Overview
This an advanced level course designed to introduce students to the historical critical methods used in the secular, academic study of the Hebrew Bible. Students will be introduced to the use of form, textual, source, and rhetorical criticism. They will also be introduced to alternative theories to the Documentary Hypothesis, and a detailed evaluation of works by major Biblical scholars such as Wellhausen, Von Rad, Noth, Gunkel, Mowinckel, and Van Seters.
Evaluation
To receive credit for RELS 380, you must complete both assignments as well as the final examination, and achieve a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Tutor Marked Exercise 1 | 20% |
| Tutor Marked Exercise 2 | 40% |
| Final Examination | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Physical course materials
The following course materials are included in a course package that will be shipped to your home prior to your course’s start date:
McKenzie, Stephen L., and Graham, M. Patrick. The Hebrew Bible today: An Introduction to Critical Issues. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1998.
The HarperCollins Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version, with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books. Ed. Wayne A. Meeks. New York: HarperCollins, 2006.
Other Materials
The course materials also include a study guide, reading file and a student manual.