NOTRE DAME OF MARYLAND UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES

RST 201-93 INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL STUDIES
SUMMER 2017, TERM 2
Professor: Dr. Richard Wagner
Credits: 3
Phone:
E-mail: rwagner@ndm.edu
Office:

Course Description
This course is fully online. It introduces the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures of the Christian
tradition, exploring their historical and literary contexts, as well as interpretations of religious
meaning. The course presents modern methods of biblical study, including Roman Catholic,
Protestant, and Jewish scholarship. The course fulfills the general requirement for 200-level
Religious Studies courses.

Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of the course, learners will be able to:

Explain the Bible as a work of both human and divine origin

Identify the key elements and contents of the Bible
Explain the need for contextual interpretation of the Bible
Examine a biblical text using historical, literary, and theological analysis
Develop a working statement of ones approach to the Bible and its interpretation

Methods
1. Readings and audio recordings
2. Discussions
3. Activities
4. Journaling
5. Biblical exegesis paper

Requirements and Grading Percentages

1. Discussions 18.5% (160 points)
2. Activities 18.5% (160 points)
3. Journal keeping 17% (145 points)
4. Biblical exegesis 29% (250 points) ~ paper = 225 and process = 25)
5. Final exam 17% (150 points)
Total points = 865

This is an online course using Joule. All students must log onto Joule to participate, use their
NDMU email accounts, and be able to attach Word documents. You are already enrolled in this
online course if you registered for the course.

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Required Texts
There are three required books for this coursetwo text books and a Bible. Discussions will be
based on assigned readings. You are strongly encouraged to read ahead of the unit requirements.

Bible with Apocrypha (Recommended: New Revised Standard Version) ISBN: 978-1-5-6563-
736-8

Marielle Frigge, OSB, Beginning Biblical Studies, Anselm Academic Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-1-
5-9982-4246 **Feel free to purchase the electronic book, if you wish. Go to Anselm Academic
Press website to access the ebook.

There are two copies of Beginning Biblical Studies on reserve in the Loyola-Notre Dame
Library. One may be signed out overnight, but the other one may not.

Articles, commentaries, and other materials are posted on Joule.

Please Note: The above books are required and edition substitutions are not allowed.

Policies
Grading
The instructor checks into Joule regularly and will provide comments on discussions during the
allotted time of the unit or shortly thereafter. Grades are posted in the Joule grade book. Details
of discussion grade allocation will be emailed to individual learners within 48 hours of posting a
discussion grade. The instructor will provide private email feedback on activities and journal
assignments within 72 hours of each due date, and on the exegesis within 96 hours of the due
date.

Grades represent the instructors evaluation of a students achievement in the course.

Detailed rubrics describe exactly what is expected for each assignment. Based on the belief that
serious students routinely produce excellent, timely work, points will be deducted for careless
errors in written assignments (e.g., spelling, grammar, punctuation); lack of adherence to course
room etiquette; lack of participation in the course room; and lack of clarity or omission of
citations in all written discussions, activities and the exegesis paper.

Each letter grade should be interpreted as follows:

Grade Percentage Points

A 93-100 865-800
B+ 87-92 799-748
B 81-86 747-696
C+ 76-80 695-651
C 70-75 650-599
D 60-69 598-515
F 0-59 Below 514

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Disability Support Services
Learning support services and accommodations are available to students covered under the
Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require accommodations in this course, you must
immediately contact the Director of Disability Support Services at 410-532-5401. The Director
will meet with you, review the documentation of your disability, discuss the services offered, and
any accommodations you require for specific courses. It is extremely important that you begin
this process at the beginning of the semester. Please do not wait until the first test or paper. It is
the students responsibility to share the accommodation plan with the instructor of the course
prior to the due date for tests or other assignments.

You can also request an appointment by filling out the form located on the college website:
http://www.ndm.edu/offices-and-services/disability-support-services/request-an-appointment.
The director will meet with you, review the documentation of your disability and discuss the
services offered and any accommodations you require for specific courses. It is extremely
important that you begin this process at the beginning of the semester. Please do not wait until
the first test or paper.

Honor Code/Academic Integrity

By registering at Notre Dame of Maryland University, every student accepts and is bound by the
Honor Code. The Honor Code is based on respect for the individual, personal responsibility and
honesty. It requires students, faculty, staff and administrators to uphold Honor Board procedures,
including the reporting of violations. Under the Honor Code, examinations have been
unproctored since 1936.

The Honor Code expects academic honesty. It assumes that all work submitted is one's own. Any
violation of the Honor Code will be reported to the chair of the department of the course in
which the incident took place and to the dean of the corresponding school. Further details on
Notre Dame's Honor Code are provided in the Academic and Behavioral Standards in the
University Catalog online at www.ndm.edu

Plagiarism is a violation of the Notre Dame Honor Code, and as such, will not be tolerated in any
form. Unless specifically approved by the faculty member, using other learners assignments or
sharing assignments with past, present, or future learners in this or any course is a violation of
the Notre Dame Honor Code. Cheating or unacknowledged appropriation of anothers work,
thoughts, or ideas, and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work in ones own written
work offered for credit is a violation of the Notre Dame Honor Code. This includes submitting
work that was created, researched, or produced by someone else.

The learner is expected to do his/her own work. The learner may discuss approaches to
assignments, use software and/or others to proofread work, but using someone elses words,
calculations, figures, and/or ideas with the learners name, as author, is plagiarism. Suspicion of
plagiarism will result in a grade of F for the course.

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 All information sources, including company brochures, Internet or database information and
personal interviews, must be documented. A bibliography or of Works Cited page is adequate for
most homework. However, your exegesis paper should contain page number(s) for each citation
in addition to a bibliography or Works Cited page. You may use either the MLA or APA
citation style: as long as you include page number(s) with each citation.

Schedule for Summer T2

Unit Dates for Summer 2017, T2
Overview and Before July 10
Introduction
Unit I July 10-14
Unit II July 15-19
Unit III July 20-24
Unit IV July 25-28
Unit V July 29-August 1
Unit VI August 2-6
Unit VII August 7-10
Unit VIII August 11-17
Exam due August 18
Exegesis due August 18

Assignments due before first class: July 10

Read Course Overview and Introduction

Online books:
Read Me First!
Course Requirements
Policies and Procedures
Course Navigation Guide
o Action ~ Acknowledge that you read the Introductory Material
Strategies for Online Success
Syllabus
Rubrics for Grading
Turnitin Student Manual (You will need this for the biblical exegesis and final exam)

Action ~ Please introduce yourself before July 10

Unit I Whats It All About?

Objectives, Overview, and Requirements
Audio sound presentation
Discussion 1 Due July 11; Responses Due July 12

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 Activity 1 Due July 13
Journal 1 Due July 14
Biblical Exegesis Guidelines (read-only) July 14
List of Scripture passages from which to choose a topic for exegesis (read-only)-July 14

Unit II God Said What?

Objectives, Overview, and Requirements
Audio sound presentation
Discussion 2 Due July 15; Responses Due July 16
Activity 2 Due July 17
Journal 2 - Due July 18
Exegesis Planning: Text Choice. Due July 19

Unit III You Shall Be My People

Objectives, Overview, and Requirements

Audio sound presentation
Discussion 3 Due July 20; Responses Due July 21
Activity 3 Due July 22
Journal 3 - Due July 23
Exegesis Planning: Submit report on libraries visited and resources found. Due July 24

Unit IV The Book of Ruth and Writing about the Bible

Objectives, Overview, and Requirements
Video
Activity 4 July 25
Discussion 4 Due July 26; Responses Due July 27
Journal 4 Due July 28

Unit V Thus Says the Lord

Objectives, Overview, and Requirements

Audio sound presentation
Discussion 5 Due July 29; Responses Due July 30
Activity 5 Due July 31
Journal 5 Due August 1
Exegesis Planning: Submit cover page, introduction, and historical context. Due August
1

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Unit VI A Breath of the Power of God
Objectives, Overview, and Requirements
Audio sound presentation
Discussion 6 August 2; Responses Due August 3
Activity 6 Due August 4
Journal 6 Due August 5
Exegesis Planning: Submit Works Cited, Literary Criticism, and Theological Criticism.
Due August 6

Unit VII A Man for All Seasons

Objectives, Overview, and Requirements

Audio sound presentation
Discussion 7 Due August 7; Responses Due August 8
Activity 7 Due August 9
Journal 7 Due August 10

Unit VIII Holding Seven Stars in His Hand

Objectives, Overview, and Requirements

Audio sound presentation
Discussion 8 Due August 11; Responses Due August 12
Activity 8 Due August 13
Journal 8 and Journal Summary Due August 14
Final Exam Due August 18
Exegesis Due August 18

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