Inside Higher Ed wrote:
On Friday, an advisory committee to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recommended that the state allow the Institute for Creation Research to start offering online master’s degrees in science education. The institute, which has been based in California, where it operates a museum and many programs for people who don’t believe in evolution, is relocating to Dallas, where it hopes to expand its online education offerings.
In Texas, the institute needs either regional accreditation (for which is applying, but which will take some time) or state approval to offer degrees.
[...]
Officials of the Institute for Creation Research could not be reached for comment, but there is extensive information about the institute’s programs on its Web site. The list of courses required for the master of science education includes a number that are fairly standard ("Advanced Educational Psychology†and “Instructional Design,†for example), but also some that are not.
“Advanced Studies in Creationism†features this description: “Scientific study of the creationist and evolutionist cosmologies; origin and history of the universe, of the solar systems, of life, of the various forms of life, and of man and his cultures. Critical analysis of both creation and evolutionary theory using data from paleontology, astronomy, biochemistry, genetics, thermodynamics, statistics, and other sciences. Study of geologic principles and earth history in the light of Creation and the Flood; scientific comparative studies of recent creation; application of principles of Biblical creationism in various fields.â€
That language, and other comments made by institute officials, suggest that students would be exposed to the science of evolution. But other material on the institute’s Web site suggests that one could not teach or study at the institute while accepting the overwhelmingly broad scientific consensus about evolution.
The statement of faith for everyone at the institute requires support for both “scientific creationism†and “Biblical creationism.†The former includes the belief that humans were created “in fully human form from the start†and that the universe was created “perfect†by the “creator.†The latter includes the beliefs that the Bible is literally true and “free from error of any sort, scientific and historical as well as moral and theological.†Specifically, the statement requires belief in the literal creation of the earth in six days, that Adam and Eve were the first humans, and in the virgin birth of Jesus.
In Texas, the institute needs either regional accreditation (for which is applying, but which will take some time) or state approval to offer degrees.
[...]
Officials of the Institute for Creation Research could not be reached for comment, but there is extensive information about the institute’s programs on its Web site. The list of courses required for the master of science education includes a number that are fairly standard ("Advanced Educational Psychology†and “Instructional Design,†for example), but also some that are not.
“Advanced Studies in Creationism†features this description: “Scientific study of the creationist and evolutionist cosmologies; origin and history of the universe, of the solar systems, of life, of the various forms of life, and of man and his cultures. Critical analysis of both creation and evolutionary theory using data from paleontology, astronomy, biochemistry, genetics, thermodynamics, statistics, and other sciences. Study of geologic principles and earth history in the light of Creation and the Flood; scientific comparative studies of recent creation; application of principles of Biblical creationism in various fields.â€
That language, and other comments made by institute officials, suggest that students would be exposed to the science of evolution. But other material on the institute’s Web site suggests that one could not teach or study at the institute while accepting the overwhelmingly broad scientific consensus about evolution.
The statement of faith for everyone at the institute requires support for both “scientific creationism†and “Biblical creationism.†The former includes the belief that humans were created “in fully human form from the start†and that the universe was created “perfect†by the “creator.†The latter includes the beliefs that the Bible is literally true and “free from error of any sort, scientific and historical as well as moral and theological.†Specifically, the statement requires belief in the literal creation of the earth in six days, that Adam and Eve were the first humans, and in the virgin birth of Jesus.
Quote:
AG 505 GEOCHRONOLOGY (4)
A review, critique, and evaluation of assumptions and evidences for the age of the earth and its rock layers. [...] Special emphasis will also focus on the results of the RATE (Radioisotopes and the Age of the Earth) research project, including helium diffusion in zircon, fission tracks, radiohalos, discordant isochron "ages," and radiocarbon in supposedly ancient organic materials and diamonds, that together indicate that nuclear decay was grossly accelerated during a recent catastrophic event in earth history and that the earth is therefore young. A thorough analysis of all the evidence indicating a young earth will be undertaken.
A review, critique, and evaluation of assumptions and evidences for the age of the earth and its rock layers. [...] Special emphasis will also focus on the results of the RATE (Radioisotopes and the Age of the Earth) research project, including helium diffusion in zircon, fission tracks, radiohalos, discordant isochron "ages," and radiocarbon in supposedly ancient organic materials and diamonds, that together indicate that nuclear decay was grossly accelerated during a recent catastrophic event in earth history and that the earth is therefore young. A thorough analysis of all the evidence indicating a young earth will be undertaken.
Quote:
AG 507 PALEOCLIMATOLOGY (4)
Climates before and after the Genesis Flood. The descriptive and observational components of this course are suitable for the general graduate student who desires an exposure to descriptions of past climates. Numerical climate models like MM5 (Mesoscale Meteorology Model) and CAM (Community Atmospheric Model) will be used to explore unique conditions believed to have been present on Earth during and following the Genesis Flood. Data from conventional sources such as ice cores and sea-floor sediment cores will be interpreted in context of a young-earth time model.
Climates before and after the Genesis Flood. The descriptive and observational components of this course are suitable for the general graduate student who desires an exposure to descriptions of past climates. Numerical climate models like MM5 (Mesoscale Meteorology Model) and CAM (Community Atmospheric Model) will be used to explore unique conditions believed to have been present on Earth during and following the Genesis Flood. Data from conventional sources such as ice cores and sea-floor sediment cores will be interpreted in context of a young-earth time model.
The biggest thing (in my opinion) is not just that they want to offer some masters degree in Creationism. It's that they're offering masters degrees in Science Education using a program filled with Creationism-slanted courses. So you don't just go home and feel filled with knowledge, the idea is that you get a job and start teaching Creationism at the schools. The Institute makes clear that they want to see Creationism taught in public schools so I guess this is their step towards training state-certified teachers to carry the mantle against "evolutionism" (their word, not mine).
So, it's failed in Kansas and Pennsylvania -- will Texas be the first to give state approval to Creationism as classroom science?
Creationism advocates ignore the wealth of scientific evidence and concensus; Anthropogenic Climate Change deniers ignore the wealth of scientific evidence and concensus. 