Develop an awareness and sensitivity to act compassionately in our complex world.
Since the founding of Mercer University, the Roberts Department of Christianity has been a centerpiece of the College of Liberal Arts. Mercer pioneers Adiel Sherwood, Jesse Mercer, W.T. Brantly Sr., Henry Holcomb, and Billington M. Sanders were among the most courageous and progressive Baptist ministers of the early nineteenth century South as they set the tone for creating a Baptist university committed to both an inquiring faith and rigorous academics.
The tradition of a superbly qualified faculty in the Roberts Department of Christianity continues in the present. Students of Christianity at Mercer are taught by a faculty with broad gifts as theologians and religious scholars.
An Open Tradition
The Department introduces students to the biblical, historical and ethical dimensions of the Judeo-Christian tradition. The primary focus in the department is on Christianity, but we offer a course on world religion.
Courses are designed and taught in order to develop life-long learning skills, such as critical thinking, critical writing, and good oral communication. Faculty are concerned with what and how students learn and with the formation of their lives. The inherent goal for the Department is to produce students with the awareness and sensitivity to act compassionately in a complex world.
A Tradition for Diverse Careers
The scope of the Roberts Department of Christianity extends far beyond preparation for the ministry. Today, Christianity majors have many diverse career goals in mind.
About half of the majors enter divinity or theology schools, seminaries, or graduate school to prepare for some role in ministry — future pastors or ministers of education, music or youth. A growing number shape their career goals by combining Christianity with a second major at Mercer. Students interested in social work might major in Christianity and sociology, or leadership and community service. Another popular double major is Christianity and psychology for students heading toward careers in pastoral counseling and/or the mental health field.
Many major in Christianity at Mercer to broaden and enrich their continuing education in a variety of fields. The understanding and perspective gained through the comprehensive curriculum of the Roberts Department of Christianity is valuable in any profession.
Requirements
In addition to the liberal arts core curriculum, a major in Christianity consists of a minimum of 27 semester hours, 15 of which must be numbered 300 or above. A minor consists of a minimum of 15 semester hours, including CHR 101 Old Testament and CHR 150 New Testament, and nine additional semester hours, six of which must be numbered 300 or above. Students pursuing a double major are advised individually about the academic program that best will support and enhance their chosen goals.
All undergraduates working toward a B.A. in Christianity are required to take CHR 101 Old Testament, CHR 150 New Testament, CHR 250 Theological Research and Writing. Four courses must be taken from the following: (1) one course in biblical studies, chosen from CHR 302 Biblical Interpretation, CHR 305 Old Testament Prophets, CHR 310 Jesus, CHR 315 Paul, or CHR 380 Biblical Hebrew; (2) one course in historical studies, chosen from CHR 210 History of Christianity or CHR 370 History of Christian Theology; (3) one course in theological studies, chosen from CHR 300 Introduction to Christian Theology or CHR 320 New Testament Theology; and (4) one course in ethical studies, chosen from CHR 330 Approaches to Christian Ethics, CHR 335 Christian Ethics in America or CHR 363 Women and Christianity.
Departmental Honors
Majors may earn departmental honors by completing the following requirements: (1) achieving an overall grade point average of 3.75 in the major; (2) completing the research and writing of a thesis under the direction of a member of the Christianity faculty, and having the thesis approved by a committee of the Christianity faculty; and (3) taking an oral examination given by a committee of at least three members of the Christianity faculty. If the thesis merits recognition, three hours will be given for CHR 420 Directed Independent Research.
Courses
CHR 101 Old Testament
CHR 150 New Testament
CHR 210 History of Christianity
CHR 230 Religion and the American Black Experience
CHR 250 Theological Research and Writing
CHR 300 Introduction to Christian Theology
CHR 302 Biblical Interpretation
CHR 305 Old Testament Prophets
CHR 310 Jesus
CHR 315 Paul
CHR 320 New Testament Theology
CHR 325 Contemporary Christian Theology
CHR 330 Approaches to Christian Ethics
CHR 331 Philosophy of Religion
CHR 332 History of Church Music
CHR 335 Christian Ethics in America
CHR 350 World Religions
CHR 353 Religious Groups in America
CHR 363 Women and Christianity
CHR 365 The Baptist Tradition
CHR 370 History of Christian Theology
CHR 375 Classics of Christian Spirituality
CHR 380 Biblical Hebrew
CHR 400 Supervised Independent Reading
CHR 410 Seminar on Selected Topics
CHR 420 Directed Independent Reading