Opportunity To Receive Academic Credit By Attending 2010 Forum
The annual Forum meeting is becoming increasingly known for its academic quality, not least in the area of Christian Apologetics. From this year forward, the Gimlekollen School of Journalism and Communication (GSJC) will offer Forum attendees the possibility to take one of two courses that deliver bachelor degree credits: CW 103 The Christian Worldview in an Apologetic Perspective (10 ECTS) or CW 205 Bible Communication and Popular Culture (10 ECTS*).
*ECTS is the European Credit Transfer System. CW 103 and CW 205 are integral parts of a bachelor degree Communication and Worldviews offered by GSJC, but may also be taken as individual courses. Even though they are offered as undergraduate courses, they will also be relevant as further education for Christian communicators in various contexts.
Programme
Programme
The programme begins with one-day Pre-Forum conference on Saturday, 21st May from 09.00 – 17.00. This day will include an introduction to both courses, followed by lectures, workshops, and information about the distance learning programme and course progression during and after Forum. Teaching in these sessions will be Lars Dahle, Margunn Dahle, Bjørn Hinderaker, Pete S. Williams, Steffan Gustavsson, Chris Wales and Tony Watkins.
Admission requirements, registration and fees
These are the same for both courses. Registering for distance learning on CW 103 or CW 205 requires candidates to be able to demonstrate general university admission status as set out by the Norwegian Ministry for Education.
In addition to the application form, candidates must submit attested* copies of their relevant certificates. Please be aware that there are different requirements depending on the country from which you are applying**.
Forum attendees are exempted from paying the ordinary course fee, and thus only pay the registration and exam fees. The fees are 100 Euros for each course. If funding is available, Central and Eastern European participants may apply for scholarships to cover these fees.
Course attendees must attend both the Pre- and Post-Forum in order to satisfy the obligatory teaching requirements of the courses. Candidates must have full attendance at their Forum Network.
Key dates
1 March: Application deadline. Application forms and attested copies of certificates must be sent to GSJC by this time.
Post-Forum, web-based lessons will be made available to aid students in their progression and revision of the course.
*All copies must be stamped and signed by either a representative from public administration (a school, local authority, police station, etc) or a bank/official post office. The copies must be stamped, signed and dated with the place of attestation clearly stated. Copies of copies are not acceptable. Where documentation is not in English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish, a translation must also be provided. The translation must be undertaken by an officially authorised translator or translation service.
**In some cases the Norwegian authorities require candidates to have taken university level courses in addition to completing secondary school. Details currently are only found in Norwegian so please contact us at GSJC if you require further help.
KL103 - The Christian Worldview in an Apologetic Perspective
Focus
Every worldview has apologetic challenges in that it must relate to questions, challenges and alternative viewpoints. However, some problematic issues are considered to be more central than others when confronting different worldview perspectives. This course focuses upon outlining and understanding different worldviews and their relationship to the Christian worldview, considered extremely relevant in the current pluralistic diversity.
As is seen below, the course reader is William Lane Craig’s Reasonable Faith. While it is not a requirement for students to have read through the materials before the courses at the Forum, it is of course advantageous to do so. If you have any questions regarding the materials or their availability please contact chris.wales@mediehogskolen.no
700 pages consisting of:
Craig, William Lane: Reasonable Faith, Christian Truth and Apologetics (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2008; 3rd Edition) (400 pages)
Participants must attend all lectures and workshops at the European Leadership Forum.
Participants must deliver a 1,000 word (+/- 15%) assignment
Assessment
A 3,000 word (+/- 15%) home exam which takes place over five days
KL205 - Biblical Communication and Popular Culture
Focus
Popular culture plays a central role in our time in the communication of worldviews. Therefore communicators of Bible texts and themes have a need to work from a worldview perspective.
Students will need to complete all the readings for KL205-1, choose one of the four options for KL205-2, and complete all of the readings for KL205-3. While it is not a requirement for students to have read through the materials before the courses at the Forum, it is of course advantageous to do so. If you have any questions regarding the materials or their availability, please contact chris.wales@mediehogskolen.no
850 pages consisting of:
KL205-1 Popular Culture as a Challenge to Biblical Communication
Johnston, Robert K.: Reel Spirituality: Theology and Film in Dialogue [Engaging Culture Series] (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006; 2nd ed.) (270 p.)
Watkins, Tony: Biblical Communication and Popular Culture: On Principles, Passages and Practices (Kristiansand/Southampton: Mediehøgskolen Gimlekollen/Damaris, 2009) (15 p.)
KL205-2 Popular-cultural Narratives as Central Communicators of Worldviews
Students shall choose from one of the following four alternatives:
Alternative 1
Couch, Steve (red): Matrix Revelations: A Thinking Fan’s Guide (Southampton: Damaris Publishing, 2003) (190 p.)
Film trilogy: Matrix, Matrix Revelations and Matrix Revolution.