Bachelor of Arts in Theology
Course Descriptions
Theology 140: Introduction to Theology
This course examines key themes and ideas in Catholic religious thought. Attention will be given to the theme of communion as it applies to fundamental beliefs and practices of Christianity as well as to developments in contemporary theology since Vatican II. Topics include faith, revelation, Scripture, God, the Trinity, the person and teaching of Jesus, the Church, sacraments, grace, evil, spirituality, and moral behavior.
Theology 210: Introduction to Scripture
This course examines the Bible as the Word of God written in the language of human beings. It explores the concepts of Revelation, Inspiration, Inerrancy and Canonicity. It looks at the development of diverse methods of interpretation within the Christian tradition and applies contemporary methods of interpretation to specific texts from the Old and New Testaments.
Theology 220: Church History
This course will study the history of the Christian church from its origins to the present. Consideration will, be given to its doctrinal and institutional aspects in the major stages of its development. The roles of its significant leaders, controversies and movements will be seen in light of their continuing historical and cultural influence.
Theology 240: Theological Anthropology
This course studies humanity in its relationship to God as found in divine revelation. The course topics will include: creation, human nature as reflective of the image of God, gender, human sexuality, the theology of the body, the fall, grace, redemption, the resurrection of the body, and the last things. Theologies and controversies surrounding each of these topics will be included in the course material.
Theology 241: The Church
This course examines the teachings of Vatican II on the Church as well as the development of ecclesiology in the New Testament and in the writings of Patristic, Medieval and post-Tridentine theologians. Areas of focus include the nature and structure of the Church, the roles of the papacy, clergy and laity in the Church, and the relationship between the universal and local churches.
Theology 250: Introduction to Moral Theology
This course provides a general introduction to moral teaching in the Catholic tradition. It examines the formation of conscience and the role of the Church, family and community in the moral life. It looks at the traditional sources of Christian m morality and applies these to selected topics such as medical ethics, sexual morality, social justice and other contemporary issues.
Theology 280: Directed Readings in Theology
These courses provide the opportunity for independent study for students with occasional special program needs. They examine specific topics not covered or only briefly covered in other classes and are taught at the initiative of the individual student and with the consent of the faculty member, the permissions of the Academic Vice President, and the approval of the Division Chair.
Theology 290: Seminar
This is one of a sequence of courses designed to introduce students to a variety of theological disciplines and topics and to promote interaction between students and professors in small group settings of about 12 persons. The specific seminar topics can vary from semester to semester.
Theo 291: Lives of the Saints Seminar (1credit)
This course will examine the life and times of some of the great saints in the Christian tradition. We will look at the historical biography of the saint as well as how they are remembered in writings and in art. Saints Martin of Tours, Brigid of Ireland, Dominic, Clare, Ignatius, Teresa of Avila, Vincent de Paul, and others will be the focus of the course. We also will inquire about saints and holy people in the modern era.
Theology 310: Old Testament
This course examines the history and development of the literature of the Old Testament. It explores the Pentateuchal literature, Deuteronomic history, Prophetic books, Wisdom literature and other Post-Exilic writings. These it surveys in the light of contemporary Literary/Historical/Critical analysis.
Theology 311: New Testament
This course examines the literature of the New Testament. It explores the Synoptic Gospels and Acts, the Johannine writings, the Epistles of Paul and others, and the Book of Revelation. It surveys these in the light of contemporary Literary and Historical-Critical scholarship.
Theology 321: American Church History
This course examines the historical, religious, cultural, and social dynamics that have shaped the Catholic identity in the USA from the period of its origins to the post-Vatican II era. Included will be topics such as religious beliefs, spirituality, devotional piety, ethnicity, social movements and public Catholicism.
Theology 325: Rome Through The Ages: History, Art, Culture of the Eternal City
This course explores the several aspects of Rome’s ancient, medieval and modern culture with specific attention to the City’s secular and religious history and its artistic tradition and heritage. The course includes a trip to Rome. Cross listed with ARTS 325 and HIST 325.
Theology 330: Sacraments
This course investigates the Church’s seven sacraments from New Testament times up to the present. Besides looking at the very notion of sacrament and how the seven individually relate to the sacramental nature of the Church, emphasis will be placed on the centrality of Eucharist in the life of the ecclesial community.
Theology 340: Christ and The Trinity
This course examines the person of Jesus of Nazareth and probes the question of the identity and importance of Jesus Christ. Emphasis is given to the way Christology has sought through the ages to better understand the mystery of Jesus and his relationship to the Church and to the world. It also examines the question of how and why Christians confess God to be Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It focuses on the ways Christians have thought about God throughout their history and the ways Trinitarian faith has influenced their lives right up to the present.
Theology 341: Christ, the Church and the Modern World
This course focuses on the mission-centered Christology of Christ as the Sacrament of humanity’s union with God. It uses the three principal documents of the Second Vatican Council to help students gain an understanding and appreciation of the Church as the people of God who are called to continue the mission of Jesus in the modern world.
Theology 351: Catholic Social Teaching
This course will examine key themes of Catholic social teaching within the context of contemporary society as personified in the lives of people like Dorothy Day, Archbishop Oscar Romero, Thea Bowman, Cesar Chavez. Issues will include poverty, war, abortion, death penalty and others.
Theology 360: World Religions
This course studies universal religions with a view to understanding the deepest perceptions and convictions within each tradition: the beliefs and practices regarding nature, society, self and ultimate reality.
Theology 380: Directed Reading in Theology
These courses provide the opportunity for independent study for students with occasional special program needs. They examine specific topics not covered or only briefly covered in other classes and are taught at the initiative of the individual student and with the consent of the faculty member, the permissions of the Academic Vice President, and the approval of the Division Chair.
Theology 390: Through The Eyes of Faith: International Learning Experience
This class will travel for a three week experience in a country where the Congregation of Holy Cross ministers such as Lima, Peru or Ghana, West Africa. Prior to departure the students will study the history, mission and traditions of Holy Cross as well as facts about the particular country of destination. On the trip, students will experience the ancient culture and vibrant faith among the people of Peru or Ghana. Issues examined will include poverty, the dignity of the human person, environmental concerns, religious life and the connection between Christianity and indigenous culture. This experience is a required component of the B.A. degree.
Theology 420: Vatican II
This course will be an introduction to the History and Theology of the Second Vatican Council. Students will be introduced to the historical context of the council, as well as the leaders of the Council, significant theologians, and topics addressed at the Council. Finally, the course will cover all the major documents promulgated by the council, and discuss the impact these documents have had on the modern Church.
Theology 430: Eucharist
This course will cover the historical development of the theology, celebration and devotion to the Eucharist. Special Attention will be given, first, to the early development of the celebration of the Eucharist, most specifically to the Eucharistic Prayer; secondly, to the development of Eucharistic devotions; third, to the Theology of the Eucharist and the reform of the Liturgy as envisioned by Vatican II; fourth, to controversies, past and present surrounding the theology and celebration of the Eucharist; and fifth, to the modern theology of the Eucharist.
Theology 441: The Christian Vocation in the Twenty-first Century World
This course builds on the theological vision examined in Theo 341 by considering the Catholic teaching that lay people play special roles within the community of faith and the world. It will examine the Decree on the Laity from the Second Vatican Council, and students will explicate how lay people participate in the priestly, prophetic, and kingly roles of the Risen Lord within the Church and the world.
Theology 442: Women in the Church
This course will be an historical and theological introduction to the topic of women in the Church. Specifically, the course will focus on four things: the theological understandings of the female gender from the point of view of female theologians such as Theresa of Avila, Julian of Norwich, Edith Stein and others; the roles of women throughout Christian history; the examples of female leadership, the development of form of religious life particular to women, and the impact women have had on the worship and devotions of the Church; and finally, modern questions of specific concern to women’s ordination, sexual ethics, family structures, and the meaning of social economic equality.
Theology 450: Theology of Christian Service
This course provides the Liberal Studies Baccalaureate Program with a service learning practicum component. It combines actual service work with theological reflection on and study of diverse approaches to “service” in the Christian tradition. Its two components combine classroom and field work experiences.
Theology 470: Christian Spirituality
This course considers the great themes of the spiritual life. It will explore both the Jewish roots of Christian spirituality and new themes that emerge. Topics include: prayer in the early Church; the sayings of the "Desert Fathers"; devotion to Mary; the Irish monks; the impact of Sts. Francis and Clare; Spanish mysticism; the spirituality of Holy Cross founder Basil Moreau. Other current spiritual movements in the Church today will be explored.
Theology 480: Directed Readings in Theology
These courses provide the opportunity for independent study for students with occasional special program needs. They examine specific topics not covered or only briefly covered in other classes and are taught at the initiative of the individual student and with the consent of the faculty member, the permissions of the Academic Vice President, and the approval of the Division Chair.
Theology 490: Seminar
This is one of a sequence of courses designed to introduce students to a variety of theological disciplines and topics and to promote interaction between students and professors in small group settings of about 12 persons. The specific seminar topics can vary from semester to semester.
Theology 494 Research Methods
This one credit course is a requirement (Pass/Fail) for theology majors preparing for Theology 495 It is offered at the beginning of the Fall semester and is intended to assist theology majors in the writing of the Senior Thesis by helping them establish a research methodology, discover the basic bibliographic sources appropriate to their topic, and instruct them about the mechanics of writing research essays.
Theology 495 Senior Thesis Seminar
This is a seminar required of second semester seniors pursuing a BA in Theology. It will examine major methodological approaches to theology while focusing on a theme, author, or text. A major research paper will be required which at the end of the semester will be presented for discussion to faculty members and theology majors.