Senate Document Number 1700S

Date of Senate Approval 2/10/00

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Statement of Faculty Senate Action:

APC Document 12: New Course: LIT 365/CLAS 365, Introduction to the Hebrew Bible

Effective Date: Fall 2000

Add: On page 144:
LIT 365: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (CLAS 365) (3)

On page 82:
CLAS 365: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (LIT 365) (3)

On page 137 (to listing of Religious Studies Minor electives):
LIT 365/CLAS 365: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (3)
An introduction to the literature of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) in translation. Examines the many forms of literature in the biblical library through close reading; explores the history, culture and religion of ancient Israel against the backdrop of the ancient Near East, and introduces students to several modern critical approaches to the study of the Hebrew Bible. Odd Year Fall.

Impact Statement:
The Hebrew Bible is a canonical text in Western culture. Knowledge of the Hebrew Bible is important for students in many disciplines, especially literature, classics, history, philosophy, and religious studies. This elective course will give students an opportunity to study the Hebrew Bible in a formal, methodical, academically sound manner. The course will add an important elective to literature and classics course offerings as well as an essential elective in Religious Studies.

Concurrences: In his concurrence statement, Professor Wilson speaks to the positive impact the addition of this course will have on the religious studies minor.

Staffing: Full funding for the teaching of this course is available on a permanent basis through the Jewish Studies endowment for faculty and curricular development. Dr. Robert Ratner, research professor of Jewish Studies, will teach the course. Several other members of the tenured faculty are also prepared to teach the course should the need arise. Therefore, there will be no adverse impact on full-time faculty and no financial impact on the university.

Rationale:
This course will fill a significant gap in the course offerings in Literature, Classics, and Religious Studies. It will also help diversify our curriculum, enabling our students, many of whom know very little about ancient Hebrew culture and Jewish civilization, to study in an academically sound way, the foundational text of one of the world's major cultures.