MASTER SYLLABUS

RELI 4106/6106 Women in Early Christian Literature

1. COURSE TITLE: RELI 4106/6106 Women in Early Christian Literature (3 hours)

OASIS TITLE: WOMEN IN EARLY CHRI

2. COURSE DESCRIPTION: An exploration of biblical and other literature in the first five

hundred years of Christianity focused on examining women's participation and leadership.

3. PREREQUISITES:

Undergraduate prerequisite: Junior or senior standing or permission of department. It is highly

recommended that students complete Reli 4080/6080 New Testament Literature before

enrolling in this class.

Graduate prerequisite: None. However, consultation with the instructor before registration is

highly recommended.

4. COURSE OBJECTIVES OR EXPECTED OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS OF THE

COURSE: To learn several interpretive tools that female scholars have been using to read

biblical texts to gain some mastery of the critical issues pertaining to the gender dynamics in

biblical texts and the reading process itself.

5. TOPICAL OUTLINE FOR THE COURSE:

a. Introduction to the course

b. Models of interpretation and historical reconstruction

c. Women’s participation in the Jesus movement

d. Women’s participation in the Christian missionary movement

e. The patriarchalization of the early church

f. Literary interpretations of biblical texts

g. Additional feminist interpretations of Biblical Narrative

6. HONOR CODE AND ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

All academic work must meet the standards contained in "A Culture of Honesty." Each

student is responsible to inform themselves about those standards before performing any

academic work.

7. DISCLAIMER

This course is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class may be

necessary.

8. PRINCIPAL COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

Week 1---Introduction to the course

Weeks 2-7---Historical reconstruction of women’s participation and leadeship

Week 8---Midterm Exam

Weeks 9-16---Literary reinterpretations of biblical narrative

Week 17---Final Exam

9. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

a. Regular and punctual attendance.

b. Two 5 page book reviews, together counting 20% of the grade.

c. A midterm (30% of the grade) and a final exam (30% of the grade).

d. Undergraduates are required to write a 10-page paper not counting the endnotes. The paper

will count 20% of the grade.

e. Undergraduates taking the course as an honor options course are required to write a 20

page paper, not counting the endnotes. The paper will count 20%.

f. Graduate students are required to write a 25 page paper, not counting the endnotes (25%).

The midterm and the final will each count 25%. The two book reviews will count 25%.

10. GRADING POLICY: A= 90 and above, B=80-89, C=70-79, D=60-69, F=59 and below

11. ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Students are expected to be regular and punctual in attendance. The instructor reserves the

privilege of lowering a student’s grade for frequent tardiness and absences.

12. REQUIRED COURSE MATERIAL:

Students should check with the professor before purchasing the textbooks for the course. The

instructor may use different textbooks from year to year.

a. a modern translation of the Christian scriptures.

b. Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza. In Memory of Her: A Feminist Theological Reconstruction

of Christian Origins. New York: Crossroads, 2000.

c. Carol A. Newsom and Sharon H. Ringe, eds. The Women’s Bible Commenary. Expanded

edition. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998.

d. Emily Cheney. She Can Read: Feminist Reading Strategies for Biblical Narrative. Valley

Forge, Pennsylvania: Trinity Press International, 1996.

e. From year to year additional required reading may be placed on reserve in the library,

prepared in a class pak, or provided in some other fashion.

13. MAKE-UP EXAMINATION POLICIES:

a. Students are expected to take the exams on the days designated and should be prepared

to provide tangible evidence for absences (physician’s note, funeral bulletin, etc.)

b. Students who are absent for exams should be ready to accommodate the professor’s

schedule and policies for setting the time for makeup exams.

c. University policy prohibits taking the final exam early. However, students who meet the

qualifications can request to take the final exam on a day later during exam week. It is

highly advised that rescheduling requests be made no later than the last day of class.

d. Students who become ill and must postpone the final exam must contact the professor so

so that an incomplete can be submitted for the grade. It is the student’s responsibility

during the next semester to reschedule the exam.