Concentration in Theology

Director
The Chair of the Department of Theology

The Concentration in Theology is designed to offer students interested in theology the opportunity of a focused and structured course of study in theology beyond the core curriculum.  Building upon "Understanding the Bible" and "Western Theological Tradition," the Concentration in Theology promotes a basic competency in each of the major areas of theological study:  systematic and historical theology, Scripture, and moral theology.  Secondly, the concentration demonstrates the essentially interdisciplinary nature of theology, that is to say, the relation of theology to the other areas of the liberal arts.

Concentration Requirements

I.  Courses (15 credit hours):

• THE 3320  Principles of Catholic Biblical Interpretation
• THE 3331  Systematic Theology I or THE 3332 Systematic II
• THE 3341  Moral Theology
• One upper-level elective course in theology (Scripture, systematics, or historical theology)
• One upper-level elective course in another discipline (philosophy, history, English, (for example) that is related to the discipline of theology

Examples include, but are not limited to:
Philosophy of God
From Ancient to Medieval Philosophy (or any of the other historical surveys)
Shakespeare
The Reformation
American Catholic History I and II

II. The Capstone Presentation

The concentration as a whole is intended to possess an essential unity or structure beyond the mere accumulation of required credit hours in a particular area.  To this end, the proposed concentration requires a capstone presentation.  In the spring of their senior year concentrators present publicly a final paper which focuses upon a theological question or subject as it relates to the student's major or which grows out of the required elective in a discipline outside of theology.  The capstone presentation would be assessed on a pass/fail/pass-with-distinction basis.

4 + 1 Theology

Braniff's 4 + 1 program allows Theology majors to continue their studies, earning a B.A. and a Master of Theology or a Master of Arts in Theology in a shorter period of time.  Up to two approved graduate courses taken during their senior year may count toward the master's degree.

Interested student should contact their undergraduate advisor and the Theology graduate director during the spring semester of their junior year.