BIB 101 • Introduction to the Bible 4 Credits
Exploration of connections between key portions of the Bible and challenges faced by students in their own lives. Students trace the journey of God's people from Abraham and Sarah through the New Testament church, tracing God's self-disclosure through biblical cultures and their genres of writing.
Offered: Fall, January, Spring, Summer. Special Notes: Students may not receive credit for BIB 101 and BIB 102 or SPA 361.
BIB 102 • Introducción a la Biblia 4 Credits
Traces the journey of God’s people from Abraham and Sarah through the New Testament church, highlighting the unifying self-disclosure of God in the various cultures and types of writing of the Old and New Testaments. Introduces students to historical and thematic content as well as broad but basic exegetical principles.
Prerequisites: SPA 340U or Consent of instructor. Offered: Fall. Special Notes: Instruction is in Spanish. Students may not receive credit for BIB 102 and BIB 101 or SPA 361. This course carries cross credit in languages and cultures.
BIB 212 • Reading the Hebrew Bible 4 Credits
Study of select foundational themes and difficult areas for Christians reading the Hebrew Bible today, with an introduction to a range of methods in interpretation. Topics discussed may include: creation, capital punishment, social justice, violence and holy war, and the status of women.
Prerequisites: BIB 101. Offered: Fall or Spring.
BIB 230Z • Israel Study Tour 4 Credits
Historical geography and onsite investigation of the Holy Land with emphasis on sites from the Early Bronze through Byzantine eras. Particular emphasis on sites that underlie the Hebrew Bible, the intertestamental period, and the New Testament.
Prerequisites: BIB 101 and GES 104. Offered: Occasionally January.
BIB 240 • Topics in Biblical Studies 4 Credits
Study of a biblical area or topic. The specific subject is announced when the course is offered.
Prerequisites: BIB 101. Offered: Fall, January, Spring.
BIB 260 • The Life and Teachings of Jesus 4 Credits
Main events of the life of Jesus and the form and message of His teaching in the light of first century Jewish culture. Use of the Old Testament in the gospels, the structure of the gospels, and their literary genre.
Prerequisites: BIB 101. Offered: Fall or Spring.
BIB 265 • The Life and Teachings of Paul 4 Credits
Life of Paul, his strategic role in the expansion of Christianity, and the contribution of his theology and thought as reflected in his writings.
Prerequisites: BIB 101. Offered: Fall or Spring.
BIB 304 • Messianic Concepts 4 Credits
Development of such terms as “Son of Man,” “Son of God,” and “Messiah” are traced from origins in Old Testament texts of poetry and prophecy to New Testament fulfillment in the Gospels and Epistles.
Prerequisites: BIB 101. Offered: Occasionally.
BIB 306 • Covenant, Promise, and Fulfillment 4 Credits
Major covenants between God and humans in both the Old and New Testaments. Relationships between these covenants, especially regarding the theme of promise and fulfillment.
Prerequisites: BIB 101. Offered: Occasionally.
BIB 309 • A Biblical Theology of Poverty 4 Credits
Responses to poverty in the Old Testament, intertestamental literature, and the New Testament in light of the socioeconomic setting of these records. Construction of a biblical perspective and implications for Christian communities in North America.
Prerequisites: BIB 101 and GES 149 or GES 160 and Sophomore standing. Offered: Fall or Spring. Special Notes: This course carries cross credit with theological studies.
BIB 310 • Holiness in Biblical Perspective 4 Credits
Exegetical and theological foundations underlying the biblical notion of holiness in both the Old and New Testaments. Biblical texts in their historical-cultural contexts, with a view to uncovering biblical understandings of holiness and integrating them into a Christian worldview.
Prerequisites: BIB 101. Offered: Occasionally.
BIB 312 • Female and Male in Biblical Perspective 4 Credits
Significant Old and New Testament passages related to past and current discussions of gender, roles, and ministry in the church.
Prerequisites: BIB 101. Offered: Occasionally.
BIB 316 • Vocation and Calling: A Biblical Perspective 4 Credits
An investigation of the biblical understandings of vocation and calling in both Old and New Testaments. Examination of foundational issues such as definitions of ministry, personal and spiritual gifting, the role of the church in contemporary context, and calling and vocation as they relate to being Christ-followers.
Prerequisites: BIB 101. Offered: Occasionally.
BIB 326 • The Prophets of Israel 4 Credits
The meaning of prophecy and the function of prophets in Israel. Analysis of context and message of selected Hebrew prophets and the nature of Hebrew poetry used by the prophets. Textual studies focused on historical understandings, relating them to the New Testament and contemporary Christian life.
Prerequisites: BIB 101. Offered: Spring, even # years.
BIB 331G • Cultural and Literary World of the New Testament 4 Credits
Study of the way in which the cultural and literary worlds of the New Testament inform the understanding of key New Testament texts.
Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160 or GES 149]; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course or World Cultures (U) course. Offered: Fall or Spring.
BIB 334G • Cultural and Literary World of the Old Testament 4 Credits
Study of the way in which the cultural and literary worlds of the Old Testament inform the understanding of key Old Testament texts.
Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160 or GES 149]; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course or World Cultures (U) course. Offered: Fall or Spring.
BIB 336 • Poetic Books of the Old Testament 4 Credits
A study of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. Understanding the structure, message, and nature of Hebrew poetry. Textual studies focused on historical understandings, relating them to contemporary Christian life.
Prerequisites: BIB 101. Offered: Spring, odd # years.
BIB 375 • First Corinthians 4 Credits
Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church in its first century setting. Topics include sexuality, divorce, spiritual gifts, the Christian ministry, resurrection, and the contemporary application of these.
Prerequisites: BIB 101. Offered: Spring, even # years.
BIB 499 • Departmental Capstone 4 Credits
Selected topics related broadly to the areas of ministry, Bible, and theology. A major research project in consultation with department faculty is followed by an oral and written presentation of its results.
Prerequisites: Major in biblical and theological studies or missional ministries and Senior standing. Offered: Spring. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit with missional ministries and theological studies.
GRK 101 • Introductory Biblical Greek I 4 Credits
Study of New Testament Greek for beginning students. Use of the New Testament to build a basic vocabulary and understanding of the elements of grammar and syntax.
Offered: Fall.
GRK 102S • Introductory Biblical Greek II 4 Credits
Continuation of the study of New Testament Greek for beginning students. Use of the New Testament to build a basic vocabulary and understanding of the elements of grammar and syntax.
Prerequisites: GRK 101. Offered: Spring.
GRK 103 • Introduction to Biblical Greek 1A for Spanish Speakers 2 Credits
Provides Spanish-speaking students (or non-native speakers or Spanish majors who have gained proficiency in the language) with a basic introduction to New Testament (Koine) Greek. Focus on vocabulary building, comprehension of basic grammatical concepts and practice in translating passages from the Greek New Testament.
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. Offered: Occasionally.
GRK 104 • Introduction to Biblical Greek 1B for Spanish Speakers 2 Credits
Provides Spanish-speaking students (or non-native speakers or Spanish majors who have gained proficiency in the language) with a basic introduction to New Testament (Koine) Greek. Focus on vocabulary building, comprehension of basic grammatical concepts and practice in translating passages from the Greek New Testament.
Prerequisites: GRK 103 or Consent of instructor. Offered: Occasionally.
GRK 105 • Introduction to Biblical Greek IIA for Spanish Speakers 2 Credits
Second half of a two-part introduction to New Testament (Koine) Greek. Greek II focuses on vocabulary building, comprehension of basic grammatical concepts, and practice in translating passages from the Greek New Testament, with special focus on the latter.
Prerequisites: GRK 104 or Consent of instructor. Offered: Occasionally.
GRK 106 • Introduction to Biblical Greek IIB for Spanish Speakers 2 Credits
Second half of a two-part introduction to New Testament (Koine) Greek. Greek II focuses on vocabulary building, comprehension of basic grammatical concepts, and practice in translating passages from the Greek New Testament, with special focus on the latter.
Prerequisites: GRK 105 or Consent of instructor. Offered: Occasionally.
HEB 101 • Introductory Biblical Hebrew I 4 Credits
Study of Old Testament Hebrew. Designed for the beginning student. The Old Testament is used to build a basic vocabulary and understanding of the language’s phonology, morphology, basic syntax, and semantics.
Offered: Occasionally.
HEB 102S • Introductory Biblical Hebrew II 4 Credits
Further study of Old Testament Hebrew. Designed for the beginning student. The Old Testament is used to build a basic vocabulary and understanding of the language’s phonology, morphology, basic syntax, and semantics.
Prerequisites: HEB 101. Offered: Occasionally.
MIN 200 • A Framework for Life: The Christian Life, Vocation, and Ministry 4 Credits
Introduction to the theology and practice of ministry. Presents a conceptual, theological, and biblical understanding of ministry. Develop a usable, working philosophy of ministry and a model for critical thinking about the practice of contemporary ministry.
Prerequisites: BIB 101 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Fall.
MIN 210 • Adolescent Development and the Family 4 Credits
Understanding child/adolescent development in the physical, cognitive, moral, psycho-social, cultural, and spiritual arenas, along with examining family social systems and family dynamics. Focus on application to practical ministry.
Prerequisites: MIN 200. Offered: Fall, odd # years.
MIN 215 • The Influential Life: Leadership and Ministry 4 Credits
Explores leadership through the lens of ministry. Presents practical theologies of leadership to assist students in on-going work of discerning capacities for leadership in a variety of settings. Emphasizes pastoral, parachurch, non-profit, and missional leadership. Explores ministry as a career through personality assessments and job shadowing.
Prerequisites: MIN 200 or Consent of instructor. Offered: Spring.
MIN 320 • The Spiritual Life: Formation and Ministry 4 Credits
Dynamics of spiritual development and faith formation. Review of biblical, historical, and theological models as well as contemporary social science research. Emphasizes the spiritual and faith formation of both ministers and those to whom they minister, and the interrelatedness of evangelism and discipleship as well as counseling and referral.
Prerequisites: MIN 200. Offered: Fall.
MIN 328 • The Missional Life: Mission of God and Ministry 4 Credits
Explores the doctrine of the Trinity and its connections to the missio Dei (mission of God) and how God’s mission influences our thinking and practice as the church, with a special emphasis on the context of North America.
Prerequisites: BIB 101 or THE 201 and Junior standing. Offered: Spring.
MIN 330 • Teaching in Ministry Contexts 4 Credits
Preparation and delivery of presentations enabling students to teach effectively in various settings. Develop theology and philosophy of teaching and learning. Improving skills in teaching small and large groups, facilitating discussion, adapting curriculum to audiences and contexts, and self-analysis. Emphasis on biblical themes of reconciliation, diversity, and justice.
Prerequisites: MIN 200. Offered: Fall, even # years.
MIN 385 • The Global Life: World Christianity and Ministry 4 Credits
Exploration of the theological themes and ministry practices arising from World Christianity. Attention is given to how context shapes ministry praxis, and how the intercultural task of theology and ministry is generative for faithful ministry.
Prerequisites: MIN 200 or Consent of instructor. Offered: Fall.
MIN 483 • Ministry Internship I 2 Credits
Explores ministry as a career through a supervised ministry internship, seminars, readings, and reflections. Reflection especially on defining current sense of calling.
Prerequisites: MIN 200; MIN 215. Offered: Fall. Special Notes: This course is graded on an S/U basis.
MIN 484 • Ministry Internship II 2 Credits
Explores ministry as a career through a supervised ministry internship, seminars, readings, and reflections. Students integrate various components of their missional ministries major.
Prerequisites: MIN 200; MIN 215; MIN 483. Offered: Spring. Special Notes: This course is graded on an S/U basis.
MIN 499 • Departmental Capstone 4 Credits
Selected topics related broadly to the areas of ministry, Bible, and theology. A major research project in consultation with department faculty is followed by an oral and written presentation of its results.
Prerequisites: Major in biblical and theological studies or missional ministries and Senior standing. Offered: Spring. Special Notes: This course carries cross credit with biblical studies and theological studies.
REL 202 • Introduction to Religious Studies 4 Credits
An introduction to the world’s religious traditions and the history and methods of religious studies as a discipline. Using primary and secondary sources, focus is on affirmations regarding ultimate reality as it relates to the meaning and purpose of human existence within various religious and cultural contexts.
Prerequisites: GES 130 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 149 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Fall or Spring.
REL 212U • History of Islam 4 Credits
Islam from its inception and development to Islam as it is practiced today. Interaction with members of the Islamic community in Minnesota in an attempt to understand Islam from the personal experiences of Muslims. Contemporary issues and controversies are examined through the lens of the Muslim experience throughout history.
Prerequisites: GES 130 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 149 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Spring. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in history.
REL 328G • Muslim Women in History 4 Credits
Global survey of the lives of Muslim women from the 7th century to the present. Examination of how Muslim women’s lives have historically been shaped by their social context, with particular attention to religious interpretation and expression, culture, ethnicity, and geographic location.
Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160 or GES 149]; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course or World Cultures (U) course. Offered: Occasionally. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in history.
THE 201 • Christian Theology 4 Credits
Investigates central themes of the Christian faith from a primarily systematic perspective. Topics include: Scripture, God, the person and work of Jesus Christ, salvation, and last things. Emphasis on the unity and diversity of theological beliefs within Christianity, and on the interrelationships among theological understanding, culture, and discipleship.
Prerequisites: BIB 101 and Sophomore standing. Offered: Fall, January, Spring.
THE 215L • Survey of Historical Theology in Global Perspective 4 Credits
The global historical development of Christian thought from Early Church to Reformation and into the post-Reformation era of the contemporary contexts. Includes overview of major figures and developments in diverse contexts.
Prerequisites: BIB 101 and THE 201, or Consent of instructor; GES 130 and GES 160 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 149 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Fall or Spring.
THE 240 • Topics in Theology 4 Credits
Study of a theological area or topic. The specific topic is announced when the course is offered.
Prerequisites: THE 201. Offered: Fall or Spring.
THE 256L • Christian Apologetics 4 Credits
The intellectual viability of the Christian faith. Topics include: the nature of apologetics and apologetic method, theological and philosophical arguments for and against the existence of God, and historical and philosophical arguments for and against the central beliefs of Christianity.
Prerequisites: GES 130: GES 160 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 145 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Fall, January, Spring.
THE 309 • A Biblical Theology of Poverty 4 Credits
Responses to poverty in the Old Testament, intertestamental literature, and the New Testament in light of the socioeconomic setting of these records. Construction of a biblical perspective and implications for Christian communities in North America.
Prerequisites: BIB 101 and GES 160 or GES 149 and Sophomore standing. Offered: Fall or Spring. Special Notes: This course carries cross credit with biblical studies.
THE 315 • Contemporary Theological Issues 4 Credits
Theoretical and practical engagement with the academic disciplines of theology. Considers contemporary theological issues facing the 21st century church and explores current research and writing in the fields of theology.
Prerequisites: THE 201 or Consent of the instructor. Offered: Spring.
THE 326G • Christian Theology in Africa, Asia, and Latin America 4 Credits
Introduces major theological themes and theories that have emerged in the socio-political and cultural contexts of sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Offers critical and constructive dialogue with key theological themes and issues in Black, Feminist, Liberation, Dalit, and African theologies.
Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160 or GES 149]; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course or World Cultures (U) course. Offered: Fall.
THE 363 • Christian Social Ethics 4 Credits
Christian approaches to ethical problems within today’s society, such as the morality of war, poverty and welfare, homelessness, racism, and human sexuality. Roles of Christians and churches in response to these issues. Classical ethical approaches of utilitarianism, Kant, and social contract ethics.
Prerequisites: BIB 101 and THE 201 or Consent of instructor. Offered: Fall.
THE 499 • Departmental Capstone 4 Credits
Selected topics related broadly to the areas of ministry, Bible, and theology. A major research project in consultation with department faculty is followed by an oral and written presentation of its results.
Prerequisites: Major in biblical and theological studies or missional ministries and Senior standing. Offered: Spring. Special Notes: This course carries cross credit with biblical and theological studies and missional ministries.