This is from a 2013 version of the Heythrop College website:
http://oldwww.heythrop.ac.uk/prospective-students/preparing-for-your-degree/undergraduate-reading-lists.html#c3793 and I've just focused on the Foundations of Biblical Studies module, intended for preparatory reading prior to undergraduate study.
Heythrop is a college of the University of London and is a Jesuit foundation, so there are plenty of RC seminary students there too.
BS101: Foundations of Biblical Studies
New Testament: general
- Ehrman, Bart D., The New Testament : a historical introduction to the early Christian writings (New York: Oxford University Press, c2012)
Paul:
- Horrell, David G., An introduction to the study of Paul (London; New York: T&T Clark, 2006)
- Sanders, E. P., Paul (Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press, 1991) [Logos has quite a few other works of E. P. Sanders, but I seem to recall that this is the really short guide, and might be useful as a taster. I can't find it on Logos].
- Hooker, Morna D., Paul: a beginner's guide (Oxford: Oneworld, 2008) [Morna Hooker's writing is clear, accessible and fair. Logos have her commentary in the Black's series on Mark, but I can't find this beginner's guide to Paul.]
Gospels:
- Stanton, Graham N., The Gospels and Jesus (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2nd ed 2002) [This is a useful short intro.]
Revelation:
- Woodman, Simon, The Book of Revelation (SCM Core Text) (SCM 2008) [Currently listed on Logos as part of a set that has not yet gathered enough interest...]
Old Testament General:
- Rogerson, John; Davies, Philip R., The Old Testament world (Repr. ed.). (London: T & T Clark, 2007)
Introduction to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament:
- Richard Coggins, Introducing the Old Testament (Oxford Bible Series, 2001) second edition [Nearly available, but only as part of a set that is priced too high for undergrad students.]
- Davies, Phil, Whose Bible Is It Anyway? (London and New York: T. & T. Clark Publishers, Ltd. 2004)
- Bruggemann, Walter, An Introduction to the Old Testament: The Canon and Christian Imagination, (Westminster John Knox Press, 2003) [I own the entire 27 volume Brueggemann collection, but for some reason, this one isn't in it and I can't find it on Logos].
On Ancient Israel history:
- Philip R. Davies, In Search of "Ancient Israel": A Study in Biblical Origins (Library Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies; T&T Clark, 1992)
- Davies, Philip R., Memories of ancient Israel : an introduction to biblical history - ancient and modern (Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, 2008)
- Rogerson, John, et al. Beginning Old Testament Study, Second Edition (St. Louis: Chalice Press, 1998)
