Bible Literacy Project

If you are a teacher who wants to better understand the Bible, integrate the Bible into your English or humanities course, or teach a “Bible as Literature course,” Concordia University and the Bible Literacy Project have joined together to offer you three options by which to learn more:

  • Take a fully online graduate course, Bible Literature for English and Humanities Teachers, EDU 596w — join a cohort of up to 15 fellow teachers who will be your online class. (Check the registration form for the next start date.)
  • Take a fully online, less intensive version, EDU 896w, and earn limited graduate seminar credit. (Check the registration form for the next start date.)
  • Take a four week seminar course, CEU 022w, to concentrate on one specific section of the Bible. (Check the registration form for the next start date.)

Through the above courses, interested high school English and humanities teachers can develop their expertise — including materials and strategies — for teaching Bible literature. The courses cover foundational Bible texts in order to understand concepts and allusions that permeate Western culture.

In each of the courses you will:

  • Study Bible books, stories, and passages that are representative of Hebrew and Christian writing.
  • Study foundational Bible writings that are central to Western culture.
  • Identify Biblical allusions in the mass media and in contemporary literature.
  • Relate the influence of the Bible on Western painting, music, sculpture, philosophy, and history.
  • Participate in controlled, reasonably objective discussion of Biblical concepts that relate to societal issues.
  • Define laws at each level — federal, state, local and district — that govern religion and the public school.
  • Develop lessons and use strategies for a Bible literature curriculum.
  • Develop skill and confidence in teaching Biblical literature.

Interested in participating? Course format and process:

  • All course offerings are fully online, presented in WebCT, a course tool system.
  • The graduate course meets a total of 15 weeks, with assignments and discussion each week — a structured format!
    • Your instructor and fellow classmates will be easily accessible by e-mail
    • You will need to access the course several times during the week, at the time and place of your choosing!
    • You will participate in threaded discussions, reading, powerpoint presentations, even group presentations!
  • The limited seminar graduate course is designed to last 16 weeks, and is fully independent — work as fast as you would like over the 16 weeks! These four hours of “limited graduate seminar credit” may be accepted at some universities as electives in education graduate programs. Each one hour of credit requires 30 hours of work, so approximately 120 hours of work are invested to complete this four hour course. Those 120 hours are the equivalent of 12 CEU hours (1 CEU per 10 hours of work).
  • Cost:
    • 3 hours graduate credit. This course can serve as an elective in a M.Ed. with a curriculum and instruction emphasis. Cost? 3 graduate credits at $540 per credit = $1620 total
    • 4 hours limited graduate seminar credit. Can meet requirements for continuing professional development, with limited assignments and an independent format. Cost? $800
    • Four week seminars — Independently study in-depth one section of the Bible. Cost? $200

Offering Dates:

Compare the different course offerings.

EDU 596w - July 16th, 2008
3 hours graduate credit - 8 week condensed course (2 lessons per week)
How to Teach the Bible in Public School: Content, First Amendment Guidelines, Lessons from Genesis to Revelation

A Rigorous Graduate Course for English and Humanities Teachers

EDU 896w - July 16th, 2008
4 hours limited graduate seminar credit - 8 week condensed course (2 lessons per week)
How to Teach the Bible in Public School: Content, First Amendment Guidelines, Lessons from Genesis to Revelation

A Continuing Education Course for English and Humanities Teachers

CEU 022w - 2009
Four week seminar
How to Teach the Bible in Public School: Content, First Amendment Guidelines, Focusing on...
Book of Genesis

A Four-week Seminar for English and Humanities Teachers and Other Education Stakeholders

CEU 023w - June 16th, 2008
Four week seminar
How to Teach the Bible in Public School: Content, First Amendment Guidelines, Focusing on...
Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

A Four-week Seminar for English and Humanities Teachers and Other
Education Stakeholders

CEU 024w - 2009
Four week seminar
How to Teach the Bible in Public School: Content, First Amendment Guidelines, Focusing on ...
Heroes of Faith: Moses, David, Isaiah, Job, Daniel, Jonah, and Paul

A Four-week Seminar for English and Humanities Teachers and Other
Education Stakeholders

CEU 025w - August 3rd, 2008
Four week seminar
How to Teach the Bible in Public School: Content, First Amendment Guidelines, Focusing on ...
Women of Valor: Miriam, Hannah, Ruth, Esther, Susanna, Mary of Bethany, and More!

A Four-week Seminar for English and Humanities Teachers and Other
Education Stakeholders

 

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Compare the different course offerings.