Church History (CH)
CH 5051 History of Christianity I - 3 Hours
This course explores the development of Christianity from its inception in the first century to the close of the Reformation era in the sixteenth century. Through a sympathetic engagement with primary and secondary historical sources, students will acquire a general understanding of the patristic period; the ecumenical councils; the emergence of medieval polity, philosophy and theology; the cultural synthesis of the high middle ages; the Renaissance in Italy and northern Europe; and the Protestant and Catholic Reformations.
CH 5052 History of Christianity II - 3 Hours
This course explores the development of Christianity from the post-Reformation era to the present day. Through a sympathetic engagement with primary and secondary historical sources, students will acquire a general understanding of the contributions of Protestant orthodoxy; Puritanism and Pietism; the rise of modern secularism; the proliferation of Protestant denominations; the "Enlightenment"; the Evangelical awakenings and revivals in Europe and North America; the Wesleyan movement; nineteenth century missionary expansion; the advance of Christianity in the majority world; modern Pentecostal Christianity; and current theological trends.
CH 5060 American Church History - 3 Hours
The transition of European churches to America and their involvement with theological, liturgical, social, and political issues; the nature of Puritanism; separation of church and state; awakenings and revivals; social concern; liberalism, fundamentalism, neo-orthodoxy, and contemporary evangelicalism are subjects of this course. Offered fall and spring.
CH 6000 Current Studies Church History - 1-3 Hours
Topics selected that deal with significant issues related to Christian history and thought.
CH 7210 Patristic Age - 3 Hours
Introduction to Christian life and thought between the close of the New Testament canon and the beginnings of the medieval period under Pope Gregory I (ca. 600) with emphasis on the major church fathers through primary and relevant secondary sources. Prerequisite: CH 5052 or consent of department chair.
CH 7215 History of Christianity in the Middle Ages - 3 Hours
The course is designed to give an overview of ecclesiastical, political, and theological issues affecting the forms of Christianity from about 529 through 1453. Particular attention is given to the development of the office of the bishop of Rome, the relation between empire and church, missions, monasticism, the philosophy and theology of scholasticism, and the factors affecting the development of conciliarism.
CH 7225 The Reformation Era - 3 Hours
Historical and theological overview of the changes in the history of Western Christendom through Luther's rediscovery of the gospel is the course focus. Topics covered include condition of the late medieval church; the Lutheran, Zwinglian, and Calvinist reformations; the rise of Anglicanism; the Anabaptists and other movements; and the Counter-Reformation. Prerequisite: CH 5052 or consent of department chair.
CH 7411 History of Free Church Movement - 2 Hours
A study of the emergence of the Free Church Movement as a vital force in European Christianity; the contributions of leading personalities to the free churches; the interplay of European pietism with the movement; and the spread of the movement to North America with special reference to the Evangelical Free Church of America.
CH 7450 Christianity in the Non-Western World Since 1500 - 3 Hours
A broad overview of the significant shift of the center of Christianity from the West to Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The social, cultural, and political context of Western missions, the sending nations, and the receiving nations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America will be examined. Consideration will be given to: early modern Roman Catholic missions, the impact of African slavery and Western imperialism, the development of Protestant Christianity, the emergence of independent and indigenous church movements, and the rise of Pentecostalism.
CH 7477 MA Major Comprehensive Exam - 1 Hour
A department-specific Major Comprehensive Exam required in some MA programs. Registration should be completed at the beginning of the semester for the regularly scheduled exam date later that semester. Credit is posted when the Exam is passed; No Credit if the Exam is failed or not completed.
CH 7485 MA Thesis - 0-3 Hours
MA thesis writers register for - 7485 in the department of their concentration. Prerequisite: Approved thesis proposal on file in the Dean's Office and other department-specific prerequisites. Counts as fulltime academic status. (35 hours of academic work per week.) Letter grade or Credit / No Credit as arranged with the department. No grade is posted for this course until the thesis is completed and approved.
CH 7486 MA Thesis Extension - 0 Hours
A total of three semesters extension for - 7485 may be granted when progress is being made on the thesis. Extension fee when not enrolled in other courses. Counts as full-time academic status (35 hours of academic work per week.) for the first semester, quarter time thereafter. CR is posted when substantive thesis progress is made, NC when inadequate progress is made.
CH 7501 Guided Research - 1-4 Hours
Independent research on an approved selected topic under a faculty member in the department bearing the course prefix. May be repeated for credit as the subject matter changes. Available in all departments. Letter grade or Credit/No Credit as arranged with faculty member.
CH 7975 MA/ThM Comp Exam Preparation - 0 Hours
An optional registration status for students preparing for their Major Comprehensive Exam and who are not taking other courses during the semester of preparation. This registration ensures continuity in your TEDS program and defers continuation fees. Available for only two semesters during which student must complete Comprehensive Exams or their academic status in the program will be jeopardized. Counts as quarter-time academic status. Contact the Records Office for registration.
CH 7976 MA or ThM Thesis Proposal Preparation - 0 Hours
An optional registration status for students preparing for their Thesis Proposal and who are not taking other courses during the semester of preparation. (May not be taken when another course is taken.) This registration ensures continuity in your TEDS program and defers continuation fees. Available for only one semester during which students must complete their Proposal or their academic status in the program will be jeopardized. Counts as quarter-time academic status.
CH 7977 ThM Comprehensive Exam - 1 Hour
A department-specific major comprehensive exam required in some ThM concentrations. Registration should be completed at the beginning of the semester for the regularly scheduled exam date later that semester. Credit is posted when the exam is passed; No Credit if the exam is failed or not completed.
CH 7980 MA Major Research Paper - 0-1 Hours
MA participants completing the two capstone research paper option must register for 7980 in their department concurrent with registration for the advanced elective course in which they are writing a MA capstone research paper (MA/PR). Paper parameters are found in the Academic Handbook and paper objectives are specifically articulated in consultation with the faculty member on the online Capstone Proposal Form. Registration occurs twice at the same time as registration for the course, once for each paper. Credit / No Credit. (Both the course and the paper must be graded C- or better to receive credit for the paper.)
CH 8000 Seminar: Current Issues in the History of Christian Thought - 2-4 Hours
Topics chosen to interrelate the divisions of theology; attention focused on current issues or important neglected areas of Christian history and thought.
CH 8100 Classic Texts in the History of Christianity - 3-4 Hours
This course provides students the opportunity to read and discuss the most important books of the classical intellectual tradition, exploring ways in which the insights and arguments of these authors have shaped intellectual life in Christian history and the modern world. Two professors from the Church History department will co-teach this course. They will facilitate class discussions as well as present background materials to help students interpret these writings in their historical and intellectual contexts. Although the booklist may change year-to-year, important texts will include Plato, Symposium, Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Ponticus, The Praktikos Chapters on Prayer, Athanasius, On the Church, Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Descartes, Discourse on Method, Voltaire, Candide, Rousseau, Confessions, Wesley, Standard Sermons, Darwin, Origins of Species, Schleiermacher, Speeches on Religion Hitler, My Struggle, Camus, Myth of Sisyphus and The Stranger, Gutierrez, A Theology of Liberation, and Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Master's three hours, doctoral 3+1 hours.
CH 8235 The Enlightenment - 3-4 Hours
Religious life and thought during the 18th century with special consideration of Deism and efforts by orthodox Christians to counter this philosophical tendency. Master's three hours, doctoral 3+1 hours.
CH 8270 Protestant Thought in Nineteenth Century America - 3-4 Hours
Introduction to the leading Protestant theologians and theological schools of nineteenth-century America, with special attention to topics and issues most controversial among the schools. Emphasis on primary source readings from the New England theologians, the Mercersburg School, Old Princeton, Wesleyan/Holiness sources, and the New Theology. Master's three hours, doctoral 3+1 hours.
CH 8280 History of Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism - 3-4 Hours
An analysis of the history of Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism with particular reference to recent interpretations of these movements. Emphasis is placed on the question of Evangelical self-identity. Master's three hours, doctoral 3+1 hours.
CH 8320 Luther - 3-4 Hours
An examination of the life of the German reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546) in light of contemporary research, with special attention paid to important dimensions of his religious thought, such as his view of justification, the Word, the sacraments, pastoral ministry, and the relationship of church and state. Master's three hours, doctoral 3+1 hours.
CH 8330 Calvin - 3-4 Hours
An examination of the life of the French reformer John Calvin (1509-1564) in light of contemporary research, with special attention paid to important dimensions of his religious thought, such as his view of the knowledge of God, providence, the Scripture, pastoral ministry, church discipline, and predestination. Master's three hours, doctoral 3+1 hours.
CH 8361 Jonathan Edwards - 3-4 Hours
Introduction to the life, times, and especially the theology of Jonathan Edwards. Intensive reading in and reflection on some of Edwards's most important writings. Extensive reading and discussion about Edwards's historical background (primarily in New England Puritanism) and historical legacy (with primary attention paid to the development of 'the New England Theology'). Master's three hours, doctoral 3+1 hours.
CH 8415 The Forgotten Reformers - 3-4 Hours
A study of the history, theology, and legacy of important - yet too often 'forgotten' - religious reformers of sixteenth-century Europe, drawn from primary sources and current secondary literature. Some of the church leaders treated include Gasparo Contarini and Ignatius of Loyola (Catholic); Philip Melanchthon (Lutheran); Andreas Karlstadt (Lutheran-Radical); Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger, and Theodore Beza (Reformed); Balthasar Hubmaier and Menno Simons (Anabaptist).
CH 8435 French Protestant Theology 1515-1685 - 3-4 Hours
A survey of Protestant theology and religious practice in French-speaking Europe from the reign of Francis I (1515-47) to the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685). Particular attention will be paid to doctrinal development and debates as well as the religious struggles of French Protestants during this period. The theology and role of prominent Protestant leaders such as Jacques Lefevre d'Etaples, Guillaume Farel, John Calvin, Theodore Beza, Jacob Arminius, Moise Amyraut, and Francis Turretin will be highlighted.
CH 8465 Pastoral Ministry in the Reformation - 3-4 Hours
A study of the theology and practice of pastoral ministry in Protestant churches during the era of the Reformation. Special attention will be given to the growing body of scholarly literature related to the clerical office in early modern Europe, including local and regional studies of Protestant clergy and clerical institutions; statistical studies of the social profile of early modern European clergy; and, specialized studies of activities related to the pastoral vocation, including education, preaching, public worship, catechetical instruction, and moral discipline.
CH 8710 Advanced Study in American Christianity - 2-4 Hours
Historiographical analysis of important recent literature in the field of American religious history. This seminar's primary purpose will be to keep advanced students abreast of the state of the conversation within the discipline, enabling them to enter this conversation from the point of view of their own research. Two to four hours, doctoral as posted.
CH 8862 Origins of Modern Biblical Criticism in 17th & 18th Century - 4 Hours
A study of the multiple springs that fed the gathering stream of modern biblical criticism in the 17th and 18th centuries. Reference is made to the history of science, the history of philosophy, the history of book trade, and other disciplines. Particular attention is given to individuals such as Baruch Spinoza, Richard Simon, Jean Le Clerc, Reimarus, J. S. Semler, Lessing, Voltaire, and their critics. Course objectives include an improved understanding of the evangelical doctrine of biblical inspiration, the history of hermeneutics, and questions related to biblical authority.
CH 8911 Colloquium in Historical Methodology I - 1 Hour
A methodological colloquium team-taught by all regular and available faculty members in the department of church history. General issues of historical methodology are discussed, with a special emphasis placed on the relationship between Christian faith and historical understanding. Offered fall.
CH 8912 Colloquium in Historical Methodology II - 1 Hour
A methodological colloquium team-taught by all regular and available faculty members in the department of church history. Historical work of the students enrolled will be discussed with a view to improving that work by means of rigorous methodological analysis and to preparing the students enrolled for the writing of their theses. Offered spring.
CH 8980 ThM Major Research Paper - 0-1 Hours
ThM participants completing the two capstone research paper option must register for - 8980 in their department concurrent with registration for the advanced elective course in which they are writing a ThM capstone research paper. Paper parameters are found in the Academic Handbook and paper objectives are specifically articulated in consultation with the faculty member on the online Capstone Proposal Form. Registration occurs twice at the same time as registration for the course, once for each paper. 177 Credit / No Credit. (Both the course and the paper must be graded 'C'- or better to receive credit for the paper.
CH 8985 ThM Thesis - 0-3 Hours
ThM thesis writers register for - 8985 in the department of their concentration. Prerequisite: Approved thesis proposal on file in the Dean's Office and other department-specific prerequisites. Counts as fulltime academic status. (35 hours of academic work per week.) Letter grade or Credit / No Credit as arranged with the department.
CH 8986 ThM Thesis Extension - 0 Hours
A total of three semesters extension for - 8986 may be granted when progress is being made on the thesis. Extension fee when not enrolled in other courses. Counts as full-time academic status for the first semester, quarter time thereafter. No Credit.
CH 9001 Guided Research - 1-4 Hours
Selected topics usually extended from foundational studies in seminars or courses. Available in all PhD programs. May be repeated for a maximum of twelve hours in PhD/EDS and PhD/ICS programs; may be repeated for a maximum of six hours in the PhD/THS program. Letter grade or Credit / No Credit.
CH 9011 Private Study - 0 Hours
In special circumstances, a student may register for one or more semesters of Private Study in order to meet the requirements for candidacy. Only for PhD/THS students in CH, NT, OT, ST departments. Counts as full-time student status when registrant affirms that a minimum of thirty-five hours per week (half-time is 15 hours per week) are invested in doctoral study and the requisite form has been completed at the time of registration in the Academic Doctoral Office. May be repeated four times. No Credit.
CH 9490 Advanced Study in the Reformation - 3-4 Hours
A survey of the historiography of the sixteenth-century Reformation in Europe examining representative works by some of the most important contemporary scholars of the Reformation era. Special attention will be paid to different methodological approaches, including social, cultural, and economic history.
CH 9880 The New Religious History - 3-4 Hours
Historiographical analysis of the 'new religious history' based on recent, representative works in the social and cultural history of American religion with attention paid to issues of race, ethnicity, class, and gender/sexuality as they have arisen in the study of American religious history. Also included is methodological discussion of recent economic and material histories of American religion, ethnographic studies, and the new emphasis on such topics as popular religion and congregational history.
CH 9890 Professional Development Practicum - 0-2 Hours
Participants design, conduct, and evaluate at least one professional development activity. Program participants may repeat the course multiple times, not to exceed a total of 2 hours over the course of the degree program. These integrative and generative activities could take the form of teaching, consulting, developing curriculum, coaching, pastoral ministries, grant writing, etc. Participants may propose non-Trinity or Trinity-related activities and opportunities. Each student is responsible to initiate conversations toward PDP planning with their program director prior to the semester in which the practicum will be conducted. All activities must be conducted after program matriculation. One credit hour is equivalent to approximately 35-40 hours of invested practicum work. Credit/No Credit.
CH 9975 Comprehensive Exam Preparation - 0-3 Hours
An independent study facilitating student preparation for the comprehensive examination. PhD/EDS and PhD/ICS program participants may repeat the course twice for a total of three hours. PhD/THS program participants may repeat it once. Only PhD/THS program participants in the Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern History, Archaeology, and Languages Focus or with an EDS or ICS minor may take it for zero credit hours. Counts as full-time student status when enrolled for 3 hours or when registrant affirms that a minimum of thirty-five hours per week are invested in comprehensive exam preparation and the requisite form has been completed at the time of registration in the Academic Doctoral Office. Counts as half-time student status when enrolled for 2 hours or when registrant affirms that a minimum of fifteen hours per week are invested in comprehensive exam preparation and the requisite form has been 179 completed at the time of registration in the Academic Doctoral Office. Credit/No Credit.
CH 9990 Dissertation Proposal Preparation - 0-3 Hours
An independent study facilitating student preparation for the dissertation proposal. Only PhD/EDS and PhD/ICS program participants may repeat this course twice for a total of 3 hours. PhD/THS program participants may repeat this course once for a total of 3 hours. Only PhD/THS program participants in the Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern History, Archaeology, and Languages Focus or with an EDS or ICS minor may take it for zero credit hours. Counts as full-time student status when enrolled for 3 hours or when registrant affirms that a minimum of thirty-five hours per week are invested in dissertation proposal preparation and the requisite form has been completed at the time of registration in the Academic Doctoral Office. Counts as half-time student status when enrolled for 2 hours or when registrant affirms that a minimum of fifteen hours per week are invested in dissertation proposal preparation and the requisite form has been completed at the time of registration in the Academic Doctoral Office. Credit / No Credit.
CH 9991 Dissertation Research - 1-4 Hours
Course taken for dissertation writing that embodies the results of original research and makes a genuine contribution to knowledge in the field of concentration. PhD students are eligible to register for Dissertation Research after the official acceptance of the proposal, and may register for two to six semesters totaling 6 hours. Counts as full-time student status when enrolled for 3 hours or when registrant affirms that a minimum of thirty-five hours per week are invested on the dissertation and the requisite form has been completed at the time of registration in the Academic Doctoral Office. Counts as half-time student status when enrolled for 2 hours or when registrant affirms that a minimum of fifteen hours per week are invested on the dissertation and the requisite form has been completed at the time of registration in the Academic Doctoral Office. Credit / No Credit.
CH 9992 Dissertation Extension - 0 Hours
One or more dissertation extension courses for the writing of the dissertation. Registrants for this course will be assessed a continuation fee. Less than half-time student status. No Credit.