Bachelor of Theology

General Objective

The Bachelor of Theology degree program is designed to bring students to a sound working knowledge of the Word of God, so that they may share those life-transforming principles in a variety of contexts. This program is offered for students who have successfully attained a high school diploma or its equivalent and who desire introductory academic instruction in Christian theology.

Through our learning, we seek to be agents of renewal in the academy, church, and society. We pledge fidelity to Jesus Christ, offering our hearts and lives to do God’s work in His Kingdom.

 

Admission Requirements

A high school diploma or its academic equivalent is required for admission to the B.Th. program. Applicants should have no less than a 2.5 GPA with letters of recommendation from instructors and a pastor regarding academic and spiritual qualifications to pursue an education in religion. An interview with a faculty member of UWU is required.  This will be arranged through the school office.

 

Graduation Requirements

Those planning to receive the Bachelor of Theology degree must (a) earn 120 credit units with a 2.0 grade average by completing the course requirements; (b) complete a thesis totaling at least 100 pages on an approved topic; (c) complete all requirements for the degree within six years from the time of matriculation.

Completion of the minimum requirements does not automatically qualify the student for the Bachelor of Theology degree. He or she must have shown evidence, to the satisfaction of the Degree Committee, of consistent Christian character, potential for effectiveness in Christian ministry, and commitment to the primacy of the divinely authoritative Scriptures, interpreted in the framework of historically orthodox and creedal Christian theology

Course Requirements

 

First Year


Fall Semester

Course # Course Name Semester Hours
TH 121 Biblical Literature and Theology 3
TH 131 Christian Theology 3
OT 111 Pentateuch 3
ST 130 The Doctrine of Revelation 3
HT 141 General Church History 3
15


Spring Semester

Course # Course Name Semester Hours
OT 112 Old Testament Historical Books 3
OT 112 Synoptic Gospels and Acts 3
NT 122 Johannine Literature 3
ST 131 The Doctrine of God 3
PT 150 Introduction to the Study of Religion 3
15

Second Year


Fall Semester

Course # Course Name Semester Hours
OT 213 Psalms and Wisdom Literature 3
NT 223 Paul’s Letters 3
ST 232 The Doctrine of Creation 3
BT 207 Interpreting the Bible 3
HT 243 History of Christian Theology I 3
15


Spring Semester

Course # Course Name Semester Hours
OT 214 Prophets 3
BT 209 Biblical Theology 3
PT 237 Christian Worship 3
BT 211 History and Archaeology of Ancient Israel 3
ST 233 The Doctrine of Christ and Reconciliation 3
15

Third Year


Fall Semester

Course # Course Name Semester Hours
NT 324 Revelation and General Letters 3
BT 313 When Women Read the Old Testament 3
HT 342 Christianity in America 3
HT 344 History of Christian Theology II 3
MI 352 Introduction to Mission 3
15


Spring Semester

Course # Course Name Semester Hours
BT 321 Intertestamental Judaism 3
ST 334 The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit and Church 3
PT 351 Christianity and the World’s Religions 3
PT 332 Theological Ethics 3
MI 333 Evangelism and Discipleship 3
15

Fourth Year


Fall Semester

Course # Course Name Semester Hours
BT 423 Lost Christianities and Their Scriptures 3
ST 235 Eschatology 3
TH 432 Theology: Theory and Method 3
PT 452 Judaism and Islam 3
MI 495 Christianity and Culture 3
15


Spring Semester

Course # Course Name Semester Hours
TH 441 Studies in Early and Medieval Theology: Augustine and the Augustinian Tradition 3
TH 443 Studies in Reformation Theology 3
TH 445 Studies in Contemporary Theology 3
PT 453 Hinduism and Buddhism 3
PT 479 Research Topics in Christian Worship 3
15

Course Description for Bachelor of Theology Program

 

FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIANITY

 

TH 121 Biblical Literature and Theology (3).

This course is a study of the Bible within its literary, historical, cultural, and canonical context in order to understand its central theological teachings.

 

TH 131 Christian Theology (3).

A study of Christian theology in light of its historical development and ongoing significance, this course surveys the central teachings of the Christian Church as rooted in the Bible, formulated by key theologians, and summarized in the ecumenical creeds and Reformed confessions.

 

BIBLICAL STUDIES

 

OT 111 Pentateuch (3).

A study of the first five books of the Bible. This course examines the accounts of creation, fall, Israel’s ancestors, exodus, and giving of the Law. Theological issues explored include the nature of God, human beings, and the world, our covenantal relationship with God, and the presence of God in historical events.

 

OT 112 Old Testament Historical Books (3).

This course explores the Old Testament books of Joshua through 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah in terms of their literary features, historical settings, and theological themes. Particular attention is devoted to the prophetic character of these works, which provide a theological interpretation of Israel’s history.

 

OT 213 Psalms and Wisdom Literature (3).
Students examine the books of Psalms, Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes. The three focuses of the course are how to read poetry, the different categories of the Psalms and their interpretation, and the role of wisdom books in the Bible.

 

OT 214 Prophets (3).

The books of Old Testament prophetic literature are studied, including Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and selected minor prophets. Each book is considered in light of its literary characteristics and socio-historical context with a view to explicating the text’s theological message and contemporary relevance.

 

NT 121 Synoptic Gospels and Acts (3).                                                
This is a study of Matthew, Mark, and Luke-Acts. After dealing with introductory issues, this course examines the text and context of each book to discern its major themes. The relationship between the Synoptic Gospels and the historical Jesus are also considered.

 

NT 122 Johannine Literature (3).                                                      
This course studies the Fourth Gospel and 1-3 John. Students consider matters of introduction, historical context, interpretation of major themes and distinctive theological contributions.

 

NT 223 Paul’s Letters (3).                                                                
A study of Paul’s letters with particular attention to their meaning within the context of the early Christian communities.

 

NT 324 Revelation and General Letters (3).                                          
This course studies Revelation and the general letters, including Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, and Jude, in terms of their literary features, historical setting, theological emphases, and present relevance.

 

BIBLICAL THEOLOGY

 

BT 207 Interpreting the Bible (3).                                                       
A study of the methods and principles of biblical interpretation. Various exegetical and hermeneutical approaches will be examined and evaluated in terms of their usefulness for understanding the meaning and message of the scriptures.

 

BT 209 Biblical Theology (3).                                                              
A course in constructive biblical theology, focusing on central themes, the problem of the unity and diversity of scripture, the “center” of biblical revelation, and proper methodology. Issues are considered in the context of historic and recent attempts to construct a biblical theology.

 

BT 211 History and Archaeology of Ancient Israel (3).                                 
A study of the history of ancient Israel from the patriarchs through Ezra in the context of recent research on this topic. This course will consider the sources for reconstructing the history of Israel, including the Old Testament, Ancient Near Eastern literary remains, and archaeological evidence, as well as appropriate methods for interpreting these sources.

 

BT 313 When Women Read the Old Testament (3).                                  
This course is the special topic for The Current Issues in Old Testament Studies course. In the last two decades, biblical interpretation by women and about women has blossomed and made significant contributions to the field of biblical studies. This course will study feminist approaches to the Old Testament and examine key passages relating to gender issues.

 

BT 321 Intertestamental Judaism (3).                                                   
A study of Jewish history, literature, and thought from 400 B.C. to A.D. 100, as a background for understanding the New Testament. Literature studied includes the Apocrypha and Dead Sea Scrolls.

 

BT 423 Lost Christianities and Their Scriptures (3).                                    
A study of diversity in early Christianity in the second and third centuries. It explores how competition and conflicts among various types of Christianity led to the triumph of “orthodoxy” over “heresy” and to the formation of the New Testament canon. Students read a variety of non-canonical literature and writings from early church fathers.

 

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

 

ST 130 The Doctrine of Revelation (3).                                               
This course is designed to help students to explore Reformed concepts of revelation in contemporary cultural context. Traditional models of general and special revelation, and models of biblical inspiration and authority will be explored and developed in the context of modern and post-modern concerns in philosophy, science, and non-Christian religions.

 

ST 131 The Doctrine of God (3).                                                       
This course is designed to enable students to examine Christian and Reformed concepts of God in considerable depth within the contexts of historical debates and modern discussions. Issues considered include the possibility and extent of human knowledge of God, evidence for God’s existence, the attributes of God, and the nature of the Trinity.

 

ST 232 The Doctrine of Creation (3).                                                  
This course investigates Christian teaching about the creation of the world. Topics considered include the interpretation of Genesis 1 and 2, creation out of nothing, creation and evolution, the goodness of creation and the problem of evil, the image of God, the cultural mandate and the idea of stewardship, and the eclipse of creation in modern thought.

 

ST 233 The Doctrine of Christ and Reconciliation (3).                                
The main goals of this course are to provide students with opportunity to examine and reflect upon historic and Reformed doctrines of the person and works of Christ in the contexts of contemporary analytic thought and current biblical theology. Topics include Christ as God and man in current discussion, New Testament Christology and the current debates, Reformed Christology in the making. 

 

ST 334 The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit and Church (3).                              
This course is a study of the biblical teachings, confessional formulations, theological reflections, and experiential impact of the universal and local church as the creation and manifestation of the Holy Spirit, as well as the attributes and ministries of the Church universal. 

 

ST 435 Eschatology (3).                                                           
Christian teachings concerning the end times and last things–their biblical basis, historical formulations, and contemporary relevance. Topics covered include the return of Christ, the final judgment, the resurrection of the body, and eternal life. Millennialist and dispensationalist issues are also critically analyzed both historically and theologically. 

 

HISTORICAL THEOLOGY

 

HT 141 General Church History (3).                                                     
A survey of the history of the Christian church from its beginning to the present time, noting deviations from apostolic faith and practice, the interplay with the political, the great church councils, the crises that emerge, divisions and reunions, and the confluence of forces that determine the complexion of the Christian church today.

 

HT 342 Christianity in America (3).                                                      
A consideration of the theology and religious history of America from the immigration period to the present. Attention is paid to the European background, early establishment of Christianity in America, the colonial era, revivalism and confessionalism, emergence of evangelicalism, fundamentalism and liberalism, and various 20th century movements, including current ecumenism. Major social and political developments and their influence upon the American religious scene will be considered throughout.

 

HT 243 History of Christian Theology I (3).                                          
This is a historically oriented study of Christian theology in the Patristic and Medieval periods (100-1500). Particular attention is paid to the development of key Christian doctrines such as the Trinity and the Incarnation and to questions such as the relationship between faith and reason. 

 

HT 344 History of Christian Theology II (3).                                         
This is a historically oriented study of Christian theology in the Reformation and Modern periods (1500 to the present). Particular attention is paid to the development of key Christian doctrines such as justification, sanctification, and the church and to questions such as the relationship between faith and reason. 

 

TH 431 Theology: Theory and Method (3).                                             
An investigation of the nature, task, and method of the discipline of systematic theology. A review of the pre-modern history of the concept of theology serves as a prelude to the focus of the course: the status of systematic theology in the post-Enlightenment period. Issues discussed include the relationships of theology to church, academy, and society. Thinkers and approaches dealt with include Schleiermarcher, Barth, Tillich, Lonegan, Pannenberg, revisionism, and post-liberalism.  

 

TH 441 Studies in Early and Medieval Theology: Augustine and the Augustinian Tradition (3). 

Augustine is one of the greatest figures in the history of Christian theology. This course studies several of his major works and the consensus which developed around his thought throughout the middle ages. The class begins with an in depth look at Augustine, then surveys key Augustinians throughout the middle ages, culminating with a deeper look at two of the great 13th century theologians, Bonaventure and Aquinas, each of whom appropriates Augustine in a distinctive way.

 

TH 443 Studies in Reformation Theology (3).                                           
A study of selected doctrinal topics and central figures of the sixteenth century Protestant Reformation.

 

TH 445 Studies in Contemporary Theology (3).                                         
A study of selected figures, movements, and doctrinal topics in twentieth century theology.

 

PRACTICAL THEOLOGY

 

PT 150 Introduction to the Study of Religion (3).                                      
A thematic introduction to the phenomenon of religion in comparative perspective. Issues examined include the dichotomy between the sacred and the profane, the nature of religious experience and its various expressions in life, the significance of myth and ritual, and differing analyses of human existence. Attention is also given to questions about the origin, nature, and function of religion in human life and society, and to issues pertaining to the study of religion in the humanities and social sciences.

 

PT 237 Christian Worship (3).                                                            
A study of the history, theology, and practice of Christian worship. This course examines the relationship between theology and worship by considering the biblical basis for worship, the history of Christian liturgy, and contemporary worship. Examples of sermons, baptismal and Lord’s Supper practices, hymnody, prayers, dance, art, and architecture from both traditional and contemporary worship are studied.

 

PT 351 Christianity and the World’s Religions (3).                                    
An examination of the relationship of Christianity to the religions of the world. An attempt is made to understand the phenomenon of religion from a theological perspective by investigating how various biblical and Christian writers have viewed Christianity’s place in the religious history of the world. Special emphasis is placed on twentieth century attempts to confront the reality of religious pluralism. 

 

PT 332 Theological Ethics (3).                                                           
A study of Christian moral theory and its application to selected cases. This course examines how diverse understandings of God’s relationship to the creation inform how Christians think about the moral life. Ethical issues such as war, human sexuality and reproduction, death and dying, and the environment are analyzed in light of theological commitments.

 

PT 355 World Religions (3).                                                            
An historical investigation of the nature of religion by examining the chief theories and practices of some of the world’s major non-Christian religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Islam. Emphasis is placed on each tradition’s analysis of the basic human problem and the solution that it offers to the problem. Some attention is also paid to new, emergent religious movements and their relationship to older established traditions.

 

PT 452 Judaism & Islam. (3).                                                            
A study of the major developments in Jewish history, thought, and practice beginning with the second temple era and extending to the contemporary period. Subjects studied will include rabbinic Judaism and its literature–the Mishnah and the Talmuds, medieval Jewish philosophy and mysticism, emancipation, Zionism, the Holocaust, and North American Judaism. The question of Jewish-Christian dialogue will also be considered.

A historical and comparative study of Islam in its diverse regional and cultural settings, including the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the West. Topics will include the life and times of Prophet Muhammad, the Quran, the division between Sunni and Shia, and the formation of the traditions of Hadit and Shariah.

 

PT 453 Hinduism& Buddhism (3).                                                     
This course introduces Hindu religious traditions by examining Hindu mythology, philosophy and society from it s beginning to the present. Topics will include the law of karma, class structure, dharma, yoga, devotional traditions, liberation, modern reform movements and Hindu mythology as presented in its sacred texts, including the Vedic hymns, Upanishads, and Bhagavad-Gita.

A historical and doctrinal study of Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, focusing on Buddhist views of the human predicament and its solution, and different teachings and Buddhists practices in various regions of Asia and the West. Other topics include the historical Buddha’s sermons, Buddhist psychology, cosmology, meditation, bodhisattvas, Pure Land and Zen.

 

PT 479 Research Topics in Christian Worship (3).                           
Participation in collaboarative research on the theology, history, and practice of Christian worship. Topics are chosen in conjunction with the scholarly initiatives of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.

 

MISSIOLOGY

 

MI 352 Introduction to Mission (3).                                                     
A general introduction to Christian Mission in biblical and historical perspective. This course surveys the biblical and theological foundations for mission, and the church’s interpretation and implementation of the task of spreading the gospel. The methods, challenges, successes, and failures of Christian missionary activity will be considered.

 

MI 333 Evangelism and Discipleship (3).

An overview of the biblical principles of evangelism and discipleship. Seeks to develop the skills of personal evangelism and explores biblical teachings regarding discipleship as they apply to the local church and para-church organizations.

 

MI 495 Christianity and Culture(3).                                                   
This course is a critical survey of models by which God’s people have defined their relationship to the world, from Biblical times to the present, with a particular emphasis on the Reformed tradition. Special attention is given to the contemporary relevance of this discussion, both in terms of ways which different models are visible in today’s world and in terms of ways that the Reformed model can be applied to present concerns