Course Descriptions

Lower Division

THST 100
Introduction to the Old Testament
3 Semester Hours

A general introduction to the literary, historical, and religious traditions of the Old Testament.

THST 109
Introduction to Scripture and Prayer
3 Semester Hours

For Jesuit Novices only.

THST 110
Introduction to the New Testament
3 Semester Hours

An introduction to the literary, historical, and theological dimensions of the New Testament.

THST 120
The Roots of Catholic Christianity
3 Semester Hours

A study of the Biblical roots of Catholic Christianity based on a critical introduction to the New Testament.

THST 122
Theological Foundations of Catholicism
3 Semester Hours

An introduction to the theological roots of the Roman Catholic Tradition, with attention to the historical and theological development of the Catholic tradition in its cultural contexts.

Required for the Catholic Studies Minor.

THST 125
Introduction to Global Christianity
3 Semester Hours

An introduction to the history of Christianity as a global movement, incorporating historical, theological, and social issues in

Christianity from both non-western and western perspectives.

THST 131
Introduction to Christian Theology
3 Semester Hours

Using primary source documents, this course acquaints students with the contents of the Bible, and major areas of theology including revelation, Jesus Christ, God, creation, interreligious dialogue, and ecumenism.

THST 149
Introduction to Christian Spirituality
3 Semester Hours

For Jesuit Novices only.

THST 150
Belief and Unbelief
3 Semester Hours

An examination of the various forms of unbelief, the meaning and significance of belief, and the relationship between belief and unbelief.

THST 160
Introduction to Christian Ethics
3 Semester Hours

An examination of ethical issues in light of Christian scriptures, traditions, and experiences.

THST 170
Christian Faith and American Cultures
3 Semester Hours

This course explores Christian faith in the diverse cultural context of the contemporary United States.

THST 175
Narratives of Christian Faith
3 Semester Hours

A study of Christian faith as explored through narratives: a gospel, some saints’ lives, and the work of contemporary storytellers.

THST 180
Religions of the World
3 Semester Hours

An introduction to the history, literature, and thought patterns of the major religions of the world.

THST 198
Special Studies
1-3 Semester Hours

THST 199
Independent Studies
1-3 Semester Hours

THST 241
Liturgy Practicum
1 Semester Hour

Course objectives are to understand the dynamics of worship and to engage in critical reflection on the experience of liturgical leadership. Students serve in a variety of worship settings. Permission of instructor is required. Recommended co-requisite THST 341—Liturgy and Culture.

This service learning course may be repeated for credit.

THST 298
Special Studies
1-3 Semester Hours

THST 299
Independent Studies
1-3 Semester Hours

Area A: Sacred Scriptures, Religious Sources, and Traditions

THST 301
Ancient Futures
3 Semester Hours

This course explores the corpus of Wisdom and Apocalyptic literatures in the Bible and samples of other extant Wisdom and Apocalyptic writings, both ancient and modern.

THST 302
Prophecy and Social Justice
3 Semester Hours

An examination of the Hebrew prophets in the socioeconomic and historical context, with particular emphasis on issues of
justice. Some considerations of more recent “prophet” figures are included for comparison.

THST 303
The Old Testament in Gospel and Blues
3 Semester Hours

A survey of Old Testament themes as they relate to the lyrics and themes of African- American gospel music. With attention to the roots of gospel in the blues tradition, this course combines historical, cultural, and biblical analysis.

THST 304
War and Peace in the Bible
3 Semester Hours

This course considers the development of Biblical and religious reflection on the issues of the Church, war, peace, and Christian nonviolence up to the present.

THST 305
The Four Gospels
3 Semester Hours

A social-historical, literary, and theological examination of the Gospels and early Christian and modern interpretations of
Jesus.

THST 310
The Gospel of John
3 Semester Hours

An analysis of the interplay among the historical setting, literary development, and theological motifs of the Fourth Gospel.

THST 311
Pauline Epistles
3 Semester Hours

A study of the ministry and message of Paul presented in his letters, accounts in Acts, and deutero-Pauline epistles.

THST 314
Jesus in Gospel and Film
3 Semester Hours

An exploration of various portraits of Jesus in the Gospels, the identity of the historical Jesus, and contemporary interpretations of Jesus in various films.

THST 320
History of Christianity I
3 Semester Hours

Selected themes treating major problem areas in the history of Christian life and thought from its origins to the end of the high Middle Ages.

THST 321
History of Christianity II
3 Semester Hours

Selected themes treating major problem areas in the history of Christian life and thought from the end of the high Middle Ages to the present.

THST 322
Greek Orthodox Tradition
3 Semetser Hours

A review of the unbroken dogmatic tradition of the Greek Orthodox Church, her liturgy, and her place in the religious life of the United States.

Sponsored by the Basil P. Caloyeras Center for Modern Greek Studies.

THST 323
Celtic Christianity
3 Semester Hours

An examination of the inculturation of Christianity into the Celtic worldview from the fifth to eleventh centuries, including Celtic monasticism, liturgy, literature, art, and spirituality.

THST 324
Women in Christian History
3 Semester Hours

An historical investigation of Christian theology of women: what theologians said about women, what women said about themselves, and what they accomplished.

THST 326
Catholicism: The American Experience
3 Semester Hours

A study of the diverse experiences in U.S. Catholicism, with emphasis on the theological implications of American Catholic responses to a pluralistic society.

THST 328
Age of Reformation
3 Semester Hours

The religious, political, and cultural upheaval of the protestant challenge to medieval Christendom and Catholic response.
Usually taught in Bonn, Germany.

THST 401
Gospel of Mark
3 Semester Hours

A comprehensive verse by verse exegesis of the Gospel of Mark. Students will situate the Gospel of Mark within the Early Christian genre of gospel and place it in conversation with the other Synoptic Gospels.

THST majors/minors only.

THST 415
New Testament Theology
3 Semester Hours

An examination of various historical, literary, theological, and ethical issues in the interpretation of the New Testament, especially the Gospels and the Pauline epistles.

THST 420
Early Christianity
3 Semester Hours

A study of the development of Christian theology from the Apostolic Fathers through the period of the Cappadocians to the era of Jerome and Augustine.

THST 421
Medieval Religious Thought and practice
3 Semester Hours

An introduction to Christian thought and practice in the late Middle Ages through a detailed consideration of select topics: God;
Saints; Mary; Ghosts; Demons, Body and Soul; Rituals (especially the eucharist); Death and the Afterlife.

THST majors/minors only.

THST 422
Heresy and Mysticism
3 Semester Hours

An examination of medieval heretics’ and mystics’ contribution to the richness of their traditions. This class emphasizes issues of gender, authority, class, and culture, tracing developments of heresy and mysticism from late antiquity through the Middle Ages.

THST majors/minors only.

THST 425
Medieval Theology
3 Semester Hours
Selected topics on medieval theology, such as the development of a specifically Christian culture, the tensions between religion and empire and between popular and institutional forms of religious expression, and monastic and scholastic theological methods.

THST 427
Theology and History of Vatican II
3 Semester Hours
This course explores Roman Catholic theology by reading the major Conciliar documents and analyzing the social and historical context, with emphasis on ecumenism, historical understanding, and the recovery of the biblical tradition.

THST 432
Dante's Inferno
3 Semester Hours

An exploration of Dante’s vision of hell and humanity in the Inferno through a close reading of the text in translation. We highlight the theological signifi cance of Dante’s poem and focus on its literary and political aspects.

THST majors/minors only.

THST 481

Islam in the Modern World
3 Semester Hours

An introduction to the contemporary Islamic religious tradition, including Muslim approaches to modernity, major reformers of Islam in the modern world, Muslim feminism, and the role of Islam in North America.

THST majors/minors only.

Area B: Theology, Ethics, and Spirituality

THST 330
What Is Faith in Jesus Christ
3 Semester Hours

An analysis of past and present meanings of Christian faith in its relation to the person of Jesus Christ, the Church, doctrine, and Christian life.

THST 332
Friends of God, Fools for Christ
3 Semester Hours

A study of the Christian notion of sanctity in the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions, with attention to ancient, medieval, and modern saints’ lives. We investigate how the shape of holiness has varied according to time and context.

THST 345
The Catholic Church of Today and Tomorrow
3 Semester Hours

An examination of the post-Vatican II Catholic Church. How has the Church’s self-understanding changed in recent years, and what projections can be made for the future?

THST 350
Foundations of Christian Spirituality
3 Semester Hours

An analysis of themes central to Christian spirituality including prayer, the nature of religious experience, asceticism, and the schools of spirituality. Essential to the analysis is an articulation of key doctrinal themes.

THST 352
Orthodox Christian Spirituality
3 Semester Hours

The history of the monastic life of the desert fathers and the spiritual tradition of Eastern Christianity will be examined and made relevant to the present-day world.

THST 355
After Eden
3 Semester Hours

An exploration of the human person in relation to God.

THST 359
Theology of Religious Life
3 Semester Hours

For Jesuit Novices only.

THST 360
Moral Issues and Christian Responses
3 Semester Hours

An exploration of the issues involved in a variety of moral problems and a survey of present and past Christian responses to them.

THST 361
Christian Ethics in the Marketplace
3 Semester Hours

An analysis and discussion of business ethics case studies in the light of Christian economic teachings.

THST 363
Christian Marriage and Sexuality
3 Semester Hours

An examination of the varieties of Christian views of marriage and the full range of moral issues concerning human sexuality today.

THST 367
Christian Voices on War and Peace
3 Semester Hours

An examination of Christian attitudes toward war and peace that address U.S. policies during the twentieth century and beyond.

THST 368
Bioethics and Christian Morality
3 Semester Hours

A theological and ethical study of bioethical topics, e.g., euthanasia, assisted reproductive technologies, and human cloning, that confront contemporary society.

THST 381
Contemporary Judaism and Its Historical Background
3 Semester Hours

An understanding of Jewish beliefs and practices, their Biblical and historical roots, their theological and cultural motivations.

Sponsored by the Jewish Chautauqua Society.

THST 382
Religions of India
3 Semester Hours

An exploration of the cultural/historical background and theological insight of Hinduism and Jainism. Sikhism, Christianity, and Islam in India are also discussed.

THST 383
Religions of the Near East
3 Semester Hours

An overview of the history, theology, and interactions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, both in their Middle Eastern and global contexts.

THST 384
Religions of East Asia
3 Semester Hours

The history and development of Confucianism, Taoism, Tibetan and Zen Buddhism, and Shinto, emphasizing primary textual sources. Islam and Christianity in East Asia will also be discussed.

THST 385
Buddhism
3 Semester Hours

A survey of the history of Buddhism in India and Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Tibet, and North America. Discussion of Buddhism’s contributions to social ethics, ecological concern, and dialogue with Christianity.

THST 386
Islam
3 Semester Hours

This course will introduce students to the religion of Islam. Key topics will be Muhammad and the Qur’an, Islamic religious practices, the Sunni-Shi’i split, Sufism, Islam in North America, and Christian-Muslim dialogue.

THST 387
World Religions and Ecology
3 Semester Hours

In this course, we will discuss how the world’s religious traditions approach the topic of the relationship between ecological and religious values.

THST 430
Christology
3 Semester Hours

An investigation of the Christology of the New Testament, the early councils, and contemporary issues in Christology.

THST 431
Rahner
3 Semester Hours

A study of the life, context, and theology of Karl Rahner.

THST 433
Theotokos
3 Semester Hours

This course examines the theology of the Mother of God, from its biblical foundations, through the patristic and medieval periods, into the modern appropriations of Mariology by Protestant and feminist scholars.

THST majors/minors only.

THST 434

The Art and Theology of the Icon
3 Semester Hours

The course traces the origins of Christian iconography, examining the theological controversies which shaped the icon tradition, leading students to read the subtle and rich theological messages encoded in these mysterious images.

THST majors/minors only.

THST 450
Topics in Christian Spirituality
3 Semester Hours

A survey of key persons and movements in the history of Western Christian spirituality.

THST 455
Theology of Liberation
3 Semester Hours

A study of recent Latin American theology as a Christian response to current political, social, and economic injustice in Latin American countries.

THST 460
Christian Ethics and Social Responsibility
3 Semester Hours

This course critically examines biblical, theological, and ethical texts related to social responsibility in light of contemporary issues.

THST majors/minors only.

THST 461

Christian Ethics and HIV/AIDS
3 Semester Hours

This course analyzes how distinct approaches and sources in Christian ethics, including elements of scripture, tradition, sexual ethics, virtue ethics, and social ethics interact as they relate to contronting the AIDS crisis.

THST majors/minors only.

THST 470
Topics in Theological Ethics
3 Semester Hours

An exploration of the history and methods of theological ethics with analysis of contemporary moral issues.

THST 480
Topics in Comparative Theology
3 Semester Hours

Multiple religious perspectives will be utilized in this course to explore one or more topics of theological concern, such as violence and nonviolence, myth and symbol, modes of spirituality, images of God, and/or multicultural religious presence in Los Angeles.

THST 482
Hindu and Jaina Theology
3 Semester Hours

In this course we study in depth primary sources of these two traditions, including the Rig Veda , the Upanisads, the Yoga Sutra , and the Tattvàrthasutra .

THST majors/minors only.

THST 495
Seminar: Major Christian Thinker
3 Semester Hours
An examination of the theological work of one major thinker, studying the work both as an integrated theological statement and as a part of continuing theological dialogue.

Area C: Faith, Culture, and Ministry

THST 307
Interpreting Jesus
3 Semester Hours

This course takes a close look at the conversation between the Jesus of the Gospels and contemporary embodiments of his Ministry. Community-based learning component required.

THST 331
Salvation and Liberation
3 Semester Hours

An examination of the theme of liberation in Scripture, church history, and the recent theologies, as well as its impact on our own lives.

THST 340
Water, Word, and Wine
3 Semester Hours

An introduction to the phenomenon and power of ritual and symbolic activity, with particular emphasis on how these provide a
foundation for understanding Christian rituals and sacraments.

THST 341
Liturgy and Culture
3 Semester Hours

A study of Christian worship examining the historical development of worship in its interaction with various cultures from ancient to modern.

THST 346
The Latino Experience in the U.S. Church
3 Semester Hours

A review of the Latino presence in the Catholic Church with emphasis on the historical experience, Latino popular religion, and current trends and issues in Hispanic ministry and theology.

THST 348
African American Religious Experience
3 Semester Hours

A survey of African American religious experience from the time of slavery to the present, emphasizing the role of faith in African American society and the role of the church in the struggle for equality.

THST 373
Catholic Social Teaching and Action
3 Semester Hours

This course examines Catholic social teaching thematically, focusing on such principles as human dignity, solidarity, the common good, and the option for the poor; contemporary activist groups are also studied as part of the living tradition of Catholic social teaching.

This course requires a weekly community service placement where the student will perform at least 20 hours of service during the semester.

THST 388
Women and Religion
3 Semester Hours

This course approaches various world religions through a focus on women in those traditions, exploring these religions as they affect and are affected by women.

THST 389

Asian Christianities
3 Semester Hours

This course examines varieties of Christian expressions in West, South, East, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and the complex issues that impact these communities.

THST 390
Meeting Christ in Faith and Art
3 Semester Hours

An exploration of the development and key issues surrounding Christianity’s understanding of Jesus as Christ through the joint engagement of theology, theological aesthetics and the arts.

THST 435
Eucharistic Theology
3 Semester Hours

An in-depth study of the theology of the Eucharist from an ecumenical perspective, highlighting the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.

THST 451
Ignatian Spirituality
3 Semester Hours

A study of the spirituality of Ignatius of Loyola based on a close reading of his Spiritual Exercises and contemporary writings on Ignatian themes.

THST 471
Ministry to Youth and Young Adults
3 Semester Hours

The course examines the theory and practice of ministry with and for youth and young adults, with emphasis on faith development, community building, justice and service education, advocacy and guidancy of youth and young adults.

THST majors/minors only.

THST 497
Youth and Young Adult Ministry
3 Semester Hours

The course examines the theory and practice of ministry to youth and young adults, emphasizing faith development, community building, justice and service education, advocacy, and guidance of youth and young adults.

Special Courses

THST 398
Special Studies
1-3 Semester Hours

THST 399
Independent Studies
1-3 Semester Hours

THST 496
Senior Integration Seminar
3 Semester Hours
The course stresses the integration of the various dimensions and methods of Theological Studies.
Prerequisites: Senior standing and Theological Studies majors and minors only.

THST 498
Special Studies
1-3 Semetser Hours

THST 499
Independent Studies
1-3 Semester Hours

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Graduate Courses

Biblical Theology

THST 600
Foundations of New Testament Theology
3 Semester Hours

This course presents critical issues in current biblical interpretation of the New Testament. In particular, attention is given to the significance of historical, literary, social, and theological aspects of the New Testament writings, as well as to contemporary interpretive methodologies and the pastoral dimensions of interpretation.

THST 603
Foundations of Old Testament Theology
3 Semester Hours

This course examines central issues in the interpretation of the Hebrew Bible, with attention to sociological, historical, literary, and theological dimensions of the Hebrew Bible, as well as the methodology of interpretation.

THST 607
Topics in the Gospels
3 Semester Hours

This course explores aspects of contemporary studies of the Gospels, focusing on one of the canonical Gospels and its relations to other canonical and non-canonical Gospels, with attention to the search for the historical Jesus, the investigation of the Evangelist’s communities and traditions, and later theological appropriations of the Gospels. This course may be repeated for credit.

THST 609
Paul the Apostle
3 Semester Hours

This course explores the life and letters of Paul in their historical, literary, social, and theological contexts, as well as issues in contemporary interpretation of Pauline theology.

World Religions

THST 612
Hinduism: Vendanta and Yoga
3 Semester Hours

This course investigates primary sources, including the Rig Veda, the Upanisads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Yoga Sutra.

THST 613
Buddhism and Jainism
3 Semester Hours

This course studies primary texts and history of Buddhism and Jainism, with emphasis on theological praxis.

THST 619
Readings in Religious Literature
3 Semester Hours

This course entails the reading of primary texts in the original language.

May be repeated twice for degree credit.

Historical Theology

THST 620
Foundations of Historical Theology
3 Semester Hours

A study of the specific role which historical investigation plays in constructive and critical theology; this study uses, as its major case study, the development of the Christian doctrine of God and Christ as articulated in the classical period and developed up to the scholastic period.

THST 621
Patristic Theology
3 Semester Hours

The emergence of theology in pastoral and liturgical reflection on the biblical tradition in the first six centuries of the church’s life: theology from the time of Ignatius of Antioch to Gregory the Great.

THST 623
History of Christian Spirituality
3 Semester Hours

This course will explore the rich and complex tradition of Christian spirituality, with a particular focus on the unfolding quest for wisdom within that tradition. Particular attention will be given to (a) developing a critical approach to the study of Christian spirituality, (b) understanding the relationship of spirituality and history, (c) cultivating the art of reading classic spiritual texts and (d) retrieving classic themes of spirituality for contemporary use.

THST 625
Medieval Theology
3 Semester Hours

An introductory survey beginning with Bede’s retrieval and transformation of the patristic legacy and ending with the dissolution of the scholastic tradition.

Systematic Theology

THST 630
Introduction to Systematic Theology
3 Semester Hours

This course investigates how theology attempts to translate the Christian message into new situations. Theological issues include revelation, faith, God and trinity, christology, the church, sin and grace, and sacramental and liturgical theology. Attention is given to their historical development as well as their contemporary significance, particularly in light of philosophical, cultural, and religious pluralism.

THST 631
Christology
3 Semester Hours

An historical and systematic investigation of the Christian understanding of Jesus Christ and his significance for salvation. Topics include the historical Jesus, the Christ of faith, New Testament christology, the early christological councils, the historical development of philosophical christology, and contemporary christologies.

THST 632
Issues in Christian Spirituality
3 Semester Hours

This course examines some of the issues of contemporary Christian spirituality in the light of how certain exemplary Christians in earlier ages envisioned them. Questions such as the nature of spirituality, the integration of a contemplative attitude in life activity, Christian freedom, images of God and the role of culture in the formation of spirituality are addressed.

THST 640
Issues in the Contemporary Church
3 Semester Hours

This course explores various ecclesiological and theological issues in the contemporary church, such as theologies of the church, authority and its exercise, ordained and unordained ministry, women in the church, ecumenism and the church of tomorrow.

THST 643
Feminist Theology
3 Semester Hours

A study of feminist theology from its historical antecedents to its roots in the changing experience of women. It considers the essential methodologies of feminism, important feminist theologians, and the contributions of feminism to contemporary theology as a whole.

THST 650
Liturgical Theology: History and Interpretation
3 Semester Hours

This course examines the foundational period of the early church as the setting for the establishment of liturgy and its synthesis with culture. The methodology involves an exploration of liturgy in particular cultural contexts, including the important Christian centers of Jerusalem, Antioch, North Africa, Rome, and Constantinople, and the contemporary theological implications of these developments.

THST 652
The Rites
3 Semester Hours

This course will survey several of the seven official sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church in both their historical development and their liturgical practice, focusing on five in any given semester.

THST 653
Sacraments and Sacramentality
3 Semester Hours

An in-depth study of the theology of Christian sacraments and the symbolization of divine grace.

Moral Theology

THST 660
Foundations of Theological Ethics
3 Semester Hours

This course familiarizes students with the language of Christian moral discourse. By focusing on methodological issues and the sources informing Christians about their moral life, students identify the complex personal dynamics of being and becoming Christian.

THST 661
Catholic Social Teachings
3 Semester Hours

A study of the last one hundred years of Catholic social teachings, including papal encyclicals from Leo XIII to John Paul II, conciliar documents from Vatican II, and statements and letters issued by episcopal conferences and episcopal synods.

Prerequisite: THST 660.

THST 662
Issues in Moral Theology Today
3 Semester Hours

This course examines the writings of rival moral theologians today and their competing perspectives. Particular practical problems to be discussed vary and may include business ethics, sexual ethics, war and peace, and social ethics.

Prerequisite: THST 660.

THST 663
Issues in Bioethics
3 Semester Hours

This course will introduce the student to the basic theological concepts, frameworks, and analyses that have been used by both Catholic and Protestant theologians in their discussions of bioethics. Topics such as assisted reproductive technologies, abortion, genetic control, care of severely handicapped neonates, death and dying, and the meaning and application of “quality of life” to contemporary issues will be discussed in both lecture and seminar formats.

Pastoral Theology

THST 670
Foundations of Pastoral Theology
3 Semester Hours

A review of the biblical, historical, and theological sources for constructing a theology of pastoral ministry which is appropriate to various contemporary pastoral settings and functions. The relationship between pastoral theology and other branches of theology is considered.

THST 671
Pastoral Approaches to Religious Education
3 Semester Hours

An exploration of, and refl ection on, the history and theory of Christian religious education, treating the relationship between religious education and allied fields of pastoral care, liturgy, justice and service activities which serve to foster the development of faith.

THST 672
Skills for Pastoral Ministry
3 Semester Hours

This course, involving both theoretical and experiential learning, focuses on personal and interpersonal dynamics and skills that foster effective pastoral ministry. Topics include the spiritual formation of ministers, collaborative ministry, facilitating prayer, and a generic helping process for spiritual direction, pastoral counseling, and formation in various pastoral settings.

THST 673
Faith and Culture
3 Semester Hours

An exploration of the nature of faith and culture and their interrelationship. An analysis of inculturation and its relevance to ministry and pastoral care in church and society.

THST 675
Spiritual Formation for Pastoral Ministry
3 Semester Hours

This seminar seeks to foster a stronger link between academic learning and the personal and professional concerns of students especially as related to pastoral ministry.

THST 676
Pastoral Synthesis Project
0 Semester Hours

The project is designed to elicit familiarity with scholarly sources and pastoral analysis of issues that impact the contemporary practice of ministry.

THST 677
Pastoral Liturgy
3 Semester Hours

This course examines the role of liturgy in the lives of Christians and their communities, exploring the tensions between liturgical norms and liturgy as practiced and experienced.

THST 678
The Theology of the Parish
3 Semester Hours

This course focuses on the history, theology and practice of Roman Catholic parishes in the United States. As an exercise in practical theology, students refl ect on the lived practices in parishes and the theology of the church that emerges therefrom.

THST 679
Special Topics in Pastoral Theology
3 Semester Hours

Comparative Theology

THST 680
Comparative Theology
3 Semester Hours

This course provides a review of the historical roots of the current situation of religious pluralism. It examines and evaluates relevant methodological proposals for comparative theology and clarifies the relationship of comparative theology to inter-religious dialogue, the history of religions and the Christian theology of religions. It also offers an opportunity to engage in the practice of comparative theology through the interpretation of texts.

THST 681
Comparative Religious Ethics
3 Semester Hours

This course begins with a comparative survey of ethics as found in the world’s religious traditions. Specific issues such as war and peace, euthanasia, and environmentalism are then examined.

THST 682
Comparative Mysticism
3 Semester Hours

In this course, Christian mysticism as found in the writings of Teresa of Avila and Meister Eckhart is compared and contrasted with the interior traditions of India and East Asia, including Samkhya, Yoga, Taoism, and Yogacara Buddhism.

Spiritual Direction

THST 685
The Theory and Practice of Spiritual Direction
3 Semester Hours

This course seeks to further the student’s understanding of spiritual direction as a form of pastoral care and as a helping relationship. Among the topics to be considered are: various forms of spiritual guidance within the Christian tradition, the distinctive nature of spiritual direction, the qualities and skills required to be an effective spiritual director, and the role of spiritual direction in facilitating spiritual growth and development.

THST 686
Ignatian Spirituality and Discernment
3 Semester Hours

This course seeks to further the student’s understanding of the spirituality of Ignatius of Loyola by a close reading of his spiritual classic, The Spiritual Exercises, and by a study of contemporary writing on Ignatian spirituality. Praxis, the refl ection upon experience, is a central aspect of this course and refl ects the hypothesis that some of the dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises can be experienced by individuals in a group learning situation when they are approached in a critical and prayerful way.

THST 687
Psychological Foundations of Spiritual Direction
3 Semester Hours

This course focuses on the psychological dynamics of spiritual direction as a helping relationship, as well as the cultivation of communication skills needed to be an effective spiritual director. Principal topics to be covered include the following: how spiritual direction differs from psychotherapy; the importance of self-knowledge and personal awareness on the part of helpers; the nature of empathic understanding and its relationship to psychological and spiritual growth; basic counseling skills.

THST 688
Practicum and Supervision in Spiritual Direction
3 Semester Hours

The art of spiritual direction is best fostered through practice and refl ection on that practice in a supervisory setting. This course will give students an opportunity to grow in spiritual direction skills, self-awareness, and interior freedom under the guidance of experienced spiritual directors.

Special Studies

THST 690
Directed Research
1-3 Semester Hours

Through selected readings and individually directed study, a student can concentrate in a specific field of research or area of ministry. This course is designed for those students whose particular needs would not be adequately met through other course offerings.

THST 692
Graduate Pro-Seminar
3 Semester Hours

The pro-seminar provides an orientation to various theological methods, tools, and modes of discourse in theological and pastoral studies (biblical, historical, systematic, moral, comparative, and pastoral theology).

THST 693
Thesis and Thesis Seminar
3 Semester Hours

For those Theology M.A. candidates who choose to submit a thesis to complete their requirements for the Thesis Option. The Thesis Seminar will meet regularly to facilitate the progress of the thesis. (Offered in Fall only.)

THST 694
Thesis and Thesis Seminar
3 Semester Hours

For those Theology M.A. candidates who choose to submit a thesis to complete their requirements for the Thesis Option. The Thesis Seminar will meet regularly to facilitate the progress of the thesis. (Offered in Spring only.)

THST 697
Comprehensive Examination
0 Semester Hours

Comprehensive Exams are offered in the first week of November and the fi rst week of April. Students must register for THST 697 and inform the Graduate Director, in writing, in the first week of the semester, their intention to complete their comprehensive exams.

THST 698
Special Studies
1-3 Semester Hours

THST 699
Independent Studies
1-3 Semester Hours

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Course Descriptions