Biblical and Theological Studies - Theology (BTS-T)

Revised requirement

Adopted November 2005; anticipated effective date September 2008

Description:

Biblical and Theological Studies-Theology: A course on Christian theology that acquaints students with ongoing efforts to understand the essential content of Christian belief in a critical and coherent manner, and that engages students in theological reflection.

Guidelines for courses:

  • The principal focus of these courses must be Christian theology, understood as critical and normative reflection on Christian teachings.

  • Courses must consider substantial examples of historical or contemporary theological reflection, and attend to the context, the variety, and the coherence of the theological claims they advance.

  • Courses must include explicit attention to Christian teachings about God and Jesus Christ; courses may include attention to significant aspects of other central teachings as appropriate to specific course goals.

  • Courses must provide opportunities for students to engage in explicitly theological reflection, and to apply their theological knowledge to matters of historical, contemporary, or personal significance.

Intended learning outcomes for students:

Students will demonstrate:

  • knowledge about Christian teachings, including knowledge of their historical development, their complexity and variety, and their coherence.

  • skill in reading and interpreting theological texts.

  • ability to evaluate the truth and meaning of their own and others’ theological positions.

  • ability to apply theological knowledge and skills to issues of historical, contemporary, or personal significance.

Biblical and Theological Studies-Theology requirement complete description - includes committee comments on course guidelines to assist instructors in preparing proposals for GE accreditation

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Current requirement

Description:

Biblical and Theological Studies: This requirement consists of:

A. Religion 121, The Bible in Culture and Community, taken in the first year (BTS-B);

B. A course on Christian theology that engages students in theological reflection and acquaints them with efforts to understand the essential content of Christian belief in a critical, coherent manner (BTS-T).

B. Christian Theology (BTS-T):

Guidelines for courses:

  1. Christian theology may be defined as critical and normative reflection on the Christian church's teaching.

  2. Since the heart of the church's teaching is the biblical God and this God's Christ, this course must be explicitly and thematically concerned with the biblical God and Jesus the Christ.

  3. Theological reflection on God and Christ is distinguished from other possible modes of reflection on the same matters by being critical and normative.

  4. The course must involve exposure to substantial parts of the existing theological tradition.

Intended learning outcomes for students:

The current version of this requirement does not include a statement of intended learning outcomes.

Biblical and Theological Studies requirement complete description - includes committee comments on course guidelines to assist instructors in preparing proposals for GE accreditation