Theology Courses

Theology Courses

1310. Understanding the Bible 
Reflective reading of selected texts of the Old and New Testaments with a view to discovering the biblical concepts concerning God, his creation and action in history culminating in Jesus Christ on behalf of his people, and the origin and destiny of humanity. To be taken in the freshman or the sophomore year. Normal prerequisite for any other Theology course. Fall and Spring.

1312. Elementary Biblical Hebrew. An intensive introduction into Hebrew grammar including the first conjugations of regular verbs through analysis of selected sentences of the Hebrew Bible. 

2311. Western Theological Tradition 
Reflective reading of classic, post-biblical Christian texts with a view to tracing the development of theological thought in Western Christianity from its beginnings to the post-Vatican II era. To be taken in the sophomore year or, at the latest, first semester of junior year. Prerequisite for advanced Theology courses. Suggested prerequisite: Theology 1310. Fall and Spring. 

2313. Intermediate Biblical Hebrew I. This course completes the teaching of Hebrew grammar through translation and analysis of biblical texts.

2336. Introduction to Liturgy 
An historical, theological and practical introduction to Catholic Liturgy. Fall as needed.

3320. Principles of Catholic  Biblical Interpretation.
Examines the nature, methods and history of Catholic biblical interpretation.  Building upon the introduction to exegesis in "Understanding the Bible," this course stands as a foundation for subsequent upper-level undergraduate and graduate-level studies in Scripture.

3321. Pentateuch 
History of the formation of the Five Books of Moses. Their literary genres and religious messages. Close reading of selected books and chapters with emphasis on the relationship between the literary form and thematic content of the text. Fall, every three years.

3322. Old Testament Prophets 
History of the prophetic movement in ancient Israel. Literary forms and religious message of the prophetic writings. Close reading of selected books and chapters. Fall, every three years.

3323. Wisdom and Psalms 
Introduction to Wisdom literature and Psalms. Literary forms and content. Close reading of selected Wisdom passages and Psalms. Fall, every three years.

3324. Synoptic Gospels 
Formation of the synoptic material.Literary forms. Synoptic problem. Relationship between Jesus of history and the apostolic proclamation. Content, structure, and message of each gospel. Close reading of selected chapters. Spring, every three years.

3325. Fourth Gospel 
Formation of the Fourth Gospel and history of the Johannine community. Content, structure and message. Its literary and theological features in comparison with the Synoptics. Close reading of selected chapters. Spring, every three years.

3326. Paul and Acts 
History of the early Christian community.Pauls background and his missionary work. Introduction to his letters. Close reading of letters and selected chapters. Spring, every three years.

3328. Biblical Archaeology 
Study tour of the Holy Land and Jordan with a view to understanding the Bible within its geographical and historical setting. Topology and physical characteristics of the Holy Land. Archeological sites and monuments which illuminate the biblical narratives. As needed.

3331. Systematic Theology I 
God and Human Existence. A systematic study of the Christian Catholic faith on Revelation and its Transmission, the Triune God, the Nature and Vocation of Man. Prerequisites: Theology 1310 and Theology 2311. Prerequisite for any advanced systematic course. Fall.

3332. Systematic Theology II 
Christ and the Church. A systematic study of the Christian Catholic faith on Christ, Grace, the Church, Sacraments, and Eschatology. Spring.

3340. Social Justice 
Addresses the intersection of economics and theology, considering it as the foundation and means of formation of a just society. The student is introduced to the development and principles of the Catholic Church's social teaching. Also introduces the social justice theories of the Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist traditions. Prerequisite: Economics 1311. 

3341. Moral Theology 
Examines the ideas of conscience, sin, the virtues, natural law, and the relation of Scripture and ethics. The underpinnings of the Christian moral life, with various applications to specific moral issues. Involves a close reading of John Paul IIs encyclical Veritatis Splendor. Every Fall.

4311. The Theology of Thomas Aquinas 
A study of the person and theological thought of Thomas Aquinas. Themes that may be covered include God, Christ, the sacraments, the human person, sin, grace, and Christian morality.

4321. Apocalyptic Literature 
General introduction to Jewish and Christian apocalypses. Literary genre and its message for today's readers. Close reading of selected chapters of both canonical and non-canonical apocalyptic writings, such as the book of I Enoch, Daniel, Revelation and Fourth Esdras. As needed.

4331. Triune God  
A systematic exploration of the doctrine of the immanent and economic Triune God, rooted in patristic tradition as well as in Scripture. Examination of the essential dogmatic components of the Trinity and the medieval synthesis, as well as ecumenical issues such as the filioque. Exploration of key texts from prominent 20th century thinkers in search of responses to pressing questions about the soteriological significance of the doctrine. For undergraduates.

4332. Christology and Soteriology 
A biblical, historical and systematic study of the person and saving work of Christ. Offered regularly.

4333. Christian Anthropology 
Study of human beings as created in God's image, their vocation to share in the divine life, their fall into sin and their divinization by God's grace. For undergraduate students.

4334. Theology of the Church  
Study of the Church as People of God and Body of Christ, its hierarchical structure, the role of laymen in it, the ecclesial reality of non-Catholic Churches and communities and the Church and the World. For undergraduates. 

4335. The Christian Sacraments  
Consideration of the various models of sacramentality (e.g.sacraments as proclamation, as actualization, as celebration) and each of the seven sacraments as understood and celebrated in the Catholic Church. Offered regularly.

4336. History and Theology of the Liturgy  
The historical development of Christian liturgy, with special attention to its formative period in the first centuries, the reforms of Vatican II, and post-conciliar reforms. The theological principles and implications of the liturgy, and liturgical spirituality. Offered occasionally.

4337. Atheism and Theism 
Examines the problem of God and the question of contemporary belief. Philosophical and cultural challenges to the Christian idea of God are addressed through a study of recent systematic theological thought, especially on the Trinity and the human person.

4342. Christian Marriage  
The sacramental nature of marriage. The principles of Catholic sexual morality based on the dignity of the human person and the sacramental meaning of maleness and femaleness. Offered every two years.

4343. Social Teaching  
The social teachings of the Church as found in a variety of social encyclicals, especially Rerum Novarum (1891) and Centesimus Annus (1991). Specific topics include the role of the laity in the temporal order, the communal nature of man, just-war theory, liberation theology, the death penalty, Catholicism and the American political order, and the relationship between Catholicism and various economic systems. Offered regularly.

4345. Bioethical Issues  
The contribution of Catholic ethics to such contemporary issues as abortion, newborns with birth defects, euthanasia, new reproductive technologies, contraceptive technology, and genetic engineering. As needed.

4346. Faith and Science  
An examination of the apparent tension between the method and discoveries of modern science and the Christian faith's theological approach to nature and the human person. The resources developed by the Christian tradition for approaching secular learning are used as a foundation for examining and critiquing the theories of contemporary authors on the relation between science and faith, focusing on central issues such as the origin of the universe and the evolution of the human species. Includes discussion of key historical episodes such as the Galileo controversy and debates over evolution.

4347. Senior Seminar 
Beginning Academic Year 2025-2026.

4348. Senior Thesis 
A major paper developed by the theology major following research on a selected topic with the guidance of a professor. The student is expected to give evidence of research abilities in the field. Fall, senior year. (Beginning Academic Year 2025-2026, the Fall requirement will be THE 4347 Senior Seminar.

4351. Christian Spirituality 
Sanctification and transformation in Christ. The nature of ascetical and mystical theology; the life of meditation and contemplation; the discernment of spirits. Offered occasionally.

4352. History of Patristic Spirituality. Study of the history of the patristic spiritual tradition from apostolic times to the end of the patristic era in both the west and Byzantine east.  Authors and traditions studied will include: Origen, the Cappadocians, Cassian, the desert fathers, Augustine and the Rule of Benedict.

4353. History of Medieval Spirituality. Study of the history of the medieval spiritual tradition focusing on monastic spirituality, pastoral spirituality, the spirituality of the friars and late medieval spirituality.  Authors and traditions studied will include: Bernard of Clairvaux, Francis of Assisi, Bonaventure, Catherine of Siena and the Carmelites.

4354. History of Modern Spirituality. Study of the historical development of the Christian contemplative tradition from the 16th century to the 20th century. Authors and traditions studied will include: Theresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Ignatius Loyola and Vincent de Paul.

4363, 4364. Judaism I & II 
An introduction to the study of Jewish history, thought, and literature with emphasis on Jewish theological tradition.Readings include ancient, medieval, and modern writings such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, Philo, Maimonides, Rashi, Spinoza, and Buber. Also, some discussion of recent Catholic pronouncements on the relation between the Church and Israel.

4V57. Special Studies in Theology. 

4V60. Directed Reading/Independent Research A tutorial course following special arrangement between professor and student for such purposes as completion of required credit hours. Permission of professor and the chairman is required. As needed.

5301-5310. Cross-listed Courses. These numbers indicate undergraduate courses taken for graduate credit.  Additional work for graduate students is assigned.

5311. Church History I. From the Apostolic community to the fourteenth century. Offered as needed.

5312. Church History II. From the fourteenth century to the present. Offered as needed.

5315. Patristic and Byzantine Theology. History of Christian doctrines - dogma and theology - from the Apostolic times to the twelfth century, including Byzantine theology.  Offered in a three-year cycle.

5316. Medieval and Modern Theology. History of Christian doctrines - dogma and theology - from the beginnings of Scholasticism to the present, including the history of Protestant theology. Offered in a three-year cycle.

5317. Recent and Contemporary Theology. Introduction to some of the main trends, works and issues of the nineteenth and especially twentieth century Christian theology (Catholic and Protestant). Offered in three-year cycle.

5319. Philosophical Resources for Theology. Study of the philosophical resources available to and developed by Christian theology from both an historical and a systematic point of view. Offered regularly.

5333. Sources and Methods. Introductory notion of theology. Revelation, its transmission in Tradition and Scripture and its authentic interpretation by the Magisterium. Nature and method of theology as intellectus fidei.  Regularly required for the Master's. Offered every two years.

5334.Apologetics. Also called "Fundamental Theology", this course aims at a deeper (critical and systematic) understanding of the "why" of Christian Catholic faith, i.e. of the foundations for the credibility of Christianity. Offered in a three-year cycle.

5338. Theological Anthropology. Systematic theological inquiry and reflection on the nature and personhood of the human being as in the image and likeness of God. The inquiry is grounded in Scripture and Tradition, historically informed, and faithful to the Magisterium.  No prerequisites. Open to any upper classman or graduate student.

5339. Eschatology. Systematic theological inquiry and reflection on the last things and human teleology. The inquiry is grounded in Scripture and Tradition, historically informed, and faithful to the Magisterium. No prerequisites. Open to any upper classman or graduate student.

5355. Special Topics. A regularly scheduled class established according to the interests of professors and the desires of students.  As needed.

Courses in Biblical Greek - See Classics.