DESCRIPTION:

An examination of theory and methods in church history and historical theology intended to facilitate graduate work in the field. Students will be asked to think through issues of structure, pattern, and meaning, proper use of sources and tools with a view toward the development of their own skills in historiography. This course is offered in tandem with the Graduate Seminar on Historiography under the auspices of the Center for Advanced Theological Study.

This course is designed specifically for students wishing to pursue a career in teaching. The course stresses methods of research and writing leading to the production of theses, dissertations, lectures, and scholarly articles and books.

Two hours of presentation and discussion per week. Assigned reading is to be completed as a preparation for classwork. Students will be expected to participate in discussion and to present the results of their research projects during the final weeks of the quarter.

Barzun, Jacques and Henry Graff. The Modern Researcher, 5th ed. Harcourt Brace, 1977.

Bloch, Marc. The Historian's Craft. Vintage paperback, 1953.

Carr, E. H. What is History? Vintage paperback, 1967.

Pannenberg, Wolfhart. Theology and the Philosophy of Science. Westminster, 1976.

Bradley, James and Richard Muller. Church History: An Introduction to Research, Reference Works, and Methods. Eerdmans, 1995.

Completion of required reading, attendance and discussion in class, and the preparation of a 20-30 page research paper on a topic chosen in consultation with the professor and written in conformity with the methodological guidelines discussed in class.

Permission of the professor.

Elective for masters level students.

None.