Courses | M.A. in Christian Apologetics

An investigation of a wide range of issues that have been used through history to call into question the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, such as miracles, the nature of history, the historical reliability of the New Testament, contradictions in the resurrection accounts, and various naturalistic theories. Students will learn to respond to popular objections to the resurrection as well as formulate a positive case. Notes: Required of M.A.C.A. students. Grade Mode: A.

A focused course in developing practical skills in apologetics. Emphases can vary, including developing more in writing, speaking, etc. Note(s): Ideally, students should take this in the last year of their program.

A broad survey of the Old Testament books, including selected introductory and critical issues, relevant background, major themes and divisions and crucial problems. Notes: Required of M.A.C.A. students. Grade Mode: A.

A general overview of the New Testament books, including selected introductory and critical issues, relevant background, major themes and divisions and crucial problems. Notes: Required of M.A.C.A. students. Grade Mode: A.

A practical course designed to enhance the personal spiritual development of the student.

A survey of the issues and ideas involved in relating classical Darwinian and contemporary evolutionary models with a biblical worldview. Special emphasis is given to controversies that are used by skeptics to call Christian theism into question.

A topical study of the nature and methodology of metaphysics with emphasis on the nature and ultimate categories of being as well as specific areas (e.g., causation, space and time, the soul, freedom and determinism, personal identity and essentialism). Epistemology topics surveyed will include the definition of knowledge and justified belief, problems in skepticism, the nature of epistemic justification and the nature of truth. Special emphasis will be placed on integrating metaphysics and epistemology with the construction and defense of a Christian worldview.

A study of various issues that arise in the integration of science and Christian theology (e.g., models of integration, the scientific status of creationism, the creation/evolution debate) as well as an investigation of selected topics in the philosophy of science relevant to a Christian worldview (e.g., the realist/antirealist debate; the nature, formation, use and confirmation of scientific laws and theories; scientism and the limits of science).

A survey of environmental issues in light of a Christian worldview. Issues such as ecology, global warming, energy production, proper land utilization, pollution and other topics related to human impact on the environment are covered.

A survey of the issues and ideas involved in relating modern physics and astronomy to a biblical worldview. Special emphasis is given to controversies that are used by skeptics to call Christian theism into question.

A detailed review of the current evidence, models and mechanisms relating to chemical evolution and the origin of life.

A survey of the history of science from antiquity through the twenty-first century and its interaction with Christianity. Emphasis is on key historical movements that continue to shape the modern dialog.

In-depth focus on intelligent design to enable students to appraise the current debate on this issue.

A survey of the core beliefs of other world religions with an emphasis on the ways in which they use modern science to justify their worldviews.

A course in how (and why) to effectively teach apologetics to junior high and high school students. Consideration will be given to practical teaching methods for engaging students with apologetics material in light of current trends.

An in-depth focus on the current archaeological, anthropological and biochemical evidence related to the debate on human origins.

A survey of the beliefs, practices and sacred texts of Islam. Special attention is given to the critique of its belief system(s), along with ways in which Christians can effectively communicate and defend the gospel to Muslims.

A reading and discussion course covering the breadth of Lewis' work as one of the premier apologists of the 20th century.

This course is designed to equip students to gain a proper understanding of the philosophical as well as theological assumptions that underlie core notions such as space, time, motion and force that lie at the heart of physics. In this course, emphasis will be given to the development of modern physics from the works of influential Greek philosophers such as Aristotle which paved the way for the emergence of classical as well as relativistic physics. This course also introduces students to the core issues in quantum theory and the controversies that beset them. Note(s): This course does not assume prior knowledge of philosophy; CSAP 547 and CSAP 631 are recommended, but not required, prerequisites.

This course is designed to introduce students to some of the core issues in cognitive neuroscience which are directly relevant to the mind-body problem. The course deals with questions of philosophy about cognitive neuroscience, such as the physical basis of mental properties/consciousness, split-brain cases and their implications for the ontology of the self/person, neuroimaging techniques and their relations to the first-person and the third-person perspectives. Other topics include: emotions, sensations, perceptions and neuro-computation. Note(s): This course does not assume prior knowledge of philosophy.

In-person lectures by experts in advanced apologetics topics.