| TH 101 | Theological Foundations | 3 Cr. |
| | An introduction to the study of theology in the Roman Catholic tradition. Core aspects of theological inquiry- the Bible, the Creed, moral theology- enable students and faculty to jointly explore the nature of Christian faith and the embodiment of Christian faith in concrete historical contexts. This course is a prerequisite for all theology courses. Each semester. |
| TH 201 | Church and Worship | 3 Cr. |
| | An analysis of the Church as a community of believers and a social institution; a study of church liturgy and sacraments. Spring semester. |
| TH 205 | Moral Theology | 3 Cr. |
| | An introduction to moral decision making and moral action in light of biblical principles and changing contexts. Each semester. |
| TH 206 | Comparative Religion (GD) | 3 Cr. |
| | A study of the origins and beliefs of major world religions in historical contexts. Fall semester. |
| TH 207 | Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 Cr. |
| | An overview of the origins, themes, and continuing relevance of the books of the Hebrew Scriptures. Fall semester. |
| TH 208 | Introduction to the New Testament | 3 Cr. |
| | An overview of the origins, themes, and continuing relevance of the books of the Christian Scriptures, with an emphasis on the four Gospels. Spring semester. |
| TH 209 | Christian Social Teachings | 3 Cr. |
| | An analysis of Christian social thought from biblical times to the present, including a study of the papal encyclicals and American Catholic social ethics. Fall semester, even-numbered years. |
| TH 210 | Catholicism: An Exploration of Catholic Identity | 3 Cr. |
| | This course explores, through ecclesial texts and some Catholic fiction and film, distinctive themes and issues that mark Catholic identity in the 20th century, including sacramentality, tradition, the faith and reason relationship, and Catholic understandings of authority and community. All interested students are welcome. Spring semester. |
| TH 212 | Christian Spirituality: Women Mystics | 3 Cr. |
| | The course explores the development of a theology of mysticism that emerged in the context of neo-platonism and its chief proponent within the Christian context, Pseudo-Dionysius. Following that, the course explores several texts by women mystical writers of the High Middle Ages as one access point to the interconnections that exist between mystical experience and lay piety. |
| TH 213 | Theology and Film (WI) | 3 Cr. |
| | In this course students will study the various ways that theology and film interact with one another; the manner with which film has been studied for theological themes as well as the influence of the religious imagination in the cinema. Students will view and analyze a variety of films from a cross-section of world cinema. Spring even years. |
| TH 220-229 | Ethical Studies | 3 Cr. |
| | Ethical studies courses will explore specific ethical issues that have confronted Christians. |
| TH 230-239 | Scripture Studies | 3 Cr. |
| | Courses within this category will explore biblical writings and themes. |
| TH 255 | Theology of the Land | 3 Cr. |
| | A study of the relationship of people and the earth, with a focus on issues of land stewardship as understood in the Bible, in the religious traditions of native peoples, and in the U.S. sociopolitical tradition. Summer session. |
| TH 303-304 | History of Christian Thought | 6 Cr. |
| | A study of major Christian doctrinal developments in their historical contexts, from the New Testament era to the present. Fall semester, odd-numbered years, spring semester, even-numbered years. |
| TH 289A | American Cinema and the Catholic Imagination | 3 Cr. |
| | In this course students will study four American filmmakers (Frank Capra, John Ford, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese) and how their films express a Catholic imagination formed in their childhood. Not all of these filmmakers retained an active Catholic faith into adulthood. However, students will explore how Catholicism as a culture continues to resonate in their films through ideas such as sacramentality, mediation, and communion. Students will also study how these concepts are shaped by the distinguishing cultural expressions of Catholicism brought to America by the Italian and Irish forebears of these filmmakers. By viewing such classic movies as The Searchers, It's a Wonderful Life, The Godfather, and Taxi Driver students will study how these directors present a distinctly Catholic vision of America. Summer session. |
| TH 289B | Theology and Science
| 3 Cr. |
| | This course examines how and why the relation of Theology and Science has taken shape in the history of Christianity, particularly in its becoming problematic since the rise of modernity. This requires a critical reflection upon philosophical positioning of these disciplines, drawing out important differences in "truth and method" while seeking a non-reductive dialogue. Based on these philosophical underpinnings, a theological re-thinking of God ("after Darwin") and of creation will be explored, both in its opportunities and challenges for contemporary Christian faith. Fall odd years. |
| TH 289C | Eastern Christian Traditions
| 3 Cr. |
| | The course traces the development of Christian churches of the East, including especially those that were beyond the borders of the Roman and, later, Byzantine empires. In large part, these churches developed in response to the Christological controversies of the fourth through seventh centuries, so the course traces the development of the eastern churches as one means of understanding the broader implications of Christology. Finally, this course introduces students to the existence of other rites that fall within the purview of the Catholic Church and are in communion with those under the Latin rite. |
| TH 289D | Theologies of Liberation | 3 Cr. |
| | This course first examines the beginnings of Liberation Theology in Latin America and critically considers how this has both challenged and nourished the Christian tradition and the fundamentals of theology therein. The course will then examine how this has begun to blossom into a rich variety of "theologies of liberation' in diverse contexts throughout the world. In this context, the course explores new ways of (re)thinking Christianity as fruitfully engaging the world by "building of the Kingdom of God" in and through the "option for the poor." Fall even years. |
| TH 289E | The God Question | 3 Cr. |
| | This course examines how "the question of God" has taken shape in the history of Christianity and how this question is being asked and re-framed today. Particular attention is given to how the tradition has forged "the God question" in terms of "transcendence"/"immanence" and how since modernity this has come to situate contemporary Christian belief in a new and deeply challenging way. In this context, the course explores contemporary ways of thinking about God that draws out the radicality of faith and its existential imperative to live/engage the God question in the challenges and ambiguities of the postmodern world. |
| TH 321 | Christology | 3 Cr. |
| | An analysis of interpretations of Jesus Christ's humanity and divinity, from biblical statements to contemporary explorations. Prerequisite: TH 208. Spring semester, even-numbered years. |
| TH 330-339 | Historical Studies | 3 Cr. |
| | Courses within this category will explore particular historical eras and social settings in the development of theological thought. |
| TH 495 | Theology Seminar | 3 Cr. |
| | A discussion of selected theological themes or important theologians, with contributions by students and faculty. While required of all theology majors and minors in their junior or senior year, it will also be open to other upper-level students who are non-majors upon the consent of the instructor. Spring semester. |
| TH 496 | Theology Research Paper or Project | 3 Cr. |
| | Theology majors must develop and present for the Department of Theology a theology research paper or a theology research project. The paper or project should provide evidence of scholarship in biblical studies, moral theology, church history, doctrine, and in another field of study as appropriate. |