43 courses with the subject TH, 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.
TH 105Introduction to Scripture3
An introduction to contemporary study of Scripture in light of Vatican II’s document on divine revelation (Dei Verbum), including a survey of both Old and New Testaments. The purpose of the course is to introduce students to the study of Scripture as an academic discipline, the historical and theological concerns of each Testament, and Catholic perspectives regarding the idea of revelation, the interaction of divine and human agency in the composition of the Bible, the development of the biblical canon, and the role of Scripture in Christian life. This course serves as the first part of the core curriculum in theology, and is ordinarily a prerequisite for all theology courses at or above the 200 level. Offered every semester.
The course focuses primarily on the four pillars in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd edition (2012): the Creed, Liturgy, Life in Christ, and Prayer. It emphasizes Sacred Scripture and the documents of the Church Councils, particularly as these sources are used in the science of Theology and in the Catechism. This course satisfies the requirements of the Program for Priestly Formation for collegiate level theology courses.
TH 105 or equivalent The course introduces the content, origins and history of the classic catechesis.
TH 201Sacred and Liturgical Music3
The development of music from the earliest recorded history, and the interconnections between the church, society, and music in the western world. Topics will include psalms, the Mass, chant, hymns and writers, the development of harmony and polyphony, sacred non-liturgical works including oratorios, the impact of the Reformation, advances in musical instrument building, especially the pipe organ and its effect on music within the church and beyond, influences on various church traditions in both sacred and secular music in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The purpose of the course is to introduce students to the study of theology as an academic discipline, provide a fundamental methodology for the consideration of theological issues and, in light of the College’s Catholic and Benedictine heritage, to challenge students to consider the Christian message regarding life’s purpose and meaning as the integrating factor of their education. This course serves as the second part of the core curriculum in theology. Offered every semester.
TH 105 or equivalent This course, the second part of the core curriculum in theology, builds on the knowledge of Scripture gained in TH 105 as it introduces students to the basic areas of theological investigation, including Revelation, Faith, Reason, Christology, Church, Sacraments, and Christian life.
The course explores the way Scripture and the Catholic tradition describe the human person, her sacredness, and her divine calling. Starting from the conviction that "only in the mystery of the incarnate Word does the mystery of human beings take on light," (Gaudium et Spes, no. 22) the class considers how Creation, the Trinity, and Christ’s words and deeds manifest the person’s true nature and vocation.
TH 105 or equivalent An introductory level study of a theological topic not covered elsewhere in the theology curriculum.
TH 305Light of Faith3
This course begins by exploring the fundamental harmony of faith and reason. It traces the development of the notion that man has of God with the philosophically elaborated preambles of faith which enable one to see more clearly faith's rational foundations. This is contrasted with the widespread phenomenon of modern atheism the causes of which are thematized and discussed. There follows a close reading of St. Thomas Aquinas' understanding of faith as a theological virtue with its corresponding object, acts, causes, and effects.
This course will review monastic history, spirituality and tradition. The focus of the course will be to study the founding of Benedictine monasteries in the United States, the impact they have had on the Catholic Church's mission, and their influence on the communities in which they reside. Students will study the founding history of specific Benedictine communities through hands on research, and discussion including primary documents from the Founders.
The course studies contemporary Christological interpretations against a background of the classical historical developments in the theology and doctrine of Christ. Offered every other year.
TH 105 or equivalent An examination of the theology of the church in the New Testament and Christian tradition, with particular emphasis given to the documents of the Second Vatican Council.
TH 324The Trinity3
The Trinity, on God in three Persons, constitutes, simply and exclusively, the Christian understanding of God. Developed by the Church from the impact of the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, and illuminated by Jesus' own teachings, the doctrine is the crown of the understanding both of God's own life and of the meaning of human existence. This course traces the development of the doctrine in ecclesiastical history, its representation in the Church's most influential theologians, and its amplification in the modern period, where important cultural and human issues are illuminated by Trinitarian doctrine.
Luther's thought and basic Protestant tenets will be explored as well as the Wesleyan movement in England and nineteenth-century American revivalism. Offered as needed.
TH 105 or equivalent A course exploring how the Reformation period laid the foundations for Protestantism in Europe.
TH 330Introduction to Moral Theology3
This course will touch on the differing roles played by reason, Scripture, and tradition in the formation of Christian moral teaching. Offered every other year.
TH 105 or equivalent An introduction to the basic principles and methods of moral theology and examination of how they are applied to some of the concrete issues of life, death, sexuality, and money.
TH 332Catholic Bioethics3
Issues at the beginning of life may include abortion, assisted reproduction, genetic screening, and stem cell research. Issues in the midst of life may include performance enhancement, organ transplantation, and research on human subjects. Issues at the end of life may include the use of life support, euthanasia, and palliative care. The course begins by comparing a view of the human person—a theological anthropology—drawn from the Catholic intellectual tradition with some dominant secular views. The course then compares principles from Catholic medical ethics with secular principles and uses them to address bioethics issues and cases. The course is appropriate for ‘any future medical professionals and patients,’ i.e., anyone. Offered every other year.
TH 205 or equivalent This course explores issues in bioethics at the beginning, in the midst, and at the end of human life in light of Catholic tradition.
TH 335Clinical & Research Ethics3
This course provides an in-depth study of topics in clinical ethics and research ethics. Topics may include decision-making capacity, informed consent, proxy decision makers, pediatric ethics, confidentiality, allocating and rationing care, health care disparities, global health, futility, moral distress, therapeutic misconception, vulnerable populations, stem cell research, gene editing, exploitation and undue inducement, genetic research, and international research. Students will learn the view of the human person and medical care that grounds Catholic teaching on the professional-patient relationship, established secular bioethical and legal norms for each topic, and perspectives on controversial topics. Students will then consider real-life cases in light of foundational Catholic teaching, established norms, and varying perspectives.
TH 340Catholic Social Teaching: God and the Good Society3
The course includes readings from the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, selections from papal social encyclicals over the last century, and topics taken from the American bishops’ joint pastoral letters. Offered as needed.
TH 105 or equivalent An introduction to the social teachings of the church, beginning with an overview of the biblical background, and continuing with perspectives on social and economic behavior from various points within Catholic tradition.
TH 345Theology of Sexuality and Marriage3
The course studies the historical development and theological foundations of marriage as a sacrament as well as contemporary issues in human sexuality with regard to Christian teachings. Offered as needed.
TH 105 or equivalent A study of one or more topics of significance in moral theology not covered elsewhere in the theology curriculum.
TH 355Pastoral Theology3
Pastoral theology is a disciplined theological inquiry into the experiences and operations of the ministering church,especially in the context of the local Church and parish. This discipline, also known as "practical theology," pursuesa mutually strengthening relationship between theological learning and the actual experience and needs of Christiancommunities. The course looks at pastoral theology and practice as it has developed from Vatican II, with a special focus on the role of pastoral ministers in pastoral care and faith formation.
TH 105 or equivalent An in-depth study of a single major theologian within the Christian tradition (e.g., Augustine, Aquinas, Newman, etc.).
TH 365World Religions3
Additionally, the course will focus on the special conditions of evangelization with respect to each system. The course does not represent an exercise in "comparative religions" or "religious studies," but rather a detailed reflection, based on the fullness of Catholic truth, on the "wisdom traditions" that man has created in various times and places. Offered as needed.
TH 105 or equivalent This course offers genuinely Christian theological exploration of the various major non-Christian religious, cultural, and ideological systems of the world (e.g., Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Chinese religion, secularism, etc.) and is based on Nostra Aetate of Vatican II and other magisterial documents of the Roman Catholic Church.
TH 366Islamic Beliefs and History3
This course explores religious, historical, and intellectual character of Islam from the time of the prophet Muhammad up through the conquest of Byzantium. This course will begin with an examination of the core beliefs of Islam and proceed through the philosophical and historical context in which the faith is developed in the Ottoman period. Special attention will be given to the study of primary sources in translation.
What happens when distinct approaches to reality confront common questions such as the origins of life, or the possibility of divine action in the world? The nature of science and of theology, different ways of viewing their relationship, some historical examples, and a number of contemporary topics will be examined. Offered as needed.
TH 105 or equivalent An exploration of issues at the intersection of Christian theology and natural science.
TH 371Theology Of Culture3
The "Evangelization of Culture" has become a major theme in recent Catholic Theology, but a thorough theology of culture has been lacking. Culture is the embodiment of the ethos of a people, and the Church proclaims that he Word Made Flesh, Jesus Christ, and his continued embodiment in the Church, must lie at the base of any authentic and life-giving culture. This understanding has been determinative for the course of the West, historically, but must now confront secularism and extend to areas without a Christian foundation. This course aims at understanding culture, Church, and the Incarnation and linkages between them. Readings include encyclicals, documents of the Pontifical Council for Culture, and the works of Josef Pieper, T.S. Eliot, Richard Weaver, Louis Dupre, and Remi Brague, among others.
The course ensures knowledge of teh Old Testament narrative as a whole and of principles of biblical interpretation drawn from Church teaching. The course is built upon a substantial treatment of the Pentateuch. It shows the relationship between the Pentateuch and the Prophets and the Writings. It may include a substantial treament of other Old Testament topics according to the discretion of the professor. Offered every other year.
TH 105 A theological study of the Old Testament both in its pre-Christian development and as a preparation for the New Testament.
TH 380Liturgy & Sacraments3
Additionally, the course seeks to provide a critical evaluation of the modern era and its mindset from the vantage point of the worship of the one, true God. To realize this latter aim, the course will utilize important liturgical theology of recent thinkers (e.g., Benedict XVI and Aidan Nichols, O.P.).
TH 105 or equivalent This course is the disciplined exploration of the liturgical tradition and sacramental theology of the Catholic Church, centered upon the examination of magisterial documents, including important encyclicals, liturgical texts (ancient and modern), and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
TH 381Art, Beauty, and the Liturgy3
Course is restricted to students in the pre-seminary program.
At its heart, the course is an exercise in systematic theology; therefore, the links between Mariology and other doctrinal areas will be constantly enumerated.
TH 105 or equivalent A disciplined exploration of the various sources--cultural, historical, artistic, liturgical, biblical, theological, and dogmatic—that delineate the significance of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the salvation of mankind through Jesus Christ.
TH 385Christian Spirituality3
Since it is "embodied religion," Christian spirituality necessarily involves the Eucharist and the Church as well as things interior, devotional, and mystical. This course also focuses on Christian liturgy and artistic endeavor. Offered as needed.
TH 105 or equivalent This course examines Christian spirituality and its traditions of prayer, practice, and communion with God rooted in Jesus Christ, the Word made Flesh.
TH 401Paul and his Letters3
Problems studied include Paul’s role in the history of Christianity, the relationship between early Christians and Jews, and Paul’s understanding of Christian life and community. Offered as needed.
TH 105 or equivalent Combines a survey of Paul’s life and writings in the context of their first-century environment and the development of early Christianity with sustained exegesis of 1 Corinthians.
TH 105 or equivalent As an in-depth study of the four canonical gospels, this course focuses on the theology of each Evangelist, the relationship of the Synoptic Gospels, and the historical context of the composition of the gospels.
TH 407Classical Text in Theology3
This course deepens the student’s ability to read theological texts, to appreciate the methodology employed in various texts, and to understand the historical and theological contexts in which the texts arose. Offered as needed.
TH 105 or equivalent Part-time internships in a pastoral setting where the student reflects on the relationship between pastoral work and learning theology in the classroom.
TH 105 or equivalent Part-time internships in a pastoral setting where the student reflects on the relationship between pastoral work and learning theology in the classroom.
TH 450 A graduation requirement, this substantial research paper/interpretive analysis must be undertaken by each senior, under the direction of department faculty.
TH 475WSenior Thesis3
The student’s thesis is presented publicly upon completion.
TH 450 A graduation requirement, this substantial research paper/interpretive analysis must be undertaken by each senior, under the direction of department faculty.
TH 499Directed Readings3
The student and a faculty advisor choose an appropriate field in which to explore appropriate readings and conduct research. Offered by arrangement.
