Global Programs and Studies

GPS 115. Levantine Arabic I. (3 Credits)

This course provides students with an experience of beginning to learn and use the colloquial Arabic of Jordan-Palestine as a way of beginning to enter into the “languaculture” of the local people (Jordanians and Palestinians). Course is offered during a Wheaton College off-campus program only. Note: If this course is taken through direct enrollment at Jerusalem University College, it will be considered transfer credit. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 231. Orientation to Study Abroad. (2 Credits)

This is the required orientation seminar for students planning to study abroad on a Wheaton-run international semester program. The course focuses on developing attitudes, knowledge, and skills related to intercultural competency. Students prepare to maximize learning during the semester abroad and to engage others in any cross-cultural or diverse context in a meaningful and respectful manner. Students are required to enroll as a cohort in the semester before the program.

GPS 232. Study Abroad Re-Entry Seminar. (1 Credit)

Designed for students who have returned from study abroad or other off-campus study in cross-cultural contexts. The course facilitates the re-entry process and provides a forum for direct contribution to the globalization of the campus community. It also provides the opportunity to identify, pursue, and explore new and/or unanswered cultural and theological questions. Students are encouraged to enroll during the semester upon return to campus.

GPS 233. Preparation for Off-Campus Study. (1 Credit)

Studying abroad or in other cross-cultural contexts requires developing attitudes, knowledge, and skills to engage others in a meaningful and respectful manner. Theological concepts are introduced to facilitate Christian formation in the cross-cultural setting. Finally, a location-specific project enhances preparation for the off-campus semester. Each class session includes experiential activities. Students are encouraged to take this course the semester before off-campus study.

GPS 301. Survey of Mexican Art. (2 Credits)

This critical survey of Mexican art explores a variety of art forms, genres, and representative pieces while introducing students to elements of creativity as well as cultivating skills and visual sensitivities to enhance active engagement with works of art. In addition to readings, students interact directly with works from diverse periods of human history, from Pre-Columbian times to the present, in the city of Querétaro and during academic excursions in other parts of the country. Students also create artwork during the course and articulate thoughtful Christian reflections on specific works. Concurrent studies of Mexican society, cultures, language and history help students interpret works in context. The course is taught in Spanish during the WIM program and includes academic excursions that allow students engage works of art in context. Prerequisite: SPAN 201 or equivalent. Corequisite: Enrollment in Wheaton in Mexico.

Tags: VPAV

GPS 302. Exploring Mexican History. (4 Credits)

This course explores the complexities of Mexican history from Pre-Columbian times to the present. Students critically analyze primary and secondary sources in both Spanish and English to interpret past events using sound historical reasoning. Students consider connections between Christian faith and practice and the investigation of historical events. The course is taught in Spanish during the Wheaton in Mexico program and is required of all participants. The course includes academic excursions that allow students to engage significant places and primary and secondary sources and reflect on contemporary interpretations of historical events. Corequisite: Enrollment in Wheaton in Mexico. Prerequisite: SPAN 201.

Tags: HP

GPS 304. Journeys across Cultures and Societies in the Middle East. (3 Credits)

How do cultures and societies impact politics and economics across the Middle East? What explains the cooperation and conflict both within and between countries in the region? To what extent has history determined modern narratives and what is the current state of affairs? This course will bridge the historical narrative to explain modern societies in the Middle East with particular focus on religion, politics, and economics. We will study the region broadly and dedicate special interest to the countries of Egypt and Israel/Palestine. Students will make critical connections between their own daily lives and that of the cultures and practices they observe. This cohort-based contextual class will situate students in Middle East cultures and help navigate students in their process of adaptation. This course is only available to students enrolled in the Semester in Jerusalem Program.

Tags: SI

GPS 305. Journeys across Cultures: A Narrative & Cross-Cultural Study of the Journeys of Paul. (2 Credits)

A narrative and cross-cultural study of Acts 13–28 and Paul's engagements with Jewish, Greek, and Roman cultures. Offered only during the Semester in Jerusalem. Note: If this course is taken through direct enrollment at Jerusalem University College, it will be considered transfer credit. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 306. Physical Settings of the Bible. (4 Credits)

A study of the physical features of the land of the Bible with an emphasis on the geographical elements of various regions and how geography influenced and affected aspects of biblical and extra-biblical history. Relevant archaeological, historical and biblical material is integrated into the lectures and field studies where it is correlated with the sites visited, the ancient network of roads and geographical elements of the land. (course includes field studies in Jordan) Offered only during the Semester in Jerusalem. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

Tags: HP

GPS 307. Archaeology of Jerusalem I. (3 Credits)

An introduction to the archaeology of Jerusalem from the prehistoric periods through the Iron Age examined in light of archaeological discoveries, with special emphasis given to the time of the Israelite Monarchies. The course includes field trips to relevant archaeological sites in and around Jerusalem. Note: If this course is taken through direct enrollment at Jerusalem University College, it will be considered transfer credit. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 308. History of the Christian Church in the East. (3 Credits)

An introduction to the history of the Christian Churches in the Middle East from the first to the seventh centuries A.D. Major Christian authors from the Second Temple to Emperor Constantine will show the common Christian basis of the churches in the Middle East, while representative Church writers from the three developing ecclesial families (Assyrian, Oriental, Chalcedonian) will reflect each Church’s significant role in the Christian mosaic in the Middle East. Note: If this course is taken through direct enrollment at Jerusalem University College, it will be considered transfer credit. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 309. Intertestamental Literature. (3 Credits)

A focus on the literary features and contents of representative literary genres of the intertestamental period, in light of the history, society and religion of the Jews in the land of Israel and in the Diaspora, and their contribution to our knowledge of the varieties of religious thought in the Second Temple Period. Note: If this course is taken through direct enrollment at Jerusalem University College, it will be considered transfer credit. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 311. History of Ancient Israel. (3 Credits)

An overview of the historical background of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. The focus is on the history of the land and the people of ancient Israel from their origin through the end of the Iron Age as seen within their Near Eastern environment. The course will use a combination of biblical, archaeological and historical data, emphasizing the distinct methodologies used in the study of each. Note: If this course is taken through direct enrollment at Jerusalem University College, it will be considered transfer credit. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 312. Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls. (3 Credits)

A study of the texts and major critical issues concerning the Qumran community and the Dead Sea Scrolls, including their origin, interpretation of the Old Testament and place within the Jewish world and early Christianity. Note: If this course is taken through direct enrollment at Jerusalem University College, it will be considered transfer credit. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 313. History of the Jews during the Medieval and Modern Periods. (3 Credits)

An examination of Jewish history from the rise of Christian Europe in the fifth century AD to the present, by addressing such topics as medieval Jewish communities in Babylonia, Spain, Germany and Poland; Jewish relations with the church and crown; Jewish communal structure; modern changes such as enlightenment and emancipation; new Jewish movements and ideologies; modern anti-Semitism and the Holocaust; and Zionism and the rise of the modern state of Israel. Note: If this course is taken through direct enrollment at Jerusalem University College, it will be considered transfer credit. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 314. History of the Holy Lands from the Rise of Islam to 1948. (3 Credits)

The course examines key developments in the Holy Land from the Muslim conquest until the establishment of the State of Israel, with emphasis placed on the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Note: If this course is taken through direct enrollment at Jerusalem University College, it will be considered transfer credit. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 315. Engaging Modern Middle East Narratives. (1 Credit)

Students are placed in approved cross-cultural settings in Israel and/or the West Bank for 3 hours per week in order to develop practical skills necessary for leadership or service in a wide variety of contexts in the Middle East. Settings include schools, sports, churches, shelters, food banks. Note: If this course is taken through direct enrollment at Jerusalem University College, it will be considered transfer credit. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 316. Introduction to the Modern Middle East. (3 Credits)

A study of key political, cultural and social aspects of the Middle East from the 19th century to the present, addressing topics such as Arab nationalism, Islamic fundamentalism and Zionism. Special consideration is given to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Offered during the Semester in Jerusalem program. Note: If this course is taken through direct enrollment at Jerusalem University College, it will be considered transfer credit. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

Tags: GP

GPS 317. Palestinian Society and Politics. (3 Credits)

A study of the socio-economic, organizational and political components of Palestinian society, with a focus on pertinent current developments. Offered only during the Semester in Jerusalem. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

Tags: SI

GPS 318. Biblical Archaeology I. (3 Credits)

A survey of the results of archaeological investigations in the land of the Bible from proto-historical periods to the end of the Judean Monarchy. Emphasis is placed on relating archaeological finds to historical records, including the Old Testament. Note: If this course is taken through direct enrollment at Jerusalem University College, it will be considered transfer credit. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 319. Society and Politics in the Holy Land: Palestinian and Israeli Perspectives. (3 Credits)

The course will examine central historical, social, and political issues as these relate to Israeli and Palestinian societies. The origins of each society (including contrasting narratives of the 1948 war), as well as some of their characteristic features, such as the social composition, the role of religion, the economy, and the political system will be covered alternately by both an Israeli and a Palestinian professor, long associated with Jerusalem University College. The final class session, taught jointly, will examine each side's positions and expectations regarding present realities and future prospects for peace and reconciliation. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

Tags: GP

GPS 321. Engaging Mexican Cultures. (4 Credits)

This seminar is required during Wheaton in Mexico's semester abroad. It builds on themes covered in GPS 231 Orientation to Study Abroad (section for WIM) allowing participants to further develop and apply the knowledge, concepts and skills of intercultural competency. In particular, students employ the concept of culture and engage in participant observation and ethnographic interviewing to explore multiple dimensions of Mexican culture. It serves to integrate the materials learned in other classes taken during the semester and to facilitate the process of cultural adaptation. Enrollment in Wheaton in Mexico concurrently. Prerequisite: Wheaton in Mexico section, GPS 231.

Tags: SI

GPS 323. Islamic Thought and Practice. (3 Credits)

This course introduces the religion and history of Islam from the time of the Prophet Muhammad (7th century AD) until today, with an emphasis on the development of basic themes and trends which are a part of Islam today. This course is available only to students enrolled in the Semester in Jerusalem Program.

GPS 324. Cultural Backgrounds of the Bible. (3 Credits)

An analysis of various aspects of life in biblical times to provide focal points to help the student understand biblical customs and ways of thought more accurately. This course is available only to students enrolled in the Semester in Jerusalem Program and requires an additional field study fee. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 325. Biblical Archaeology II. (3 Credits)

A survey of the results of archaeological investigations in the land of the Bible from the Persian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods. Emphasis is placed upon relating archaeological finds to historical records, including the New Testament. This course is available only to students enrolled in the Semester in Jerusalem Program. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 326. History of the Second Temple Period. (3 Credits)

An overview of the history of ancient Israel during the formative period of both Judaism and Christianity. It also provides a background to the Apocrypha and the New Testament. The course will use a combination of biblical, archaeological and historical data, emphasizing the distinct methodologies used in the study of each. This course is only available to students enrolled in the Semester in Jerusalem Program and requires an additional field study fee. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 327. Hermeneutics of Old Testament Texts in Jewish and Christian Tradition. (3 Credits)

A comparative study of hermeneutical methods for reading the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament in early Jewish and Christian tradition. This course is only available to students enrolled in the Semester in Jerusalem. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 328. Parable of Jesus and Rabbinic Meshalim. (3 Credits)

A seminar study of the parables of the Gospels and the Meshalim (Rabbinic parables) found in classical rabbinic literature, including issues of hermeneutics, methodology of approach, and content. This course is available only to students enrolled the Semester in Jerusalem Program. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 329. Archaeology of Jerusalem II. (3 Credits)

The city of Jerusalem is examined in light of archaeological discoveries from the Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. Special emphasis given to the time of the Gospels. This course is available only to students enrolled in the Semester in Jerusalem Program. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 331. Jewish Thought and Practice. (3 Credits)

The course will describe the nature of present-day Jewish religious beliefs, books, and practices with an emphasis on their development throughout the ages. This course is only available to students enrolled in the Semester in Jerusalem Program.

GPS 332. Historical and Social Settings of Modern Israel. (3 Credits)

An examination of historical, social and political aspects of contemporary Israeli society, including the ideologies and groups that have played a major role in the formation of Israeli society. Emphasis is placed on social and political issues which are at the center of current debate in the country. This course is available only to students enrolled in the Semester in Jerusalem Program and requires an additional field study fee. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 401. Readings in Biblical Hebrew: Historical and Geographical Texts. (3 Credits)

A literary, textual and exegetical study of biblical Hebrew narrative texts that are significant for the study of historical geography. This course seeks to integrate the physical reality of the land of the Bible with the Hebrew text of the Old Testament. Note: If this course is taken through direct enrollment at Jerusalem University College, it will be considered transfer credit. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

GPS 402. Readings in Biblical Hebrew Narrative Texts. (3 Credits)

A linguistic, literary, textual and exegetical study of biblical Hebrew narrative texts. This course builds on the foundation laid in beginning Hebrew courses. Note: If this course is taken through direct enrollment at Jerusalem University College, it will be considered transfer credit. Prerequisite: GPS 231 and HEBR 102.

GPS 403. Iconographic Art in Judaism and Early Christianity. (3 Credits)

A study of the art of Judaism and early Christianity in the centuries following the Second Temple Period that expresses biblical and theological themes. Offered only during the Semester in Jerusalem. Prerequisite: GPS 231.

Tags: VPAV