United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities · Courses
AT
7 courses with the subject AT, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
AT 1001History of Arts and Theology3
Planned frequency of offerings: annually From the earliest days of humankind, people have been creating art deeply imbued with spiritual meanings. This survey course will trace the global history of sacred art from prehistoric to contemporary times across multiple religious traditions, including Christianity. The class will explore how art has been used to inspire, heal, and challenge humanity and influence supernatural forces in ritual, communal, and contemplative practices. We will consider how art emerges over periods of time and in various cultural locations, and how these multiple strands come together in today’s interconnected world as sources of meaning-making and spiritual expression. The objective of the course is to familiarize students with the art historical continuity of the world’s religions, but even more so to equip students to see theologically.
Planned frequency of offerings: annually This course will use contemporary art and popular culture as lenses through which to examine theology in the twenty-first century. Content producers across the world are drawing on religious and spiritual traditions to articulate their cultures, values, and visions through media such as comics, cartoons, movies, television shows, dance, music, paintings, graffiti and much more. What do these expressions tell us about contemporary religious life? About pressing spiritual questions in today’s world? The class will consider both what cultural content communicates about spirituality and how it might impact us both personally and as religious leaders. Course materials are drawn from diverse communities and religions, with a focus on works created for the public. The class will also consider ways to use these materials with community groups and in church settings.
Prerequisites for this course: TR1001; AT1001 or AT1002. Planned frequency of offerings: biennially (every other year) In this experientially based course, students focus on their art forms and/or a particular art concern and its interpretation. Students will demonstrate ability through performing, exhibiting and/or interpreting the arts through a project. Through course discussions and comments, students will develop and put into practice project plans. Examples might include the creation of an art exhibit, a recital performance of music or United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities Academic Catalog 2026–2027 7/1/2026 Page 60
Previous Course Number: AT1003 Planned frequency of offerings: TBD The arts provide a way to understand questions related to the human condition. Artists frequently offer critique that can inform, educate and transform the conversation. In this course, we will study the role of the arts and artists to be prophetic agents of change and what that means for communities of faith. Guest teaching artists from multiple art forms will be part of this class.
Planned frequency of offerings: TBD This course is a survey of sacred architecture, beginning with the first-century transition from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian house-church all the way to the modern mega-churches of America and will include case studies in Jewish, Islamic, and interfaith architecture. In addition to being a historical survey, this course also explores the large question: what makes a space sacred? By exploring this and related issues, we can constructively reflect upon our own expectations and experiences of religious architecture. The historical and theoretical components of this course combine to undergird practical applications, as students go out into the world better equipped to examine and form the sacred spaces of their own faith communities. Following a series of site visits, this course culminates in a collaborative group project, in which students design and build a model of an architectural space for a religious community, taking into consideration issues of physical location, spiritual tradition, symbolism, accessibility, and so on.
Prerequisites for master’s students: TR1001; AT1001 or AT1002; instructor approval Planned frequency of offerings: biennially (every other year) This course draws upon artistic practices and research to expand an understanding of leadership in new and challenging times. Utilizing case studies, research, and one’s own context, we explore how to apply artistic methods of thinking to leadership roles. Students integrate artistic practices—personally and professionally—to create new models for leadership in congregational, chaplaincy, and other settings.
Previous course title: Images and Ideologies Prerequisites for master’s students: TR1001; AT1001 or AT1002; instructor approval Planned frequency of offerings: biennially (every other year) Beginning with grounding texts in semiotics, viewer response, and ritual, this course in visual literacy will trace the historical development of religious symbols in visual art and architecture around the world. Students will gain a sophisticated understanding of the development of symbols over time, as well as their multivalent meanings in a given context. Final projects will give students an opportunity to integrate and apply the course material and methods to their respective faith, ministry, and/or work contexts. This course is available to masters students upon request. Culture and Context (CC)
