Units: 4 quarter units
COURSE DESCRIPTION: The first part of this course will analyze the methodology of science--how new scientific information is acquired and tested, how outdated theories are replaced, and the relationship between science and religion. The second half of the course compares various theories (evolution and creation) on the origin and history of living organisms, in light of present knowledge, focusing on the development of a philosophy for the scientific study of origins within a context of Christian faith.
PURPOSE: It is the purpose of this course to challenge students to form intelligent and knowledgeable opinions on religious and philosophical issues in areas that overlap with information in the fields of biology and earth science.
QUARTER: Fall 2008 (September 22 - December 11)
INSTRUCTOR: Leonard Brand, PhD, Professor of Biology and Paleontology, School of Science and Technology, Loma Linda University. Email: lbrand@llu.edu
FORMAT: This course is 100 percent web-based and can be accessed through Loma Linda University's on-line learning web site.
REQUIRED TECHNOLOGY: Computer, network access, MS Word
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Acts of dishonesty--including theft, plagiarism, giving or obtaining information in BlackboardTM on-line examinations or other academic exercises, or knowingly giving false information--is unacceptable for students in the School. Instructors and students are charged with the responsibility of reporting instances of such behavior to the department chairperson. The department chairperson is responsible for investigation. Substantiated violations are to be brought before the dean for disciplinary action. Such action may include, but is not limited to, academic probation or dismissal from the program.
REQUIRED TEXT: Brand, Leonard. 2008. Faith, Reason and Earth History. 2nd ed., Andrews University Press, Berrien Springs, MI.
NOTE: The textbook will be mailed to each registered student and is included in the tuition charge.
MODULE EXAMS: There will be six module exams. Exams may contain objective, essay, short answer, and/or related projects over the assigned reading and other assignments. All examinations are accessed on-line through Blackboard Course InfoTM. Each module is timed. Therefore it is imperative that your ISP (Internet Service Provider) not "time out" (shut off your service if you are on one URL more than their specified time limit) in less than 60 minutes. If your ISP "times out" before your exam is done you will lose examination answers and will not be able to retake the exam. It is your responsibility to make sure that your ISP will not "time out" in less than 60 minutes. Please contact your ISP to make necessary arrangements to insure that your can access a given URL (web address) for at least 60 minutes.
In some cases you may be given an "open book" exam. If your instructions indicate it is an open book exam, you may use any on-line or written resources you wish, but you may not get help from a colleague.
"ATTENDANCE" ON-LINE: On-line participation is required. One of the many features present in Blackboard Course InfoTM is the ability to manage a course. Instructors have virtual access to each student's participation (e.g. how often you log on, how long you stay, what course sites you access, when you take on-line exams). It is expected that students will spend a minimum of 2-3 hours of reading, accessing URLs, and participating in discussions for each hour you would normally be spending in a traditional lecture class. In other words, I anticipate that you will need to spend 8-12 hours per week to successfully navigate the learning experience.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: At the completion of this course the student should be able to:
1. Understand and discuss the philosophy of science--what is the scientific process--as interpreted by prominent philosophers of science.
2. Understand and discuss the basic relevant biological and geological issues, and how they impact theories of earth history and biological history.
3. Understand and discuss the spectrum of views on faith, scripture, and the relationship between science and religion.
4. Develop informed, thoughtful concepts of their own on the above topics.
5. Find new material from Internet-based sources, and other sources, for additional study of faith and science issues.
6. Evaluate the quality and accuracy of the sources in item 5, above.
 |
||
|
 |
|
 |
||
Last Revised: Wed, Apr 02, 2008