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Houston Graduate School of Theology
CH 510 The History of Christianity 1, Fall 2014
Thursdays, 1:30 – 4:00pm
Rev. Benjamin S. Wall, PhD
The mission of Houston Graduate School of Theology is empowering spiritual leadership through the intellectual, spiritual and vocational development of men and women in order to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.
CH510 The History of Christianity I
Course Description:
A survey of the history of Christianity from first-century beginnings through the thirteenth century, with attention given to salient antecedents, contexts, individuals, movements, and ideas. The course of study includes consideration of general, social, and intellectual historiographies.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate historical and theological engagement with various figures, movements, traditions, creedal formulae, and significant topics within the history of Christianity from the first century to thirteenth century.
· This outcome will be measured in view of each student’s:
i. Weekly submissions of their one-page [single spaced] summary reflection(s) on each of the assigned weekly readings
ii. Leading a assigned portion of the scheduled class seminar during the Fall 2014 term
2. Demonstrate historical and theological engagement with specific contributions, viewpoints, and aspects related to the historicity and theological significance of creeds and confessions within the faith of Christianity.
· This outcome will be measured in view of each student’s ability to:
i. Explain the origins, function, and role of Christian creeds and confessions of faith
ii. Describe the historical events, figures, and theological aspects concerning the Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed (325), Nicene-Constantinople Creed (381), and Athanasian Creed (500).
iii. Recitation and exegesis of the Nicene creed
3. Interpret church history chronologically via engaging theological modes within the tradition(s) of Christian faith and history as it relates to issues re. reading scripture, practicing ecclesiology, worship, the development of doctrine to name a few.
· These outcomes will be measured in view of each student’s
i. Submission of constructive analysis on a significant text within the history of Christian faith from the first to thirteenth century (see below for optional requirement)
ii. Successful completion the final comprehensive examination
Required Texts:
Bettenson, Henry, and Chris Maunder, eds. Documents of the Christian Church, Oxford University Press, 1999, 3rd edition. (ISBN: 0192880713)
Holmes, Michael W. The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations. Baker Academic, 2007. 3rd. edition. (ISBN: 080103468X)
Pelikan, Jaroslav. Credo? Historical and Theological Guide to Creeds and Confessions of Faith in the Christian Tradition. (ISBN: 0300109741)
Wilken, Lois. The First Thousand Years: A Global History of Christianity. Yale University Press, 2013. (ISBN: 0300198388)
Course Requirements:
Weekly Summaries & Participation 40%
Constructive Analyses 30%
Course Lead 20%
Comprehensive Final Exam 10%
1. Seminar Preparation (40%): Because students are expected to have read assigned texts and readings prior to the class meeting in which they are to be discussed as well as participate in seminar discussions, each student must demonstrate evidence of having read the assigned reading(s) and be prepared to discuss it in class. As proof that students have read, critically reflected, and digested the weekly assigned readings each Thursday students should come prepared with at least a one-page written response to each of the assigned readings.
I. This can express critical questions, substantive summary reflection(s), observations, constructive criticism(s), praise, and/or a more formal summary essay in which the student demonstrates theological engagement with each of the assigned readings.
II. The point is to crystallize at least two or more clear impressions of what the student has read. These responses, critical questions, substantive summary reflection(s), observations, constructive criticism(s), praise, and/or formal summary essays combined with student participation in the class discussion will together comprise 40% of the student’s overall mark. The main component of this mark is the evidence shown of having completed the reading each week.
2. Course lead (20%): Every student will be responsible for leading at least one 45-minute section of the course in which they will be expected to introduce, identify, summarize, and analyze the assigned topic/issue(s) for discussion in the course schedule.
I. Each student will be expected to lead discussion, covering at least three crucial points re. to the assigned topic/issue(s). These points could include (but are not limited to) the following: (1) What are the theological arguments and/or the theology of the figure(s) and tradition(s) that are in question? (2) What are the major theological moves the figure(s) and/or tradition(s) proposes, calls into question, revalues, etc.? (3) What is the primary aim of the figure(s) and/or tradition(s) within the tradition of Christian faith? (4) What vital historical, theological, ecclesial, moral/ethical issues, questions, and/or particulars does the figure/tradition(s) address? (5) What is the figure(s) and/or tradition(s) primary context and why have they chosen to put their contention and/or ideas/claims forth in the manner they have? (6) What resources are provided and/or questions raised for Christian faith today?
II. The Course Lead must be accompanied by a three-page handout, provided for each student in the class that guides the rest of the class through main points of the course lead discussion.
3. Constructive Analyses (30%): Each student will pick a significant text the approved texts (early church or medieval) and write a six-page constructive analysis (1.5 spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font with footnotes plus bibliography in correct Turabian form).
Ø NOTE: Students who choose a larger text to analyze (length requirement extends to 10 pages) will be given the opportunity to opt out of the final comprehensive exam in which their score re. their analysis will be the same for their exam.
4. Final Comprehensive Examination (10%): The final exam will cover material from the class lectures and assigned readings. Students planning to graduate in must take the final exam early by arrangement with the professor. As part of HGST’s ongoing curriculum assessment, the final examination for this course will be collected for inclusion in the course portfolio.
Ø Attendance at all scheduled classes is required from the beginning of class time and necessary in order to achieve course objectives.
Ø Points will be deducted for absences according to the following schedule:
1 absence = one percentage point deducted from final grade
2 absences = three percentage points deducted from final grade
3 absences = seven percentage points deducted from final grade
4 absences = ten percentage points deducted from final grade
5 absences = automatic failure
Ø Repetitive tardiness could also affect one’s final grade.
Course Grading Scale:
96-100 A 90-92 B+ 80-84 C 0-69 F
93-95 A- 87-89 B 78-79 D
85-86 B- 70-77 D-
COURSE SCHEDULE
NOTE: Bettenson’s Documents of the Christian Church will be utilized primarily as a reference text throughout the course. For this reason, students are expected to bring this text in addition to all texts in which lies the assigned readings for the week. These texts will be used as handy references for our weekly class discussion.
August 28
Wilken’s The First Thousand Years, Chps. 1 – 2 (22 pages)
Read the Acts of the Apostles 22 total
September 4
Wilken’s The First Thousand Years, Chps. 3 – 4 (19 pages)
Holme’s The Apostolic Fathers, pp. 202 – 213; 224 – 261 (48 pages) 67 total
September 11
Wilken’s The First Thousand Years, Chps. 5 – 6 (18 pages)
Holme’s The Apostolic Fathers, pp. 694 – 719; 306 – 319 (38 pages) 56 total
September 18
Wilken’s The First Thousand Years, Chps. 7 – 8 (23 pages)
Pelikan’s Credo, pp.1 – 34 (34 pages) 57 total
September 25
Wilken’s The First Thousand Years, Chp. 9 (11 pages)
Pelikan’s Credo, pp.35 – 92 (57 pages) 68 total
October 2
Wilken’s The First Thousand Years, Chps. 10 – 13 (37 pages)
Pelikan’s Credo, pp.123 – 185 (52 pages) 89 total
October 9
Wilken’s The First Thousand Years, Chps. 14 – 16 (27 pages)
Pelikan’s Credo, pp.186 – 215 (29 pages) 56 total
October 16
Wilken’s The First Thousand Years, Chps. 17 – 19 (32 pages)
Holme’s The Apostolic Fathers, pp. 344 – 369 (25 pages)
Pelikan’s Credo, pp.216 – 244 (28 pages) 85 total
October 23
Wilken’s The First Thousand Years, Chp. 20 (10 pages)
Pelikan’s Credo, pp.245 – 277 (32 pages) 42 total
October 30
Wilken’s The First Thousand Years, Chps. 21 – 25 (39 pages)
Pelikan’s Credo, pp.278 – 335 (57 pages) 96 total
November 6
Wilken’s The First Thousand Years, Chps. 26 – 28 (33 pages)
Pelikan’s Credo, pp.365 – 396 (31 pages) 64 total
November 13
Wilken’s The First Thousand Years, Chp. 29 (9 pages)
Pelikan’s Credo, pp.397 – 426 (29 pages) 38 total
November 20
Wilken’s The First Thousand Years, Chps. 30 – 34 (45 pages) 45 total
Thanksgiving Break: November 24th – 28th
December 4
Wilken’s The First Thousand Years, Chps. 35 – 36 (22 pages) 22 total
December 11: Final Exam Due
Handout: Hart’s The Story of Christianity, pp.175 – 250 (75 pages) 75 total
Student Workload Expectations Breakdown
Total hrs. re. Class Time: 3hrs per week x 15 = 45 total
Total hrs. re. Weekly Readings: 892 pgs. per term = 45 total
Total hrs. re. Weekly Summaries: 21 pgs. per term = 21 total
Total hrs. re. Course Lead assignment: 10hrs = 10 total
Total hrs. re. Constructive Analysis: 10-15hrs = 10-15 total
Total Hours of Workload for Course: 131 –136 total
Policies
HGST Statement on Plagiarism
Plagiarism is presenting the work of another person as one’s own without giving proper credit for the use of the information. Students must not quote books, articles, essays, or Internet sites without giving proper credit to the author(s). Students should guard against plagiarism by crediting the original author through use of proper citations. Internet plagiarism is a particularly easy and tempting form of intellectual theft. Cutting and pasting sentences and paragraphs from the Internet without citations is plagiarism.
Failure to cite Internet sources is plagiarism.
Any student who is found guilty of plagiarism is subject to a range of consequences as outlined below.
1. If a faculty member suspects plagiarism, the instructor will investigate. If suspicions are confirmed, the faculty member will present the evidence to the appropriate Associate Dean as a record of the offense. If the Associate Dean concurs with the allegations, the following procedures should be implemented as applicable:
a. The faculty member may discuss the offense with the student following consultation with the Associate Dean, but the student will meet with the Associate Dean.
b. For a first offense, the faculty member, in consultation with the Associate Dean, may give opportunity for a rewrite of the assignment or may assign a grade of zero for the plagiarized assignment.
c. For a particularly egregious case of plagiarism on a major assignment, the consequences could result in automatic failure of the course.
2. The student may appeal the above-mentioned decisions of the faculty member in writing to the Academic Dean.
3. The second confirmed offense will result in expulsion from school. The student will be notified by a letter from the Academic Dean. His or her only opportunity for appeal will be to the President in writing. The President’s decision will be final.
Turnitin.com
1. Throughout the term specified writing assignments will be required for submission to www.turnitin.com to check for originality and style. The assignments that are required for submission will be specified at the professor’s discretion.
2. Students will create an account at www.turnitin.com. After doing so, the student will join the course page with the code and password supplied by the instructor. A list of assignments and due dates will be available on the course page.
3. Students will submit assignments by the due date and time and may be required to submit the assignments in a hard copy format.
Electronic Equipment in Class
It is expected that students will use technology (laptop computers, iPads, etc.) during classes only for the purposes of class work. For this reason, students should turn off cell phones and refrain from texting and using laptop computers during classes except for the purposes of taking notes or doing research specifically authorized by the course instructor. Students who have emergency needs not covered by this policy must ask for an exception from the course instructor.
On Time Policy: Please strive to be on time. “On time” entails that you will have your electronic devices plugged in, booted up, and ready to take notes when class begins at 1:30. If you arrive late please refrain from sorting out your electronic devices until the break.
Cell Phone Policy: Please silence and/or turn off your cell phone before class begins. If your cell phone rings during class you must answer your cell phon, select ‘speaker phone’, and have the conversation out loud in the midst of everyone.
Violation of this policy will result in a full letter grade deduction for the student’s final grade as well as forfeiture of the opportunity to utilize personal electronic equipment during the remainder of the course.
HGST Policy on Incompletes
In cases of very extreme and extenuating circumstances, and at the discretion of the professor, a student may request and apply for an extension on those required assignments that are due from the time of mid-term to the end of the course two weeks prior to the end of the semester, subject to a half-letter grade or more reduction on the final grade.
If an extension is granted, the instructor will record a grade of “I” (Incomplete) and set an extension of time within which to complete the work that shall not exceed thirty calendar days from the end of the term.
The student is responsible to ensure that all necessary paperwork is submitted to the Registrar‘s Office by the deadline listed in the school calendar.
Additional extensions may be granted either by the Academic Dean or Associate Dean and only after a student has petitioned the Dean in writing. If the course work is not completed within the extended time allotment, the grade of “I” will be converted to the grade earned by the student up to that point. A failing grade, or “F,” will be counted as hours attempted in computing the grade point average.