Previous Years' Course Catalogues

This seminar studies the life of the Prophe Muhammad as it is presented in the earliest biographical and historical Muslim accounts. It introduces the sira and hadith literatures, in addition to classical and modern critical methods used to determine their authenticity and historical reliability. Topics include the first revelations, emigration from Mecca, the Constitution of Medina, and succession to Muhammad's leadership. Students will learn about Muslim concepts of prophethood, the significance of the prophet in the legal-ethical and mystical traditions, and women in hadith scholarship. They will study the life of Muhammad and relate it to his spiritual as well as temporal experience to explore modern-day concerns.

This seminar studies the life of the Prophe Muhammad as it is presented in the earliest biographical and historical Muslim accounts. It introduces the sira and hadith literatures, in addition to classical and modern critical methods used to determine their authenticity and historical reliability. Topics include the first revelations, emigration from Mecca, the Constitution of Medina, and succession to Muhammad's leadership. Students will learn about Muslim concepts of prophethood, the significance of the prophet in the legal-ethical and mystical traditions, and women in hadith scholarship. They will study the life of Muhammad and relate it to his spiritual as well as temporal experience to explore modern-day concerns.

This seminar studies the life of the Prophe Muhammad as it is presented in the earliest biographical and historical Muslim accounts. It introduces the sira and hadith literatures, in addition to classical and modern critical methods used to determine their authenticity and historical reliability. Topics include the first revelations, emigration from Mecca, the Constitution of Medina, and succession to Muhammad's leadership. Students will leam about Muslim concepts of prophethood, the significance of the prophet in the legal-ethical and mystical traditions, and women in hadith scholarship.  They will study the life of Muhammad and relate it to his spiritual as well as temporal experience to explore modern-day concerns.

This seminar studies the life of the Prophe Muhammad as it is presented in the earliest biographical and historical Muslim accounts. It introduces the sira and hadith literatures, in addition to classical and modern critical methods used to determine their authenticity and historical reliability. Topics include the first revelations, emigration from Mecca, the Constitution of Medina, and succession to Muhammad's leadership. Students will leam about Muslim concepts of prophethood, the significance of the prophet in the legal-ethical and mystical traditions, and women in hadith scholarship. They will study the life of Muhammad and relate it to his spiritual as well as temporal experience to explore modern-day concerns.

This seminar studies the life of the Prophe Muhammad as it is presented in the earliest biographical and historical Muslim accounts. It introduces the sira and hadith literatures, in addition to classical and modern critical methods used to determine their authenticity and historical reliability. Topics include the first revelations, emigration from Mecca, the Constitution of Medina, and succession to Muhammad's leadership. Students will learn about Muslim concepts of prophethood, the significance of the prophet in the legal-ethical and mystical traditions, and women in hadith scholarship. They will study the life of Muhammad and relate it to his spiritual as well as temporal experience to explore modern-day concerns.

This seminar studies the life of the Prophe Muhammad as it is presented in the earliest biographical and historical Muslim accounts. It introduces the sira and hadith literatures, in addition to classical and modern critical methods used to determine their authenticity and historical reliability. Topics include the first revelations, emigration from Mecca, the Constitution of Medina, and succession to Muhammad's leadership. Students will learn about Muslim concepts of prophethood, the significance of the prophet in the legal-ethical and mystical traditions, and women in hadith scholarship. They will study the life of Muhammad and relate it to his spiritual as well as temporal experience to explore modern-day concerns.

Introduction to the study of the Pentateuch with special attention to the book of Exodus. Research paper and final examination. Advanced degree biblical students will be expected to work with the texts in the original language

Introduction to the study of the Pentateuch with special attention to the book of Exodus. Research paper and final examination. Advanced degree biblical students will be expected to work with the texts in the original language

Introduction to the study of the Pentateuch with special attention to the book of Exodus. Research paper and final examination. Advanced degree biblical students will be expected to work with the texts in the original language

This seminar course is intended to provide students in the "theological studies program" with a broad understanding of the anthropological conditions that "constrain" all modes of human thought, including primitive religious and "meta-religious'' thought, at various periods in the evolution of Homo sapiens and subsequent historical developments. The intention here is not to sutvey the range of informal or formal methods employed in the various types of theology (whether biblical or narrative; political or prophetic; natural or revealed; historical, systematic, or pastoral; etc.) or of the theologies of particular Christian denominations or theologians. Its objective is to inquire whether it is possible to construct a sound framework or "theory" of method that can justify the knowledge claims of the disciplines (or fields) included under the rubric "Christian Theological Studies" within the framework of the modern Western research university.

This seminar course is intended to provide students in the "theological studies program" with a broad understanding of the anthropological conditions that "constrain" all modes of human thought, including primitive religious and "meta-religious'' thought, at various periods in the evolution of Homo sapiens and subsequent historical developments. The intention here is not to sutvey the range of informal or formal methods employed in the various types of theology (whether biblical or narrative; political or prophetic; natural or revealed; historical, systematic, or pastoral; etc.) or of the theologies of particular Christian denominations or theologians. Its objective is to inquire whether it is possible to construct a sound framework or "theory" of method that can justify the knowledge claims of the disciplines (or fields) included under the rubric "Christian Theological Studies" within the framework of the modern Western research university.

This course will examine the historical, religious, political, economic and social contexts of the birth of Christianity in the Holy Lands.  Special attention will be paid to the various relationships of Christian communities’ with Judaism, including the Jews revolts, the Minim and Ebionite controversies, the impact of the development of holy places of worship and pilgrimage, spirituality and monasticism, and the role of Roman and Byzantine emperors in the spread of Christianity.  The course will also deal with the Dead Sea Scrolls and other archaeological discoveries from the period.