Draft for curriculum university course in Intelligent Design

The following draft for a curriculum has been developed by dr. Richard Ochieng and Martin Tunui from Eldoret University and dr. Eliud Garry Michura, Kabarak University

Study course  in GEO 717, REL 717, HIS 717 and ENV 1717

UNIT/COURSE CODE: GEO 717/REL 717/HIS 717/ENV 717

UNIT/COURSE TITLE: INTELLIGENT DESIGN

Geography Course – GEO 717: INTELLIGENT DESIGN

Religion Course – REL 717: INTELLIGENT DESIGN

History Course – HIS 717: INTELLIGENT DESIGN

Environmental Studies Course – ENV 717: INTELLIGENT DESIGN (Kabarak University)

Contact hours: 45

Credit hours: 3

Pre-requisite: NonePurpose

To equip learners with philosophical, biological and cosmological evidence in support of the Theory of Intelligent Design

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course the learner should be able to:

1. Examine the Theory of Evolution
2. Interrogate Philosophical, Religious, Biological and Cosmological Worldviews of Life and the Universe
3. Critically analyze the arguments in the debate of evolution and intelligent design
4. Appreciate the evidence and facts that supports the Theory of Intelligent Design

Course Content

1. Review of the following worldviews:

a. Naturalism/Materialism /Randomness
b. Evolutionism
c. Creationism
d. Religious
e. Intelligent causation
* Plan, purpose, meaning

 

     2. Methods of Intelligent Design Detection:
a. Scientific Methods
b. Irreducible Complexity by Michael Behe
c. Specified Complexity by William A. Dembski

3. Evidence of Intelligent Design Detection
   a. Darwin’s Deadly Idea
   b. More fossil discontinuities in the history of life
   c. Waiting time and other obstacles to evolution
   d. Challenges to the Tree of Life
   e. Natural selection

     4. The origin of the universe

a. The significance of a beginning
b. Fortunate Universe – The fine-tuning of the universe
c. The Multiverse
d. The privileged species and planet

5. The origin of Life

    6. Design in Human Life

a. Living Environment
b. Human Culture and Behavior
c. Human Uniqueness – physical, biological
d. Philosophy of the mind
e. Beauty and Nature
f. Science and Faith

 

Teaching / Learning Methodologies

Lectures; Tutorials; Class discussion; Videos; Field studies/Excursions

Instructional Materials and Equipment

DVDs, Video Decoders, Handouts; Chalk board/white boards, Overhead projector

Course Assessment and Evaluation

Examination                         – 60%

Continuous Assessments   – 40%

Total                                       -100%

Core Text Books

1. Behe, M. (2006). Darwin’s Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution. Free Press.
2. Behe, M. (2019). Darwin Devolves: The New Science about DNA that Challenges Evolution. HarperOne.
3. Eberlin, Marcos. (2019). How the Chemistry of Life Reveals. Discover Institute Press.
4. Geraint, L. & Barnes, L. (2016). A Fortunate Universe: Life in Finely Tuned Cosmos. Cambridge University Press.
5. Gonzalez, G., & Richards, J. W. (2020). The privileged planet: how our place in the cosmos is designed for discovery. Gateway Editions
6. Gordon, B., & Dembski, W. (2014). The nature of nature: Examining the role of naturalism in science. Open Road Media
7. Kemper, G., Kemper, H., & Luskin. (2013). Discovering Intelligent Design. A Journey into The Scientific Evidence. Discover Institute Press.
8. Kitcher, P. (2009). Living with Darwin: Evolution, design, and the future of faith. Oxford University Press
9. Kjell, J.T. (2018). The Little Book of Creation: A Simple Guide to Intelligent Design. Proklamedia.
10. Kjell, J.T. (2019). The Majesty and Mystery of Life: Intelligent Causes in Nature. Proklamedia.
11. Kjell, J.T. (2020). How and Why the West Lost its Faith. Emphasis on the Christian Worldview. Ventura
12. Lo, T.L., Chien, P.K., Anderson, E.H., Alson, R.A., & Waltzer, R.P. (2020). Evolution and Intelligent Design in a Nutshell. Discover Institute Press.
13. Meyer, S. (2009). Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design. HarperOne.
14. Meyer, S. C. (2014). Darwin’s doubt: the explosive origin of animal life and the case for intelligent design. Herper Collins Publishers
15. Stark, R. (2004). For the glory of God: How monotheism led to reformations, science, witch-hunts, and the end of slavery. Princeton University Press
16. Wells, J. (2006). The politically incorrect guide to Darwinism and intelligent design. Simon and Schuster
17. West, J. (2015). Darwin Day in America: How Our Politics and Culture have been Dehumanized in the Name of Science. Intercollegiate Studies Institute.

e-Learning Materials/DVDs

1. The Intelligent Design: Darwin’s Dilemma, Unlocking the Mystery of Life and The Privileged Planet. Illustra Media. Randolf Productions, Inc.
2. Design of Life: Living Waters, Metamorphosis and Flight. Illustra Media. Randolf Productions, Inc.
3. Origin: Design, Chance and the First Life on Earth. Illustra Media. Randolf Productions, Inc.
4. Where Does the Evidence Lead? Exploring the Theory of Inteligent Design. Illustra Media. Illustra Media. Illustra Media. Randolf Productions, Inc.

COMMISSION OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION FORMAT

UNIT/COURSE CODE: GEO 717/REL 717/HIS 717/ENV 717

UNIT/COURSE TITLE: INTELLIGENT DESIGN

Contact hours: 45

Credit hours: 3

 Pre-requisite: None

 Purpose

To equip learners with philosophical, biological and cosmological evidence in support of the Theory of Intelligent Design.

 Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course the learner should be able to:

1. Examine the Theory of Evolution
2. Interrogate Philosophical, Religious, Biological and Cosmological Worldviews of Life and the Universe
3. Critically analyze the arguments in the debate of evolution and intelligent design
4. Appreciate the evidence and facts that supports the Theory of Intelligent Design

 

Course Content

WEEK	COURSE DESCRIPTION	LECTURE HOURS
Week 1	Review of the worldviews that are pertinent when discussing the ultimate Origin: a)     Naturalism/Materialism ü  Randomness b)    Evolutionism c)     Creationism	3 Hours
Week 3	d)    Religious e)     Intelligent causation ü  Plan, purpose, meaning	3 Hours
Week 4	Methods of Intelligent Design Detection: a)     Scientific Methods	3 Hours
Week 5	b)    Irreducible Complexity by Michael Behe	3 Hours
Week 6	c)     Specified Complexity by William A. Dembski	3 Hours
Week 7	Evidence of Intelligent Design Detection: a)     Darwin’s Deadly Idea b)    More fossil discontinuities in the history of life   CAT 1	3 Hours
Week 8	c)     Waiting time and other obstacles to evolution	3 Hours
Week 9	d)    Challenges to the Tree of Life e)     Natural selection	3 Hours
Week 10	The origin of the universe a)     The significance of a beginning	3 Hours
Week 11	b)    Fortunate Universe – The fine-tuning of the universe c)     Multiverse d)    The privileged species and planet	3 Hours
Week 12	Design in Human Life a)     Living Environment b)    Human Culture and Behaviour c)     Human Uniqueness	3 Hours
Week 13	d)    Philosophy of the mind e)     Beauty and Nature f)      Science and Faith	3 Hours
Week 14	End of Semester Exam	3 Hours

 

Teaching / Learning Methodologies

Lectures; Tutorials; Class discussion; Videos; Field studies/Excursions

 

Instructional Materials and Equipment

DVDs, Video Decoders, Handouts; Chalk board, Overhead projector

 

Course Assessment and Evaluation

Examination                         – 60%

Continuous Assessments   – 40%

Total                                       -100% 

Core Text Books

1. Behe, M. (2006). Darwin’s Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution. Free Press.
2. Behe, M. (2019). Darwin Devolves: The New Science about DNA that Challenges Evolution. Harper One.
3. Eberlin, Marcos. (2019). Foresight. How the Chemistry of Life Reveals. Discover Institute Press.
4. Geraint, L. & Barnes, L. (2016). A Fortunate Universe: Life in Finely Tuned Cosmos. Cambridge University Press.
5. Gonzalez, G., & Richards, J. W. (2020). The privileged planet: how our place in the cosmos is designed for discovery. Gateway Editions
6. Gordon, B., & Dembski, W. (2014). The nature of nature: Examining the role of naturalism in science. Open Road Media
7. Kemper, G., Kemper, H., & Luskin. (2013). Discovering Intelligent Design. A Journey into The Scientific Evidence. Discover Institute Press.
8. Kitcher, P. (2009). Living with Darwin: Evolution, design, and the future of faith. Oxford University Press
9. Kjell, J.T. (2018). The Little Book of Creation: A Simple Guide to Intelligent Design. Proklamedia.
10. Kjell, J.T. (2019). The Majesty and Mystery of Life: Intelligent Causes in Nature. Proklamedia.
11. Kjell, J.T. (2020). How and Why the West Lost its Faith. Emphasis on the Christian Worldview. Ventura
12. Lo, T.L., Chien, P.K., Anderson, E.H., Alson, R.A., & Waltzer, R.P. (2020). Evolution and Intelligent Design in a Nutshell. Discover Institute Press.
13. Meyer, S. (2009). Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design. HarperOne.
14. Meyer, S. C. (2014). Darwin’s doubt: the explosive origin of animal life and the case for intelligent design. Herper Collins Publishers
15. Stark, R. (2004). For the glory of God: How monotheism led to reformations, science, witch-hunts, and the end of slavery. Princeton University Press
16. Wells, J. (2006). The politically incorrect guide to Darwinism and intelligent design. Simon and Schuster
17. West, J. (2015). Darwin Day in America: How Our Politics and Culture have been Dehumanized in the Name of Science. Intercollegiate Studies Institute.

e-Learning Materials/DVDs

1. The Intelligent Design: Darwin’s Dilemma, Unlocking the Mystery of Life and The Privileged Planet. Illustra Media. Randolf Productions, Inc.
2. Design of Life: Living Waters, Metamorphosis and Flight. Illustra Media. Randolf Productions, Inc.
3. Origin: Design, Chance and the First Life on Earth. Illustra Media. Randolf Productions, Inc.
4. Where Does the Evidence Lead? Exploring the Theory of Inteligent Design. Illustra Media. Illustra Media. Illustra Media. Randolf Productions, Inc.

***