Degree Requirements

This course is a critical introduction to the history of ancient Israel through a literary-historical analysis of the biblical text, including a more focused study of key books, passages, and theological themes (e.g., covenant and prophecy). The course provides the students with adequate tools to pursue further study of the Hebrew Scriptures.

This is a critical introduction to the history and theology of the New Testament, including employment of contemporary tools of interpretation.

This course continues the Christian ecclesial and personal understanding regarding worship, ritual, and sacraments. The praxis includes preparing and perhaps leading sacramental and ritual celebrations.

This introduction to moral theology explores the basic principles and methods that will enable individuals to assess moral arguments and to give a credible theological defense of one's position on current moral issues. Christian ethics lays the foundations for discerning and living Christian life.

This is an inquiry into theological, spiritual, and institutional history of Christianity from the time of Jesus until the present.

Within the framework of systematic theology, ecclesiology examines the nature of the church and its emerging challenges. This course considers both classic insights and new directions in ecclesiology, including reflections on the nature and exercise of ministry in the church. Central to the course is a critical examination of two documents of the Second Vatican Council: The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen gentium) and The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et spes). In many respects, the entire course is an extended dialogue with these two foundational documents.

The Catholic Church has a rich tradition of saints, heroes, and religious families who model how to live fully the Christian faith. This course will explore both the history and the theology of some of the great movements and schools, including Benedictine tradition as well as contemporary spiritual expressions.

This course will take students on a systematic investigation of the life, person, and work of Jesus of Nazareth. Participants will survey and analyze the revelation of Jesus in scripture, historical perspectives in Christology (including controversies, councils, and significant individuals), and contemporary perspectives.

This course is a survey of the Western philosophical tradition from its beginnings in Greek thought to the twentieth century; includes the reading and analysis of texts by Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Descartes, Kant, Nietzsche.

This course explores the theory and practice of catechesis, including such topics as theological foundations of catechesis and evangelization, learning theory and catechesis, the catechetical process and methods, adult faith formation, media and technology in catechesis, cultural contexts, and means of communication. Students will also explore how Christian evangelization is influenced by different cultural contexts.

Vatican II recognized God's presence in other religions and thus emphasized understanding and dialogue with them. This course studies a primal religion, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Chinese thought, and Buddhism.

This course explores major themes of communication theology in today's cyberculture. This exploration includes an overview of different ways that church ministers are using communication technologies from an international down to a local level. This overview includes a critical evaluation/discernment of how Internet culture reflects positively or negatively on the world of faith and religion. Pastoral ministers will explore how to integrate their ministry into the emerging digital culture as an active content producer. Students will acquire skills necessary to be effective Gospel proclaimers in cyberculture.

This course examines key socio-cultural and faith-development characteristics of adolescent life today and the broad foundations for doing youth ministry with and for young people. Participants will be encouraged to reflect upon and articulate their own vision of and hopes for youth ministry in their local contexts.

This hands-on course in parish management includes the study of solid business and management principles integrated into a Catholic atmosphere of respect and dignity for each person on staff.

This course is a more in-depth look at the life and history of the Catholic Church in America, including its particular contributions to theology, spirituality, and liturgy. This course will also examine the cultural challenges to and misunderstandings of faith in the American Catholic context.

Full course title: Finding God in All Things: The Apostolic and World-Embracing Spirituality of Ignatius Loyola

This course will study the life and history of Ignatius of Loyola and will explore the Spiritual Exercises as a developmental approach to his apostolically based spirituality. Ignatian spirituality is "the mysticism of everyday life." (There will be opportunities outside of this course to make the Spiritual Exercises in everyday life.)

This course will explore the role of the spiritual director or guide in helping directees follow the lead/direction of the Holy Spirit in their life. Besides exploring the art and principles of spiritual direction, the students will explore important themes that recur in spiritual direction—e.g., healthy and unhealthy images of God and of oneself, "spiritual darkness," and crisis and tragedy in the context of the pastoral mystery. Contributions coming from humanistic psychology will be integrated into the presentations to help understand the mystery of the human person coming for spiritual direction.

This course explores the Catholic social teaching and social justice issues in business and politics. This course explores the great Catholic social teaching beginning with the papal encyclicals and then the letters of the American Bishops on peace, the economy, capital punishment, etc. (Students may substitute REL 523 for this course with permission of the Director.)

This course studies the ethical principles related to medical-moral concerns, such as abortion, stem-cell research, sexual reproduction, and end-of-life issues.

This course offers the students an opportunity to examine the diaconate by examining its biblical, patristic, and canonical roots, its decline, and its ultimate renewal, authorized by the Second Vatican Council. The emergence of contemporary theologies of the diaconate will also be explored, based on a spirituality of the diaconate which is grounded in the deacon's sacramental initiation and ordination, coupled with an approach to diaconal ministry which is at once similar yet distinct from the sacerdotal ministry of the episcopate and presbyterate.

This course is a general introduction to the modern Hebrew language and culture. Designed as part of a broader theological context, however, it is presumed that most students will participate in this course out of a desire to enhance their ability to study Hebrew scripture more intently through familiarity with the Hebrew language. Therefore, students will examine selected texts of biblical Hebrew as well. Students taking this course for graduate credit will be required to complete a module on biblical Hebrew; undergraduates may do so at their discretion for extra credit. The course will consist of language drills in class, readings on the Hebrew language and Hebrew culture, and other activities. The use of Hebrew in both Hebrew and Christian scripture study and worship will be examined.

This course introduces students to the vocabulary, grammar, and syntax which will enable them to read Latin passages related to the study of religion and theology, especially as found in critical texts of ecclesiastical worship, teaching, theology and canon law. This course is being taught in an intensive format. Each class meeting will be two hours in length. The major objective of the course is to develop the ability to read and comprehend Latin in its ecclesiastical and theological usages. In order to do that, students will need to know and understand the vocabulary, forms, functions, and syntax of the language. Another objective is to improve English vocabulary and writing skills through knowledge of Latin words from which many English words are derived, an introduction to Latin expressions still in use, and a more solid understanding of grammar and language use.

This is an inquiry into theological, spiritual, and institutional history of Christianity from the time of Jesus until the present.

This capstone course examines the biblical and historical understandings of the theology and spirituality of ministry. It then looks at contemporary challenges and issues in ministry. The final outcome looks to articulate an apostolic as well as personal theology and spirituality of the minister. This course will include reflection on the student's ministry experience.