JUC Online Semester Learning is a unique offering of full semester-long courses during the Spring and Fall semesters, following our traditional M.A. course schedule. These courses are taught live online by our expert faculty, who are all deeply familiar with the history, lands, cultures, and languages of the Bible. All classes are taught virtually, with emphasis on the interactive nature of student and faculty engagement during lectures.
Note: Courses are listed in Eastern Time Zone.
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The Arab-Israeli Conflict: 1914-2022 |
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Mondays 11:00am-01:30pm Eastern Time |
Instructor: Dr. Jonathan Kaplan |
$510 audit
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This course surveys the causes and expressions of the Arab-Israeli conflict over the Holy Land from its roots prior to the First World War until recent times, as well as the major efforts to bring about its peaceful resolution. As it progresses chronologically, the class will consider conflicting narratives and examine the religious, nationalist, interstate, social, and international dimensions of the conflict. Discussions are based on graphic presentations and an analysis of key documents. 3 credit hours. Offered online only. |
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Faculty BiographyDr. Jonathan Kaplan: B.A., M.A., Ph.D., in Modern Jewish History, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Recipient of the Herzl Fellows Award. Past Vice Provost, Rothberg International School at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Born in the U.S., resided in Israel since 1972. Published author. Began teaching at JUC in 1986. |
Biblical Archaeology I |
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Thursdays 11:00am - 01:30pm Eastern Time |
Instructors: Dr. Chris McKinny and Dr. Kyle Keimer |
$510 audit
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This course is 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. 3 credit hours. Offered online only. |
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Faculty BiographiesDr. Chris McKinny: B.A., The Master's College; M.A., Jerusalem University College; M.A., Bar Ilan University; Ph.D., Bar Ilan University. Research Fellow, Gesher Media. Excavations at Tel Burna, Tell es-Safi, Kiriath-jearim, and Horvat Eres. Senior staff member, Tel Burna Archaeological Project. Ordained minister. Extensive publications. Began teaching at JUC in 2021.
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Contexts of the Holy City |
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Mondays 8:00pm - 10:30pm Eastern Time |
Instructor: Chandler Collins |
$510 audit
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This course is an exploration of Jerusalem during key periods in biblical history, including the eras of: David and Solomon, Hezekiah, Jeremiah, Nehemiah, the Hasmoneans, Herod the Great and Jesus, the Apostles, and the Jewish War against the Romans. Our study will be aided by data about Jerusalem from extra-biblical texts, geography, and archaeology, as well as the cartography, photography, and accounts of early western explorers and local Jerusalemites. Important literary and theological themes related to Jerusalem will also be explored. 3 credit hours. Offered online only. |
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Faculty BiographyChandler Collins: B.A., Moody Bible Institute; graduate studies, Jerusalem University College; M.A., M.A., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Ph.D. Candidate, Bar Ilan University. Excavations at Khirbet Qeiyafa and Abel Beth Maacah. Former Dean at Jerusalem University College. Began teaching at JUC in 2017. |
Cultural Backgrounds of the Bible |
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Thursdays 9:30pm - 12:00am Eastern Time |
Instructor: Dr. Oliver Hersey |
$510 audit
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This course is an analysis of various aspects of daily life in biblical times to provide focal points that help students understand biblical customs and ways of thought more accurately. The course integrates anthropology, archaeology, and geography to develop a culturally aware approach to reading and interpreting the Bible. 3 credit hours. Offered online only. |
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Faculty BiographyDr. Oliver Hersey: B.A. in Mathematics, Calvin College; M.A. in Biblical Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Languages, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; Ph.D. in Old Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. President of Jerusalem University College. Began teaching at JUC in 2021. |
Orthodox Christian Voices in the Umayyad and Abbasside Periods |
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Wednesdays 09:30am - 12:00pm Eastern Time |
Instructor: Rev. Dr. Petra Heldt |
$510 audit
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The course examines the voices of Christian Orthodox theologians in the Middle East of the Umayyad (661-750 CE) and Abbasside (750-1258) periods, a time of growing religious and political Islamic claims. The authors explored in this course were both pious men and eminent scholars who wrote their works facing the destruction of their traditional cultural areas. Their writings influenced Eastern and Western theologies and are still among the current works of the churches that those authors produced. 3 credit hours. Offered online only. |
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Faculty BiographyRev. Dr. Petra Heldt: Mag. Theol., Humboldt University Berlin (Kirchliche Hochschule); Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Director of the Ecumenical Theological Research Fraternity in Israel. Ordained minister. Extensive publications. Began teaching at JUC in 1990. |
Note: Courses are listed in Eastern Time Zone.
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Ancient Egypt and the Biblical World |
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Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00pm-11:15pm Eastern Time |
Instructor: Dr. Paul Wright |
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Offered as an introduction to ancient Egypt, this course surveys Egypt's history and culture from the Predynastic Period (4th millennium B.C.) through the Ptolemaic Period (30 B.C.). Particular emphasis will be placed on the connection of Egypt with the land of Canaan and Israel, as well as on the connection of persons and events mentioned in the Bible with ancient Egypt. 3 credit hours. Offered online only. |
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Faculty BiographyDr. Paul Wright: B.A., Bethel University; M.A., Institute of Holy Land Studies / Jerusalem University College; M.A., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; M.Phil, Ph.D., Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. 10th President, Jerusalem University College (2002-2021). Visiting faculty, Tantur Ecumenical Institute for Theological Studies (2002-2020). Excavations at Giloh, Ramat Rahel, and Tel Rehov. Ordained minister. Published author. Began teaching at JUC in 1996. |
Archaeology of the Judean Shephelah |
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Wednesdays 11:00am-01:30pm Eastern Time |
Instructors: Dr. Chris McKinny and Dr. Kyle Keimer |
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This course will focus on the history and archaeology of the Judean Shephelah from the Early Bronze Age through the Roman Period. The Judean Shephelah is a transitional region comprised of a series of wide east-west valleys and foothills that separate the hill country in the east and the coastal plain in the west. During much of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament period, the Shephelah was a border region between biblical Philistia and Judah, and later it witnessed interaction between Phoenicians, Idumeans, and Jews. It is the setting of many narratives of major biblical heroes and villains such as Samson, Samuel, Saul, Goliath, David, Shishak, Asa, Hazael, Hezekiah, Sennacherib, Josiah, and Nebuchadnezzar. Beyond what the biblical text has to tell us about this region, the Shephelah has been one of the most intensively excavated regions in all of Israel – which itself is one of the most excavated places on earth. Dr. Chris McKinny and Dr. Kyle Keimer have spent many years excavating at various sites in the Shephelah, working alongside other archaeologists. In this course, they will present on the archaeology and history of the Shephelah and introduce you to other leading experts on the region. 3 credit hours. Offered online only. |
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Faculty BiographyDr. Chris McKinny: B.A., The Master's College; M.A., Jerusalem University College; M.A., Bar Ilan University; Ph.D., Bar Ilan University. Research Fellow, Gesher Media. Excavations at Tel Burna, Tell es-Safi, Kiriath-jearim, and Horvat Eres. Senior staff member, Tel Burna Archaeological Project. Ordained minister. Extensive publications. Began teaching at JUC in 2021.
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Lessons from the Land: Applications for Teaching and Ministry |
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Mondays 12:30pm-03:00pm Eastern Time |
Instructors: Dr. John Monson |
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After revisiting the land through a virtual study tour, students delve deeper into the original context of Scripture and the ways in which the land and its lessons can be incorporated into ministry, Bible study, and teaching. Case studies from both regional and biblical perspectives build upon the JUC short-term and Physical Settings courses. Note: For those who have not studied at JUC, prior completion of the field trip materials is required and can be counted as a substitute assignment (Regions on the Run, Regional Study Guide, and maps). 3 credit hours. Offered online only. |
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Faculty BiographyDr. John Monson: B.A., Wheaton College; M.A., Institute of Holy Land Studies; graduate studies, Hebrew University; M.A., Ph.D., Harvard University. Associate Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Excavations at Jerusalem, Har-Tuv, Timnah, Lachish, Qeiyafa, Abel Beth-Maacah, Ashkelon. Published author. Began teaching at JUC in 1988. |
Physical Settings of the Bible |
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Tuesdays 09:30am-12:00pm Eastern Time |
Instructor: Chandler Collins |
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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. Online only. To apply this course toward the JUC M.A. BHG program, all in-land field studies must be completed within 1 year of the end date of this course. 4 credit hours. Offered online only. |
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Faculty BiographyChandler Collins: B.A., Moody Bible Institute; graduate studies, Jerusalem University College; M.A., M.A., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Ph.D. Candidate, Bar Ilan University. Excavations at Khirbet Qeiyafa and Abel Beth Maacah. Administrative Dean at Jerusalem University College. Began teaching at JUC in 2017. |
The World of Jesus and His Disciples |
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Fridays 08:00am-10:30am Eastern Time |
Instructor: Rebecca Pettit |
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The course is an introduction to the historical, geographical, and social settings of the age into which Jesus was born. Lectures will focus on the history of the Second Temple Period and the years after the destruction of the Second Temple (586 BCE-120 CE), a time of crucial formation for both Judaism and Christianity. This course will thoughtfully consider the cultural background of the society into which Jesus was born and raised and provide the student with a method to enhance biblical study and foundational hermeneutic through archaeology, geography, and textual sources. 3 credit hours. Offered online only. |
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Faculty BiographyRebecca Pettit: B.A., Northland International University; M.A., M.A., Jerusalem University College; M.A., Bar-Ilan University. Award-winning filmmaker. Docent at The Writers’ Gathering. Excavations at Tel Gezer. Published author. Began teaching at JUC in 2018. |
Yes! You can take as many courses or studies as you would like.
Yes, we offer technical assistance through our North American office that operates from 9:00am-5:00pm EST. You are welcome to contact our team at support@juc.edu with your questions.
There are no scholarships available for JUC Online. However, we allow anyone to enroll in JUC Online Semester Learning courses for audit at a reduced rate. Additionally, the application fee is waived for Semester Learning courses.
Yes. If JUC M.A. students take all the required in-residence courses for their program (48 credits for M.A., 24 credits for Graduate Certificate, and 12 credits for Semester Abroad) they can take as many additional JUC Online courses as they would like. If a student does not take more than 16 credit hours in each semester, they will not be charged extra for JUC Online courses.
No, JUC Online courses do not replace any of the courses required to complete the 48-credit-hour in-residence M.A. programs even if the online course has the same name as an in-residence course. This is because field studies are foundational to JUC M.A. courses and an essential part of the curriculum that is required to complete a JUC program. However, JUC M.A. students who complete a JUC Online course may have the course included on their official transcript.
Lecture recordings may be provided at the discretion of each course instructor. In the case that recordings are provided for later viewing, please be aware that JUC Online students are required to attend lectures online in live time.
The JUC Online application is open for the Fall 2022 semester! Returning students with a JUC Online application do not need to re-apply but may register.
WHO: Open to All
WHEN: 29 Aug. - 02 Dec. 2022
PRICE: Audit from $510; Credit from $2025
COURSE CREDIT: Audit & Credit
DEADLINE TO APPLY: 22 Aug. 2022
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