It’s that time of the semester again. I need to start thinking about what classes I’ll be taking over the summer and the fall. It’s also time for my normal round up of how my current classes are shaping up, but that will have to wait for another post. So, here are my tentative thoughts for this coming summer and fall. I’d love your thoughts on any classes (or types of courses) that I might want to be sure to add, since this is my last year of work on my MA.
Full Summer:
-A Semlink (GCTS’ distant ed) to cover either A) an ethics elective or B) a World Missions or Evangelism elective.
-Readings and Research course; these courses are basically a way to deal with a topic or section of Scripture that GCTS does not normally deal with in classes. I’m currently exploring possible topics, and would love suggestions.
Summer II (mid-June ’til mid-July):
-Gospel of John; this is an NT exegesis course. For my MA in Biblical Languages, I’m required two NT exegesis courses.
Fall 2009:
-Literature of Ancient Israel; Dr. Machinist is scheduled to offer a seminar on a book of the Bible this Fall (though I’m not sure which book as of yet). He was on leave this year, and so I didn’t have the chance to take a course with him. I really want to take that opportunity.
-Advanced Hebrew Grammar; This is a course that Mandy and I will be taking as a directed study with Dr. Tom Petter. We’re both really looking forward to it. To some extent we’re serving as guinea pigs as he develops these courses (epigraphic Hebrew this semester, Hebrew grammar next semester). This will also mean we’ll have over four years of formal classroom education in Hebrew.
The following are classes I’m not 100% sure I’m taking (and, to be honest, I can’t take all of them):
-Old Testament Prophetical Books; this is being offered by Donna Petter in the fall, and since her dissertation focused on Ezekiel, I thought that it might be an interesting course to take with her. It’s also one of the courses that my adopted advisor has recommended I take before graduating, so if I’m going to take it, nows the time.
-History and Archaeology of the ANE; This course is taught by Tom Petter. Again, this is one that my advisor has recommended to me. Mandy took this our first semester here and learned a ton. I’m sure I would learn a lot…but…ya know…pottery. *shudder*
-Exegeting the OT: Theology of the Divine Presence; This is a new course (as far as I know) that is being offered by Donna Petter. I just think the idea of the divine presence is fascinating, especially in regards to divine favor/anger. In addition, the Ark narrative in Samuel is fascinating, and I would hope that such a passage would come up in this class.
-Akkadian; This is a single semester introduction to Akkadian grammar. We don’t learn the signs, and learn very little vocab. Mandy has already taken it. I wouldn’t mind an intro to another semitic language, and Akkadian is certainly something I’ll have to tackle eventually (unless I can manage to sneak around it by taking Egyptian). The cons are that this course is offered on Wednesday evening, and that I’m honestly not sure how well I’ll know Akkadian after one semester…I suspect not too well.
-Biblical Global Justice; this one being offered by Borgman. I’ve never taken a class with him, so that might be interesting. This would also be an ethics elective, and I do need one of those before I graduate. So far there isn’t a correspondingly interesting course being offered in the spring. I might also be able to write my paper on something interesting….like justice in the Book of Job. Maybe.
UPDATED-05-03-09
-Middle Egyptian I; I have just learned that there is a possibility that I could take Middle Egyptian I this fall, and then Middle Egyptian II this spring at one of the BTI schools. This seems to me to be an amazing opportunity. However, it would probably require travel down to Boston on a second day of the week, unless I were to forget about the seminar with Machinist next semester. So, I’m very much interested in your thoughts on how I should proceed here.
As you may have noticed, I’ve listed 7 classes for the next semester. I can’t take that many. I’d prefer to take only 4, especially since I’ll be tackling a course at Harvard (or another BTI school, if I take Middle Egyptian I). However, either in the Fall or Spring I’ll have to take five courses in order to graduate, so I suppose one is as good as the other. I’d love to hear your thoughts on which classes seem best from your perspective.
Take MIDDLE EGYPTIAN with me, instead of Akkadian.
For the summer, have you explored substituting the OT Ethics semlink for your Ethics requirement? Not a bad course, and you could certainly write your paper on Job.
For the rest: it seems like Akkadian and ANE are a must have commodity for your transcript. After that I would say do the research course and the grammar course. I’m assuming you’re applying this fall, so the extra time in your day the ind. studies gives you will be crucial. Also, the research course should help you with refining your thoughts down to a purpose statement. On top of that, prophets will be offered in the spring, so you can pick that up later.
On BTI commutes: I would leave them out of the semester altogether if you are applying. I had to make the reversece commute up to Hamilton once a week last semester when I was applying, and it was…frustrating.
Since I’m not a seminarian, and know very little about the realm in which you aspire to teach, I’m not particularly qualified to comment. However, you asked me to, so here it is:
Your love is languages, so I’d avoid the archaeology class, and instead attempt to independently review whatever materials Mandy has from it.
In regards to the two classes led by Donna Petter, I’d think you would be more interested in the Divine Presence class. However your advisor suggests Prophetical books. How much do you trust the advisor’s judgment? Ultimately, both would be excellent classes.
The pastor in me wants you to take Biblical Global Justice, although it seems reasonable for you to not do that if you really want Akkadian.
The geek in me wants you must take Middle Egyptian so that I can make references about you being like Daniel Jackson on a regular basis.
That’s a total of five classes and an increased commute in the fall. I think you can handle that if you want it, but that’s your call, not mine.
Obviously my vote is for Akkadian, regardless of its one semester format (depending on how well it’s done, you can learn quite a bit about Akkadian in one semester) … Adam that goes for you too!
Luke – I’ll look into the ethics course substitution, it’s certainly a decent possibility. I doubt I’ll be able to avoid BTI commutes entirely, but I want to keep it to one.
Len – Thanks for the thoughts, at present Akkadian is probably beating out Global Biblical Justice, which I would really like to take–but, alas!
Jay – I figured your vote would be for Akkadian, Assyriologist that you are. I, of course, agree completely: Adam ought to take Akkadian with me.
Overall, I’m leaning towards taking Akkadian, and possibly taking Middle Egyptian instead of the Machinist class, partly because of scheduling issues. But I’m still open to being swayed. I’d love to hear from anyone else, or additional comments from those who have already posted.
I’ve done Middle Egyptian and I love it. I would suggest thinking about how you’ll use it as a tool. I mean it’s definitely a cool thing you’ll bring into the app process that others won’t, but is it more than a peacock feather to catch a future school’s eye? Also consider your ability to go deeper with it in your future program? I don’t know of too many programs where a consistent Egyptian language cycle exists (Penn State does). Also, consider the Machinist thing in the same way as the Akkadian thing. A lot of the schools you’ll apply to have seen GCTS students apply with solid grades in Machinist classes. After seeing this process from the other side this year I’m seeing things a little differently. I vote Akkadian and Machinist (and digging at Safi this summer, but I realize that’s probably just wishful thinking on my part).
Eric, thanks for your thoughts. Although I doubt we’ll make it to Safi this summer, my thinking is along the same lines as yours. In many ways I’ve viewed my MA as laying the ground work for further study of the Hebrew Bible. As a result of this, Middle Egyptian greatly appeals to me. Obviously it’s helpful because of my interest in the wisdom literature, but I’m also becoming more and more interested in mythic allusions in the Book of Job–Egyptian could be helpful there as well.
Of course, as you point out, schools are used to seeing Machinist classes on GCTS grads’ transcripts…
At this point I’ve pretty much decided on Akkadian, but I will be honest, I’m still vacillating between Middle Egyptian and the seminar with Machinist.
No need to make a decision yet…especially considering, as you pointed out earlier, that we don’t even know which class Machinist is teaching! Surely that ought to play a role in the decision?
Luke, you’re absolutely right. But I’m vacillating between the two without actually knowing what the seminar with Machinist will be on–if its on a book that I’m especially interested in, I imagine my vacillation will end. Mostly I’m just impatient.
I sympathize…I don’t even know where/if I will be taking classes next fall!