Undergraduate Courses

3 credit course

This general biology course examines fundamental topics in the study of living beings. It will be taught from the perspective that we can learn about God by studying His creation since He reveals Himself not only through the Book of Scripture but also through the Book of Nature (St. Augustine). Students will learn about the order and complexity in living beings by studying the continuum of life’s components from molecules to organisms. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the big picture and the why behind each topic. When appropriate, attention will be given to the theological ramifications of topics, including evolution and assisted reproductive technologies. Students who complete this course will be able to apply their knowledge to familiar experiences and current news items to understand their moral dimensions and gain a new appreciation for the world around them.

3 credit course

Old course number 106-3101

This course is designed as a study of the scientific principles of nutrition.  These nutrition principles apply to individuals and groups with application to meeting the nutritional needs throughout the life span from infancy through adulthood. Topics include learning about one’s own dietary habits, digestion, metabolism, and menu planning to achieve specific nutrition goals.

Upon completion of this course the student will:
Demonstrate an understanding of nutrition concepts throughout the life cycle.
Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between diet and health.
Identify appropriate food selections to meet the recommendations of health agencies.
Critically read and evaluate research articles and media nutrition information.
Compare different food items based on nutrition labels.
Plan meals and describe issues for the nutritional needs of designated individuals/groups.

This course accesses online interactive software, power point presentations,  written lecture notes, and online discussions.

3 credit course

(Formerly 106-0503 and CHIST 314.)  Church History: From the Early Christians to the Middle Ages (formerly 106-0503) is the first of two undergraduate survey courses covering the whole of Catholic history. This first course examines the central themes and events in the life of the Church from the days of the Apostles to the end of the Middle Ages. Students will study the great events of the Church’s past, the development of Christian thought and belief, and the immense contributions of popes, saints, theologians, and common Christians to the progress of the Faith through the ages. Those who complete this course should be able to describe the key issues and topics related to the development of the Christian Church from the time of Christ to the end of the Middle Ages; explain the patterns of Church life from Pentecost to the start of the Renaissance and have a familiarity with the most important leaders, events, and writings; and build on the course foundation to delve deeper into Church history and to pursue other courses and seminars on specific topics related to the broader tapestry of Early and Medieval Christianity.

This course includes written lectures and online discussion.

3 credit course

(Formerly CHIST 324) Church History II is the second of two undergraduate survey courses covering the whole of Catholic history. The first course examined the central themes in the life of the Church from the days of the Apostles to the end of the Middle Ages. In this course, students will study the great events of Church history from the Renaissance, through the Protestant and Catholic Reformations and the Enlightenment and era of revolutions, to the tumultuous 20th century. We will meet extraordinary saints, popes, theologians, artists, and writers who have all helped to guide the progress of the Church across the globe.

This course includes written lectures and online discussion.

3 credit course

(Formerly CHIST 344) This course addresses the history of the Catholic Church in North America from the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 to the present time. Students will be presented with a survey of the foundations of the Catholic faith in North America, the progress of the Faith in the 19th century, including the era of immigration, urbanization, and the Civil War, and the life of Catholicism in the modern era. Focus will also include the work of the Baltimore councils, the activities of the Church during the Great Depression and the two World Wars, the election of John F. Kennedy, the impact of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), and possible keys areas of concern for the Church in the 21st century and beyond.

This course includes written lectures, audio lectures, and online discussion.

3 credit course

*Importante: este curso requiere la participación en reuniones en vivo una vez por semana a través de conferencia web. Jueves 7 pm – 9:30 pm (CST) Otoño I 2023. This course enables students to learn and master important applications such as MS Word, Excel, and Powerpoint and the ways they can be integrated for an enormous variety of practical uses in daily life and business. Students will also explore the basic teachings of the Church regarding technology itself as well and the integration of technology and communications to further the new evangelization and the life of the Church. This course is useful for any student but especially for students who require three credits in the mathematics distribution area for the AA or BA degree programs.

3 créditos por curso

*Las sesiones síncronas semanales son opcionales. Las grabaciones de Zoom estarán disponibles para los estudiantes que no puedan asistir a las sesiones en vivo.

Jueves 8 pm – 10:30 pm (ET) Otoño 1

Este curso tiene como objetivo proporcionar a los participantes los conocimientos básicos de informática, adaptados específicamente al contexto eclesiástico, personal y de negocios. El enfoque principal es fortalecer las habilidades y conocimientos necesarios para utilizar aplicaciones clave de Microsoft Office, como Word, Excel y PowerPoint, y explorar cómo estas herramientas pueden ser aprovechadas para apoyar y fortalecer diversas labores en la vida personal, en los negocios y en la Iglesia Católica, impulsando así actividades desde diversas índoles, como pastorales y administrativas de la iglesia, resaltando los valores y enseñanzas de la Doctrina Social Católica.

3 créditos por curso

*Importante: este curso requiere la participación en reuniones en vivo una vez por semana a través de conferencia web.

Martes 8 pm – 10:30 pm (ET) Otoño 2

Este curso introducirá a los estudiantes al campo de la Doctrina Social Católica, fundamentando sus cuestiones morales, bíblicamente y pastoralmente. También se abordará la revelación de Dios y la acción de Cristo en su ministerio que se basan en el Evangelio cuyos cimientos tienen una transformación social, por un mundo más solidario, fraterno y justo. Se considerará el Magisterio de la Iglesia sobre la vida social y cómo invita a la acción pastoral.

3 credit course

En este curso, los estudiantes aplicarán los principios de la Enseñanza Social Católica (ESC) también llamada Doctrina Social de la Iglesia (DSI) a situaciones de la vida real, demostrando su capacidad para identificar las causas fundamentales y proponer soluciones basadas en la fe. Los estudiantes obtendrán perspectivas sobre cómo abordar los desafíos contemporáneos mediante el análisis de documentos y fuentes de la Iglesia. Se fomentarán y evaluarán las habilidades de liderazgo para el bien común a través de la participación activa y un proyecto final alineado con soluciones que promuevan el bien común, incluida la ética coherente de la vida. Se hace hincapié en traducir la fe en acción, evaluada a través de reflexiones semanales concisas sobre la aplicación de los principios de la ESC, incluida la ética coherente de la vida, en diversos contextos

This course provides an overview of the different types of academic essays and gives specific, guided instructions on how to develop essays and term papers for CDU courses. The course also includes an overview of theological terms, along with tips on applying these terms in online discussions and written work.  Assisted by the CDU librarian, students will learn how to access scholarly works and will also differentiate between plagiarism and correctly cited sources within an academic essay.  Students will complete five graded essays.  With the help of supplemental materials, students will also be expected to pass, to an 80% level of competency, a diagnostic grammar and usage quiz.

créditos por curso

*Las reuniones en vivo se llevarán a cabo durante 8 sábados consecutivos, 11 am – 1:30 pm ET en Otoño 2. Las sesiones síncronas semanales son opcionales. Las grabaciones de Zoom estarán disponibles para los estudiantes que no puedan asistir a las sesiones en vivo.

Este curso de ocho semanas proporciona una visión general de los diferentes tipos de ensayos académicos y da instrucciones específicas y guiadas sobre cómo desarrollar ensayos y trabajos finales en el idioma inglés para los cursos de la CDU. ENGL 105 SP está diseñado específicamente para estudiantes de inglés como segunda lengua, cuya lengua materna es el español, en el nivel intermedio a avanzado. Para apoyar el desarrollo de habilidades de escritura en inglés, cubriremos y practicaremos puntos gramaticales y aprenderemos cómo se define la buena escritura académica en los EE.UU. Este curso también incluye una descripción general de los términos teológicos, junto con consejos sobre cómo aplicar estos términos en discusiones en línea y trabajos escritos. Con la ayuda del bibliotecario de la CDU, los estudiantes aprenderán a acceder a trabajos académicos y también diferenciarán entre plagio y fuentes correctamente citadas dentro de un ensayo académico. Los estudiantes completarán cinco ensayos calificados para esta clase. Con la ayuda de materiales complementarios, también se espera que los estudiantes aprueben, con un nivel de competencia del 80%, un cuestionario de gramática y uso de diagnóstico. Las reuniones en vivo se llevarán a cabo durante 8 sábados consecutivos. Las sesiones síncronas semanales son opcionales. Las grabaciones de Zoom estarán disponibles para los estudiantes que no puedan asistir a las sesiones en vivo.

3 credit course

This eight-week course is an iniatory survey of the importance of literature and some of the great works of Imaginative Literature. The course will examine texts that provide examples of different literary forms and genres from various time periods. This will be done to engage the Great Conversation of Western Civilization through such literature but also within the Catholic Tradition. Students will work to engage these masterpieces through both critical and reflective reading to develop and analyze key ideas. Students who complete this course will not only become familiar with some of the most magnificent works of the great authors of the past but will also become comfortable conversing about them to explore the ideas of today.

3 credit course

(Also THEO 390) Literary Apologetics for Theology is a deeper exploration of the unique ability of stories to convey truths larger than words and vest the world with meaning. Students will increase their knowledge of literary techniques and develop their critical reading and communication skills by interacting with works by Christian literary giants including J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Students who complete this course should be able to identify the relationship between imagination, meaning, reason, and truth, as well as articulate how Christians can utilize imaginative literature to present the Catholic faith in the broader culture.

3 credit course

Old course number 106-1803

This course is an introduction to the Greek language as it appears in the texts of both the Old and New Testaments. While emphasis will be on the basic morphology of nouns and verbs and most frequently used words in Biblical Greek, the students will also learn all the basic pronouns and prepositions, the three noun declensions, all the tenses in which finite Greek verbs appear, many of the basic rules of Greek syntax, and, finally, the commonly used Greek participle.

This course includes written lectures, audio pronunciation lessons, and online discussions.

*Core coursework transfer guaranteed at any institution of higher education in West Virginia.

3 credit course

Old course number 106-1804

This course builds upon the foundation of Biblical Greek I.  Students will receive reinforcement of basic Greek grammar and morphology learned in the first course. The practice of hearing and reciting paradigms and principal parts will be continued throughout this course.

This course includes written lectures, audio pronunciation lessons, and online discussions.

*Core coursework transfer guaranteed at any institution of higher education in West Virginia.

3 credit course

In this three-credit course, students develop familiarity and fluency in Biblical Greek, through live instructor-guided reading exercises of longer textual selections taken from both the Septuagint and the Greek New Testament. Selections are drawn from the gospels, the Catholic and Pauline epistles, the Apocalypse, and narrative sections of the Greek Old Testament. In the live classes, students prepare translations and review parsing of verbs and other grammatical features of the texts. Students are also trained in the basics of text criticism based on the use of the latest Nestle-Aland critical apparatus.

Course Requirements: Because this course depends on live class meetings conducted online, students need a high-speed internet connection and the ability to set aside three hours a week for meeting time. Course times are TBA; the instructor makes every effort to schedule times that accommodate the schedules of all registered students.

Prerequisites:
Successful completion of Greek II or permission of instructor.

3 credit course

(Formerly HUM 251.) Ancient Civilization is the first of three undergraduate survey courses addressing the whole of Western history. This first course examines the central themes in the development of Western Civilization from the rise of the major cultures in the Near East to the End of the Roman Empire and the start of the Middle Ages. Students will study the great civilizations of Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and Rome, the conversion of the Roman Empire, and the conversion of the West.

*Core coursework transfer guaranteed at any institution of higher education in West Virginia.

3 credit course

(Formerly HUM 252.) Christian Civilization is the second of two undergraduate survey courses covering the whole of Western and modern history. This second course examines the central themes in the development of Western Civilization from the flowering of the medieval epoch to the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery. Students will study the remarkable features of the High Middle Ages — an era justifiably termed the Age of Faith —  to the start of the of the Renaissance, the shattering of Christian unity in the Protestant Reformation, and the time of the great explorations and the Scientific Revolution.

*Core coursework transfer guaranteed at any institution of higher education in West Virginia.

3 credit course

(Formerly HUM 253.) A Global Civilization is the third of three undergraduate survey courses covering the whole of Western history. This third course examines the central themes in the development of Western Civilization from the Enlightenment to the era of the war on terror and globalization in the 21st century. Students will study the emergence of Enlightenment and the Age of Absolutism to the French Revolution and Napoleon, the birth of the United States, the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression and terrible world wars, the Cold War, and the modern era that has brought such momentous change.

*Core coursework transfer guaranteed at any institution of higher education in West Virginia.

3 credit course

(Formerly HUM 328) This course offers an introduction to Judaism and Islam, creating a framework for understanding these religions and their relationship to Christianity. The study of Judaism and Islam enables the student to examine how people formed in a different tradition answer the great questions.  It provides a frame of reference for speaking or studying about issues that are related to these religious traditions and an appreciation of their contribution to the world in which we live.

3 credit course

(also THEO 290) This course is an introduction to the history, theology, and symbolism of Catholic sacred architecture that focuses on how the development of Catholic sacred architecture and theology has affected the shape, configuration, and use of the Catholic church throughout various architectural styles and eras. It will follow this development from Pagan and Old Testament ideas of sacred architecture throughout the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Counter-Reformation, and Vatican II. The course will give an overview of the various declarations of the Church regarding the construction and symbolism of the church edifice.

3 credit course

Old course number 116-1801

Each lesson in this Latin course consists of a lecture (comprised of both a written and an audio component), vocabulary, and assigned exercises from the textbook.  Besides these requirements, the student is expected to memorize each paradigm as it is encountered. As new concepts are encountered, the lecture will provide detail not given in the textbook, as well as each concept’s application to both English and Latin.

This course includes written lectures, audio pronunciation lessons, and online discussions.

*Core coursework transfer guaranteed at any institution of higher education in West Virginia.

3 credit course

Old credit course 116-1802

The first eight lessons of this course consist of a lecture, vocabulary, and assigned exercises from the textbook. Besides these requirements, the student is expected to memorize each paradigm as they are encountered. As new concepts are encountered, the lecture will provide detail not given in the textbook, as well as each concept’s application to both English and Latin.

This course includes written lectures, audio pronunciation lessons, and online discussions.

*Core coursework transfer guaranteed at any institution of higher education in West Virginia.

3 credit course

This course is designed to enable students to more fully appreciate the truth of Galileo’s claim that “Mathematics is the alphabet by which God has written the universe.” In addition to stressing the beauty of math in the created order, the course also establishes math’s practical relevance in everyday living, even for those who do not work or intend to work in a scientific or technological field. This course is for students who need a mathematics course to satisfy the general education requirement in mathematics. The course will include an introduction to inductive and deductive reasoning, the nature of sets and their applications, the nature of logic and its practical uses, numeration systems old and new (their types and uses), the application of numbers in describing lengths and distances called measurement, algebra as the “universal arithmetic” and, finally proportions and shapes, commonly known as geometry.

*Core coursework transfer guaranteed at any institution of higher education in West Virginia.

Hear from our students

“I’m enjoying the approach taken in this course more than in any other math course I’ve taken. There’s a creativity to the presentation both in the discussions but also, surprisingly, in the textbook that has me engaged beyond just learning the “rules” and reapplying them to new problems. In short, it’s making me think and not just memorize. That’s a plus for someone who doesn’t normally enjoy math.”—Nicholas Labrie

3 credit course

(Formerly PHIL 305.) This course turns to the thought of Plato and Aristotle in order to introduce theology students to the methods and branches of philosophy. It focuses on ideas and passages that have been most influential in the development of Christian theology. Topics include: forms and the meaning of knowledge; the nature of the soul; causality, act, and potency; and virtue and the good life. Students who complete the course will be able to read the works of Plato and Aristotle on their own, engage in philosophical thinking and writing, and better understand the influence of Greek philosophy on the development of Christian theology.


This course includes written lectures, audio lectures, and online discussions.

3 credit course

This class is a philosophical exploration of human nature.  We begin with Socrates, who helps us understand what philosophical inquiry is.  Socrates also opens up the discussion of the meaning of and purpose of human existence.  Through the thought of Aristotle and St. Thomas, we will address two fundamental questions:  what is human nature, and what does it mean to be a human person?  At the end of the class, we will consider several contemporary challenges to the perennial Catholic thought on human nature and personhood.  Students who complete this course should be able to have a clear understanding of what philosophy is and how the Catholic intellectual tradition has come to understand human nature and personhood.

*Core coursework transfer guaranteed at any institution of higher education in West Virginia.

3 credit course

(Also THEO 280.) This course offers students an introduction to the study of bioethics and health care ethics from the Catholic perspective. It begins with the question “How do I make ethical decisions” by introducing students to foundational topics in Catholic moral theology including the nature of the moral act, virtues, and the formation of conscience. It then explores the moral principles that govern the patient-professional relationship and introduces students to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, the guiding document for Catholic health care in the United States. The course then shifts focus to address ethical challenges concerning specific beginning-of- life issues. These issues include–but are not limited to–determining when human life begins and its implications for abortion, ectopic pregnancy, and prenatal genetic diagnosis. It then addresses ethical concerns related to contraception, sterilization, and assisted reproductive technologies. The course concludes by focusing on the ethics of scientific research on human stem cells as well as human cloning. Students who complete this course are enabled to formulate appropriate, Catholic-based ethical responses to beginning-of-life challenges that they will face in their personal lives and/or in their work in the healthcare field.

3 credit course

Ethics, or moral philosophy, studies concepts of the good as applied to human action and what it means for humans to live a moral life.  In this class we will read the primary texts of certain philosophical masters of ethics, including Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Kant.  We will also study certain modern challenges to the perennial tradition of realist ethics, including utilitarianism and moral relativism.

3 credit course

This course will introduce students to the philosophy of being by means of a thematic and historical approach. Topics include the following: the nature of metaphysical inquiry; Plato’s theory of forms; the basic categories of being; properties common to all beings; the analogy of being; substance, accident, essence, and existence; the problem of the one and the many; individuation; knowing God; and the nature of evil.

3 credit course

This course turns to the texts of several influential thinkers in modern philosophy in order to trace the development of some major themes in the Western intellectual tradition. Topics include: methodical doubt, Descartes’s cogito and proofs of God’s existence, man and society, empiricism and skepticism, the origin and association of ideas, noumena and phenomena, a priori concepts, materialism, communism, and pragmatism. Students who complete the course will be able to articulate several distinctive features of modern thought and points of continuity and discontinuity with the earlier (ancient and medieval) tradition.

3 credit course

This course is an introduction to contemporary philosophy and the developments of modern thought, beginning with phenomenology and the response to idealism and radical skepticism. Special emphasis will be given to Christian personalists such as Dietrich von Hildebrand and Edith Stein, who developed their work in the face of philosophical and political ideals that lead to a reduction of the human person, including utilitarianism, nihilism, and subjectivism. This course will help students to understand the key figures and philosophical undercurrents that greatly impacted the Church in the 20th century, especially Vatican II and Catholic social teaching.

3 credit course

Epistemology is the study of how we know what we know, which, in turn, raises the question of whether we know anything. We will rapidly survey the status of the question in western civilization from its origin in Greek philosophy to present controversies about what can and cannot be said with certitude on the basis of philosophical reasoning. Students who complete this course should be able to identify the classic forms of epistemology, show familiarity with the approach of the eight philosophers explicitly treated in the course, and express and defend their own philosophy of knowledge.

3 credit course

Science as we know it todaymaking discoveries through the systematic observation of and controlled experimentation with physical realitiesis the descendant of the philosophy of nature developed by classical and Medieval thinkers. The course will open with the vision of ultimate reality and meaning developed by Thomas Aquinas in the high Middle Ages and then skip to current challenges to the Catholic view of the natural world that have been posed by modern philosophies of science. We are engaged in a war of worldviews that can only be resolved through sound philosophical reasoning.

3 credit course

This course will explore the treatment of the truth of existence including the truth of salvation (Christology) in the work of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Students who complete this course will be able to explain what samples from Thomas’ different texts mean and how they can be applied and how Aquinas saw the congruence between some ancient metaphysics and the ontology of the Scriptures. They will be able to analyze the way he treated the theology of God, Christ and salvation, human beings, and their actions.

*Cross-listed as THEO 419

3 credit course

Old Course Number 106-0903

This course (formerly RELED 432) will provide a general overview of the nature of catechetics and the principles and methods that should govern the art of good catechesis. Students in this course will reflect upon the ways that catechetical instruction should be directed toward an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (CT 5, 20). Using key catechetical documents and resources, this course will explore the nature, mission, and purpose of catechesis, with emphasis on biblical catechesis, development of doctrinal lesson planning, and the principles and methods that the Church has encouraged for catechists at all levels.

Those who successfully complete The Art of Catechesis: Dynamic Renewal should be able to effectively re-echo the teachings of Jesus Christ and his Church. This course includes written lectures, audio lectures, a variety of media, and online discussions.

This course includes written lectures and online discussion.

3 credit course

(Formerly 106-0404 and SCRPT 303.) This course will present the basic outline of the Old Testament and trace the progress of salvation history through the main events that it presents. The student will be able to explain the theology that emerges from the Biblical revelation, the main Semitic concepts that are employed, and the central characters and events of the text.

This course includes written lectures and online discussion.

3 credit course

(Formerly  106-0406 and SCRPT 306.) This course will carry out a detailed analysis of the content and the theological meaning of the primary texts of the Church — i.e., the New Testament. The New Testament is the record of the definitive historical intervention of God in human history and the subsequent continuation of this incarnation by means of the Church.

This course will have four major emphases. The first area of study will examine the historical record of Jesus’ life through the three Synoptic Gospels, which will be supplemented by the theological analysis provided by the Gospel of John. The second area will be a study of the life of the early Church (Acts of the Apostles), which will examine the structures and self-understanding of the early Church as well as its fundamental grasp of the nature and work of Christ. The third area of study will be an examination of the epistles, especially their contribution to the development of Christology, soteriology, and ecclesiology. The final area will be on the apocalyptic book, Revelation, and its meaning for the Church. Through this course, the student will become familiar with the texts and theology of the New Testament, basic interpretations of key Biblical ideas, and their interrelationship.

This course includes written lectures and online discussion.

3 credit course

(Formerly SCRPT 310.) What is the key to understanding Scripture?  What is the relationship between Scripture and Tradition?  Where does the historical-critical approach fit into a faithful Catholic interpretation of the Bible?  This course is an introduction to a theological approach to reading Scripture that seeks to answer these questions. This course will approach Scripture as the inspired Word of God, paying particular attention to the unity of the whole story of salvation, which was revealed for the sake of drawing us into a loving relationship with God and neighbor.  Students will be guided by great Patristic and Medieval Saint-theologians, as well as the contemporary scholars who follow them.  Upon successful completion of the course, students acquire the basic tools for interpreting the Bible from the heart of the Church.

This course includes written lectures, audio lectures, and online discussions.

3 credit course

(Formerly SCRPT 330) This 8-week multimedia course will be a journey through the Bible as the Catholic Church’s foundational narrative, beginning with the story of creation and the fall, through God’s promise to Abraham, the covenant with Israel at Sinai and Deuteronomy and the eventual collapse of the Davidic Kingdom under the Deuteronomic covenant.  The course will climax with the solution to the problems of the law in the Old Testament and the eventual fulfillment of God’s promises through the person and work of Jesus Christ and his Church.  Students will be introduced to critical interpretive issues and will be invited to wrestle with disputed questions as they learn various ways of making sense of the Bible as a unified and coherent story with profound implications for today.

3 credit course

Romans is the Bible’s most influential book in Church history but also the most controversial and difficult of St. Paul’s letters. Many central Christian doctrines are found here such as original sin, grace, election and predestination. But above all, the letter is St. Paul’s theological masterpiece, since he there explains how God, in the gospel of Jesus Christ, has been completely faithful to all of his promises to Israel given in the Old Testament. In this exciting eight week online course, we will approach Romans, therefore, as Paul’s interpretation and exposition of the story of the Jewish Bible, a story that has reached its climax in Jesus and the restored people of God.

This course on the Gospel of St. John is designed to help students gain a familiarity with the biblical text of the Fourth Gospel (in English). In particular, students will read and study the Gospel of St. John closely, examining its primary theological and literary characteristics.  Important secondary materials will guide our study.  In addition to employing the best of modern critical interpretation, the Gospel of St. John will be read here within the framework of the Church’s living Tradition.  Students who complete this course should be able to demonstrate a good understanding of the Fourth Gospel’s major theological themes, symbols, and literary techniques. This course includes written lectures and online discussion.

3 credit course

*Important: this course requires participation in live meetings in two 1.25-1.5 hour sessions per week via web conference. * This is a beginning course and does not require any prior knowledge of Spanish. This course provides the foundations necessary to converse in Spanish, for all students who wish to build their Spanish conversational skills, especially (but not exclusively) those involved with ministry to Hispanic communities. To develop the interpersonal and presentational skills needed in Spanish, a variety of cultural texts will be used for conversational practice. Active participation in dialogues, conversations, presentations, and interviews will prepare students for effective pastoral work. Most of the class period will be devoted to developing and enhancing both the receptive skills (listening and reading) and the productive skills (speaking and writing). Meeting times are TBD, but a variety of times will be available. The instructor will make every possible effort to schedule these meetings to accommodate all students’ schedules.

3 créditos por curso

*Importante: este curso requiere la participación en reuniones en vivo una vez por semana a través de conferencia web.
Martes 8 pm – 10:30 pm (ET) Otoño 1
Este curso introducirá a los estudiantes a la apreciación de la lengua española como un producto social, cuyo estudio facilita la comprensión de los procesos de construcción de significado en los textos escritos y orales en diferentes contextos.  Así mismo, aportará nociones de gramática estructural para la asimilación de las relaciones léxico gramaticales que determinan la comprensión semiológica del discurso, y ofrecerá herramientas para el análisis de la gramática sistémico funcional de textos desde un enfoque comunicativo y social de la lengua para promover la comprensión crítica y la producción escrita de textos académicos y de diversa índole, con propósitos específicos.

3 credit course

This course is the second semester course in Spanish, and it is designed for all students who want to advance their Spanish conversational skill and especially (but not exclusively) those involved with ministry to Hispanic communities. To develop the interpersonal and presentational skills needed in Spanish, a variety of cultural texts will be used for conversational practice. Active participation in dialogues, conversations, presentations, and interviews will prepare students for effective pastoral work. Because this course is conversational, it will require ongoing participation in live meetings in two 1.25-1.5 hour sessions per week via web conference. Meeting times are to be determined, but a variety of times will be available. The instructor will make every possible effort to schedule these meetings to accommodate all students’ schedules. Prerequisite: SPAN 101 or equivalent.

3 credit course

Applied Catholic Spirituality introduces the student to the classical “three ways,”or  stages of the spiritual life, and the practical skills by which one may embark on the Catholic spiritual life.  Beginning with the teachings of Christ as recorded in the Gospels, this course also offers contemporary insight into the experience of personal conversion from the magisterial teaching of St John Paul II.  Following the framework of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the lessons of this course offer a testimony to the rich variety of Christian practices, illustrated in the lives and teachings of the outstanding masters of the spiritual life. Students who complete this course should be able to describe the unique contributions of these masters and identify the common threads that constitute the authentic tradition of Catholic doctrine and life.

Old course number 106-0801

Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part I presents an organic synthesis of the essential content of Catholic doctrine as presented in the first two pillars of The Catechism of the Catholic Church. This course provides an overview of the content of the Profession of Faith and the Celebration of the Christian Mystery while at the same time giving students the essentials needed to present Catholic teaching using accurate language and appropriate documentation.  Students who complete this course should be able to explain the Catholic Faith as it is proclaimed in the Creed and celebrated in the Church’s Liturgy.

This course includes written lectures and online discussion.

3 credit course

Old course number 106-0802

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part II presents an organic synthesis of the essential content of Catholic doctrine as presented in the third and fourth pillars: Life in Christ; and Christian Prayer. This course then focuses on using the Catechism of the Catholic Church to transmit what the Church teaches regarding morality and prayer using accurate language and appropriate documentation.  Students who complete both courses: CCC, Part I and CCC, Part II, should be so familiar with the Catechism and its significance for catechesis and spirituality that they are able to integrate it into every aspect of their life and work.

This course includes written lectures and online discussion.

3 credit course

Formally titled Ethics and Morality

This undergraduate course introduces students to the morality and virtue-based Christian Ethics. Through an exploration of the life of the virtues found in the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, students will examine moral actions and the virtuous life.  This course will help students to understand happiness as the goal of every person and how moral and virtuous actions lead to true happiness.

This course includes written lectures and online discussion.

3 credit course

La mariología se estudiará en este curso como parte de la teología católica e incluirá el estudio de la vida de la Virgen María, sus fundamentos escriturales, sus dogmas y doctrinas marianas en el Magisterio de la Iglesia. La piedad es una expresión de fe que abarca diferentes culturas de América Latina, particularmente de la comunidad de habla hispana en los Estados Unidos.

3 credit course

(Formerly THEO 304) Foundations of Catholicism introduces the student to the teaching of the Catholic Church as it is rooted in Scripture and Tradition and faithfully proclaimed by the Church’s Magisterium (teaching office).  Besides a thorough introduction to Catholic doctrine, the course will also include some discussion of Church history, major figures and institutions, Marian devotion, Catholic life and theology.  Foundations of Catholicism will have a strong relational component as students will be encouraged  will be grounded in the Person and work of Jesus Christ.

3 credit course

(Formerly THEO 313 and  106-0101) An introduction to Fundamental Theology, this course examines the fundamental teachings of the Catholic Church as contained in the First Article of the Apostles’ Creed — God the Creator, original sin, and the fall of man. Lessons include an introduction to the theology of Revelation, the relationship between Scripture and Tradition, the theory of the development of doctrine, the theology of the Trinity, Divine Providence, the Angels, Satan, forms of atheism, the origin and fall of man, and the dignity of the human person.

Length: 8 weeks

This course includes written lectures and online discussion.

3 credit course

(Formerly THEO 332 and 116-0102.) This course examines the fundamentals of Christology as found in the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed — Jesus Christ. Students will be able to readily describe the scriptural foundations of Christology and be able to explain the doctrinal and historical developments of the theology of the natures and Person of Jesus Christ in the hypostatic union, trace Mary’s role in salvation history, and explain the grace of the Holy Spirit as an application of Christ’s redemptive work. The course offers students insights on how to apply the reflections of this course to their own individual spiritual lives.

This course includes written lectures and online discussion.

3 credit course

(Formerly THEO 353 and 106-0203.) This course studies the sacraments within the context of liturgical celebration. It further explores the scriptural and doctrinal foundations of the theology of the sacraments. The course adopts a dynamic and comprehensive approach to the study of the sacraments. It presents the sacraments as dynamic realities, the richness of which is conveyed through the process of ritualization, symbolic expression, language, and pastoral sensitivity. Fundamental to the study of the sacraments, therefore, is the understanding of the concepts of sacramentality, ritual, symbol, sign, and language, and the vital relationship between the law of prayer (lex orandi) and the law of belief (lex credendi). Each sacrament will be studied within the wider context of the Paschal Mystery. Because the seven sacraments are sacraments of faith, they aim at providing a transforming encounter with the Risen Christ. In light of this, the course will exam the meaning and pastoral implication of the conciliar teaching on full, active, and conscious participation in the liturgy.

This course includes narrated power point presentation, audio transcriptions, and online discussions.

(Formerly THEO 468.) Beginning with man’s desire for happiness in God, this course will study the motives that drive one’s actions, the habits that form them, and the norms that guide them. Considering the sources of morality, students will gain an understanding of what defines a good or evil action. The course will explore man’s capacity and culpability for sin, as well as the generous gift of grace received from God. Students will contemplate how they each of these elements cooperate toward their final end, and seek to apply this knowledge into Christian living.

(Also PHIL 260.) This course offers students an introduction to the study of bioethics and health care ethics from the Catholic perspective. It begins with the question, “How do I make ethical decisions?” by introducing students to foundational topics in Catholic moral theology including the nature of the moral act, virtues, and the formation of conscience. It then explores the moral principles that govern the patient-professional relationship and introduces students to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, the guiding document for Catholic healthcare in the United States. The course then shifts focus to address ethical challenges concerning specific beginning-of-life issues. These issues include, but are not limited to, determining when human life begins and its implications for abortion, ectopic pregnancy, and prenatal genetic diagnosis. It then addresses ethical concerns related to contraception, sterilization, and assisted reproductive technologies. The course concludes by focusing on the ethics of scientific research on human stem cells as well as human cloning. Students who complete this course are enabled to formulate appropriate, Catholic-based ethical responses to beginning-of-life challenges that they will face in their personal lives and/or in their work in the healthcare field.

(also HUM 260) This course is an introduction to the history, theology, and symbolism of Catholic sacred architecture that focuses on how the development of Catholic sacred architecture and theology has affected the shape, configuration, and use of the Catholic church throughout various architectural styles and eras. It will follow this development from Pagan and Old Testament ideas of sacred architecture throughout the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Counter-Reformation, and Vatican II. The course will give an overview of the various declarations of the Church regarding the construction and symbolism of the church edifice.

3 credit course

This course was formerly THEO 342. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) was the major event in the Church in the twentieth century. It is also perhaps the most misunderstood event. There were four Constitutions, which are the highest ranking documents issued by a Council: two on the Church, one on divine Revelation, and one on the Sacred Liturgy. This course will focus the Second Vatican Council’s documents on the topics of the Church (ecclesiology) and Her liturgy. Specifically, this course will deal with two documents that deal with the Church a Lumen Gentium and Gaudium et Spes and one that deals with liturgy, Sacrosantum Concilium.

Lumen Gentium is a dogmatic Constitution, focusing on the theology of Church, or ecclesiology. That is, what the Church is and the way the Church works including the people of God, hierarchy, laity, and religious. Gaudium et Spes is a pastoral Constitution; it focuses on pastoral matters and discusses the way in which the Church carries the mission of Christ to the world. Students who complete this part of the course should be able to better understand one’s role in the Church and be able to exercise the mission given to all by reason of one’s Baptism.

Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy explains what the Church’s liturgy is and how a person participates in it. Upon completion of this part of the course, students will have a understanding of the Church’s teaching on liturgy and how it is being implemented today.

3 credit course

THEO 380 Look, Judge, Act: An Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is an undergraduate-level course intended to introduce students to a branch of Catholic moral theology that is often misunderstood and misappropriated. In this course, a student will be exposed to the social teachings as they appear in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (the Compendium). Students will be expected to read Magisterial documents and selections of the compendium and will also be required to participate in weekly discussions, write a reflection paper, and take a final exam. Students who complete this course will gain a basic understanding of the social teaching values and principles as well as the fundamental areas of application for the teaching.

3 credit course

(Also ENG 310) Literary Apologetics for Theology is a deeper exploration of the unique ability of stories to convey truths larger than words and vest the world with meaning. Students will increase their knowledge of literary techniques and develop their critical reading and communication skills by interacting with works by Christian literary giants including J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Students who complete this course should be able to identify the relationship between imagination, meaning, reason, and truth, as well as articulate how Christians can utilize imaginative literature to present the Catholic faith in the broader culture.

3 credit course

This course will explore the treatment of the truth of existence including the truth of salvation (Christology) in the work of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Students who complete this course will be able to explain what samples from Thomas’ different texts mean and how they can be applied and how Aquinas saw the congruence between some ancient metaphysics and the ontology of the Scriptures. They will be able to analyze the way he treated the theology of God, Christ and salvation, human beings, and their actions.

*Cross-listed as PHIL 421

3 credit course

There is no better place to study the four canonical gospels than in the place where the drama of salvation was acted out.  The holy places in the land where the Savior walked speak so powerfully of the work of redemption that the land is rightly called “the fifth gospel.”  The learning in this course will primarily take place not online, but on site for ten days in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Galilee.  Prior to and subsequent to the trip, there will be some fascinating reading and online discussion which will be the basis for a term paper to be submitted at the end of the class eight week period.  The primary goal of this interdisciplinary course will be to give the student insight into the Bible that can only be captured by being in the land.  Secondarily, we will learn about the Fathers of the Church, including Origen, Eusebius, Justin, Jerome, and Cyril of Jerusalem, who lived and wrote in the Holy Land.  Finally, since travel in the Holy Land will bring us face-to-face with the Crusades and Muslim-Christian relations, we will learn about Church history and inter-religious dialogue.  This course will count as a theology, scripture, or church history elective, based on the topic which the student selects for his or her course paper.

3 credit course

(This course will not be offered in 2022.) While Christianity was born in the middle East, it was Italy that became, within a few decades after Christ’s resurrection, the Crossroads of the Christian world.  For two thousand years Christians from East and West, North and South, have come to Italy to serve Christ and his Church.  In this course, we’ll be examining the lives and work of many great Christians that spent part of their lives in central Italy.  The apostles Peter and Paul, the native Italians Sts. Benedict, Clare, and Francis, the Spaniard St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Greek missionaries Sts. Cyril and Methodius, the great artists Michelangelo and Raphael, all these and more will be the subject of our study.  Our learning will primarily take place not online, but on site for ten days in Rome, Assisi, Florence, and Orvieto.  Prior to the trip, there will be some fascinating reading and online discussion which will be the basis for a term paper to be submitted after the trip.  The goal of this interdisciplinary course will be to give the student an appreciation of the depth and breadth of the Catholic culture represented by the abundant monuments to faith to be found in central Italy.  It will count as a theology, scripture, or church history elective, based on the topic selected for the course paper.

Catalog & Student Handbook