Faith Integration Courses
APU faculty members have been given the opportunity to complete graduate-level courses in the integration of faith and learning, with assistance from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., beginning in 2003. These courses were developed and are taught by Marsha Fowler, Ph.D., professor in both the School of Theology and the School of Nursing.
The first course is Faith Integration and Curriculum Development. The following description was provided by Fowler in the course syllabus:
This course will provide an introductory overview of Christian theology, including biblical, historical and constructive theological processes and methodologies. Special emphasis will be placed on basic Scriptural hermeneutics (exegesis and interpretation), and major Christian doctrines for the lay person. This lecture/seminar course is oriented toward Christian faculty in higher education who seek to develop professional tools to integrate Christian precepts and theology in curriculum. The course will [also] afford the learner the opportunity to explore her or his own religious tradition and spiritual formation.
Since Spring 2002, more than 70 faculty members have completed this course.
The second course is Theological Research Across Academic Disciplines. Here is how the course is described in the syllabus:
This seminar course will build upon the theological background developed in "Faith Integration and Curriculum Development" in such a way as to continue the development of theological research skills for the purpose of articulation of theology with non-theological academic disciplines. Each faculty person will pursue a particular concept or topic for theological research. The research will be applied to the participant’s academic discipline
Of the faculty members who have taken the first course, more than 40 have also completed this course.
