Fall 2020/Fuller Online

MB524

Ramirez-Johnson

MB524: CHRISTIAN ANTHROPOLOGY FROM THE MARGINS (4 Units: 162 hours). Johnny Ramirez-Johnson.

DESCRIPTION: Developing an epistemology of diversity and cultural contextualization via truth seeking by reading selected biblical passages from the margins. Challenging the limits of discrete anthropological and theological epistemologies by gesturing toward a transdisciplinary understanding of an emerging practical theology for the purpose of contextualizing Christian theological thinking. Enabling students’ cultural, racial and ethnic exploration for self-awareness and facilitating engagement with diverse communities.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated: (1) the ability to use anthropological tools for building an epistemology that accounts for diversity following Christian theological views; (2) an understanding of a theology of diversity in the service of mission focus thinking; and (3) engagement with diverse approaches to epistemology building for research purposes.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: Electives fulfill the MAT PLO that states “Students will have demonstrated academic capacities appropriate to an area of focus in a theological discipline or to interdisciplinary theological study.” Addresses MAICS Area of Interest Class “Students will have demonstrated capacities to pursue vocations that engage the mission of God globally.”

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning. This course modality provisions a fully asynchronous structure enhanced with optional synchronous meeting times. Although it does not require synchronous meeting times, faculty may provide one or more opportunities for live interaction scheduled to support represented time zones. Non-Required Extra Credit 90 minutes weekly synchronic class meetings opportunities are recommended (links for meetings will be provided via Canvas weekly modules).

NOTE: You have two options to partake of the Extra Credit:

OPTION #1 –Synchronous active participation of the 90 minutes weekly synchronic class meetings.

OPTION #2 - Asynchronous participation by watching the recorded video and posting a 500 words response to the presentation and dialogue as an opportunity for entering into dialogue with those who were there in the synchronous meeting.

REQUIRED READING: 1,000 total number of pages required.

ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO REQUIRED READINGS:

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Canvas learning activities including watching course lectures and other materials as well as participating in active learning provided (excepted average of 3.5 hours a week). [35 hours]. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, & 3]. (5%)
  2. Synchronous or Asynchronous, non-required extra credit opportunity. [+15 hours] [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, & 3]. (+10%)
  3. 1,000 pages of required reading; one question 100 words quiz report on the reading. [60 hours]. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, & 3]. (5%)
  4. Research Paper Proposal Quiz where students decide on the topic for the interviews and the final research paper. [2 hours] [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, & 3]. (5%)
  5. Completion of three 15 minutes verbatim interview transcripts & a one-page analysis. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [15 hours]. (20%)
  6. Research Paper applying an anthropological theory or approach to a theological or missiological question related to diversity, using a biblical passage, research project or theme (as approved in the Research Paper Proposal Quiz). [3,000 words]. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, & 3]. [30 hours]. (35%)
  7. Weekly Forum participation discussing assigned readings, biblical texts read or previous class dialogue focusing on issues of diversity including one original 150 words contribution and one response to another student’s original writing 100 words long. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [10 hours]. (15%)
  8. Barrett Quiz covers the contents of the assigned chapters from Stanley R. Barrett Anthropology: A Student's Guide to Theory and Method ONLY (not other readings) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [10 hours]. (15%)
  9. TOTAL (the total includes the extra credit, if you choose to participate you will earn credit but non-participation will not detract any points from final grade. (110%)

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet requirement in the 80 MAICS (2017). Elective for MTh, MDiv, & MAT.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.