UNDERGRADUATE COURSES Go to GRADUATE COURSES
RS101 The Psychology of C.G. Jung and the Spiritual Life This course is designed to explore the relationship between Jung's psychological theory and the spiritual dimension of human growth and development. Jung will be in a historical context with other psychological models. The students will also examine a map of the spiritual journey to transformation and its inter-relationship with psychological processes.
RS102 Women of the Bible. The goals of this course are: to present the stories of women in the bible as a liberating, hopeful message of women's empowerment; to affirm women as images of the Holy One; to explore woman as role models for contemporary women and men in living fully and spiritually; to present recent scholarship of feminist theologians on the background and context of women of the bible.
RS103 Holy Women In the Early Celtic Christian Tradition The goals of this course are: to reflect on the myths and miracles of Celtic holy women whose strength and wisdom have been transmitted through the ages; to discover that springs and holy wells were associated with birthing and healing and the powerful Celtic feminine; to present women as equals and leaders in the Celtic tradition from the fifth through the eighth centuries; to reflect on Celtic holy women as mentors for spiritual seekers in the twenty-first century.
RS104 Eastern Orthodoxy This is a general introductory overview of Eastern Orthodoxy. Through close study of specific texts and visitation of Eastern liturgical settings, students will gain an appreciation and understanding of the Eastern spirit and its liturgical consciousness.
RS105 Eastern Religions This course is a preliminary inquiry into four major eastern religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. The students are introduced to the historical development of these religions, their vital sacred texts, central beliefs, and practices.
RS106 Christian and Muslim Perspectives on Science and Religion This course will examine the various models of interaction between religion and science as developed by Ian G. Barbour: conflict, independence, dialogue and integration. It will encourage greater familiarity with the science and religion dialogue that has occurred over the centuries within the Islamic and Christian traditions including the theorists who have been prominent within the past century.
RS108 The Ministry of Women in the Christian Tradition Students will be able to outline the main stages of development in women’s involvement in Christian ministry. They will gain a professional grasp of the correct rules for assessing what is and is not genuine Christian tradition.
RS109 History of Christianity The student will study the faith as practiced in Britain and Europe, North and South America, Africa, India, and the Far-East. Questions of contemporary Christian theology, conscience and belief, and new concepts of Christian community will be explored.
RS110 History of the Reformation This course has students studying the Protestant Reformation and its impact on Christianity and the modern world. The course will also review the modern ecumenical movement within Christianity and the impact of non-Christian religions upon the Christian faith.
RS112 Hebrew Scriptures This course presents the latest archeological research to understand the historical and cultural setting of the various books of the Hebrew Scripture so that the student can understand the writing of the Old Testament authors within the context of their original environment.
RS115 New Testament Studies A survey of the historical and exegetical background to the New Testament Canon. The text of this course provides the best scholarly introduction to the New Testament with special attention given to the figure of Jesus as Jesus of History and the Christ of Faith.
RS120 Ecumenical Theology This course covers the theological and historical aspects of ecumenism. After sufficient study of the Eastern Orthodox churches and Oriental Orthodox churches, the Roman Catholic church and Protestant churches are dealt with elaborately. Finally, modern-day problems in the realm are studied and the process of healing past wounds is stressed, paving the way to unity.
RS121 World Religions – A Story Approach This course is a general introduction to the major living religious traditions of the world and covers the various approaches commonly used in studying world religion, specifically how they differ, how they are alike, and how they are complementary on questions such as faith and salvation.
RS125 Visionary Women in the Christian Tradition This course presents the spiritual legacy of women mystics and leaders through the ages: Julian of Norwich, Hildegard of Bingen, Catherine of Siena, Joan of Arc, Teresa of Avila, Kateri Tekakwitha, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, Thea Bowman and many more.
RS222 Global Sociology and Religion A synthesis of the core concepts of sociological theory expended from traditional perspectives to provide a global presentation of contemporary issues for critical analysis.
RS290 Field Experience A student must complete 120 hours working in a specified field related to her/his degree major. The responsibilities of the student must be summarized and verified by a supervisor. A five-page paper is required describing the student's observations and responsibilities held during the time of study.
RS299 Thesis The thesis project is an extensive and disciplined study on a specific topic related to one’s degree major. The thesis should be approximately 25 pages in length and must include all works cited and references used. A one-page synopsis must be submitted prior to beginning the research for approval.
PH101 Introduction to Philosophy The text for this course is a leading, logically-organized anthology that provides a superb balance of historical selections and recent material. Students cover reason and religious belief; human knowledge; mind and its place in nature.
PH110 Logic and Critical Thinking This course carefully and clearly details eight concepts for evaluating arguments: truth, falsehood, soundness, unsoundness, validity, invalidity, strength, and weakness. The students are shown how to use Venn Diagrams and the rules method to assess arguments. Induction, deduction, the definition of arguments, premises, and conclusions are also covered.
PH112 Christianity and Capitalism The origins of capitalism in later Middle Ages and challenges it posed to Christianity beginning in the 16th century.
TH112 Ethics in Pastoral Ministry A theological and ethical framework for reflecting on the moral demands that arise from the professional exercise of the pastoral ministry.
TH113 Feminist Ethics and Moral Theology This course will introduce the basic concepts of post-modern social ethics and its historical development, exposing the students to both the main currents of ethical thought today and its major contributors. The course will encompass an analysis of the interchange between Catholic and feminist theologians and the effects on the formulation of specific issues such as medical, sexual, ecological, and socioeconomic.
TH114 Sexuality and Spirituality This course covers attitudes related to sexuality and spirituality in an historical-critical approach to development of principles, feminist ethics of "friendship;" and bringing spirituality into a sexual relationship and a sense of self.
TH115 Spirituality for the 21st Century Student reads articles/books by visionary, spiritual leaders of the 20th and 21st century and designs a project or writes a reflection paper based on research and experience.
TH116 Reshaping the Ministry as a Discipleship of Equals Students are given the opportunity to express their vision of prophetic, visionary priesthood and examine the impact women priests/pastors will have in this journey to the Discipleship of Equals.
TH118 Feminist Liberation Theologies Women-directed theological projects around the world will be surveyed in light of their similarities and differences. Issues including language and imagery about the divine, ethical priorities, models of ministry and religious community and interreligious implications will be explored.
TH130 Dynamics of Community This course will cover the dynamics experienced within a faith community.
TH203 Introduction to the Psalms This course will explore the theological content found in the Psalms but also how the Psalms have functioned as the heart of the Jewish and Christian devotional life over the centuries. NOTE: Certificate Program course.
TH204 The Identity of Jesus Explored Australian theologian Michael Morwood explores some of the fundamental issues of Christian faith in the context of today’s understanding of the beginnings of the universe, the formation of the planets, the emergence of life and the development of culture.
TH205 Reading the Gospels with Jewish Eyes This course will center on J.S.Spong’s compelling view of the Gospels as thoroughly Jewish texts, a collection of Jewish midrashic stories written to fill needs in the Jewish Calendar and Jewish Liturgical Year by early Christians. It provides the student with the most recent and reliable scholarly research on the Gospels.
TH208 Feminist Theology Beginning with social anthropological roots of women’s religious experiences, this course seeks first to reinterpret such experience and give voice to the hitherto silenced female voices, and ultimately to define the meaning of feminist theology. It will explore the works of late 20th century feminist scholars in religion and theology around the world.
TH212 Everyone’s Mystical Call In this course the students are introduced to the poetic record of a contemporary woman’s faith-walk into a deeper understanding of God as the in-dwelling Presence. The students are asked to reflect on this in the context of the recorded reflections of other everyday mystics, and to respond in one of the several suggested ways, producing a personal creative product that will reflect the student’s own growth into God.
TH230 Principles of Moral Theology This course covers the basic principles for Christian living, presenting the meaning and history of moral theology, the moral person, moral law in Scripture, natural law, traditional moral maxims and the theology of human law.
TH250 Islam Religion and Culture An introductory course in Islam religion and its effect on Muslim culture.
IPE123 Alcoholism/Drug Addictions and Spirituality This course focuses on the dynamics of substance abuse and addiction; spirituality and the impact of substance abuse and addiction on the individual, family and society.
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