ReligionsThis course offers a survey of the major world religious traditions, exploring their origins, basic teachings, and ritualpractices. Three credits.REL 210 Introduction to the Hebrew BibleThis course will survey the religious ideas and theological motifs of the Hebrew Bible. Students will be introducedto critical methods of scriptural study as these relate to the origins, development, canonization and meanings ofthe text. The role of the Hebrew Bible in shaping the devotional, liturgical and moral lives of both Jewish andChristian people today will be considered. Three credits.REL 211 Introduction to the New TestamentThis course will survey the religious ideas and theological motifs of New Testament. Students will be introduced tocritical methods of scriptural study as these relate to the origins, development, canonization and meanings of thetext as a document written in the Greco-Roman world of the first century. The role of the New Testament inshaping the devotional, liturgical, and moral lives of Christian people today will be considered. Three credits.