Course Descriptions

SPAN 430 - (CL,D) Hispanic Women Writers

3 cr.

This course examines writing by Hispanic women, including prose, poetry, drama and essays, and investigates the social, political, aesthetic, and feminist contexts of their writing. Cross-listed with Women’s Studies. (See Women’s Studies Concentration  section.)  Taught in Spanish.

SPAN 434 - Hispanic Film and Society

3 cr.

An in-depth exploration of cultural issues as portrayed in a variety of classical and modern films from Spain and/or Latin America by directors such as Luis Buñuel, Carlos Saura, Pedro Almodóvar, Guillermo del Toro, and María Luisa Bemberg.  Examination and comparison of source texts where available.  Taught in Spanish.

SPAN 439 - The Craft of Translation

3 cr.

Study of the techniques of translation with emphasis on accurate terminology and proper syntax when translating newspaper articles, legal documents, medical records, business records and correspondence, essays, poems, songs, and short fiction. Taught in Spanish.

SPAN 482 - Guided Independent Study

Variable Credit

A tutorial program with content determined by mentor. Taught in Spanish.

SPAN 483 - Guided Independent Study

Variable Credit

A tutorial program with content determined by mentor. Taught in Spanish.

STAT 251 - (Q) Statistics for Business I

3 cr.

This course covers descriptive statistics including graphical, tabular and numerical summary measures, correlation, and regression.  Topics in probability include basic concepts, random variables, decision making and risk, and probability distributions used in business applications.  In preparation for the study of inferential statistics, sampling distributions and the normal model are also covered.  Appropriate software is used for data analysis.

STAT 252 - (Q) Statistics for Business II

3 cr.

A survey of inferential statistics, this course covers confidence intervals and hypothesis tests for proportions, confidence intervals and hypothesis tests for means, hypothesis tests for comparing two means (independent and paired), Chi square tests, inference for regression, multiple regression, building multiple regression models and the design and analysis of experiments.  Appropriate software is used for data analysis.

STAT 253 - Statistics for Economics

3 cr.

Coverage of statistical tools to analyze economic data.  Topics include measures of central tendency, dispersion, probability distributions, index numbers, time series analysis, regression and correlation, and analysis of variance.  Data analysis will be done using appropriate software.

T/JP 310 - Toward a Just and Peaceful World

T/RS 121 - (P) Theology I: Introduction to the Bible

T/RS 121J - (P) Theology I: Introduction to the Bible

T/RS 122 - (P) Theology II: Introduction to Christian Theology

3 cr.

A survey of key Christian themes: creation, Christ’s incarnation and redemption, the Church and sacraments, Christian personhood, and the practice of prayer, virtue, and hope for the future.

T/RS 122J - (P) Theology II: Introduction to Christian Theology

3 cr.

A survey of key Christian themes: creation, Christ’s incarnation and redemption, the Church and sacraments, Christian personhood, and the practice of prayer, virtue, and hope for the future.

T/RS 210Z - (P,D) Jews, Christians, and the Bible

3 cr.

A survey of ancient and modern ways of reading the Bible.  The focus will be on a group of central biblical figures whose stories will be examined in the context of ancient Israelite history and society. The biblical stories will then be compared with later elaborations by Jewish and Christian interpreters.

T/RS 212 - (P) Saints and Holiness

3 cr.

An inquiry into the nature of Christian sanctity by an examination of the lives and accomplishments of traditional saints and of contemporary persons who respond to the Gospel message.

T/RS 213 - (P) American Catholic Thought

3 cr.

The major themes of American Catholic tradition from colonial times to the present are placed in their historical, religious, social and political context.

T/RS 214C - (P,W) Inside the Catholic Tradition

3 cr.

This introduction to Catholic Tradition will study its scope, depth, and ongoing development, reception, and characteristics.  Topics covered include Faith and Revelation, the intercommunion of Scripture and Tradition, the role of Magisterium, and the development of doctrine. Selected readings are taken from important conciliar texts and theologians.

T/RS 215 - (P) The History of Christian Theology

3 cr.

A study of the vital growth of Christianity’s life, doctrine, worship and spirituality over the centuries.  Special emphasis will be placed on principal leaders, thinkers and heroes.

T/RS 216 - (P,D) Judaism in Modern Times

3 cr.

This course is a detailed study of the history of modern Judaism (1700 to present) in all of its aspects, including Messianism, Hasidism, Jewish Emancipation, new Jewish religious movements, Zionism, Holocaust, and the rise of the State of Israel.

T/RS 217 - (P,D) The Holocaust in Context: History and Theology

3 cr.

An exploration of the Holocaust through the perspective of the history of anti-Semitism. The course will examine the historical aspects of the Holocaust as well as the moral and theological issues raised by it.

T/RS 218 - (P,D) Women in Christianity

3 cr.

An exploration of some of the major roles women have played in Christian thought and experience, including their contributions as disciples, spiritual guides, and social critics.  Will also examine assumptions about male and female identities and consider challenges to traditional roles.

T/RS 219 - (P,D) The Religions of the World

3 cr.

An exploration of belief in the traditions of the classical historical religions of the world through both systematic analysis and the reading of sacred texts.

T/RS 220 - (P) The Sacramental Imagination

3 cr.

A basic course which explores the significance of the sacraments for the Church and for the development of the Christian imagination.

T/RS 221 - (P) Prayer

3 cr.

Introduction to the nature, purpose, and method of prayer in the Catholic Christian tradition.

T/RS 222 - (P) Introduction to Christian Worship

3 cr.

This course explores how Christian worship and theology inform one another. Particular attention will be given to the liturgical roots of Christian theology.

T/RS 223 - Introduction to the Theology of the Byzantine Churches

3 cr.

The Byzantine theological tradition develops special emphases within the mainstream of the Christian tradition.  This course introduces the student to the study of some of the specifically Byzantine contributions to the understanding of the Christian mystery, with particular emphasis on early developments.

T/RS 224 - (P) Introduction to Eastern Liturgies

3 cr.

A survey of the Eastern Eucharistic Liturgies with particular emphasis on the structure, history, and liturgical theology of the Byzantine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

T/RS 225 - (P) A Theology of Marriage

3 cr.

This course will introduce students to the theology of marriage.  It will focus on the distinctiveness of Christian marriage, its sacra mentality, marriage as a vocation and covenant, love and friendship in marriage, sex, singleness, family and children.  Questions of the state of the institution of marriage in contemporary culture will also be discussed.

T/RS 226 - (P) Faith and Healing: God and Contemporary Medicine

3 cr.

This course will consider the history of Western medicine in the light of a range of Christian notions such as that life is a gift from God, that the body is good, that illness is a (limited) evil, that health is a responsibility.  In this light, the idea that medicine is a calling and healing an art will be considered.

T/RS 227Z - (P) Biomedical Ethics

3 cr.

This course will present theological reflections on the main ethical theories undergirding contemporary biomedical ethics.  It will also present and discuss relevant philosophical and theological arguments on such issues as abortion, care of handicapped infants, euthanasia, suicide, and the profession of medicine.

T/RS 228 - (P) Parables in Pop Culture

3 cr.

This course is designed to help students attend to and interpret the narratives of popular culture from the perspective of Christian faith.  We will discuss Jesus’ use of parables, engage the theological tradition of “finding God in all things,” and analyze a variety of artistic productions (movies, television and music) that represent dominant themes of contemporary culture.

T/RS 230 - (P) Moral Theology

3 cr.

A study of the Catholic moral tradition, its origins, development, key principles and debates. Areas of inquiry include human freedom, happiness, virtue, conscience, divine grace, natural law and the relation between morality and doctrine.

T/RS 231 - (P) God and the Good Society

3 cr.

This course will work to provide a theological assessment of various political, moral, economic and social arrangements that have or might apply in human societies. Attention will be given to different descriptions of the Church’s right relation to the nation state, as well as of social justice, foreign relations, and/or legal systems.

T/RS 232 - (P) Catholic Social Thought

3 cr.

An in-depth study of the Catholic perspective on the common good. Readings will be chosen from Augustine, Aquinas, papal social encyclicals and other contemporary sources. Areas of inquiry include the dignity of the human person, natural law and rights, the dialogue with political philosophy, social justice, law and public policy, and the role of the family.

T/RS 233 - (P,W) Suffering

3 cr.

This course examines the way in which Christians and Jews narrate their suffering in the context of God’s purposes. Traditional formulations of “the problem of evil” will be critiqued, and the concept of redemptive suffering will be explored.

T/RS 234 - (P,D) Twentieth-Century Peacemakers

3 cr.

A study of some of the principles and methods of “waging peace” found in the lives and writings of Mohandas Gandhi, Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton and Martin Luther King.

T/RS 235 - (P) The Theology of Birth and Death

3 cr.

This course will investigate the meaning and significance of the birth and death of human beings in the Christian tradition. Related topics will be: suicide, euthanasia, capital punishment, contraception and abortion.

T/RS 236 - (P) Prophets and Profits: The Economy in the Christian Life

3 cr.

An inquiry into the witness of the Church with regard to questions of wealth, business, economics and formulation of public policy. Biblical sources, Church tradition, and contemporary narratives will be employed to assess the common good.

T/RS 240 - (P,W) Scrolls and Scriptures

T/RS 241 - (P) Early Biblical Heroes and Villains

3 cr.

This course will be a theological study of some of the historical books of the Old Testament, especially Joshua, Judges, and the four books concerning kings. Major figures and narratives, like those of King David and the prophet Elijah, will be the main focus.

T/RS 242 - (P) Women in the Bible

3 cr.

This course surveys the variety of perspectives on women found in the Bible.

T/RS 242H - Christian Ethics and Public Health

3 cr.

This course will explore one contemporary social and medical issue – the need for a functioning public health apparatus – and the ethical implications of an adequate public health system. The framework of the ethical analysis is Christian social ethics, especially Catholic Social Teaching as it understands “Common Good.”

T/RS 243 - (P, D) Christ & Qur’an

3 cr.

After reviewing historical Christian-Muslim encounters, we examine the Church’s position on Islam, doctrinal points of contention, contemporary attempts at understanding Islam in the light of Christian faith, and Muslim attempts at understanding Christianity.  There will be opportunity for practical Christian-Muslim dialogue as well.  Students should have some background in Islam.

T/RS 244 - (P) The Catholic Church and American Culture

3 cr.

This course will explore major points of conflict (and of harmony) between the official teaching of the Catholic Church and contemporary American culture.  Although the historical roots of various conflicts will be traced, the primary emphasis will be on the state of the conflict as we find it today.

T/RS 245 - (P,D) Islam

3 cr.

This course introduces students to elements of diversity and continuity in the scriptures, beliefs, practices, spirituality, history, institutions, philosophies, theologies, and political ideas of Islam.  Although the course is text based, students will normally encounter contemporary expressions of Islam through some combination of film, music, site visits, and guest speakers. Alternate Years

T/RS 250 - (P,D) Latin American Liberation Theology and Beyond

3 cr.

The objective of the course is to explore the development of theology within Latin America after the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). Special attention is given the theological, social and political settings of Catholicism in Latin America.

T/RS 295 - (P,D) Christianity in Africa

3 cr.

This travel course takes students to Uganda in East Africa. It covers the life and story of Ugandan Christianity since 1877, including the Uganda martyrs, the relationship between Anglicans and Catholics, and the role of Christian churches in Uganda culture, especially related to education, justice and medicine.

T/RS 310 - (P) The Heart of the Old Testament

3 cr.

An in- depth look at the five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) using ancient and modern exegetical views to examine and emphasize the central theme of the Covenant.

T/RS 311 - (P) Job and the Psalter

3 cr.

A close look at the wisdom literature of the Old Testament.  The study of both the Book of Psalms and the Book of Job will emphasize theological themes.

T/RS 312 - (P) The Great Prophets

3 cr.

An examination of the four major prophets of the Old Testament: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, with an emphasis on the study of selected texts.

T/RS 313 - (P,W) Faith and Justice in the Prophetic Tradition

3 cr.

The goals of contemporary Jesuit education are the service of faith and the promotion of justice.  This course will examine the roots of these ideals in the writings of the OT prophets, with special attention to Isaiah.

T/RS 314 - (P) Jesus in the Four Gospels

3 cr.

A study of the historical, literary and theological significance of Jesus’ life and teaching as presented in the four canonical Gospels.

T/RS 315 - (P,W) John’s Gospel and Letters

3 cr.

A close look at the Fourth Gospel and the Epistles of John with an emphasis on their literary, historical, and theological characteristics.

T/RS 316 - (P,W) Passion and Resurrection Narratives

3 cr.

A study of the theology of each of the Gospels by an analysis of the key narratives of the Passion and Resurrection in the four Gospels.

T/RS 317 - (P) Pauline Letters

3 cr.

An introduction to the writings of the Apostle Paul, exploring Jewish and Greco-Roman influences on his letters as well as his contribution to basic Christian beliefs and practices.

T/RS 318 - (P) The Apocalypse of St. John

3 cr.

This introduction to the last book of the Bible will emphasize the literary forms and thought patterns of apocalyptic literature as well as the historical and theological character of the book itself, highlighting both textual interpretation and contemporary relevance.

T/RS 319 - (P,D,W) Judaism in the Time of Jesus

3 cr.

A study of first-century Jewish religious sects as well as the cultural, political, and historical setting of the Roman Empire in which Jesus lived and preached and where monotheism continued to develop.

T/RS 320 - (P) Early Christian Writers

3 cr.

This course is designed to provide an introduction to the main figures, theological currents and ideas of the formative period of the history of Christian theology by a close reading of selected texts from the major authors of the first six centuries of the Church.

T/RS 321 - (P) Development of Christian Thought to 1100

3 cr.

A survey of the principal theological, spiritual and institutional developments in the first millennium of the Church’s life.

T/RS 322 - (P) Development of Christian Thought 1100 to 1800

3 cr.

Survey of the principal theological, spiritual, and institutional developments in the Church in the medieval, reformation, and early modern periods.

T/RS 323 - (P) Protestant Traditions

3 cr.

This course will examine both historical and contemporary representatives of selected Protestant traditions, focusing on their characteristic understandings of (1) scripture, tradition and knowledge of God; (2) grace, faith and works; and (3) the Church and the Christian life.

T/RS 324 - (P) Jesuit Spirit

3 cr.

The Society of Jesus (Jesuits): its spirituality, tradition and history from their 16th-century origins in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola through the contemporary period, with special emphasis on Jesuit theological and cultural contributions to the Church.

T/RS 325 - (P) Heaven and Hell

3 cr.

Besides studying the origins of the Christian belief in the afterlife, the course will also focus on Catholic and Protestant formulations of the doctrines of salvation and damnation as well as literary responses to the notions of heaven and hell.

T/RS 326 - (P) Belief and Unbelief

3 cr.

A multidisciplinary inquiry into the nature of Faith in the Catholic tradition with special attention to the challenges of modernity.

T/RS 327 - (P) Spiritual Classics

3 cr.

A study of influential spiritual/mystical texts about the nature of the self, the meaning and goal of human existence, and the attainment of ultimate happiness.  Readings selected by instructor from among the world’s religious traditions, including but not limited to Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Daoism.

T/RS 328 - (P) The Christian Church

3 cr.

A brief survey of various expressions of the Church’s nature and mission throughout its history, from the New Testament through Vatican II.  Some contemporary approaches to ecclesiology will be explored, touching on questions regarding what is the true church and its rightful global mission.

T/RS 329 - (P,W) Christian Classics

3 cr.

Each semester of this CSP core course provides a structured opportunity for reading in common some of the major Christian works of literature and spirituality with which every educated Catholic should be familiar. Important Catholic books and significant works of some great men and women who have shaped Christian thought and life will be read and discussed.

T/RS 330 - (P) Christ in Tradition and Culture

3 cr.

Examines the meaning and message of Jesus Christ as understood and communicated in the faith of his followers with special consideration given to the symbolic dimensions and cultural aspects of that Christian understanding.

T/RS 331 - (P,W) God and the Earth

3 cr.

This course will explore the way human beings relate to the land and to other life forms and how this relationship is affected by belief in God. Biblical and other theological texts from Christianity and other religious traditions will be considered.

T/RS 333 - (P) Friendship and the Christian Life

3 cr.

This course will explore friendship as a central practice of the Christian life, especially the moral and spiritual life, and examine virtues such as fidelity, forgiveness, and love which are essential for sustaining and nurturing friendships.

T/RS 334 - (P,D) The Church and Contemporary Social Issues

3 cr.

Explores the religious and ethical dimensions of social issues such as prejudice and violence.  The findings of related social sciences and literature are placed in the context of Christian anthropology to give the student a concrete view of their interrelationship.

T/RS 335 - Virtue, Vice and Christian Ethics

3 cr.

This course will consider virtues and vices from the perspective of the Christian vision, comparing them to other popular visions in the ancient and/or modern world.  Other related topics to be treated include human freedom, action, happiness, sin, and moral truth.

T/RS 336 - (P,D) The Jewish Way of Life

3 cr.

As a global introduction to Judaism this course will examine: essential beliefs, holidays and life ceremonies, Jewish history and modern Judaism, especially the Holocaust, the State of Israel and the Coming to America.

T/RS 337 - (P,D,W) Jewish Approaches to Ethics

3 cr.

A survey of Jewish approaches to ethics and ethical problems with comparisons to other religious traditions and the writing of secular ethicists.

T/RS 338 - (P,D,W) Psychology and Spirituality

3 cr.

This course explores selected Christian and Buddhist traditions of spirituality as understood by their practitioners and from the perspective of representative theorists or schools of Western psychology.  The course concludes by assessing positive and negative aspects of these psychological approaches to understanding and evaluating spiritual experience.

T/RS 339 - Eastern Christian Spirituality

3 cr.

A study of the meaning of the spiritual life for Eastern Christian writers with a particular emphasis upon St. Athanasius, Gregory of Nyssa and Gregory Palamas.  Themes such as prayer, image of and likeness with God, discernment of spirits, hesychasm and icons will be discussed.

T/RS 340 - (P) Theologies of Work and Rest

3 cr.

This course explores the religious and social significance of work and rest in ancient Greek philosophy, the Bible, and Catholic social teaching.  We will consider issues of “burn out,” workaholism, and restlessness in modern life.  Students are encouraged to re-examine their own approaches to working and resting.

T/RS 341 - (P) Faith and Fiction

3 cr.

The course will explore both how theological ideas and religious faith (or its absence) give shape to fictional worlds and lives in a variety of short stories and novels, and how theological themes can be explored by means of imaginative literature.

T/RS 410 - Salvation Outside the Church?

3 cr.

An historical and Catholic-theological engagement with key questions in relation to religious pluralism such as: Can non-Christians be saved?  Does God intend the existence of many religions?  What status do non-Christian religions have vis-a-vis the Church?  What may Christians learn from non-Christian religious traditions?

T/RS 440 - Introduction to Old Testament

3 cr.

An introduction to the primary methods and problems of Old Testament interpretation: its historical background, the theological analysis and synthesis of major sections, as well as the use of source, form, and redaction criticism and such more recently developed approaches as social, scientific, literary and feminist criticism.

T/RS 441 - Inside the New Testament

T/RS 445 - Pastoral Theology

3 cr.

This course is based on the assumption that when done properly, all theology is pastoral. Throughout the course, students will “read” both the liturgy and classical theological texts in a pastoral way, as well as reflect theologically on their own pastoral experience. It will be conducted in seminar format.

T/RS 480 - Internship

1-3 cr.

Theology majors and minors can receive credits for a variety of ministerial experiences.  Approval must be obtained beforehand from supervising faculty member and chairperson. Internship credits can be placed in the cognate or free area; they do not count toward the 30 credits needed for a Theology major or the 18 credits needed for a Theology minor.

T/RS 490 - Theology Capstone Seminar

3 cr.

A capstone seminar required for Theology majors, recommended for minors and available to other qualified students with permission of instructor.  Topics will vary from semester to semester depending on student interest and faculty expertise.  The use of primary sources and research appropriate to the specific topic will be emphasized.  Students may take more than one semester of this course.

THTR 110 - (CL) Introduction to Theatre

THTR 121 - Introduction to Technical Theatre

3 cr.

This course introduces the student to the materials, equipment, and techniques used in the construction and finishing of stage sets, including lighting, sound, and special effects. Forty hours of lab work and participation on a crew for a major University Players production will be required.

THTR 151 - (CA) Introduction to Acting

THTR 211 - (CL) Theatre History I

THTR 212 - (CL) Theatre History II

3 cr.

A chronological study of Western theatre from the middle 17th century to the present.  A selection of plays from representative playwrights will be read and discussed, with an emphasis on the social, cultural, and theatrical contexts within which these playwrights lived and worked.

THTR 213 - (CA) Design for the Theatre

3 cr.

An introduction to the various design and production elements in theatre.  Scenery, lighting, costumes, projections, props and sound will be explored.  Students participate in the design elements of the University productions.

THTR 214 - Drama Practicum

3 cr.

Work on one of the major aspects of producing or creating a play including acting, costuming, set construction, designing, lighting, publicity, playwriting, and box-office management.  “A one-time repeatable course.”

THTR 215 - Playwriting I

3 cr.

(Credit cannot be earned for WRTG 215  and THTR 215.)

THTR 221 - Scene Painting

THTR 225 - Solo Performance

THTR 231 - Lighting Design

THTR 251 - Intermediate Acting

3 cr.

The student actor develops a stronger grasp of Stanislavski’s system of Objectives and Beats.  Scene work requires the actor to explore theatrical realism as practiced by Miller, Williams, Inge, Chekhov, and Ibsen. Offered every other semester.

THTR 252 - Voice and Speech

THTR 253 - Stage Combat

3 cr.

This course teaches safe and effective techniques for theatrical combat, seen in plays from Shakespeare to Shepard.  Student actors will explore both unarmed fighting and rapier-and dagger swordplay in preparation of an acting scene for public performance.

THTR 275 - Continental European Drama, 1880 - 1960

3 cr.

This course surveys the emergence of naturalism and the developments of drama in the European continent at the end of the 19th century into the mid-twentieth century.  The works studied illustrate various attempts to recreate realities on stage and explore how philosophy influenced theatrical expression.  (All readings in English.) Alternate Years

THTR 280 - Production Laboratory