Bible Literacy Courses

Concordia University provides six different opportunities for educators who want to learn about teaching the Bible as literature and teaching the Bible for cultural literacy:

  • EDU 596W, Bible Literature for English and Humanities Teachers
  • EDU 896W, Bible Literature for English and Humanities Teachers
  • CEU 022W, Genesis for English and Humanities Educators
  • CEU 023W, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for English and Humanities Educators
  • CEU 024W, Heroes of Faith for English and Humanities Educators
  • CEU 025W, Women of Valor for English and Humanities Educators

How are these courses the same?

  • Each course studies the Bible as literature.
  • Each course provides teaching tips for an academic study of the Bible.
  • Each course reviews First Amendment Guidelines for teaching about the Bible in public schools.
  • Each course models best practices for an academic study of the Bible.
  • Each course is completely online. The course participants receive assignments, discuss readings, and complete assignments in a special web site accessible only to course participants and their Concordia instructor.
  • Each course offers a “Bible Literature Certificate of Completion.”
  • Each course is offered in cooperation with Bible Literacy Project, Inc., Front Royal, VA, www.bibleliteracy.org.

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How are the courses different and which course is best for me?

EDU 596W, Bible Literature for English and Humanities Teachers

EDU 596W is a 15-week graduate level course. This course, the most rigorous of the three, is for educators who desire to earn graduate credit that transfers to master’s degree programs.

The course EDU 596W covers foundational Bible texts, from Genesis to Revelation, in order to understand concepts and allusions that permeate Western culture. Course participants will study Bible literature and curriculum and instruction strategies so that they may acquire discreet Bible knowledge for a well-rounded education in order to (a) integrate the Bible into their English or humanities courses or (b) teach a full course in Bible as literature.

Course participants earn three hours of graduate credit.

EDU 896W, Bible Literature for English and Humanities Teachers

EDU 896W is a 15-week continuing education course. This course is less rigorous than EDU 596W, yet covers much of the same information. The course EDU 896W is for interested high school teachers who desire to earn “limited graduate seminar credit.”

The course EDU 896W covers foundational Bible texts, from Genesis to Revelation, in order to understand concepts and allusions that permeate Western culture. Course participants will develop expertise — including materials and strategies — for teaching Bible literature. EDU 896 combines all four of the 4-week CEU seminar courses listed below into one course.

Course participants earn four hours of “limited graduate seminar credit.” 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; therefore, approximately 120 hours of work are invested to complete this semester long course. Those 120 hours are the equivalent of 12 CEU hours (1 CEU per 10 hours of work).

CEU 022W, Genesis for English and Humanities Educators

CEU 022W is a four-week seminar-type course. This course focuses on the Book of Genesis. The course CEU 022W is for teachers and other interested persons who want an introduction to an academic study of the Bible.

One purpose of this seminar is to help interested teachers develop expertise — including materials and strategies — for teaching Genesis that they can apply to other books of the Bible. Another purpose is to provide teachers, board members, administrators and other interested persons with a “feel” for and a knowledge-base of academic study of the Bible (as opposed to devotional or doctrinal study).

Course participants earn one hour of “limited graduate seminar credit.” The one hour of “limited graduate seminar credit” may be accepted at some universities as an elective in education graduate programs. One hour of credit requires 30 hours of work. Those 30 hours are the equivalent of 3 CEU hours (1 CEU per 10 hours of work in Oregon - consult your local district for your state requirements).

CEU 023W, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for English and Humanities Educators

CEU 023W is a four-week seminar-type course that focuses on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

CEU 024W, Heroes of Faith for English and Humanities Educators

CEU 024W is a four-week seminar-type course that focuses on Heroes of Faith: Moses, David, Isaiah, Job, Daniel, Jonah, and Paul

CEU 025W, Women of Valor for English and Humanities Educators

CEU 025W is a four-week seminar-type course that focuses on Women of Valor: Miriam, Hannah, Ruth, Esther, Susanna, Mary of Bethany, and More!