Course Descriptions

PH-1009
Philosophical Ethics — This course is an introduction to the philosophical study of ethics, focusing on key ethical questions (e.g., how we are to live, what we are permitted or obligated to do, etc.) and concepts (virtue, happiness, duty, obligation, the good, and so forth). Through a careful reading of great philosophical works in the western tradition, important ethical theories will be presented within their historical context, including consequentialism, deontological ethics, virtue theory, social contract theory, emotivism, and natural law. Class discussion will center on understanding and evaluating each of these ethical approaches, as well as their relevance to contemporary issues. Class format: lecture/discussion. Student evaluation will be based on class participation, weekly study questions, two short written essays, and a final exam. Intended audience: M.A. and M.Div.

PH-1056
Philosophy of Nature — This course provides a philosophical account of the nature of change, including classical insights from Aristotle and Aquinas, possible applications in contemporary science, the nature of causality, time and infinity. Students engage this material through readings, class discussions and short written assignments [MA, MDiv].

PH-1065
Theory of Knowledge — This course is a survey of epistemology that brings together Classical philosophy approaches with Contemporary debates. We will study the nature of cognition, perception and rational knowledge, as well as the main epistemological problems that concern these sources. We will see how from these sources we can develop, justify and structure our knowledge and deal with questions about inference, truth, skepticism and certainty.

PH-1115
Aristotelian Logic — This course focuses on the fundamental principles and techniques of classical logic first articulated in Aristotle’s Organon and further developed by ancient, medieval, and modern thinkers. The course is loosely organized around the traditional distinction of the three operations of the mind: simple apprehension, judgment, and reasoning. The course will include an examination of logical fallacies and a brief excursus into modern symbolic logic. Format: Lecture. Evaluation: Three exams; class participation. Audience: MAPh, MDiv.

PH-2040
Philosophical Anthropology — Through readings, class discussions, and written assignments, students will learn the Aristotelian/Thomistic account of the nature of the human person, including the notions of life, the soul, the senses, intellect, will, knowledge and free choice. They will also learn how these notions apply to the contemporary philosophical issues of the unity of the human person, mind-brain questions, body-soul dualism, human conception, and biological evolution. Prerequisite: PH-1056, Philosophy of Nature.

PH-2050
Metaphysics — This course presents a comprehensive introduction to Aristotelian and Thomistic Metaphysics. This is a hybrid course that combines a weekly synchronous in-person session and a online asynchronous session. A weekly pre-recorded lecture will available to the student before our in-person discussion meeting. Assessment includes weekly short assignments, a research paper review, and a end of semester 15 minute PowerPoint presentation. Some familiarity with Thomistic philosophy and some introductory courses are recommended before taking this course (in particular, the Philosophy of Nature).

PH-4030
The Intellectual Virtues — This course explores the nature of the intellectual virtues and their significance for human life, knowledge acquisition, scientific inquiry, and the transmission of knowledge. The course will begin with a close reading of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Book VI, and then examine developments and divergences from Aristotle’s account in the work of St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John Henry Newman, Heidegger, Thomas Kuhn, Michael Polanyi, Linda Zagzebski, Ernest Sosa, and John Greco. Seminar format. Student evaluation will be based on class discussion, student responses, and a final research paper and presentation. Intended audience: M.A., M.T.S., M.Div. and Ph.D. students.

PH-4214
Aquinas on Logical Demonstration: His Commentary on the Posterior Analytics — In this course we will do a close reading of Thomas Aquinas's commentary on Aristotle's Posterior Analytics, a work that examines the "matter" of logical demonstration. The focus of the course will be on the text of the commentary itself, though we will make use of some secondary sources as well.

PH-4215
Thomas Aquinas on Human Nature — This course will involve a close reading of the Treatise on Human Nature, in the first part of Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologiae, supplemented by other texts from his corpus, with an eye to attaining a deep understanding of Aquinas's conception of the human being as a unity of body and soul. Evaluation will be based on class participation, class presentations, a final exam and a substantive final paper.

PH-4216
Aquinas’s Commentary on the Nicomachean Ethics — This course will focus on a close reading of Thomas Aquinas’s commentary on Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics. The course will be taught as a seminar with the focus being on understanding the text, reconstructing the ideas and arguments therein, and critically evaluating them. Evaluation will be based on a term paper, a final exam, and class participation/presentations.

PH-4711
Mind and Brain — This course examines the mind-body problem and the solutions from mainstream theories. In the second part of the course we review
topics like free will, the self, the veridicality of perception, and religious experience. The course also addresses contributions from Neuroscience and AI that have shaped our understanding of the mind. This is a hybrid course that comprises an online pre-recorded lecture and an in-class discussion. Assignments include student presentations of academic papers, and a final paper. Familiarity with basic philosophical concepts is recommended.

PH-4909
Person and Self — This course studies the relation between Person and Self as it has been understood by various authors throughout history. It reviews different definitions of the person and of the self, trying to elucidate 1. whether or not they refer to the same phenomenon, and 2. what nuances each notion brings about human beings and persons in general, as well as 3. what kind of knowledge of the self is possible. This is a hybrid course that meets synchronously on Zoom on Mondays and in-person on Thursdays. The students will take turns presenting the readings and will prepare a paper or end of the semester project of their choice.

PHRA-4310
Poetry & Creative Intuition — Students in this seminar course will examine the relationship between creative intuition (sometimes called connatural knowledge) and the fine arts, particularly poetry. Focusing on the work of Jacques Maritain, students will develop a scholastic understanding of how this kind of knowledge is engaged during the creative act. Using contemporary authors, students will then examine how poetry functions to bring humans towards a deeper (connatural) knowledge of transcendent aspects of key human experiences such as suffering, death, resurrection, and the environment. Students will engage the material through seminar discussion. A research paper and class presentations will be used to assess mastery of the material. Intended audience: advanced MA or PhD; others may inquire from professor.

PHRA-4321
Philosophical Aesthetics I — Aesthetics has become a major field of philosophical investigation only since the 18th century, particularly since Immanuel Kant’s Critique of Judgment. Nevertheless, this class will not neglect the earlier classical tradition with its metaphysical framework, and we will discuss what has gotten lost without it.
Aesthetics explores the important question of value judgments in aesthetics. It also leads philosophy to investigate very concrete phenomena and problems such as the structure of the human mind and the concrete materials of art and music, as well as history and society in so far as they are reflected in art. This class will try to bridge the typical gap between abstract reflection and concrete phenomena in aesthetics. The first semester will focus on the philosophy of art and beauty in general; the following semester will explore the concrete fields of architecture, painting, music and literature. Seminar. Research paper and class presentations. Intended audience: MDiv, MA/MTS, PhD/ThD.

PHRA-4322
Philosophical Aesthetics II — This class is a continuation of PHRA 4321. It explores the application of general philosophical aesthetics in the fields of architecture, painting, music and literature. We will explore the internal structure of each of these art forms with the help of the conceptual tools developed in the previous semester, including the question of how each art form imitates nature. We will seek the mutual elucidation of the theory of aesthetics and concrete works of art; this will to a certain extent involve the history of each form. Seminar. Research paper and class presentation. Intended audience: MDiv, MA/MTS, PhD/ThD.

PHST-4020
Miracles — Miracles are a key topic of the philosophy of religion. Are they possible? And if yes, can we know that they have occurred? Answering these questions involves a range of philosophical and theological topics, such as: what is a law of nature? what is the nature of causality? It requires answering questions about probability, epistemology, metaphysics and historiography. The freedom of God and petitionary prayer, the possibility of revelation and its relation to reason – all these will have to play a role. Numerous philosophers and theologians have contributed to the debate, especially since D. Hume. We will engage selected texts of this ongoing conversation. Seminar; Class presentations and 15-20 page research paper. MA/MTS; PhD/ThD.

PHST-4030
Divine Hiddenness and the Problem of Suffering — In the Christian tradition God is understood to be personal and loving, and as such he desires to engage humans in interpersonal relationship. Yet this theological commitment – one that is shared by other monotheistic traditions – carries with it important difficulties, one of which is the problem of divine hiddenness. As this problem is often formulated, if God loves us and desires relationship with us, then it would seem to follow that he would make his existence known in such a way that no reasonable person could doubt it. After all, we cannot enter into relationship with a being that we do not believe exists! Yet insofar as there are reasonable, intellectually honest people who do not believe in God, this non-culpable non-belief seems to entail that a personal, loving God does not exist. Further, even if one sets aside this argument for atheism, the problem of divine hiddenness can be troubling for believers as well. Believers who are suffering will often seek divine assistance but receive no response – God is seemingly absent, or hidden, from such persons. Why would a God who is personal and loving remain hidden when those whom he purportedly loves, and who love him in return, seek him? Not only can this generate crises of faith for such believers, but it is puzzling philosophically why God so often appears to be absent even to those who believe in him. This course will explore the problem of divine hiddenness from both atheistic and theistic frameworks, seeking clarity on the nature of the problem and considering possible solutions. While we will primarily examine contemporary philosophical work on this issue, we will also make use of films, literature, and historical texts in philosophy and theology as we delve into our experience of God’s apparent hiddenness. Format: lecture/discussion. Intended audience: MA, MDiv, and Ph.D. students.

PHST-4035
Aristotle’s De Anima and Its Commentaries — In this course we will engage in a close reading of Aristotle’s De Anima, a fundamental text for understanding the nature of life and the power of the human senses and intellect. Our reading will be augmented by several important commentaries, including those by Alexander of Aphrodisias, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Averroës (Ibn Rushd). Seminar format. Student evaluation will be based on class discussion, student responses, and a final research paper and class presentation. Intended audience: M.A., M.T.S., and Ph.D. students.

PHST-4112
Levinas — This course will examine the thought of one of the major postmodern philosophers of the 20th century, Emmanuel Levinas. The course will center on a close reading of Levinas's key texts, exploring Levinas's conception of the other and the other's relation to the self. The course will also examine Levinas’s development and subversion of the phenomenological project, the influence of Jewish sources (especially the tradition of rabbinic scriptural commentary), and the extent to which he works within and transgresses the western philosophical tradition. Intended audience: M.A. and Ph.D. students. Seminar format. Course evaluation based on class presentations, seminar participation, and a 15-20 page research paper.

PHST-4215
Dante’s Divine Comedy and Aquinas’s Moral Psychology — Dante’s Divine Comedy is an epic poem that follows the character Dante on his journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, and is widely regarded to be one of the greatest works in the western literary canon. But in addition to being a great work of literature, it is also a great work of philosophy, with Dante weaving the virtue theory and moral psychology of Thomas Aquinas into his masterpiece. As a result, reading The Divine Comedy presents new insights into the thought of Aquinas, while also raising questions for the Thomistic philosophical system. This course will explore Aquinas’s moral psychology through the lens of Dante’s Divine Comedy, reading through the latter in its entirety alongside corresponding texts from Aquinas. As we will see, while reading these great thinkers independently is rewarding, reading them alongside one another leads to mutually enriching insights into the philosophical system and moral framework that each adopted. Format: lecture/discussion. Intended audience: MA, MDiv, and Ph.D. students.

PHST-4710
Subjectivity and Intersubjectivity: Historical and Contemporary Approaches — It is commonplace to note an asymmetry between self-knowledge and knowledge of other persons. After all, a person’s knowledge of herself is direct and (at least seemingly) private, whereas it is often believed that knowledge of other another person’s mind is indirect (i.e., such knowledge depends on behavioral evidence and inferential reasoning). But this asymmetry has raised a number of philosophical questions, including whether we can know if other minds exist in the first place. While solving this “problem of other minds” is important in its own right, recent work in philosophy of mind, social ontology, and developmental psychology has indicated that we not only have the ability to know that other minds exist, but, at least occasionally, to “mindread” – that is, to know what another person is thinking or feeling. Further, we often engage in acts of shared attention such that one’s own experience is interconnected with that of another person. How we understand these social cognitive abilities is intimately linked with our understanding of the nature and character of self-knowledge, and thus it is important to consider these issues together. In this course we will begin with an exploration of the nature and character of self-knowledge and subjectivity, followed by an examination of our social cognitive abilities. While much of our attention will focus on contemporary work, we will also examine the work of historical thinkers, most notably Aristotle, Augustine, and Thomas Aquinas. Format: lecture/discussion. Intended audience: M.A.Ph., M.A.Th., and Ph.D. students.

PHHS-1050
History of Philosophy: Ancient — This course will explore the history of philosophy in the ancient world from the pre-Socractics to Plotinus. The primary focus of the course will be on Plato and Aristotle, but we will also examine the work of select Greek and Roman Stoics, as well as the developments of Plotinus and the influence of Neo-Platonism in late antiquity/the early medieval period. Format: lecture/discussion. Evaluation method: participation, midterm, final, short paper. Intended audience: M.A.Ph., M.A.Th.

PHHS-1051
History of Philosophy: Medieval — This course will cover the development of western philosophy in the medieval period (ca. 500-1400), including its roots in ancient Greek philosophy and the Christian tradition, the intellectual achievement of the high medieval period, and the nominalist critique of the 14th century. Attention will also be given to the reception of Islamic and Jewish learning by the medieval west. The course will include a study of the thought of Augustine, Boethius, Anselm of Canterbury, Bonaventure, Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham, as well Ibn-Sina, Ibn-Rushd, and Maimonides. Class format: lecture and discussion. Student evaluation: class participation, midterm, final, short paper. Intended audience: M.A.Ph. and M.A.Th. students.

PHHS-2000
History of Philosophy: Modern — The class will give an overview over the development of Western philosophy from Descartes and Bacon to Schopenhauer. This will include Continental Rationalism, British Empiricism, Kant and German Idealism. Lecture/discussion. There will be a short mid-term and final exam (non-comprehensive) and a term paper. (MDiv, MA/MTS, PhD/ThD).

PHHS-2001
History of Philosophy: Contemporary — Lecture on late 19th and 20th century philosophy: beginning with Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, we will treat pragmatism, phenomenology, existentialism, hermeneutics, analytic philosophy, structuralism, postmodernism, deconstruction and leading criticism of the same. The lecture is designed to give an overview and is open to questions and discussion. Lecture/discussion. There will be a short mid-term and final exam (non-comprehensive) and a term paper. (MDiv, MA/MTS, PhD/ThD)

HSPH-4410
Hellenistic & Roman Philosophy — Greek philosophy after Alexander the Great. Epicurean and Stoic alternatives. Middle and Neo-Platonism. Judaism, Christianity, and Hellenistic Philosophy.

PHHS-1100
Intro to the History of Philosophy — This course will present the history of philosophy, including ancient Greek philosophy and the development of western philosophy in the medieval, modern, and contemporary periods. It is primarily intended for MA students; MDiv, MTS, and PhD/ThD students are also welcome. Format: Lecture and discussion.

PHHS-2100
Philosophy of Science — This course provides an introduction to the main issues in the philosophy of science, including the nature of science and the scientific method, the problem of induction, falsification, and scientific modeling. The beginning of the course covers the historical development of philosophy of science, including the thought of Francis Bacon, David Hume, Karl Popper, Thomas Kuhn, and later thinkers. Then the course discusses applications in select issues in the philosophy of physics, such as the nature of time, the nature of the laws of physics, and the implications of quantum mechanics. Students engage this material through readings, class discussions, presentations, and short written assignments. No Prerequisites. [MA/MTS, MDiv]

PHHS-4020
Plato — Reading and discussion of selected dialogues in English translation. Emphasis is on developing a strategy for reading the dialogues based on the contemporary assessment of their literary forms and their function within the Academy.

PHHS-4903
Patristics — In this lecture/discussion course students will explore the development of Christian theology over the first centuries of the history of the Church. After considering the contribution of the earlier apologists and Apostolic Fathers, we will introduce the major pre-Nicene Fathers: Origen, Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Clement. In the second part of the semester, we will explore the Trinitarian and Christological controversies of the 4th and 5th centuries, charting the emergence of Nicene and Chalcedonian orthodoxy through the writings of Athanasios, the Cappadocians, and Cyril of Alexandria. Particular attention will also be devoted to the development of liturgical and sacramental practice.

PHST-4812
God After the Death of God — In The Gay Science, Nietzsche famously declared (through his literary invention, "the madman") the death (murder!) of God.
This declaration has often been closely link to the presumptive end of metaphysics. How ought and can people of faith respond to such pronouncements? What forms of faith and religious life are possible in a secularized, presumptively post-metaphysical world?This class will explore possible answers to these questions by looking at the writings of great religious thinkers of the last two centuries, including such literary and spiritual giants as St. John Henry Newman, Dostoyevsky, Kierkegaard, St. Therese of Lisieux, G.K. Chesterton, Gabriel Marcel, Flannery O’Connor, Walker Percy, and René Girard. Seminar format. Intended audience: M.A., Ph.D., and advanced M.Div. students.

PHST-3100
Medieval Theories of Cognition — This course will explore prominent theories of cognition in the Middle Ages. Beginning with a brief introduction to the theories of Plato and Aristotle, we will progress through important developments in the early medieval period. However, the central focus of the course will be on theories of cognition in the High Middle Ages, with special attention given to the competing accounts of Thomas Aquinas and William of Ockham. We will then explore the legacy of each of these thinkers into the present day, evaluating their work in light of developments in the 20th and 21st centuries. The course will explore topics such as the mind’s relation to the world, the differences between human, angelic, and divine cognition, the function of cognitive powers, the nature of mental representation, and self-knowledge. Format: lecture/discussion. Intended audience: MAPh, MATh, PhD students.

BS-1560
Intro to Sacred Scripture — This course combines an overview of Scripture with an introduction to biblical exegesis and hermeneutics. The course briefly introduces students to each book of the Old and New Testaments, equips them with the tools for exegesis of individual passages of Scripture, and instructs them in guidelines for biblical interpretation within the Catholic tradition. Intended audience: MDiv and MA/MTS students.

NT-2526
Pauline Literature — This course presents an overview of the fourteen epistles (including Hebrews) which comprise the traditional Pauline corpus. Along with close readings of each epistle, this course introduces students to the history of Pauline scholarship (including interpretation ranging from the early church to modern "old" and "new" perspectives), critical questions related to authorship and theology, and the place of Paul within Christian theology more broadly. Intended audience: MDiv and MA/MTS students. Prerequisite: Introduction to Sacred Scripture or equivalent.

NT-2531
Acts, Catholic Epistles & Revelation — This course presents an overview of the Acts of the Apostles, the Catholic Epistles (James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude), and Revelation. The course focuses on close readings of each book/epistle, with attention given both to historical questions (authorship, dating, etc.) and to identifying each writing's distinctive contribution to Christian theology. Intended audience: MDiv and MA/MTS students. Prerequisite: Introduction to Sacred Scripture or equivalent.

NTBS-2550
The Gospels — This course provides an introduction to the four canonical Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The class focuses on close readings of each book, with attention given to how each author presents Christ theologically as the fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures, literarily as the subject of ancient biography, and historically as a figure attested by eyewitnesses. Intended audience: MDiv and MA/MTS students. Prerequisite: Introduction to Sacred Scripture or equivalent.

OT-2098
Pentateuch and Histories — This course introduces students to both the Pentateuch and the Historical books of the Old Testament. Given the large sweep of material, the approach is strategic. Closer attention will be given to key passages in each set of books while familiarizing students with the state of critical scholarship regarding their historical context. Theological questions emerging from the canonical ordering of the material, and certain aspects of reception history in the Jewish and Christian traditions, will also be touched upon. Intended audience: MDiv and MA/MTS students. Prerequisite: Introduction to Sacred Scripture or equivalent.

OT-2149
Prophets — This course introduces students to the history of Israelite prophecy and selected prophetic texts from the pre-exilic, exilic and post-exilic periods. Historical and literary critical approaches help appreciate the historical context of the prophetic writings and the literary art of the various prophetic idioms. Attention will also be given to the question of what constitutes prophecy at various stages of Israel's history, and its relationship to later concepts of prophecy within the Christian theological tradition. Intended audience: MDiv and MA/MTS students. Prerequisite: Introduction to Sacred Scripture or equivalent.

OT-2600
Wisdom Literature — This class introduces students to the Wisdom writings of the Hebrew Scriptures. It will acquaint students with the historical context of their emergence and the theological questions which they elicit, especially with respect to the interaction between post-exilic Judaism and the ancient Near Eastern and Hellenistic traditions. Intended audience: MDiv and MA/MTS students. Prerequisite: Introduction to Sacred Scripture or equivalent.

BSHS-3455
Christianity from Christ to Constantine — This course is an exploration into the writings of the early Church, using the primary sources of texts from key figures within the Church’s early centuries and Eusebius of Caesarea’s Ecclesiastical History. Following the story of a non-entity on Good Friday that converted the world’s greatest empire within three centuries, this course traces the continuation of the Christian movement from the Book of Acts up through the conversion of the Emperor in the fourth century, as it sought to embody, uphold and spread the gospel amidst persecutions and internal challenges to the faith. Employing a seminar format, this class will shed light on how the teachings of Scripture were understood and lived out among the earliest generations of Christians, the ways in which early Christianity corresponded and contrasted with the cultures, values and religions of the ancient world, and how studying these writings can help us better understand our own mission as heirs to the faith of these earliest believers. Intended audience: MDiv and MA/MTS students.

BSHS-4200
Josephus Seminar — There is no historical resource that sheds more light on the context of the New Testament and on Jewish interpretation of the Scriptures in Christ's time than the writings of Josephus. Nevertheless, modern historical interpreters surprisingly rank far behind our predecessors in actually reading Josephus's works, which in earlier periods were sometimes as popular as Scripture itself. This seminar makes good this deficiency by taking students through the complete texts of Josephus's Jewish War, Antiquities of the Jews, Autobiography, and Against Apion, introducing them to the untold treasures to be found in this first-century Jewish author. This class is for MDiv and MA/MTS students.

HS-1196
Church History I: 1st c. to 15th c. — History of the Church from the Apostolic Period until the end of the Middle Ages, focusing, in particular, on its transformation from a small Jewish sect into the international Church of the middle ages. Some attention will be paid to the development of doctrine, but more emphasis will be placed on piety and worship, dissent, missions, mysticism, ecclesiastical organization, and Church relations to secular government. The course will use a lecture/class discussion format.

HS-2196
Church History II: 15th c. to 21st c. — Church History, 1451-2020: a survey of the life and story of the Catholic Church from the fall of Constantinople to the pontificate of Pope Francis. While the intent is to trace the general trends and conditions that shaped the Catholic Church during 500 years, the opportunity is given to students to investigate more localized events and traditions, noting where movement has taken place to renew the Church and re-launch the Gospel mission. This is primarily a survey course. Format: Lectures, with some group work.

HRST-2083
Christian-Muslim Dialogue: Theory and Practice — This is a seminar course exploring important elements and critical issues of dialogue. The study will include an examination of theories supporting and challenging interreligious dialogue and the history of Christian-Muslim relations. There will be a special focus on the recent development of “A Common Word” initiative begun in 2007, the Roman Catholic Church’s response to this project and the Building Bridges Seminars organized by the Anglican Church in 2002. Comparative theology methodology and interfaith pedagogies provide a foundation for these explorations. Throughout the semester scholars from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faith traditions will join us as “dialogue partners” and we will visit their places of worship and gathering.

HSBS-4050
Patristic-Medieval Exegesis — This course will explore representative examples of biblical exegesis in the patristic and medieval eras. While the main focus of the course will be on the exegetical methods employed by patristic and medieval writers, we will consider these methods in relation to a range of issues, including: the relation between exegesis and the development of doctrine, the different senses of Scripture, and the interplay between the interpretation of Scripture and the devotional life of the Church. Lecture/discussion. Intended audience: MA/MTS and MDiv students. Evaluation: participation (20%); 20 - 25 pg. research paper (40%); research presentation (30%); and respondent presentation (10%).

ST-1091
Theology: Nature & Method — This course (formerly titled “ST-1710 Theology: Method & Structure”) is an introduction to the nature, method, sources, and structure of theology, focusing on (but not limited to) the Roman Catholic tradition and the work of St. Thomas Aquinas in particular. Issues to be considered include the nature of theology, its method, the relationship between philosophy and theology, the theology of revelation, and the respective roles of scripture, tradition, magisterium, faith, and reason in theology. The course also introduces students to writing research papers in theology. Intended audience: MA, MDiv, and MTS students.

ST-2300
Trinity — Beginning with the scriptural understanding of the Trinity, the course will trace the development of the doctrine, especially in the theology of Thomas Aquinas, and then examine certain contemporary approaches to the doctrine against that background (Schleiermacher, Barth, Rahner, Moltmann, Boff, LaCugna). Intended audience: MA, MTS, and MDiv students.

ST-3067
Theology of Sacraments — This course will introduce students to systematic theological reflection on the sacraments in general and on each of the seven sacraments. While other traditions will be touched upon, the focus will be on the Roman Catholic tradition, especially as found in the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas. In this tradition, it is believed that (1) the sacraments, being instituted by Christ and deriving their power from him, introduce us to his divine life, and that (2) these sacraments are celebrated by the Church, so that this life may be professed and shared. This course focuses primarily on the first of these two fundamental aspects of the sacraments, although the second (liturgical) aspect will be present in many ways. Intended Audience: MDiv or MA Theology students; other graduate students admitted with permission.

ST-3071
Sacraments: Eucharist & Orders — This course will help students to deepen their systematic theological reflection on the sacraments in general and on each of the seven sacraments, with a particular focus on the sacraments of Eucharist and Holy Orders. The Roman Catholic tradition as exemplified in the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas, with reference to its historical context, will provide the basis for reflection. Students completing the course will be able to explain, discuss, and apply the insights gained here for preaching, catechesis, liturgy, and further theological studies. Format: Lecture and discussion. Requirements: assigned readings, weekly questions & comments in response to assigned readings, 2 essays of 300-1000 words, brief presentations, annotated bibliography, and a final exam. Intended Audience: MDiv or MA Theology students; other graduate students admitted with permission.

ST-3128
Theological Anthropology — This course is an introduction to historical and contemporary issues in Christian anthropology, with an emphasis on the theology of Thomas Aquinas. It will consider (a) the human person created in the image of God, according to the states characterized by innocence, sin, law, grace, and glory; (b) historical justification & nature/grace controversies; and (c) hope & eschatology. Intended audience: MA, MTS, and MDiv students.

STHS-2500
Patristic Theology: Christology and the Early Church Councils — This course surveys the main lines of Christological developments of the first millennia, beginning with the earliest Church Fathers, and showing how these developments culminate in the Christological debates of the early Church Councils from Nicaea to Constantinople III. Format: lecture and discussion. Intended audience: MA, MTS, and MDiv students.

STPH-3095
The One Creator God — Classical and contemporary questions regarding the nature of God and creation will be addressed through the retrieval of the tradition of Thomas Aquinas. Existence and attributes of God, divine compassion and human suffering, the possibility and nature of God-talk, divine action and contemporary science, cosmology and creation. Intended audience: MA, MTS, MDiv, and PhD students.

STSP-3036
Ecclesiology: Foundations — This foundational course invites students to examine the Church in Scripture, the rising of the Christian community, and the progressive self-awareness of the early community as it responded to the call of the Gospel and the needs of the times (part one). The next step is to survey the “quest for ecclesiology” in the movement from the Reformation and the Council of Trent to the twentieth century and all that went into creating “a Vatican II mentality” (part two). The final step is to highlight Church in the contemporary world: Church as mystery, community sent to announce and celebrate salvation; Church that witnesses and serves (part three). The course ends by taking stock of the tasks confronting the Church today.

PHST-4812
God After the Death of God — In The Gay Science, Nietzsche famously declared (through his literary invention, "the madman") the death (murder!) of God.
This declaration has often been closely link to the presumptive end of metaphysics. How ought and can people of faith respond to such pronouncements? What forms of faith and religious life are possible in a secularized, presumptively post-metaphysical world? This class will explore possible answers to these questions by looking at the writings of great religious thinkers of the last two centuries, including such literary and spiritual giants as St. John Henry Newman, Dostoyevsky, Kierkegaard, St. Therese of Lisieux, G.K. Chesterton, Gabriel Marcel, Flannery O’Connor, Walker Percy, and René Girard. Seminar format. Intended audience: M.A., Ph.D., and advanced M.Div. students.

ST-2161
Introduction to Spiritual Theology — A study of spiritual growth in the Christian life, and of some of the different responses Christians have had to the universal call to holiness that every Christians receives. Considers the writings of many saints, theologians and mystics who have reflected on the mystery of the Christian life and our call to grow in Christ toward the perfection of charity and our participation in the life of the Trinity. Working from a holistic vision of sanctification in both the ascetical and mystical aspects of the Christian life, this course draws on biblical and patristic sources, especially as they are developed by the Dominican tradition of spiritual reflection, to offer a holistic account of Christian holiness and the call to perfection. MA, MDiv, MTS, and STB students are welcome.

STHS-2200
Early Christian Ascetical Literature — This course is designed to introduce the students to the early ascetical literature of the Church with a focus on the early literature of the desert. The course will focus on the historical context and theological content of these writings. The course will be lecture based, offering students an exam or a paper option.

STHS-2330
Angels & Demons — This course examines the theology of angels and demons in the Christian tradition, with a focus on the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas. It will include the history of doctrine, as well as systematic reflection on how angelology can shed light on our current theological conceptions of God, Christ, and humanity.

STHS-2650
Systematic Christology — Through this course, students will attain a systematic understanding of Aquinas’s teaching on Christ and his salvific work, with reference to patristic, medieval, modern, and contemporary developments in Christology. Ordinarily, in preparation for the course, students will have completed “STHS-2500 Patristic Theology: Christology and the Early Church Councils” or equivalent. Format: lecture & discussion. Students will be evaluated on weekly contributions, presentations, and at least two “quaestiones disputatae,” according to a format to be explained in class. This course is a core requirement for the DSPT MDiv; MA, MTS, and advanced STB students are also welcome.

STHS-2700
Intro to Mariology — Through this course, students will attain an understanding of Catholic teaching on the Blessed Virgin Mary and her role in salvation history, with reference to patristic, medieval, modern, and contemporary developments in Christology and Mariology. The teachings of Aquinas will serve as a frame of reference. Ordinarily, in preparation for the course, students will have completed “STHS-2500 Patristic Theology: Christology and the Early Church Councils” or equivalent. Format: lecture & discussion. Students will be evaluated on weekly contributions, presentations, and “quaestiones disputatae,” according to a format to be explained in class; with the instructor's permission, students may take the course as a Special Reading Course for 3.0 units, involving further student work and an extensive research paper. MA, MDiv, MTS, and advanced STB students are welcome.

STHS-2800
Intro to Eschatology — Through this course, students will attain a systematic theological understanding of Catholic teachings on final fulfillment, including conceptions of death, resurrection, judgment, heaven, hell, purgatory, the end and renewal of the world, apocalypse and apokatastasis. With sacred scripture as principal source and texts of the Church’s magisterium as doctrinal guides, the theology of Thomas Aquinas will serve as an interpretive framework, as we consider patristic, medieval, modern, and contemporary developments. Format: lecture & discussion. Students will be evaluated on weekly contributions, presentations, and “quaestiones disputatae,” according to a format to be explained in class. With the instructor's permission, students may take the course as a Special Reading Course for 3.0 units, involving further student work and an extensive research paper. MA, MDiv, MTS, and advanced STB students are welcome.

STHS-4041
Truth and Authority in the City of God — This seminar is a theology course with a strong historical context. It covers all twenty-two books of Augustine’s “great and arduous work,” the City of God, which stands as the longest work presenting a sustained argument to survive from Graeco-Roman antiquity. We trace the evolution and multiple uses of the two-cities theme, how it illuminates his social, moral, and political philosophy/theology, his understanding of spiritual conversion by which prodigals become pilgrims, and his approach to history and eschatology. Particular attention is given to Augustine’s assessment of the authority of the discourses (words, speeches, myths) of the gentiles, for he was the master of word-signs and performances. Theologia are the discourses about the divine, either on our part about the divine or on the part of the divine about creatures. The gentiles adapted theology to the stage, the civic order, and to the order of nature. Augustine ponders deeply the inefficacy of ancient wisdom and philosophical traditions to resist noble and ignoble lies about religion for the sake of political and cultural solidarity. He explores the crisis of human history once the revealed Word forms a people in truthful love. Intended audience: Advanced MA and Ph.D. students.

STHS-4042
Augustine Through His Sermons — This course will explore some of the major themes of Augustine’s thought as they are reflected in his extensive body of sermons: his account of Christ, the Trinity, the Church, grace, sin, and Scripture. While highlighting the interrelationship between the various aspects of Augustine's theology, this course will pay particular attention to the question of what it means to teach and preach Christian belief.

STPH-2209
God and Suffering — This course will explore classical and contemporary approaches to the problem of God and human suffering, including scriptural, theological, philosophical and literary sources.

STPH-2500
The Passion of the Western Mind — The first part of this seminar will center around a careful reading of Richard Tarnas' The Passion of the Western Mind, a one-volume narrative intellectual history of the West which stresses the discovery, loss, and recovery of the concept of form; the goal is for you to attain a broad, synthetic understanding of the western intellectual tradition from its origins in ancient Greece to the present, and for you to critically ponder Tarnas' theory of the religious, cultural, philosophical, and archetypal dynamics that have shaped this history. The second half will consist of an introduction to the thought of Charles Taylor, centered on major themes from his A Secular Age (and also from Sources of the Self); the goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the modern (“secular”) era that Tarnas introduces in Passion. Seminar, for MA and MDiv students.

STPH-4000
The Corpus Aeropagiticum — This seminar course is designed to help students develop the tools for the close reading of texts through a close examination of the writings of Dionysius the Areopagite. This will be a seminar type class where the students will give brief presentations on their interpretations and understanding of the given texts with the professor then providing the historical, philosophical and theological context.

STPH-4047
Augustine and Aquinas on Love — This course will explore the nature and role of love in the human experience by engaging with the thought of Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas on this topic. It will address a range of philosophical and theological questions about the character of love, including questions about the nature of self-love, the relation between knowledge and love, and how to concieve of love in the life of God. Throughout the course, close attention will be given to the points of agreement and disagreement between Augustine and Aquinas, and to their contemporary relevance. Format: lecture/discussion. Intended audience: MA/MTS and MDiv students. Evaluation method: participation in class discussion; research paper; presentation.

STPH-4400
The Thought of Benedict XVI — This course comprises a study of the thought of Joseph Ratzinger, both before and after his elevation to the Papacy as Pope Benedict XVI. Through a close reading of Ratzinger’s writings, we will examine his approach to the interpretation of scripture (hermeneutics), his dogmatic and moral theology, his account of the relationship between faith and reason, his theology of the liturgy, his engagement with contemporary philosophy, and his approach to interreligious dialogue. Class format: seminar/discussion. Student evaluation will be based on class participation, student responses, and a final research ppaper. Intended audience: M.A., M.T.S., M.Div., and Ph.D. students.

STPH-4500
Secularism and Faith: Beliefs as more than Therapy — Charles Taylor’s acclaimed work, A Secular Age (2008), takes note of the de facto pluralism of beliefs before providing an intricate historical account of how secularism emerged as an option within the “social imagination” of the West. Among other things, he notes the rise of a robust “marketplace of ideas” which includes the tenants of secularism and many other ideas not available to the ancients, and the unique ways the contemporary “self” has become distanced (“buffered”) from this increasingly diverse variety of ideas impinging upon it, as well as from even those beliefs to which it subscribes and holds dear. These are positive developments, in Taylor’s esteem. 

This course will explore some of the philosophical and theological implication of Taylor’s ‘buffered self’ using St Thomas’s writings on the virtue of religion and on the theological virtues—and a selection of readings about belief systems drawn from other thinkers such as Aristotle, Freud, Carl Jung, C.S. Lewis, Philip Reiff, and Alasdair MacIntyre. For example, does the sort of “buffering” which Taylor describes—the distancing of the self from its own beliefs—undermine how they function qua beliefs and
prevent them from delivering that which the self most desires and requires from them? For example, many the thinkers listed above have noted that the self has a deep psychological need to commit to something that transcends the individual and the moral need to believe that one’s beliefs are true in some sort of absolute way, and not merely comforting, inspiring, functional or otherwise therapeutic. If so, the buffering of the self, awash in an increasingly wide selection of beliefs, might also leave it morally bankrupt and contribute to the sort of malaise and deep psychological dissatisfaction which studies suggest is now plaguing the contemporary self in unprecedented ways.

STPH-4875
God at Work in Man: Gifts, Graces, & Inspiration — In addition to perfecting the soul, the various ‘graces’ also transform it into an instrument through which He works. This advanced seminar goes beyond introductory courses in Moral Theology or Theological Anthropology to consider other theological and philosophical questions which arise when God acts in and through the gifts He bestows. Among other things, this will lead us to an exploration of the notions of divine action, participation, instrumental causality, prophecy, and inspiration. This course is geared towards advanced MA, doctoral candidates, and other graduate students admitted with the instructor’s permission. In-class time focuses on the systematic treatment of St. Thomas’ philosophical and theological framework; writing and research assignments consider its place in history—his sources and the reception of his ideas—and its application to contemporary discussions.

CE-2045
Fundamental Moral Theology — This course introduces the student to the foundations and principles of Catholic Moral Theology. Using St. Thomas as our guide, the course will direct students through a systematic study of human action theory, virtue theory, natural law, sin, conscience, freedom, and grace. We will explore the scriptural foundations of Catholic moral thought while emphasizing the importance of character development, the role of the Church’s Magisterium, conversion, and discipleship. The course will also explore contemporary developments in moral theology by analyzing seminal texts and current trends that have impacted contemporary Catholic thought. Regular in-class examinations and three short essays are required for the course. The course is design for those pursuing MA in Theology and MDiv.

CE-2003
Roman Catholic Sexual Ethics — This course is an introduction to Roman Catholic Sexual Ethics, especially as articulated in the Thomistic tradition. As a topic of moral theology, this course is a scientific study of human sexuality within the setting of theological anthropology, the overarching Christian vocation, and contemporary magisterial instruction. The course progresses through a study of the principles of virtuous sexuality, concluding with an examination of contemporary challenges. The format of the class is lecture with in-class discussions. Evaluation will be composed of class participation, a midterm exam, written reading summaries, and a final project. This course is designed for S.T.B., M.A., and M.Div. students; prerequisites include Fundamental Moral Theology (CE-2045) and Theology: Nature and Method (ST-1091).

CE-3050
Catholic Social Teaching — The course guides students through a systematic study of Catholic Social Teaching as articulated by the Catholic tradition. The encyclicals of the modern popes as well as Summa Theologiae of St. Thomas Aquinas will be our main guides through this study. This course will explore the very meaning of a Catholic Social morality, the nature of human society, the common good, the three necessary societies, and the mode through which the human person comes to moral perfection within and through society. Also, we will examine certain themes within Catholic Social Teaching such as solidarity, subsidiarity, natural and human law, divine and human authority, and the dignity of the human person. In addition to granting students a systematic study of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching itself, the course will also contain an historical component throughout. We will outline the historical process by which the Church's thinkers came to understand and articulate the principles of Social moral life and how that process still evolves today. Student evaluation will be based upon class participation, two written assignments, three short in-class examinations, and one in-class presentation.

PHCE-4950
Personhood and Human Rights — Thomas Aquinas calls the word “persona” a “term of dignity” (nomen dignitatis) and says that human beings are “naturally free and existing for their own sake” (homo [est] naturaliter et liber et propter seipsum existens; Sth II-II 64, 2 ad 3). The dignity of the human person as a bearer of rights is therefore an important aspect of our topic. Challenges to human dignity may arise from scientific reductionism or in bioethical contexts.

This seminar will explore questions of human rights in a political and inter-religious context looking at how the philosophical implications of various religious traditions impact the notion of human rights. Included in this inquiry will be historical accounts of human rights struggles in local and global contexts. The course readings emphasize and respect the various ethical expressions of religious and philosophical traditions, not presupposing the human rights language as the only dominant and standard ethical expression, though it is an important one. Rather, the underlying human rights values of various traditions are stressed. In this way, the differences and commonalities among these religious and philosophical traditions can be better appreciated. At the end, we want to answer the question: Given different ethical expressions, are there common values shared by various religious and philosophical traditions that allow or even urge them to work together to uphold human dignity and human flourishing? How can this thinking contribute to deepening our understanding of human dignity and the importance of human rights theory and action?

PHCE-4961
Religion and Peacebuilding — This seminar course explores the religious peacebuilding and modern-day approaches to conflict resolution and political peace processes. The course will include the study of theological and ethical teachings of various religious traditions that offer a foundation for promoting human rights, social justice, and peacebuilding. Intended audience: MATh, MAPh, MTS, and MDiv Students. Prerequisite: Fundamental Moral Theology and or one course in historical or systematic philosophy.

ST 2210 
Theological Virtues — The course guides students through a systematic study of the theological virtues as articulated by the Catholic tradition. The Summa Theologiae of St. Thomas Aquinas will be our main guide through this study. The course will explore the need for theological virtue in the Christian life and the nature of the theological virtues themselves (i.e., their number, their subject, their object, their function in the Christian life, and the mode by which they perfect the human person toward beatitude). Student evaluation will be based upon class participation, three written assignments, and five short in-class examinations. In addition to granting students a systematic study of the theological virtues themselves, the course will also outline the historical process by which the Church's thinkers came to understand the nature of the theological virtues and how that process still evolves today.

STCE 2211
Cardinal Virtues and Virtue Ethics — A study of Aquinas’s teachings of the four cardinal virtues -- prudence, justice, courage, and temperance -- and their related virtues, which enable the human person successfully to engage others, self, and the society where they live. Some attention will be paid to Aquinas’ use of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, of Lombard’s Sentences, and of other major influences on his thought. Close textual analysis of the Summa Theologiae is coupled a systematic presentation and assistance from contemporary authors. MA, MDiv, MTS, and STB students are welcome.

SPST 2200
Charism & Mission — Students examine the Christian concept of charism particularly as connected to vocation and mission. The course surveys biblical references to "charisma/charismata", then shifts to Consecrated Life. Methods for identifying the charism of a founder will be explored along with questions for expressing a founder's spirit in changing cultural realities. Format: Lecture/discussion..

SPST-4066
Food Production and Consumption in the Anthropocene —  In a time when human activity is having permanent effect on the environment and planet (Anthropocene), serious concerns arise about the current predominance of industrialized food production. This course parses out these concerns in three modes: a) the shift in food production from “niche production for health” to “global production for profit”; b) the secular and Church perspectives on a just system of food production; and c) an exploration of ideas for the recovery of “niche production for health.” Significant time will be devoted to the principle of an integral ecology, as articulated in Laudato si (Pope Francis, 2015), along with the related “The Vocation of the Agricultural Leader” (International Catholic Rural Association, 2016). Thus, the lens is Roman Catholic, but all students are welcome. While relevant ethical issues are discussed, this is not a course in bioethics or political economics. The seminar format requires students to enter fully into reading assignments and class discussion. Through a research paper and class presentation, students will present the results of their own original research in a particular area of contemporary food production and consumption. Intended audience: MDiv, MA, MTS, PhD, ThD.

SP-4571
Francis de Sales: Sources and Spirit — Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva from 1602 to 1622, is known as a French-speaking spiritual author and director, but few understand his roots in the Italian Renaissance and how his training in secular environments prepared him for his life mission as one of the foremost Catholic Reformers in the aftermath of the Council of Trent. This course provides the opportunity to examine his principal works as well as lesser-known personal writings in an attempt to understand the basis for Salesian spirituality that he (perhaps unknowingly) originated – a lay spirituality in the Catholic tradition that paved the way for Vatican II. Primary sources studied and discussed.

CEFT-2000
Confessional Ministry (1.5 Units) — This course is only open to candidates for Holy Orders in the Catholic Church. The course offers a practicum on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, focusing on the theological, pastoral and canonical issues the confessor may encounter. The course is designed for Roman Catholic ordination candidates who have completed their M.Div. requirements in moral theology, canon law, sacramental theology, and pastoral counseling, and who are able to critically analyze moral action in light of the principles of Roman Catholic moral theology in the tradition of Aquinas.

FE-1021 & FE-1022
Field Education, Level I, Parts 1 & 2 (1.5 Units total) — This year-long set of courses introduces students to the fundamental skills required for supervised ministry. Students will learn processes of theological reflection for ministry and mission. They will develop their understanding of the vocation & mission of the ordained & laity in the Church and world, in light of Catholic teaching. They will also learn fundamental concepts and skills related to evangelization and collaborative ministry. Course is normally taken Pass/Fail. The student will earn a total of 1.5 units of credit for Field Ed Level I, Parts 1 & 2 after passing both courses. Intended audience: DSPT MDiv students.

FE-2021 & FE-2022
Pastoral Ministry Internship, Parts 1 & 2 (3.0 Units total) — This year-long set of courses (Field Ed Level II) is taken during the students’ year-long experience in a supervised pastoral ministry experience, through which they will (a) exercise basic skills of the apostolate, (b) engage in theological reflection upon it, and (c) document and communicate their learning about these areas. Each student is required to arrange for regular supervisory sessions with the approved supervisor at the ministry site. Prerequisites: Field Ed Level I, Parts 1 & 2.

FE-3021 & FE-3022
Field Ed Level III, Parts 1 & 2 (0.0 Units total) — Through a 2-semester apostolic placement, students will deepen their engagement in (a) fundamental skills required for supervised ministry, (b) theological reflection for ministry & mission, (c) their understanding of the vocation & mission of the ordained & laity in the Church and world, in light of Catholic teaching, and (d) fundamental concepts and skills related to evangelization and collaborative ministry. Intended audience: DSPT MDiv students. Prerequisites: Field Ed Levels I and II or equivalent.

FE-3023 & FE-3024
Field Ed Level III, Parts 3 & 4 (1.5 Units total) — Through a 2-semester apostolic placement, students will continue to deepen their engagement in (a) fundamental skills required for supervised ministry, (b) theological reflection for ministry and mission, (c) their understanding of the vocation & mission of the ordained & laity in the Church and world, in light of Catholic teaching, and (d) fundamental concepts and skills related to evangelization and collaborative ministry.

The student will earn a total of 1.5 units of credit for Field Ed Level III, Parts 1, 2, 3, & 4 after passing all four courses. Intended audience: DSPT MDiv students. Prerequisites: Field Ed Levels I and II, and Field Ed Level III, Parts 1 & 2, or equivalent.

FT-1400
Introduction to Canon Law — This course is an introduction to the Code of Canon Law. The course will examine the historical development of the Church’s legislation and will pay particular attention to Book I, General Norms, Book II, The People of God, and Book V, The Temporal Goods of the Church.

FT-2325
Canon Law of Marriage — A study of the principal canons on matrimony in the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church in their historical and doctrinal context: the canonical definition of marriage and its ends and properties, canonical preparation for marriage, impediments, form of marriage, mixed marriage, dissolution of the bond, convalidation. Attention will also be given to how marriages can be declared invalid. The format will be lectures with oral and written discussions. Evaluation will be by exams and case study papers. No prerequisites, although an introductory Course to Canon Law would be helpful. This course is intended for M.A., M.Div., and M.T.S. students.

FT-2333
Canon Law of the Sacraments — This course surveys the canons of the sacraments (excluding matrimony) in the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church, as set forth in Book IV, The Sanctifying Function of the Church, of the Code of Canon Law,. Students will learn the canonical requirements for the licit and valid celebration of the sacraments The format will be lectures with oral and written discussions. Evaluation will be by exams and case study papers. This course is intended for M.A., M.Div., and M.T.S. students.

HM-1073
Foundations of Preaching — In this course, the student is given the fundamental elements of preaching, preparation of Scriptural text for proclamation, the study and prayer over the text of Scripture, the composition of a homily founded upon and flowing from the text to facilitate an encounter with Jesus and His saving grace and the actual practice of proclaiming the Scriptures and preaching upon them.

HM-2230
Liturgical Preaching — In this course, we will explore the criteria for a homily imposed by the liturgical celebration of the sacraments. Each Sacrament will be treated as to the requirements that it places on the preacher so that the homily is in full accord with Catholic liturgical practices. We will also consider what is required in preaching in non-liturgical settings such as retreats, days of recollection, etc. Intended Audience: DSPT MDiv students and other clerical students; other students are welcome.

LSFT-2404
Celebration of the Sacraments (1.5 Units) — This practicum will introduce those in formation for priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church to the celebration of the sacraments and other liturgical rites according to the Ordinary Form of the Latin Rite. The course offers an opportunity to integrate their lived understanding of the liturgy through the study and practice of leading it. Students in the course will be encouraged to pursue their own learning goals through the way they approach the course assignments. Format: Practice liturgy sessions with discussion before and after each, with some sessions to be audio-&-video recorded. Course is normally taken Pass/Fail. Intended audience: Candidates for the presbyterate in the Roman Catholic Church. Prerequisites: A course in liturgy and a course in sacramental theology.

LSRA-1500
Foundations of Catholic Liturgy: The Ongoing Work of Jesus Christ — The purpose of this course is to provide a general introduction to Christian liturgy by examining fundamentals of worship from theological/juridic, historical, anthropological, spiritual, and pastoral perspectives (see Sacrosanctum Concilium, n. 16). The principle of “lex orandi/lex credendi” will be engaged as a theological tool for examining the roles that symbol, culture, and fine arts play in worship and discipleship. While the focus is on the Latin Rite, other rites are reviewed to guide the historical influences on worship and culture. Intended audience: MDiv, MA, STL, STD, and PhD students.

PS-1016
Pastoral Counseling: Process/Skills — This course introduces basic concepts, attitudes, and skills of pastoral counseling. Consideration is given to the fundamental process and skills of pastoral counseling to more effectively deal with common pastoral concerns and problems. It further covers professional ethics for pastoral ministers including issues such as boundaries, power differentials, confidentiality, and sexual misconduct. Systematic training and practice in basic responding and initiating skills are provided. Multicultural implications are included. Intended audience: MDiv students.

EDRS-2100
Catholic Education in a Contemporary World — Education, today, is considered a delicate task of accompaniment, of a shared life project, of intentionally proposed goals, and of values assimilated by those who facilitate the educational experience itself: the educator. Vitally linked to the educator, the center of all educational action is the student, in his own social context, in his personal dynamism, in his generational sensitivity, in his dreams, and aspirations. The intent of the course is to generate a dialogue between educational trends, current pedagogy strategies, the reflection of the Catholic Church and the Salesian Educative Proposal allowing new paths of understanding the Catholic Education nowadays.

LSED-2500
Catechesis and Christian Initiation — Following the call of Pope Francis (Evanvelii Gaudium) for a kerygmatic catechesis, this course will explore theological and practical aspects of catechesis through a careful exploration of the 2022 Directory for Catechesis and the new translation of The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. The content will examine theological and practical aspects. Students will develop a capstone pastoral project of their own design choosing one of the "scenarios" outlined in Part III of the Directory. A basic course in liturgy is helpful but not required. Intended audience: MDiv, MA, MTS, PhD.

LSFT-2405
Dominican Rite Practicum — This course is a 1.5 unit graded liturgical practicum open to Dominican friar students, normally after residency year, best in the year of deaconal or priestly ordination. The goal is to acquire the ability to celebrate Low Mass and Missa Cantata according to the traditional Dominican Rite in Latin. The outcome will be a correct and fluid "dry Mass" celebration of the Dominican Rite Low Mass and of the Missa Cantata. These two exercises will in equal parts provide the two graded "exams" of the course. This course must be taken for a grade (no pass/fail). Faculty permission required.

LSRA-2100
Christian Iconography in Contemporary Culture — The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the "language" of Christian symbols and metaphors, especially those that are most essential to the liturgical life of the Church. Students will learn how the early Church understood and used principles from Greek, Roman, and Byzantine culture to create symbols that convey the multifaceted dimension of salvation. The use of sacred geometry in art and architecture helped to create a Christian "imagination" that permeated both liturgical and domestic life. These principles will be engaged with contemporary ideas on Catholic worship and culture. The intended audience includes MDiv, MA, STL, STD, and PhD students. The latter may upgrade as needed. A background in early Church history and liturgy is helpful, but not required.

LSRA-4500
Liturgical Anthropology — This course will explore the historical, philosophical, and biological aspects of the meaning of “conscious and active participation” by the laity. The first part introduces students to foundational theological concepts, namely “active and intelligent participation,” as guided by a “liturgical piety” cultivated in the lay faithful. The second part introduces students to the philosophical anthropology of St. Thomas Aquinas, Jacques Maritain, and others as a means for the practical cultivation of a “liturgical piety.” In the third part, student will be introduced to aspects of “aesthetic science” (also known as neuroaesthetics) that support these practical approaches. Students will demonstrate their mastery of this material by creating and presenting a preliminary design concept for a catechetical program instructing either artists or parish-based groups on the meaning and development of a legitimate liturgical piety. Background work in philosophical anthropology helpful but not required.

RAHS-2604
Christian Iconography — The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the "language" of Christian symbols and metaphors, especially those that are most essential to the liturgical life of the Church. Students will learn how the early Church understood and used principles from Greek, Roman, and Byzatine culture to create symbols that convey the multifacited dimension of salvation. The use of sacred geometry in art and architecture helped to create a Christian "imagination" that permeated both liturgical and domestic life. These principles will be engaged with contemporary ideas on Catholic worship and culture. The intended audience includes MDiv, MA, STL, STD, and PhD students. The latter may upgrade as needed. A background in early Church history and/or liturgy is helpful, but not required.

RS-2206
Educating From the Heart: Salesian Leadership — The reflection of the Preventive System in a language that claims to be faithful to the Salesian tradition and at the same time seeks an honest dialogue with the current educational context become a proposal that delineates the theme of a strongly unitary personal life project where the Catholic educator, as a person, reaches a life lived as a grace of unity.

The intent of the course is to generate a dialogue between an epistemological model, a pedagogical methodology, and a reflection of the Salesian Preventive System, allowing new paths of understanding the leader nowadays, and understanding the educational-pastoral community that encourages, accompanies, and projects the presence of Christ among the different educators.