1. COURSE DESCRIPTION Course Number: SAS 652 Course Title: The Synoptic Gospels and Acts Term: Avila Spain, Spring-Summer 2016 Instructor Fr. Randy Soto, SThD Email: rsoto@holyapostles.edu The Gospels are the heart of all the Scriptures because they are our principal source for the life and teaching of the Incarnate Word, our Savior. This course on the Synoptic Gospels explores the stylistic and literary characteristics of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Students also will study the Synoptic Gospels' theological, spiritual, and historical background. This section of the course is part of a 6-credit intercultural studies program in Avila, Spain that requires concurrent enrollment in STD 630. 2. ENVISIONED LEARNING OUTCOMES 1. Students will demonstrate an ability to understand the current state of research on the Synoptic Gospels (Mt, Mk, Lk). 2. Students will demonstrate an ability to understand of the Spiritual implications of Gospel s writings in our New Evangelization efforts and in our preaching munus. 3. Students will demonstrate an appreciation of the Gospels as literary-rhetorical communications with an oral pattern addressed to first century Mediterranean audiences. 4. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the pastoral applications of selections from the Gospels, following the Church's norms on biblical interpretation through a student-oriented approach, aimed at giving the student the ability to exegete a passage for use in preaching and pastoral ministry. 5. Students will demonstrate an ability to articulate the major Synoptic theological themes and concepts in order to enable the students to make their own interdisciplinary theological synthesis. 3. COURSE SCHEDULE Week 1 Week 2 Introduction Part One of the Course: On-Line (May-June 2016) Read and post your summary of Dei Verbum (PDF) 1
Week 3 Read and post your summary of Document of the Pontifical Biblical Commission Begin reading Bosetti on The Gospel of Mark Week 4 Post your summary of Bosetti-Mk Week 5 Begin reading Bosetti on The Gospel of Matthew Week 6 Post your summary of Bosetti-Mt Week 7 Begin reading Bosetti on the Gospel of Luke Week 8 Post your summary of Bosetti-Lk Part Two of the Course: Classes (July 2016) Week 9 Mark s narrative and Style Lectio Continua Mark 1-8 Lectio Continua Mark 9-12 Lectio Continua Mark 12-16 Week 10 Matthew s narrative and style Lectio Continua Mt 1-13 Lectio Continua Mt 14-20 Lectio Continua Mt 21-28 Week 11 Luke s narrative and style Lectio Continua Lk 1-8 Lectio Continua Lk 8-15 Lectio Continua Lk 16-24 Week 12 Lectio Continua Acts 1-7 Lectio Continua Acts 8-15 Lectio Continua Acts 16-23 Lectio Continua Acts 24-28 2
Part Three of the Course: On-Line (August 2016) Guidelines for the Dictionary Entry on the Synoptic Gospels 1. General Information a). Purpose of the Gospel b). Literary Style c). Structure d). Author e). Date f). Intended Audience 2. Main Theological Ideas of Luke-Acts 3. Usage of Luke-Acts in the Lectionary 4. Usage of Luke-Acts in the Art/ Music 5. Bibliography (at least five sources, between dictionaries, commentaries, and other monographs). Week 13 Week 14 Week 15 Write and post a Dictionary entry on Mark Write and post a Dictionary entry on Matthew Write and post a Dictionary entry on Luke 4. COURSE PROCEDURES 1. The students will read the Document of the Pontifical Biblical Commission on the Historical Truth of the Gospels, as well The Dogmatic Constitution on Revelation or Dei Verbum (10% of grade) 2. The students will read the books of Sister Elena Bosetti on each one of the Synoptic Gospels: Mark, Matthew and Luke. Students are responsible to post for class discussion a summary of the books (20% of grade). 3. The students are responsible for attending the Lectio Divina classes and the immersion into the Spanish Culture during the month of July in Ávila, Spain (50% of grade). 4. The students will submit a dictionary entry (5-6 pages) on each one of the Gospels, following their return from Spain. The students should consult Biblical Dictionaries, commentaries like NJBC, OBC, Catholic Encyclopedia and other reference books, as well as more specialized studies. Each entry will include: I. Author; II Purpose; III Audience; IV. Structure and Style; V. Theology; VI. Use in Liturgy; and VII. Symbol that represents that Gospel (20% of the grade). 5. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ON THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS A. Gospel of Mark Achtemeier Paul J., Mark, Proclamation Commentaries, 2 nd ed. (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1986). Beck Robert R., Nonviolent Story: Narrative Conflict Resolution in the Gospel of Mark (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1996). Best Ernest, Mark: The Gospel as Story (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1983). 3
Best Ernest, The Temptation and the Passion: The Markan Soteriology, Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series 2 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990). Bryan Christopher, A Preface to Mark: Notes on the Gospel in Its Literary and Cultural Settings (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993). Guelich Robert A., Mark 1:1-8:26, Word Biblical Commentary 34A (Word Books, 1989). Hammerton-Kelly Robert G., The Gospel and the Sacred: the Politics of Violence in Mark (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993). Harrington Wilfred J., Mark: Realistic Theologian (Dublin: Columba Press, 1996). Head Peter M., Christology and the Synoptic Problem: An Argument for Markan Priority, Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series 94 (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1997). Hooker Morna D., The Gospel According to Saint Mark, Black s New Testament Commentary 2 (Hendrickson, 1993). Kee Howard Clark, Community of the New Age: Studies in Mark s Gospel (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1977; reprint: Mercer University Press, 1983). Kelber Werner H., Mark s Story of Jesus (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1979). Kelber Werner H., The Oral and Written Gospel (reprint: Indiana University Press, 1997). Kingsbury Jack Dean, The Christology of Mark s Gospel (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1989). Kingsbury Jack Dean, Conflict in Mark: Jesus, Authorities, Disciples (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1989). LaVerdiere Eugene, The Beginning of the Gospel: Introducing the Gospel According to Mark, 2 vol. (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1999). Marcus Joel, Mark 1-8, Anchor Bible 27A (New York: Doubleday, 2000). Matera Frank J., What are they saying about Mark? (New York: Paulist Press, 1987). Moloney Francis J., Mark: Storyteller, Interpreter, Evangelist (Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 2004). Moore Stephen D. & Anderson Janice Capel, eds., Mark and Method: New Approaches in Biblical Studies (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992). Oden Thomas C., Mark, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1998). Painter John, Mark s Gospel: Worlds in Conflict, New Testament Readings (New York: Routledge, 1997). Rhoads David M., Mark as Story: An Introduction to the Narrative of A Gospel (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1982). Robbins Vernon K., Jesus the Teacher: A Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation of Mark (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992). Smith Stephen H., A Lion With Wings: A Narrative-Critical Approach to Mark s Gospel, The Biblical Seminar 38 (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1996). Taylor Vincent, The Gospel According to St. Mark, 2 nd ed. (London: Macmillan, 1966). Telford W.R., The Theology of the Gospel of Mark, New Testament Theology (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999). Tolbert Mary Ann, Sowing the Gospel: Mark s World in a Literary-Historical Perspective (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1989). 4
B. Gospel of Matthew Allison Dale C., The New Moses: A Matthean Typology (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993). Bauer David R., Mark Allan Powell, eds., Treasures Old and New: Recent Contributions to Matthean Studies, SBL Symposium Series 1 (Atlanta, GA: Scholar s Press, 1996). Carter Warren, Matthew: Storyteller, Interpreter, Evangelist (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996). Garland David E., Reading Matthew: A Literary and Theological Commentary on the First Gospel, Reading the New Testament Series (New York: Crossroad, 1999). Harrington Daniel J., Gospel of Matthew, Sacra Pagina 1 (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1991). Kingsbury Jack Dean, Matthew: Structure, Christology, Kingdom (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1989). Kingsbury Jack Dean, Matthew as Story, 2 nd ed. (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1988). Luz Ulrich, The Theology of the Gospel of Matthew, New Testament Theology (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995). Meier John P., The Vision of Matthew: Christ, Church, and Morality in the First Gospel (New York: Crossroad, 1991). Meier John P., Matthew, New Testament Message 3 (Wilmington: Michael Glazier, 1980; Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press). Patte Daniel, The Gospel According to Matthew: A Structural Commentary on Matthew s Faith (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1987). Senior Donald, What are they saying about Matthew? (New York: Paulist Press, 1996). Senior Donald, The Passion of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew (Wilmington: Michael Glazier, 1985 / Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press). Senior Donald, Matthew, Abingdon New Testament Commentary (Nashville: Abingdon, 1998). Sim David C., Apocalyptic Eschatology in the Gospel of Matthew (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996). Stock Augustine, The Method and Message of Matthew (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press [A Michael Glazier Book], 1995). C. Gospel of Luke & Acts of the Apostles Bock Darrell L., Luke, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament 3, 2 vol. (Baker Book House, 1994 & 1996). Conzelmann Hans, The Theology of St. Luke (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1981). Conzelmann Hans, Acts of the Apostles, Hermeneia Series (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1987). Craig A. Evans & James A. Sanders, Luke and Scripture: the Function of Sacred Tradition in Luke-Acts (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993). Fitzmyer Joseph A., Luke the Theologian: Aspects of His Theology (New York: Paulist Press, 1989). Fitzmyer Joseph A., The Gospel According to Luke, Anchor Bible 28-28A, 2 vol. (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1981-1985). Fitzmyer Joseph A., The Acts of the Apostles, Anchor Bible 31 (New York: Doubleday, 1998). Green Joel B., The Theology of the Gospel of Luke (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995). Jervell Jacob, The Theology of the Acts of the Apostles, New Testament Theology (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996). 5
Johnson Luke Timothy, Gospel of Luke, Sacra Pagina 3 (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press [A Michael Glazier Book], 1991) Johnson Luke Timothy, The Acts of the Apostles, Sacra Pagina 5 (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press [A Michael Glazier Book], 1992). Karris Robert, Luke, Artist and Theologian: Luke s Passion Account as Literature, Theological Inquiries (New York: Paulist Press, 1985). Kingsbury Jack Dean, Conflict in Luke: Jesus, Authorities, Disciples (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1991). Knight Jonathan, Luke s Gospel, New Testament Reading (New York: Routledge, 1998). Neyrey Jerome H., The Social World of Luke-Acts (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publications, 1991). Neyrey Jerome H., The Passion According to Luke: A Redaction Study of Luke s Soteriology, Theological Inquiries (New York: Paulist Press, 1985). Powell Mark Allan, What are they saying about Luke? (New York: Paulist Press, 1989). Powell Mark Allan, What are they saying about Acts? (New York: Paulist Press, 1992). Ravens David A.S., Luke and the Restoration of Israel (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995). Schweizer Eduard, The Good News According to Luke (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1984). Senior Donald, The Passion of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke (Wilmington: Michael Glazier, 1989). Tannehill Robert C., Luke, Abingdon New Testament Commentaries (Nashville: Abingdon, 1996). Tannehill Robert C., The Narrative Unity of Luke-Acts: A Literary Interpretation, 2 vol. (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1991-1994). Talbert Charles H., Reading Acts: A Literary and Theological Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Reading the New Testament Series (New York: Crossroad, 1999). Tuckett C.M., Luke s Literary Achievement: Collected Essays, Journal for the Study of the New Testament, Supplement 116 (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995). D. Search for the Historical Jesus: Borg Marcus J., Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: the Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith, (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1994). Borg Marcus J., Jesus: a New Vision: Spirit, Culture, and the Life of Discipleship (San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1991). Borg Marcus J., & Wright N.T., The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions (San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1998). Bornkamm Gunter, Jesus of Nazareth (reprint of 1960 edition: Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1994). Charlesworth James H., ed., Jesus Jewishness: Exploring the Place of Jesus within Early Judaism (New York: Crossroad, 1991). Charlesworth James H., Jesus Within Judaism: New Light from Exciting Archeological Discoveries, Anchor Bible Reference (New York: Doubleday, 1988). Charlesworth James H., Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls, Anchor Bible Reference (New York: Doubleday, 1992). Crossan John Dominic, The Historical Jesus: the Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1992). Dunn James D.G., Jesus and the Spirit: A Study of the Religious and Charismatic Experience of Jesus and the First Christians as Reflected in the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1997). 6
Ehrman Bart D., Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999). Evans C. Stephen, The Historical Christ and the Jesus of Faith: the Incarnational Narrative as History (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996). Fitzmyer Joseph A., A Christological Catechism: New Testament Answers, rev. ed. (New York: Paulist Press, 1991). Fredriksen Paula, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews: A Jewish Life and the Emergence of Christianity (New York: Knopf, 1999). Jeremias Joachim, New Testament Theology I: The Proclamation of Jesus (London: SCM Press, 1971). Johnson Luke Timothy, The Real Jesus: the Misguided Quest for the Historical Jesus and the Truth of the Traditional Gospels (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1995). Johnson Luke Timothy, Living Jesus: Learning the Heart of the Gospel (San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1999). Kee Howard Clark, What Can We Know About Jesus, Understanding Jesus Today (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990). Meier John P., A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus (New York: Doubleday, 1991-1994). Powell Mark Allan, Jesus as a Figure in History: How Modern Historians View the Man from Galilee (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 1998). Perkins Pheme, Jesus as Teacher, Understanding Jesus Today (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990). Porter J.R., Jesus Christ: The Jesus of History, the Christ of Faith (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999). Remus Harold, Jesus as Healer, Understanding Jesus Today (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997). Sanders E.P., Jesus and Judaism (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1985). Sanders E.P., The Historical Figure of Jesus (New York: Penguin Books, 1993). Sloyan Gerald, Jesus in Focus: A Life in Its Setting, rev. ed. (Mystic, CN: Twenty-Third Publications, 1994). Theissen Gerd and Merz Annette, The Historical Jesus: A Comprehensive Guide (Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1998). Twelftree Graham H., Jesus the Exorcist: A Contribution to the Study of the Historical Jesus (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1997). Vermes Geza, The Religion of Jesus the Jew (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993). Vermes Geza, Jesus the Jew: a Historian s Reading of the Gospels (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1981). Witherington III Ben, The Jesus Quest: The Third Search for the Jew of Nazareth, 2 nd ed. (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1997). Wright N.T., Jesus and the Victory of God, Vol. 2 of Christian Origins and the Question of God (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1997). 7
E. New Testament Christology Bellinger William H. & Farmer William R., ed., Jesus and the Suffering Servant (Philadelphia: Trinity Press International, 1998). Brown Raymond E., An Introduction to New Testament Christology (New York: Paulist Press, 1994). Cullman Oscar, The Christology of the New Testament, rev. ed. (Philadelphia: Westminster John Knox, 1963). Dunn James D.G., Christology in the Making: A New Testament Inquiry into the Origins of the Doctrine of the Incarnation, 2 nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1996). Fredriksen Paula, From Jesus to Christ: the Origin of the New Testament Images of Jesus (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1988). Furnish Victor Paul, Jesus according to Paul, Understanding Jesus Today (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993). Kee Howard Clark, Jesus in History: an Approach to the Study of the Gospels, rev. ed. (Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace, 1996). Kingsbury Jack Dean, The Christology of Mark s Gospel (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1989). Malherbe Abraham J. & Meeks Wayne A., ed., The Future of Christology: Essays in Honor of Leander E. Keck (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993). Meier John P., The Mission of Christ and His Church: Essays on Christology and Ecclesiology (Wilmington, DL: Michael Glazier, 1990). Painter John, The Quest for the Messiah: the History, Literature, and Theology of the Johannine Community (Nashville: Abingdon, 1993). Pelikan Jaroslav, The Illustrated Jesus Through the Centuries (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1997). Robbins Vernon K., Jesus the Teacher: A Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation of Mark (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992). Schnakenburg Rudolph, Jesus in the Gospels: a Biblical Christology, trans. O.C. Dean, Jr. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1995). Stanton Graham N., The Gospels and Jesus, Oxford Bible Series (New York: Oxford University Press, 1989). Witherington III Ben, The Many Faces of the Christ: The Christologies of the New Testament and Beyond, Companions to the New Testament (New York: Crossroad, 1998) l. F. Special Topics: The Parables; Infancy, Passion, & Resurrection Narratives Allison Dale C., The Sermon on the Mount: Inspiring the Moral Imagination, Companions to the New Testament (New York: Crossroad, 1999). Brown Raymond E., The Death of the Messiah: From Gethsemane to the Grave, 2 vol., Anchor Bible Reference Library (New York: Doubleday, 1994). Brown Raymond E., The Birth of the Messiah: A Commentary on the Infancy Narratives in Matthew and Luke (New York: Doubleday, 1977). Brown, Raymond E. The Virginal Conception and the Bodily Resurrection of Jesus (New York: Paulist Press, 1973). Betz Hans Dieter, The Sermon on the Mount: A Commentary, Hermeneia Series (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995). 8
Carter Warren, What Are They Saying About Matthew s Sermon on the Mount? (New York: Paulist Press, 1994). Chilton Bruce, Jesus Baptism and Jesus Healing: His Personal Practice of Spirituality (Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press International, 1998). Chilton Bruce, Jesus Prayer and Jesus Eucharist: His Personal Practice of Spirituality (Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press International, 1997). Crossan John Dominic, In Parables: The Challenge of the Historical Jesus (New York: Harper & Row, 1973). Davis Stephen & O Collins Gerald, ed., The Resurrection: An Interdisciplinary Symposium (New York: Oxford University Press, 1997). Donahue John R., The Gospel in Parable: Metaphor, Narrative, and Theology in the Synoptic Gospels (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1990). Ford Richard Q., The Parables of Jesus (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1997). Hooker Morna Dorothy, Not Ashamed of the Gospel: New Testament Interpretations of the Death of Christ (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1995). Osborne Kenan B., The Resurrection of Jesus: New Considerations for Its Theological Interpretation (New York: Paulist Press, 1997). Patte Daniel, Discipleship According to the Sermon on the Mount (Valley Forge, PA: Trinity Press International, 1996). Perrin Norman, Jesus and the Language of the Kingdom (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1976). Scott Bernard Brandon, Hear Then the Parable: A Commentary on the Parables of Jesus (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1991). Westerman Claus, The Parables of Jesus in the Light of the Old Testament (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1990). 6. TEXT BOOKS Matthew: The Journey Toward Hope by Elena Bosetti $12.95 Mark: The Risk of Believing by Elena Bosetti $12.95 Luke: The Song of God's Mercy by Elena Bosetti $12.95 Fitzmyer: Historical Truth of the Gospel Dei Verbum (PDF) 7. EVALUATION Students who have difficulty with research and composition are encouraged to pursue assistance with the Online Writing Lab (available at http://www.holyapostles.edu/owl). GRADING SCALE: A 94-100; A- 90-93; B+ 87-89; B 84-86; B- 80-83; C+ 77-79; C 74-76; C- 70-73 D 60-69; F 59 and below 9
8. DISABILITIES ACCOMMODATIONS POLICY Holy Apostles College & Seminary is committed to the goal of achieving equal educational opportunities and full participation in higher education for persons with disabilities who qualify for admission to the College. Students enrolled in online courses who have documented disabilities requiring special accommodations should contact Bob Mish, the Director of Online Student Affairs, at rmish@holyapostles.edu or 860-632- 3015. In all cases, reasonable accommodations will be made to ensure that all students with disabilities have access to course materials in a mode in which they can receive them. Students who have technological limitations (e.g., slow Internet connection speeds in convents) are asked to notify their instructors the first week of class for alternative means of delivery. 9. ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY Students at Holy Apostles College & Seminary are expected to practice academic honesty. Avoiding Plagiarism In its broadest sense, plagiarism is using someone else's work or ideas, presented or claimed as your own. At this stage in your academic career, you should be fully conscious of what it means to plagiarize. This is an inherently unethical activity because it entails the uncredited use of someone else's expression of ideas for another's personal advancement; that is, it entails the use of a person merely as a means to another person s ends. Students, where applicable: Should identify the title, author, page number/webpage address, and publication date of works when directly quoting small portions of texts, articles, interviews, or websites. Students should not copy more than two paragraphs from any source as a major component of papers or projects. Should appropriately identify the source of information when paraphrasing (restating) ideas from texts, interviews, articles, or websites. Should follow the Holy Apostles College & Seminary Stylesheet (available on the Online Writing Lab s website at http://www.holyapostles.edu/owl/resources). Consequences of Academic Dishonesty: Because of the nature of this class, academic dishonesty is taken very seriously. Students participating in academic dishonesty may be removed from the course and from the program. 10. ATTENDANCE POLICY Even though you are not required to be logged in at any precise time or day, you are expected to login several times during each week. Because this class is being taught entirely in a technology-mediated forum, it is important to actively participate each week in the course. In a traditional classroom setting for a 3-credit course, students would be required to be in class 3 hours a week and prepare for class discussions 4.5 hours a week. Expect to devote at least 7 quality hours a week to this course. A failure on the student s part to actively participate in the life of the course may result in a reduction of the final grade. 11. INCOMPLETE POLICY An Incomplete is a temporary grade assigned at the discretion of the faculty member. It is typically allowed in situations in which the student has satisfactorily completed major components of the course and has the ability to finish the remaining work without re-enrolling, but has encountered extenuating circumstances, such as illness, that prevent his or her doing so prior to the last day of class. To request an incomplete, distance-learning students must first download a copy of the Incomplete Request Form. This document is located within the Shared folder of the Files tab in Populi. Secondly, students must fill in any necessary information directly within the PDF document. Lastly, students must send their form to their 10
professor via email for approval. Approval should be understood as the professor responding to the student s email in favor of granting the Incomplete status of the student. Students receiving an Incomplete must submit the missing course work by the end of the sixth week following the semester in which they were enrolled. An incomplete grade (I) automatically turns into the grade of F if the course work is not completed. Students who have completed little or no work are ineligible for an incomplete. Students who feel they are in danger of failing the course due to an inability to complete course assignments should withdraw from the course. A W (Withdrawal) will appear on the student s permanent record for any course dropped after the end of the first week of a semester to the end of the third week. A WF (Withdrawal/Fail) will appear on the student s permanent record for any course dropped after the end of the third week of a semester and on or before the Friday before the last week of the semester. 12. ABOUT YOUR PROFESSOR Fr. Randy Soto is a Roman Catholic priest from San Jose, Costa Rica, currently serving as Associate Professor of New Testament at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. He completed his Sacred Theology Doctorate (SThD) in Biblical Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2003 and has also since served as a parish pastor and Director of Faith Enculturation in the Archdiocese of San Jose, Professor of New Testament at the Instituto Ciencias Religiosas while in Toledo. 11