HAWAII CAMPUS, AMERICAN SAMOA SITE
School of Christian Studies
2. UNIVERSITY MISSION STATEMENT
Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging, learning-focused and distinctively Christian environment for professional success and service to God and humankind.
3. COURSE NUMBER & NAME:
RLGN 1301 Old Testament History
4. TERM:
Spring 1, 2021 (January 19 – March 6)
5. INSTRUCTOR:
D Glenn Simmons, PhD, ThD
6. CONTACT INFORMATION:
Office phone: 684.699.2177 WBU Email: simmonsg@wbu.edu
Cell phone: (please text first, leave your name and course, and I will call asap) 602.740.7040
7. OFFICE HOURS, BUILDING & LOCATION:
M-Th 2:30 to 4:30
Georgiana Building, 2nd Floor Pago Pago, American Samoa 8. COURSE MEETING TIME & LOCATION:
Meeting day & time: Monday and Wednesday 12;30 to 2:30 an online.
9. CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
An introductory survey of the historical literature with special attention to the institutions, religion, and national life of the Hebrew people.
10. PREREQUISITE: None
11. REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND RESOURCE MATERIAL:
The NIV Study Bible, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishers, 2011. ISBN 12—9780310438922 Note: No other Bible Versions or publications will be accepted for reading quizzes due to the unique study materials provided in the NIV Study Bible.
12. OPTIONAL MATERIALS
As assigned during the term. These are for optional reading, but will not be required for tests
13. COURSE OUTCOMES AND COMPETENCIES:
1) Discuss the historical, religious, and social context of the Old Testament world 2) List and explain some of the critical methods used in Old Testament studies
3) Discuss the basic content of the Old Testament and its main teaching (theological content) 4) Describe in detail the canonical process producing a more complete understanding of the
compilation of the Old Testament.
14. ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
As stated in the Wayland Catalog, students enrolled at one of the University’s external
campuses should make every effort to attend all class meetings. All absences must be explained to the instructor, who will then determine whether the omitted work may be made up. When a student reaches that number of absences considered by the instructor to be excessive, the instructor will so advise the student and file an unsatisfactory progress report with the campus executive director. Any student who misses 25 percent or more of the regularly scheduled class meetings may receive a grade of F in the course. Additional attendance policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are considered a part of the University’s attendance policy. A student may petition the Academic Council for exceptions to the above stated policies by filing a written request for an appeal to the Vice President of Academic Affairs
WBU-Hawaii campus addendum: All Wayland students are expected to attend every class
meeting; the minimum percentage of class participation required to avoid receiving a grade of “F” in the class is 75%. Students who miss the first class meeting without providing a written explanation to the instructor will be automatically dropped from the roster as a “no-show”. Students who know in advance that they will be present the first class meeting and who wish to remain in the class must inform the instructor to discuss arrangements for making up absences.
15. STATEMENT ON PLAGIARISM & ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Wayland Baptist University observes a zero tolerance policy regarding academic dishonesty. Per university policy as described in the academic catalog, all cases of academic dishonesty will be reported and second offenses will result in suspension from the university.
16. DISABILITY STATEMENT:
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), it is the policy of Wayland Baptist University that no otherwise qualified person with a disability be excluded from
participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any
educational program or activity in the university. The Coordinator of Counseling Services serves as the coordinator of students with a disability and should be contacted concerning
accommodation requests at (806) 291-3765. Documentation of a disability must accompany any request for accommodations.
17. COURSE REQUIREMENTS and GRADING CRITERIA:
1. Class Participation (10% of grade)
• Each student will be asked to participate in class discussion throughout the semester. The student will be evaluated on attendance, ability to add to the current class discussion, awareness of class info and reading material, and overall contributions to the class experience.
• For more info, see Attendance Requirements above.
2. Weekly Quizzes or Discussion Boards, based on lecture notes and class reading (40% of grade)
• Reading quizzes or discussion boards will be given on a regular basis in order to help each student focus on the significant aspects of the class reading and class notes.
3. Exams. There are two scheduled for this class. (50% of total grade. Each Exam is worth 25% of the final grade.
• The Exams will be a mid-term and a final.
• Each exam will be based on the class notes, class readings, reading quizzes, and study sheets.
• The primary format of the exam will be multiple choice with some listing, matching, or definition questions as well as discussions.
Course Evaluation (Method of Determining Grade) • University Grading System
Symbol Percentage A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F Below 60
Other symbols used for grading include:
CR Credit Satisfactory, but without qualitative grading. NCR No Credit Unsatisfactory, but without qualitative grading. I** Incomplete May be given to a student who is passing, but has not
completed a term paper, examination, or other required for work reasons beyond the student’s control. This can only be granted
IP In progress Assigned to a course indicating that at the conclusion of a term the course will still be in progress.
X No grade No grade has been submitted by the instructor. The course grade which will replace the X must be submitted within 30 days from the beginning of the next full term.
W Withdrawal Course dropped or withdrawal from the University. WP Withdraw passing Course dropped or withdrawal from the University
after deadline to withdraw with a W and prior deadline to withdraw with a WP or WF.
WF Withdraw failing Course dropped or withdrawal from the University after deadline to withdraw with a W and prior to deadline to withdraw with a WP or WF.
**A grade of incomplete is changed if the deficiency is made up by midterm of the next regular semester; otherwise, it becomes "F". This grade is given only if circumstances beyond the student's control prevented completion of work during the semester enrolled and
attendance requirements have been met.
Computation of final grade
Assignment Percent Class Participation 10 Reading Quizzes/Discussions 40 Mid-Term 25 Final Exam 25 TOTAL 100
17.1 Include Grade Appeal Statement: “Students shall have protection through orderly
procedures against prejudices or capricious academic evaluation. A student who believes that he or she has not been held to realistic academic standards, just evaluation procedures, or appropriate grading, may appeal the final grade given in the course by using the student grade appeal process described in the Academic Catalog. Appeals may not be made for advanced placement examinations or course bypass examinations. Appeals are limited to the final course grade, which may be upheld, raised, or lowered at any stage of the appeal process. Any recommendation to lower a course grade must be submitted through the Vice President of Academic Affairs/Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals Committee for review and approval. The Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals Committee may instruct that the course grade be upheld, raised, or lowered to a more proper evaluation.”
18. TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Date Material Covered Reading Due
Lesson 1
January 11, 13 Course Introduction; Geography, Archaeology Inspiration and Revelation and the Old Testament Canon
Preface (pgs. xi-xviii)
Abbreviations and Transliterations Ancient Texts (xxii-xxiv)
Old Testament Chronology (xxv-xxix)
Lesson 2
January 18, 20 The Origins of Humanity The Patriarchs Genesis 1-50
Lesson 3
January 25, 27 The Exodus and the Law Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Lesson 4
February 1, 3 MID-TERM EXAM The Conquest Deuteronomy Joshua, Judges
Lesson 5
February 8, 10 The Judges The United Kingdom: Saul, David and Solomon Ruth. 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles
Lesson 6
February 15, 17 The Poetry of the Old Testament Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah
Lesson 7
March 22, 24 The End of the Northern Kingdom and the Assyrian Empire, the prophets Amos, Hosea, Micah, Jonah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Joel, Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Obadiah
Lesson
March 1, 3 Israel in Exile Apocalyptic Literature, Rebuilding a Kingdom and the Persian Empire
Final Exam
Ezekiel, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
19. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This class will be taught as a hybrid—about half% will be done in a face-to-face setting in the classroom. The other half will be done via online Blackboard assignments and work. There will be assignments each week such as discussion boards, quizzes, reading and such. Student MUST participate in the online portion of the class.
