May 14, 2024  
2016-2017 School of Continuing Education Catalog 
    
2016-2017 School of Continuing Education Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions


Courses of Study

The School of Continuing Education offers students a wide range of courses in the liberal arts and sciences as well as in business, education, the social sciences, and in specialized fields such as fire science and leadership studies. Please consult the current course bulletin for specific course offerings in any given academic term.

Course offerings include accountancy, anthropology, art (studio), art history, biology, chemistry, computer science, economics, education, English, finance, fire science, health policy history, humanities, interdisciplinary studies, law, leadership, management, marketing, mathematics, music, natural science, organizational communication, philosophy, physics, psychology, social science, sociology, theatre arts, and theology.

Course Numbering

Undergraduate course numbers generally fit into the following scheme:

100-level: introductory or gateway courses to specific majors or programs of study; prerequisites may consist of other 100-level courses.

200-level: intermediate-level courses; may have prerequisites of 100- or 200-level courses; more advanced than 100-level offerings.

300-level: upper-division courses; may have prerequisites of 100-, 200-, or 300-level courses; more advanced than 100- or 200-level courses; may include internship, independent study, or tutorial courses.

400-level: advanced upper-division courses; may have prerequisites of 100-, 200-, 300-, or 400-level courses; more advanced than 100-, 200-, or 300-level courses; may include internship, independent study, or tutorial courses.

Internship, independent study, special topics, tutorial, and other non-standard courses have common course number ranges across the various academic disciplines.

Internships & Field Experience courses: 450-455*
Special Topics: 270 and 470-475
Seminars & Capstone courses: 480-489
Independent Study courses: 490-491

Note: A small number of departments/programs have placed specific non-standard courses at the 200- or 300-level, utilizing comparable ranges at the identified level (e.g., an upper-level internship listed in the 350-359 range, while the advanced upper-level internship range is 450-459).

 

Philosophy

  
  • PHL 314 - The Philosophy of Violence


    3 Credits

    Violence is a dominant theme in media, and a major concern for educators and ethicists. 9-11, Waco, Oklahoma City, The Unabomber, road rage, workplace wrath, and global genocide reveal a pandemic of violence. This course provides a survey of recent developments in the study of violence, roots, theoretical concepts of violence, and humane ways of dealing with violence.


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  • PHL 320 - Philosophy of Catholic Social Thought


    3 Credits

    Analyzes and critiques the philosophy behind Catholicism’s best kept secret: natural law theory, Thomistic-Aristotelian political theory, modern theories of capitalism and socialism, phenomenology, personalism, and liberation philosophy. Covers the philosophical influences that expand beyond doctrine to Catholic social thought that engages social, economic, and political issues from the tradition of Catholic philosophy. Fulfills SCE PHL Ethics core requirement.


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  • PHL 339 - Environmental Philosophy


    3 Credits

    A study of the relationship of human beings to the nonhuman world. Topics may include: mechanism, land rights, animal rights, deep ecology, stewardship, preservation, and conservation. Emphasis is placed on the interdisciplinary nature of environmental concerns.


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  • PHL 412 - Contemporary Philosophy


    3 Credits

    A survey of the principal schools of 20th- and 21st-century philosophy from both the analytic and continental traditions. Central issues may include the nature and future of philosophical inquiry and the question of communication among rival intellectual and cultural traditions.


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  • PHL 470 - Special Topics in Philosophy


    3 Credits

    This course will afford students the opportunity to study topics in philosophy which are not currently covered or not ordinarily treated in depth. The format of the course may vary with instructor and the topic chosen.


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Political Science

  
  • PSC 101 - Politics


    3 Credits

    An introduction to the study of politics and the discipline of political science. Includes basic concepts used in the discipline as well as an introduction to major ideologies. The pedagogy will stress the development of learning-related skills such as writing, oral presentation, use of scholarly sources, and discipline-related computer technology.


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  • PSC 201 - American Government and Politics


    3 Credits

    An analysis of American political institutions, politics, and political behavior. The interrelated nature of public opinion, pressure groups, political parties, the decision-making structures, and public policy are surveyed.


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  • PSC 329 - Middle Eastern Politics


    3 Credits

    A comparative introduction to the complex politics of the Middle East. Examines the contemporary relevance of Islamic movements, Zionism, and secularist ideologies and parties; evaluates the progress of “democratization”; considers the politics of social and economic development, oil production, and international petroleum markets; and explores in greater depth the domestic political systems of selected Middle Eastern countries.


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Psychology

  
  • PSY 100 - Introduction to Psychology


    3 Credits

    A survey of the principal methods and findings of the scientific psychology in a variety of areas, including biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning, motivation, emotion, cognitive processes, personality, abnormal psychology, and social psychology.


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  • PSY 127 - Psychology of Wellness


    3 Credits

    The study of wellness and principles of health psychology including health maintenance and illness prevention. Emphasis is placed on models of stress and coping as they pertain to both health promoting and defeating behaviors. Psychological factors influencing the nature and course of medical conditions and recent advances in psychoneuroimmunology, particularly in the treatment of patients with AIDS and cancer diagnoses, will be studied. Same as INT 127 . Fulfills SCE Social Science core requirement.


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  • PSY 306 - Child and Adolescent Development


    3 Credits

    A survey of human psychological growth and development from conception through adolescence, including biological, physical, cognitive, and social transitions.  Mechanisms of change, influences on development, and the contexts in which development occurs will also be reviewed, drawing on current theory and empirical research. Prerequisite: PSY 100


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  • PSY 314 - Psychology of Aging


    3 Credits

    Aging is accompanied by psychological, cognitive/neuropsychological, biological/physical, social, and family changes. This course surveys age-associated changes from a psychological perspective, scientific methods for study aging, interventions to enhance healthy or normal aging, and pathological changes associated with older age, such as dementia, chronic illness and disability, and mental health issues. Prerequisite: PSY 100  or permission.


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  • PSY 317 - Social Psychology


    3 Credits

    A survey of the influence of others on the thoughts, attitudes, and behavior of the individual. Social issues such as aggression, discrimination, persuasion techniques and marketing, and pro-social behavior are examined in the framework of classical and current re­search and theories of social cognition, person perception, attitude formation and change, and group processes.


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  • PSY 324 - Psychology of Abnormal Behavior


    3 Credits

    A survey of the major forms of abnormal behavior, including a description of the disorders, theoretical explanations of their origins, assessment, and treatment procedures.


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  • PSY 470 - Selected Topics in Psychology


    3 Credits

    A seminar involving an in-depth analysis of a specific topic in psychology.  Emphasis will be placed on readings, class discussion, and writing assignments. Course may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: PSY 100 or permission of the instructor.


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Sociology

  
  • SOC 101 - Introductory Sociology


    3 Credits

    An analysis of the social bases of human behavior. Introduction to the basic concepts, perspectives, and research techniques of contemporary sociology, including topics such as social organization, culture, socialization deviance, and stratification. Fulfills SCE Social Science core requirement.


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  • SOC 301 - Sociology of the Family


    3 Credits

    Family patterns and processes in selected societies. Uniformities and variations in structures are considered. The family is analyzed as a social institution and as a form of intimate behavior. Various alternatives to the family are explored, and issues related to human sexuality and gender-role behavior are examined. The course will focus on race, class, and gender.


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  • SOC 304 - Social Movements


    3 Credits

    What was it like to be a part of the 1950s and 1960s U.S. civil rights movement? Examines why people join social movements, how they are organized, why they occur when they do, and why they succeed or fail, and offers a critical evaluation of current theories of social and political movements.


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  • SOC 305 - Race and Ethnic Relations


    3 Credits

    An analysis of race and ethnic relations in America with special emphasis on the historical and contemporary experience of Native Americans, Latinos, Asian-Americans, African-Americans, and European-Americans. Sociological theory and data are used to examine the structural sources and effects of racism, prejudice, and discrimination.


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  • SOC 310 - Society, Culture and the Individual


    3 Credits

    Explores the ways in which individuals process and then either adopt or reject competing norms and values. Scholars have used different concepts to explain this basic fact of human behavior: social psychology, symbolic interaction, culture, ideology, hegemony, interpellation, discourse, and habitus. Students will learn the advantages and disadvantages of each.


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  • SOC 319 - Sociology of Health and Illness


    3 Credits

    Explores the social aspects of health and illness, the relationship of illness to the organization of society, and the organization of medical care—the distribution of correlates of mortality and morbidity, attitudes toward illness, the sick role, the organization of therapeutic settings, the economics and politics. Health delivery systems are evaluated cross-culturally and proposals for change in the American health system are critiqued.


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  • SOC 322 - Occupations and Professions


    3 Credits

    A sociological investigation of occupations and professions in contemporary American society. The course is an analysis of the nature of occupations in relation to social structure, occupational differentiation, and socialization and education of occupations and professions. There is also a consideration of current issues in occupational sociology, including professionalization, sex-role differentiation, and the implications of occupation for life changes.


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  • SOC 323 - Contemporary Social Problems


    3 Credits

    Covers the major social problems of contemporary American society. Attention is given to the problems of poverty, racism, sexism, war, the environment, overpopulation, drug use, and crime. An analysis is made of the structural causes and consequences of these issues.


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  • SOC 330 - Sociology of Sport


    3 Credits

    This course examines sport from a sociological perspective. Sport provides a social setting in which we may think about social life. Sports participation as players and spectators are part of our personal social lives. Sports help us to define ourselves, others, and the connections we have to them. Sport gives us a context for examining power and privilege in society.


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  • SOC 332 - Sociology of Leisure


    3 Credits

    The sociological study of leisure concerns time, how we use it and control it, and examines the social arrangements people form as part of social and cultural life as a whole. Leisure affects who we are, how we connect with other people, and how we define those connections. The emphasis in this course is on the dynamic interrelationship between social class, race, and gender.


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  • SOC 335 - Human Relations in Business


    3 Credits

    An introduction to the study of human relations at work, particularly in the business world. This course investigates human social behavior within modern organizations from the perspective of sociology.


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  • SOC 337 - Criminology


    3 Credits

    The study of crime as a social phenomena, including the origin of criminal law, measurement of criminal behavior, and the various categories of crime. The focus of the course is primarily on describing and explaining crime rather than formal responses to it.


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  • SOC 340 - Organizations in Society


    3 Credits

    An analysis of bureaucratic organizations in modern society, with particular emphasis on a critical examination of the implications these structures have for society and its members. Prerequisite: SOC 101  suggested.


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Spanish

  
  • SPN 201 - Spanish Composition


    3 Credits

    The aim of the course is to continue the development of reading and writing skills through the analysis and discussion of cultural and literary texts, fostering the exchange of opinions and ideas in order to help students improve their communication abilities. The course will also comprise a review of advanced grammatical structures from a contrastive point of view. Prerequisite: SPN 104  or equivalent.


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  • SPN 212 - Hispanic Civilization


    3 Credits

    Surveys the cultural history of Spain and Spanish America through an examination of the arts as a means of access to developing civilizations. Painting, sculpture, and architecture are analyzed, not only as aesthetic expressions, but as instruments of political and philosophical expression. Students acquire a more in-depth knowledge of the richness and complexity of the Hispanic World through the arts. Prerequisite: SPN 201  or above.


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  • SPN 309 - Hispanic Caribbean Literature and Culture


    3 Credits

    An introduction to the ideas, values, and cultural dynamics that shape the Hispanic Caribbean regions and its peoples with emphasis on their literature, music, films, and other cultural manifestations. An examination of distinct identities woven together throughout history to influence the development of contemporary Hispanic Caribbean societies. Prerequisite: SPN 212 .


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  • SPN 316 - Short Stories of Latin American Women Writers


    3 Credits

    The emergence of women writers is perhaps the most significant phenomenon of recent Latin American literary history. Starting with of the 19th century, this course reviews the historical development of a feminine short story considering political, ethnic, gender, sexual, and human rights issues linked to Latin American women writers’ endeavors. Reinforcement of writing and speaking skills. Conducted in Spanish.


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  • SPN 318 - Latin American Literature and Film


    3 Credits

    Feature films and literary texts from and about Latin America serve as the foundation. The texts examined and corresponding films analyzed address a range of significant topics in Latin American cultural history, basic human rights, unequal cultural encounters, social utopias and revolutions, repression and dictatorship, exile, specific models of machismo and gynophobia, homophobia, democratization process, and others. Conducted in Spanish.


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  • SPN 319 - Gabriel Garcia Marquez Narrative in Film


    3 Credits

    The course examines selected works of Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez and related cinematographic versions. Garcia Marquez’ narrative devices modeled on cinematic techniques and newspaper reportage and ruled by his magical realistic perspective made him a favorite among filmmakers. Interaction between literary and cinematography languages, as well their autonomy, are considered. Reinforcement of writing and speaking skills. Conducted in Spanish.


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Social Science

  
  • SSC 409 - Social Science Theory


    3 Credits

    An introduction to Social Science Theory as a way of thinking about and explaining the social world. Theoretical studies examine social life both from the perspective of social agents and through the structures created by those agents. Special attention is given to the nature and place of social theorizing in what is widely described as a “post modern” world.


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Theatre, Dance, and Film

  
  • TDF 101 - Theatre Appreciation


    3 Credits

    An introductory course specifically designed for non-majors to increase the student’s awareness of the performing arts and their impact on society. The course will examine the various processes of stage production, the economics of the performing arts, and attempt to develop sound critical standards and enthusiasm through readings and attendance at performances.


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  • TDF 201 - History of Fashion and Costuming


    3 Credits

    This lecture/lab course surveys the history of popular fashion in western civilization from biblical times to the advent of the 20th century. Various cultural factors that have influenced the history and design of clothing are considered.


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  • TDF 226 - Analyzing Film


    3 Credits

    Using film as the primary text, this course introduces students to the theory and practice of reading films as cultural artifacts and as works of art. Focuses on a variety of important Hollywood cinematic works of different genres, each representing some facet of the art of films including the use of visual language of film. Fulfills SCE Fine Arts core requirement.


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Theology

  
  • THL 200 - Foundations of Theology


    3 Credits

    An historical and systematic study of theology: its relation to its sources, methods of theology, and chief theological systems. One or two characteristic theologians will be studied for their methods and doctrines.


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  • THL 210 - Biblical Theology


    3 Credits

    The major theological themes of the Old and New Testament: covenant, creation, and human person made in the image of God, flawed by sin and redeemed by the fullness of the triune God’s saving act in Jesus Christ. Also examined are the different genres in the scriptures and Church documents on biblical inspiration and interpretation.


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  • THL 220 - New Testament: Literature & Theology


    3 Credits

    A survey of the literature that is the source of all Christian belief, theology and moral practice, treating the major theological and ethical teachings of Paul, the gospels and Acts, and the other New Testament writings.


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  • THL 240 - Theology of St. Thomas Aquinas


    3 Credits

    A study of the principal works of St. Thomas Aquinas, the place of Aquinas in medieval history, and the development of theology, the chief elements of his method. Special tracts of the Summa Theologica  will be read, analyzed, and discussed.


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  • THL 250 - Principles of Catholicism


    3 Credits

    This course is designed to cover the various branches of Catholic doctrine and practice as contained in sacred Scripture, tradition, and the magisterium. This course is intended for those desiring fundamental knowledge of Roman Catholic teaching. Fulfills SCE THL I core requirement.


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  • THL 260 - Religions of the World


    3 Credits

    This course explores the idea of redemption as expressed by the Judaic, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian traditions. Students examine both the philosophy and ritual found in the Torah, Koran, Bible, Pali Canon, and Upanishads, aided by a variety of secondary sources. Class discussion focuses on the similarities and differences between the religions’ concept of redemption. Fulfills SCE THL I core requirement.


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  • THL 270 - Growth in Christian Life


    3 Credits

    Examination of the life of grace through its beginning in baptism; its growth through sacrament, liturgy, prayer, and the moral life; and its fulfillment in the union of friendship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This study is conducted in light of the witness of Scripture and the Catholic tradition, the experience of faith, and the challenge of theology. Fulfills SCE THL I core requirement.


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  • THL 308 - Evangelization and Catechesis


    3 Credits

    Evangelization: The initial and ongoing invitation to be in relationship with Jesus Christ. Catechesis: The process of developing and deepening that relationship. This course covers our own evangelization and catechesis as well as how to share it with others.


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  • THL 312 - Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture


    3 Credits

    A survey of the literature that is the foundation of the Judaeo-Christian tradition, providing a critical and historical background, and exposing the major beliefs and moral convictions found in the Old Testament.


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  • THL 314 - The Prophets


    3 Credits

    A chronological study of the prophetic writings of Ancient Israel, especially the themes of covenant, salvation history, messianic expectations, and eschatology. This course will examine both the original message of the prophets and their relevance for contemporary readers.


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  • THL 323 - The Canonical Gospels


    3 Credits

    Introduction to the four canonical Gospels of the New Testament and the analytical methodologies that will enable students to read them from various perspectives: historical, literary, and theological. Attention to historical critical perspectives which consider the gospels within the context of the Greco-Roman world and ancient Judaism; theories of source, form and redaction criticism; and exegetical considerations for understanding Christian theology and practice.


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  • THL 328 - The Letters of St. Paul


    3 Credits

    A detailed study of the principal letters of Paul with special emphasis on his teaching about law and grace, justification, the resurrection of Jesus, the Body of Christ, the Church, and the cosmic Christ.


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  • THL 330 - Early Christian Doctrines


    3 Credits

    A study of the development of Christian faith in the centuries between the death of the apostles and the death of Augustine. Topics include the Trinitarian and Christological controversies, the Donatist and the Pelagian teaching, and the Christian response to the challenges of each. Fulfills SCE THL II core requirement.


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  • THL 332 - The Theology of St. Augustine


    3 Credits

    A study of St. Augustine’s theology through extensive readings in primary texts, such as  doctrinal treatises, biblical commentaries, and polemical writings.  Explores the themes characteristics of Augustine’s theology including creation, sin, Christ, grace and redemption, as they emerge and develop in the historical and intellectual setting of the Classical world of late antiquity.

      Prerequisite: Completion of a 200-level THL course


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  • THL 342 - American Religious Experience


    3 Credits

    An historical and thematic approach to the phenomenon of religion in the United States—the historical development of the four great religious families: Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, and Jewish; tensions between these families; the ecumenical movement; and the growth of “civil religion” and its dogmas, liturgy, and morals. Also explores selected themes in the sociology of religion in the United States.


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  • THL 350 - Christ, Word and Redeemer


    3 Credits

    A study of the chief themes of Messianic expectation and their fulfillment in Christ, the development of biblical revelation of Jesus in the Gospels, St. Paul and St. John, and a study of the central doctrines of salvation in biblical and systematic theology.


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  • THL 352 - Theology of the Human Person


    3 Credits

    A study of the human person in the light of revelation; the creation accounts and their doctrinal content; the nature and powers of humans; sin and its effects; freedom, harmony of revealed, and philosophical views of persons. Fulfills SCE THL II core requirement.


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  • THL 362 - The Sacraments


    3 Credits

    The general themes of sacramental theology are treated in their contemporary formulation with emphasis on personalist categories of development. Explores sacraments as symbols, the ecclesial dimension of sacraments, and the ways in which Christ instituted the sacraments. The course is completed by a study of the three sacraments of initiation: baptism, confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist. Fulfills SCE THL II core requirement.


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  • THL 370 - Principles of Moral Decision


    3 Credits

    The basic structure of morality as contained in the Sacred Scripture and the Fathers; its scholastic elaboration; the final end of man, the moral act, and absolutes in moral theology; contemporary construction of the moral act; and freedom.


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  • THL 373 - Global Catholicism


    3 Credits

    Explores how Catholic Christianity is lived and expressed in the non-western cultures of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania.  Focuses on the writing of representative theologians in each region and Christianity’s impact on their particular culture and social issues. Different assumptions and mindsets of cultures will be a major pedagogical focus of the course.  Fulfills the Theology II and Diversity core requirements. 


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  • THL 376 - Catholic Social Thought


    3 Credits

    An introduction to the social documents of the Catholic Church in the modern era. This course presents a synthesis of the methodology, the anthropology, and the principles used by the Church in its moral reflection on the various social problems of our day.


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  • THL 386 - Marriage: A Theological Approach


    3 Credits

    An analysis of marriage within the context of the Christian tradition: the reality of interpersonal love; the meaning and value of the sacrament of matrimony; human sexuality and Christian attitudes; marital spirituality; and contemporary marital problems.


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  • THL 432 - Christian Mysticism West and East I: From Plato to Meister Eckhardt


    3 Credits

    Mysticism is thought of as reserved exclusively for saints. Focus is on Augustine in the West and Dionysius the Aereopagite in the East, our journey also includes Bernard of Clarvaiux, Meister Eckhardt, and Catherine of Siena. Students will examine Christian interaction with other forms of mysticism, Jewish cabbalism and Islamic Sufism.


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  • THL 433 - Christian Mysticism West and East II: From Luther to Thomas Merton


    3 Credits

    Christian mysticism after the Reformation. How were the mystic’s journey similar to those before? How did they forge new paths of spirituality? This addresses questions through Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Simone Weil, and T. S. Eliot. Students examine modern debates on mysticism and what role the mystic way plays in the life of the Church and individuals.


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  • THL 470 - Special Topics in Theology


    3 Credits

    Focuses on particular theologians, theological topics or issues, or periods in the history of theological development not otherwise covered in the theology curriculum, but that pertain to current events, the interests of students, and/or the research of faculty. An emphasis on reading primary texts, discussion in seminar, and writing a substantial research paper (20 pages).


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  • THL 480 - Major Seminar


    3 Credits

    Research and critical discussion on a topic or topics selected on the basis of the students’ present interests and future needs as a capstone course.


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