WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
FAIRBANKS CAMPUS
SCHOOL OF RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
Wayland Mission Statement: Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an
academically challenging, learning-focused, and distinctively Christian environment for
professional success, and service to God and humankind.
Course Title and Number: RLGN 1301, Old Testament History
Term: Spring 2015
Name of Instructor: Austin Wagner
Office Phone Number and WBU Email Address:
 Phone Number: (907) 699-2332
 Email Address: ARWag10@gmail.com
Office Hours, Building, and Location: Please contact me at (907) 699-2332 for additional help
and to arrange non-class meeting times.
Class Meeting Time and Location: Eielson AFB, Building 2631, Room 316, Tuesdays from 610 PM.
Catalog Description: An introductory survey of the Old Testament and its historical literature
with special attention to the institutions, religion, and national life of the Hebrew people.
Prerequisites: None.
Required Textbook(s) and/or Resource Material:
 Arnold, Bill T. and Beyer, Bryan E., Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian
Survey (2nd Edition), Baker Academics, 2008. ISBN- 978-0-8010-3170-0.
 Bible of your choice
Course Outcome Competencies:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the historical, religious, and social context of the Old Testament
world.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of some of the critical methods used in Old Testament studies.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic content of the Old Testament and its main
teachings (theological content).
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the canonical process producing a more complete understanding
of the Old Testament.
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Attendance Requirements:
 Roll will be checked each class meeting. If you are late for class, it is your responsibility to
have your absence removed from the grade book.
 The Divisions “no cut” policy allows no unexcused absences.
 No student missing more than 25% of the class meetings (including both excused and
unexcused absences) can pass the course. Students who need to leave class early must get
approval from the instructor in advance.
 WBU Catalog for External Campuses: Students enrolled at one of the university’s external
campuses should make every effort to attend all class meetings. All absences must be
explained to the instructor, who will then determine whether the omitted work may be made
up. When a student reaches that number of absences considered by the instructor to be
excessive, the instructor will so advise the student and file an unsatisfactory progress report
with the external campus Executive Director/Dean. Any student who misses 25 percent or
more of the regularly scheduled class meetings may receive a grade of F in the course.
Additional attendance policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the course
syllabus, are considered a part of the university’s attendance policy. A student may petition
the Academic Council for exceptions to the above stated policies by filing a written request
for an appeal to the Executive Vice President/Provost.
Disability Statement: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA),
it is the policy of Wayland Baptist University that no otherwise qualified person with a disability
be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination
under any educational program or activity in the university. The Coordinator of Counseling
Services serves as the coordinator of students with a disability and should be contacted
concerning accommodation requests at (806) 291- 3765. Documentation of a disability must
accompany any request for accommodations.” (This statement is required on all university
syllabi.)
Academic Honesty (Plagiarism):
University students are expected to conduct themselves according to the highest standards of
academic honesty. Academic misconduct for which a student is subject to penalty includes all
forms of cheating, such as illicit possession of examinations or examination materials, forgery, or
plagiarism. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work of another as one’s own work. It is the
student’s responsibility to be familiar with penalties associated with plagiarism stated in the
WBU catalog. Academic dishonesty in any of its forms will not be tolerated.
Classroom Disruption:
Students who disrupt a class will be directed to leave immediately and report to the external
campus Executive Director/Dean of Students, who will discuss with the student the cause of the
disruption. The student will return to the class only with permission of the Executive Director,
Campus Dean, or Dean of Students and the faculty member involved.
Cell phone and Internet use in class are not allowed. Texting, conversations, Internet use, cell
phone ringers and text alerts, as well as auto-start noises are disruptive and disrespectful to other
students and the instructor. Please silence or turn phones off before class. If you are expecting
an urgent call please let the instructor know before the beginning of the class.
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Course Requirements and Grading Criteria:

University Grading System:
A
100-90
B
89-80
C
79-70
D
69-60
I
INCOMPLETE**
Cr
NCr
WP
WF
W
FOR CREDIT
NO CREDIT
WITHDRAWAL PASSING
WITHDRAWAL FAILING
WITHDRAWAL
**A grade of incomplete is changed if the deficiency is made up by midterm of the next
regular semester; otherwise, it becomes an “F”. This grade is given only if circumstances
beyond the student’s control prevented completion of work during the semester enrolled and
attendance requirements have been met. A grade of “Cr” indicates that credit in semester
hours was granted but no grade or grade points were recorded.

Elements of Final Grade:
o Quiz Average: 180 points (20 points per quiz x 9 quizzes)
o Essays: 200 points (50 points per essay x 4 essays)
o Mid-Term Exam: 255 points
o Final Exam: 255 points
o Participation & Attendance: 110 points (10 points x 11 classes)
o Total Points Available: 1000 points

Quiz, Essay, and Exam Information:
1) Quizzes: Quizzes will be given each week for the assigned reading for that week. The
quizzes will cover material from the course textbook as well as from the Bible. The
quizzes will follow assigned reading according to the course schedule (see below under
Tentative Schedule), not for where we are in the class lecture. Quizzes will be posted to
Blackboard at the beginning of the course, and may be taken there or printed and turned
in at the beginning of class. For example, the quiz posted for Week 1 will be due on
Blackboard or in person by the beginning of Week 2.
The quizzes are open book, but once submitted there are no retakes. Makeup quizzes
may be given sparingly with prior consent from the instructor. However, if a student
does not submit a quiz or have prior consent from the instructor, that quiz will receive a
score of zero. Students may turn quizzes in early if they choose.
2) Essays: There will be four essays for this course. They will cover each type of material
for this course: Pentateuch, Historical Books, Poetical Books, and Prophets. The specific
prompts will be posted to Blackboard, but will provide students with three choices of
Bible passages for each type of literature. Choose one of the three prompts, and answer it
in a two-page, double-spaced, 12 point, and Times New Roman font paper with one-inch
margins. Each essay should be a minimum of 600 words.
The first page should logically and clearly describe the character(s), themes, details,
types of literary features, and basic arrangement in Israel’s story. The second page will
be a place for you to reflect upon the passage, details, characters, themes, and how you
respond to it. Basically, the first page should cover the details and the second page
should cover your response to the passage.
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Please understand that I desire to see you honestly engage with and respond to the
prompt and passage you choose. These essays need to be your own logically ordered
thoughts. Any quotation of the prompt passage should be minimal. I desire to see your
response to the passage, especially on the second page. If a passage is challenging,
encouraging, frustrating, or you have any other response, this is the place to record what
you are thinking. I ask that you provide an honest response, not what you think I or
someone else would want you to say. These essays are intended as an invitation for you
to engage with and respond to these passages.
Each essay is worth 50 points. These essays will take into account your use of
vocabulary and grammar. Although your thoughts are required especially on the second
page, please understand that this is academic, not creative writing. Please focus more on
thoughts than filler sentences or words. The grading will follow the rubric presented on
Week 1. This rubric will be posted to Blackboard and I will attach a copy to each essay
you turn in so that the reason for your grade will be clear.
Each essay is due by the beginning of class according to the Tentative Schedule
below. You may turn in the essay printed in person or you may submit it through safe
assignment on Blackboard. Turning essays in on time will be a component of the final
grade. Essays will lose one point a day for each day late, for up to a maximum of 10 days
(10 points). Any essay not turned in within two weeks will receive a zero. The exception
for this is the final essay: if it is not turned in before grades are due, it will be a zero. If
you expect to have difficulty turning in assignments by their due date, please speak with
me and exceptions may be made on a limited basis.
3) Mid-Term and Final Exams: The exams will cover lecture material, including possibly
Bible passages covered during the lectures. A review session for the mid-term and final
exam will take place on the class week before each exam. The final exam will only cover
material after the mid-term exam. Exams must be taken in class and are not open book.
If you are not able to take an exam in class and have my prior consent, you will take a
different make-up exam within one week of the original exam date.
4) Participation and Class Attendance: This component of your grade will depend on timely
attendance, participation in class, and participation on any Blackboard assignment and
class we may have if we are not able to meet in person.
Students shall have protection through orderly procedures against prejudices or capricious
academic evaluation. A student who believes that he or she has not been held to realistic
academic standards, just evaluation procedures, or appropriate grading, may appeal the final
grade given in the course by using the student grade appeal process described in the Academic
Catalog. Appeals may not be made for advanced placement examinations or course bypass
examinations. Appeals are limited to the final course grade, which may be upheld, raised, or
lowered at any stage of the appeal process. Any recommendation to lower a course grade must
be submitted through the Executive Vice President/Provost to the Faculty Assembly Grade
Appeals Committee for review and approval. The Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals Committee
may instruct that the course grade be upheld, raised, or lowered to a more proper evaluation.
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Tentative Schedule:
Date and Class
Week 1
24 February
Week 2
3 March
Week 3
10 March
Spring Break
17 March
Week 4
24 March
Class Topic
- Introduction to course material
- Syllabus
- Introduction to Hebrew Bible
- Introduction to the Pentateuch
Genesis, Exodus
Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
- Introduction to Historical Books
- Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I&II
Samuel
Week 5
31 March
- I&II Kings, I&II Chronicles,
Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
- Midterm Review
Week 6
7 April
- 1st part of class: Midterm
- 2nd part of class: Introduction to
Poetical Books, Job
- Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes,
Song of Songs
- Introduction to the Prophets
Week 7
14 April
Week 8
21 April
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations
Week 9
28 April
Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel,
Amos
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Assignment
ETOT (Encountering The Old
Testament): Intro-Ch 3, p.1-75 (75)
BB (Black Board): Quiz #1
ETOT: Ch 4-6, p.77-115 (39)
* (Bible Reading) Genesis 1-9, 11-12,
15-18, 21-22; Exodus 1-15
BB: Quiz #2
ETOT: Ch 7-9, p.117-154 (38)
*Leviticus 6:8-11, 19; Numbers 11-17;
Deuteronomy 1-10
BB: Quiz #3
Due In Class: Writing Assignment #1
ETOT: Ch 10-14, p.157-220 (64)
*Joshua 1-7, 23-24; Judges 1-3, 6-8;
Ruth 1, 2, 4; I Samuel 1, 3, 8-10, 15-16;
II Samuel 11-12
BB: Quiz #4
ETOT: Ch 15-18, p.221-277 (57)
*I Kings 1-3, 6, 11:1-8; II Kings 1-2, 17,
25; II Chronicles 34-36; Nehemiah 1-2,
4, 6; Esther 1-4, 7
BB: Quiz #5
Due In Class: Writing Assignment #2
ETOT: Ch 19-20, p.281-301 (21)
*Job 1-3, 8, 38, 40, 42
In Class: Midterm
ETOT: Ch 21-24, p.303-352 (50)
*Psalm 1, 4, 8, 16, 35, 51, 110, 130;
Proverbs 1-6, 9-12; Ecclesiastes 1-5, 9,
12; Song of Songs 1-4
BB: Quiz #6
ETOT: Ch 25-28, p.353-405 (53)
*Isaiah 1-9, 36-39, 44; Jeremiah 1-5, 89, 18-20, 52; Lamentations 3, 5
BB: Quiz #7
Due In Class: Writing Assignment #3
ETOT: Ch 29-32, p.407-449 (43)
*Ezekiel 1-5, 10, 34, 37; Daniel 1-7;
Hosea 1-3, 11, 14; Joel 1; Amos 1, 7,
BB: Quiz #8
Week 10
5 May
- Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum,
Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai,
Zechariah, Malachi
- Final Review
Week 11
12 May
Final
ETOT: Ch 33-Epilogue, p.451-476 (26)
*Obadiah, Jonah, Micah 1, 7; Nahum;
Habakkuk; Zephaniah 3; Haggai;
Zechariah 1, 12-14; Malachi 2:17-4
BB: Quiz #9
Due In Class: Writing Assignment #4
In Class: Final Exam
I desire to see each person do well in this course and am excited to be examining the Old
Testament course material with you! I hope that this course will be an opportunity for each of us
to grow.
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