minors

cross-cultural journeys

Study Bible while on cross-cultural in the Middle East
Spend your cross-cultural in the Middle East, studying the Bible where the lessons actually took place.

Majors

BIRE 444 Bible and Religion Senior Capstone … 3
*BIST 223 New Testament Studies: Gospels OR
*BIST 323 New Testament Studies: Paul OR
*BIST 341 Old Testament Studies … 3
(Bible and religion department majors take either ABP 112 or ABP 123 to meet their EMU Core Anabaptist Biblical Perspectives requirement. They then take the upper level biblical course from the testament not studied in the EMU Core as their Bible and Religion core course.)

CHST 312 Missiology … 3
CHST 341 Church History … 3
*CHST 422 Mennonite History and Thought … 3
PHIL 201 Introduction to Philosophy … 3
REL 223 World Religions … 3
THEO 201 Introduction to Theology … 3
THEO 323 Biblical Theology of Peace and Justice … 3
Bible and Religion core courses will satisfy the Christian Identity and Witness requirement of the EMU Core for Bible and religion department majors.

This curriculum provides a foundation in biblical studies with a focus on methods of Bible study for the student anticipating secondary Bible teaching or graduate-level seminary study. Students receive extensive exposure to theological topics and to contemporary issues of biblical interpretation
and the meaning of Christian discipleship.

This major requires the 27 hours of core courses listed above plus the following 18 hours for a total of 45 hours:

Required courses (12 SH):

*BIST 212 History of the Bible … 3
*BIST 223 New Testament Studies: Gospels … 3
*BIST 323 New Testament Studies: Paul … 3
*BIST 341 Old Testament Studies … 3
(BIST 223, BIST 323, OR BIST 341 may meet the biblical studies Bible and Religion core requirement.)
*THEO 312 Topics in Christian Theology OR
*THEO 412 Contemporary Theology … 3
Elective courses (6 SH):
CHST, PHIL, PXD, REL, THEO electives … 6
(*CHST 223 Spiritual Formation is strongly recommended.)

*Indicates courses offered in alternate years.

This major prepares students to answer Christ’s call to ministry within congregations in the context of rapidly changing, pluralistic and diverse Western culture. The major prepares students for service in fields such as youth ministries, urban missions, and congregational leadership, and is also a foundation for graduate-level seminary studies in church and ministry leadership. This major requires the 27 hours of core courses plus the following 21 hours for a total of 48 SH:

Required courses (15 SH):

CHST 212 Introduction to Youth Ministry … 3
*CHST 223 Spiritual Formation … 3
*CHST 412 Church Leadership … 3
CHST 451 Church Work Practicum OR
CHST 473 Youth Ministry Practicum … 3
PSYC 391 Introduction to Counseling OR
PXD 311 Mediation and Conflict Transformation OR
PXD 321 Group Dynamics and Facilitation … 3

Elective courses (choose 6 SH):

*CHST 234 Mission in a Changing World … 3
*CHST 323 The Congregation and Its Ministries … 3
*CHST 334 Youth Ministry in the Congregation … 3
(recommended for those focusing on youth ministry)
PSYC 202 Developmental Psychology … 3
*REL 323 Contemporary Culture … 3

This major is designed to prepare students for intercultural careers, including mission and service assignments in contemporary Northern settings or in the global South. It may also serve as the foundation for graduate studies in fields such as anthropology, religious studies or missiology. The program includes the study of cultures, the meaning and value of religion within them, and the implications cultures and religions have for varied forms of Christian witness. Students in the RIS major are strongly encouraged to attend the Urbana Missions Conference (held every three years, including 2012) one time during their study program. Those who do so may earn one semester of independent study credit as an additional elective, working with their faculty adviser (CHST 499—1 SH). This major requires 27 hours of core courses plus the following 21 hours for a total of 48 SH:

Required courses (15 SH):

*REL 201 Introduction to Religious Studies … 3
*REL 334 Cultural Anthropology: Christianity and Social Change … 3
PXD 375 Globalization and Justice … 3
*CHST 234 Mission in a Changing World … 3
CHST 462 Missions Practicum … 3

Elective courses (choose any two: 6 SH):

*CHST 223 Spiritual Formation … 3
*REL 312 Topics in Religion … 3
*REL 323 Contemporary Culture … 3
*REL 412 Sociology of Religion … 3
*REL 423 Judaism, Christianity, Islam: Comparative Monotheisms … 3
*PHIL 341 Politics: Conceptions of Common Good … 3
*PHIL 412 Philosophy of Religion … 3
PXD 385 History and Philosophy of Nonviolence … 3
PXD 485 Theories of International Development … 3
*THEO 412 Contemporary Theology … 3

The philosophy and theology major is for students with special interests in these fields. It is designed to be foundational for further study in graduate school or as a complement to other academic disciplines. This major requires 27 semester hours of theology, biblical studies, and religion courses, and 21 hours of philosophy courses, for a total of 48 semester hours.

Theology, biblical studies and religion required courses (24 SH):

BIRE 444 Bible and Religion Senior Capstone … 3
*CHST 422 Mennonite History and Thought … 3
REL 223 World Religions … 3
THEO 201 Introduction to Theology … 3
THEO 323 Biblical Theology of Peace and Justice … 3
*THEO 412 Contemporary Theology … 3
Choose one of the following courses:
*REL 201 Introduction to Religious Studies … 3
*REL 412 Sociology of Religion … 3
Choose one of the following courses:
CHST 341 Church History … 3
*REL 423 Judaism, Christianity, Islam: Comparative Monotheisms … 3
*THEO 312 Topics in Christian Theology … 3
(For Philosophy and Theology majors, CHST 341 or CHST 422 will satisfy the EMU Core Christian Identity and Witness requirement.)

Elective course (3 SH):

Choose an additional course from those listed above, or an upper-level Bible and Religion course, or other course as approved by the advisor. (*CHST 223 Spiritual Formation recommended.)

Philosophy required courses (21 SH):

PHIL 201 Introduction to Philosophy … 3
Choose two of the following courses:
*PHIL 212 Ways of Knowing … 3
*PHIL 223 Logic and Critical Thinking … 3
*PHIL 323 Philosophy of Science … 3
*PHIL 412 Philosophy of Religion … 3
Choose two of the following courses:
*PHIL 334 Ethics: Conceptions of Personal Good … 3
*PHIL 341 Politics: Conceptions of Common Good … 3
*PHIL 434 Topics in Contemporary Philosophy … 3
*THEO 423 Philosophical Theology … 3
Choose two of the following courses:
*PHIL 312 Ancient Philosophy … 3
*PHIL 352 Modern Philosophy … 3
*PHIL 363 Contemporary Philosophy … 3
(Note: Philosophy courses will normally be scheduled every other year. Courses offered for the 2010-2011 academic year are PHIL 223, PHIL 323, PHIL 334, PHIL 352, PHIL 412.)

*Indicates courses offered in alternate years.

Bible and Religion Department 2012-13 undergraduate catalog (pdf)