Course Catalog

PSY310E Integration of Psychology and Christianity (3 credits) 9396

COURSE DESCRIPTION
An examination of the relationship between psychology and Christian beliefs about human nature. Topics involve the presuppositions of modern psychology, the Christian view of man and tension areas between psychology and theology..

LEARNING RESULTS
Students who pass PSY310E will be able to:
• demonstrate a knowledge of the importance of assumptions in academic disciplines.
• demonstrate a knowledge of the assumptions of modern psychology.
• demonstrate a knowledge of the relationship of learning to faith as well as faith to learning.
• describe the major world view systems in psychology.
• evaluate the major world view systems in psychology.
• describe the major models of integration of psychology and Christianity used by Christian psychologists.
• evaluate the major models of integration of psychology and Christianity used by Christian psychologists.
• think critically about the major tension areas between psychology and Christianity.
• describe how psychology might be different in theory and practice if it was built upon the foundation of Christian assumptions.

INTEGRATION OF FAITH AND LEARNING
The integration of faith and learning occurs in this course as we: 1) explore the relationship of learning to faith as well as faith to learning, 2) describe and evaluate the major world view systems underlying psychology, 3) examine the major models of integration of psychology and Christianity used by Christian psychologists, 4) think critically about the major tension areas between psychology and Christianity, and 5) examine how psychology might be different in theory and practice if it was built upon the foundation of Christian assumptions.

REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS
No single textbook will be used for your learning in this class. Instead, the on-line and written materials

have been selected by me to satisfy the need for a guiding text of ideas. This subject matter on the integration of psychology and Christianity is not a common course subject like biology or history where a large number of text books exist. This subject instead relates to many ideas which we must bring together in one course. There are four general text sources for you for this course.
1. I have written material in each lesson specifically for this course. Some of this material I have adapted from several of my books or articles on the integration of psychology and Christianity.
2. There are also articles that you must obtain from your library (probably from the interlibrary loan services of your library). These articles will expose you to some good ideas from important Christian psychologists as well as an important journal related to the integration of psychology and Christianity. Several of these articles may not be found in a public library, so we have put them online. You will find them in the Documents section of this course. You will find a listing of the articles below.
3. You will also have to read on-line materials for assignments in each lesson.
4. Finally, you will be selecting a book of your choice in Part III of the course for a written report.
Articles:
Collins, Gary R. Psychology on a new foundation: a proposal for the future. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 1973, Volume 1(1), 19-27.
Crabb, Lawrence J. Biblical authority and Christian psychology. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 1981, Volume 9(4), 305-311.

LEARNING DOCUMENTATION
To determine if the course learning results have been attained, students document their learning by submitting the following items:

Read all the materials and answer the lesson questions and do the lesson assignments at the B (80%) level. Graded P/F
Write 3 section papers. Graded 0-100% each
Take 3 section exams. Graded 0-100% each

LEARNING EVALUATION
Each component counts 1/6 of the total grade.

Lesson questions (do not figure in the grade)
Papers 1-3, 1/6 ea; Exams 1-3, 1/6 ea.