SPECIAL TOPICS SYLLABUS
Instructions: Fill in all blanks and areas designated with red font. Secure the signature of the
STM Program Director before submitting a hard copy to the Seminary Registrar.
Course Description
The Special Topics course provides opportunity for independent research on a particular topic in
a designated field of study, supervised by a qualified faculty member.
Student Name:
____________________________________________________________
PRINT NAME
Course Instructor:
SIGNATURE
____________________________________________________________
PRINT NAME
SIGNATURE
Semester / Year:
_________________
STM Director:
____________________________________________________________
PRINT NAME
SIGNATURE
Course Title / Field of Study
Please type an “X” next to one of the following:
____ BIB 799 Special Topics in Biblical Studies.
____ THL 799 Special Topics in Theology and Ethics.
____ CHS 799 Special Topics in Church History.
____ MIN 799 Special Topics in Ministry.
____ CED 799 Special Topics in Christian Education.
Students may take the same course multiple times so long as the specific topic is different.
Prerequisites are to be determined by the supervising faculty member.
The Special Topics course may utilize resources, lectures, and assignments from a concurrent
course so long as it achieves the primary stated outcome of independent and academic
specialization. Instructors may not simply duplicate a concurrent course.
Course Rationale in Relation to Seminary Mission
The Seminary’s mission is to teach, form, and nurture women and men for public ministry and
Christian leadership in a context that is Christ-centered, faithfully Lutheran and ecumenically
committed. In keeping with this mission, the Special Topics course teaches the above designated
special topic, while it forms and nurtures the student as a capable academic researcher and writer
through personalized faculty guidance and feedback.
SPECIAL TOPICS SYLLABUS
Course Objectives
Students will:
-
Demonstrate proficiency in academic research and writing in the field of study designated
above, more specifically in [TYPE FIELD OF SPECIALIZATION]. This contributes to
the fulfillment of the STM program outcome by which students receive “an advanced
understanding of a focused area of theological study and the ability to articulate this in
both written and oral form.”
-
TYPE OTHER OBJECTIVES AS NEEDED, RELATING THEM TO APPROPRIATE
STM PROGRAM OUTCOMES. IF THE STUDENT IS NOT IN THE STM
PROGRAM, PLEASE RELATE COURSE OBJECTIVES TO THE APPROPRIATE
PROGRAM OUTCOMES. ALL PROGRAM OUTCOMES MAY BE FOUND IN THE
ONLINE SEMINARY CATALOG: http://ltss.lr.edu/prospective-students/catalog
General Methodology
DESCRIBE HOW THE COURSE WILL BE TAUGHT (E.G., LECTURE, DISCUSSION,
SCHEDULED MEETINGS)
Course Requirements
DESCRIBE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR PASSING THE COURSE
Required Books
LIST REQUIRED BOOKS AND/OR OTHER RESOURCES
Course Outline
PROVIDE A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF TOPICS OR MATERIALS TO BE COVERED IN
THE COURSE DURING THE SEMESTER, INCLUDING READING ASSIGNMENTS AND
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS. WHEN RELEVANT, SPECIFY HOW THE COURSE DRAWS
FROM A CONCURRENT COURSE (COURSE SCHEDULE, ASSIGNMENTS, ETC) AS
WELL AS EXPECTED FREQUENCY OF ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS.
Method of Evaluation
DESCRIBE THE CRITERIA THAT WILL BE USED FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE
ABOVE REQUIREMENTS AND HOW THEY WILL BE WEIGHED IN THE
DETERMINATION OF THE FINAL GRADE.
Attendance Policy
DESCRIBE THE COURSE’S ATTENDANCE POLICY.
2
SPECIAL TOPICS SYLLABUS
Instructor Contact Information
TYPE FACULTY MEMBER’S EMAIL, PHONE, OFFICE, AND OFFICE HOURS
Learning Assistance
Students with disabilities that may adversely affect their performance in class and who desire
that adjustments be made by the instructor should, before the semester begins, file a statement
with the Associate Dean. This must be accompanied by a statement from a medical doctor,
psychologist, specialist in learning disability or some other competent specialist describing the
nature of the disability. The student should also report the disability, in writing, to each
instructor with whom the student is studying by the end of the second week of the semester.
If you have difficulties writing or are concerned that you might, please seek appropriate help.
The Dean’s office maintains a list of seminary recommended writing tutors, and there are other
opportunities in Columbia to enhance writing skills. Please do not use tutors simply as your
personal proofreaders after you have completed an assignment. They are most effective in
assisting you in planning and working through those assignments.
Lenoir-Rhyne Statement of Academic Integrity
A fundamental purpose of liberal education is its attempt to cultivate in the student a sense of
honor and high principles pertaining especially to academics, but extending to all areas of life.
An inherent feature of Lenoir-Rhyne is its commitment to an atmosphere of integrity and ethical
conduct. As a student of Lenoir-Rhyne, I accept as my personal responsibility the vigorous
maintenance of honesty, truth, fairness, civility, and concern for others. My devotion to integrity
demands that I will not cheat in academic work and that I adhere to the established and required
community code of conduct. I accept the responsibility for upholding the established standards
against those who would violate them. And I understand and accept the consequences of
infracting upon or assisting others in infracting upon this code. In addition to and beyond the
requirements of any code of law, I affirm my own commitment to personal honor and integrity in
all matters large and small. Even though the ideal of honor is an abstract one, by implementing
this ideal, I join the men and women of Lenoir-Rhyne in making the concept of honor a reality.
Plagiarism
The failure to cite the sources of quotations, phrases or ideas is plagiarism (see Student
Handbook, 22-23). In this course, any assignment that includes an act of plagiarism will receive
a score of zero (0) with no opportunity for revision. In particularly serious cases, the student may
automatically fail the course. All acts of plagiarism will be noted on the student’s final
evaluation. Please note that, in terms of U.S. law and seminary policy, there is no difference
between intended and unintended (“accidental”) plagiarism.
3