TH 6301 Theologies of the Old Testament (3)
A survey course including historical, geographical, and archaeological background for an understanding of the Old Testament; a study of the process of formation of the Hebrew Scriptures; a look at the "theologies" expressed in and through the inspired writings; and a specific introduction to the major books of the Old Testament Canon.

TH 6302 Theologies of the New Testament (3)
An examination of the pluralism of First Century Christianity; its expression in the composition of the New Testament, implications for our contemporary theological understandings and spiritualities, specific introductions to the books of the New Testament Canon.

TH 6211, 6311 Pentateuch (2, 3)
Emergence of Pentateuch from ancient oral and written traditions, and central place in Old Testament. Careful study of key passages of Genesis and Exodus. Importance of Pentateuch for basic questions of theology and the Christian life.

TH 6212, 6312 Prophets (2, 3)
Prophetism in Ancient Near East and rise of prophetic movement in Israel. Prophetic genres (oracles, exhortations, symbolic actions, etc.) Study of each of prophets in historical sequence, with special attention to passages which reflect growing future hope and Messianic expectation. Enduring character of the prophetic experience in the Church.

TH 6314 Law of Moses (3)
This course focuses on the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament from the perspective of law and government. This course seeks appreciation of the Law of Moses in four contexts: the original context of its development in the Ancient Near East, the history of interpretation in Judaism and Christianity, contemporary ethical and religious questions, and the relationship between the principles of biblical law and American law. The course will encounter specific legal issues and underlying questions of how a society orders itself around common understandings of national identity, duty to God and neighbor, and principles of justice inherent in tradition.

TH 6213, 6313 Wisdom Literature and Psalms (2, 3)
Introduction to Wisdom literature of Old Testament. Principal themes. Sociological, historical, religious back ground to Psalms; types; theology of Psalms. The Psalms as Christian prayer.

TH 6220, 6320 The Gospel of Matthew (2, 3)
An Introduction, commentary, and intensive study of key texts. The theology of Matthew.

TH 6321 The Gospel of Mark (3)
Introduction to the commentary and intensive study of the key texts of Mark's Gospel.

TH 6222, 6322 The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles (2, 3)
An introduction to the Gospel and Acts. Intensive study of key texts of the theology of Luke.

TH 6223, 6323 The Johannine Literature (2, 3)
Introduction and intensive study of key texts. The spiritual theology of John.

TH 6224, 6324 Theology of St. Paul (2, 3)
Introduction to theology of St. Paul through intensive study of key texts in historical situation and sequence, with special stress on the spiritual theology of Paul.

TH 6328 The Hermeneutical Question (3)
From within the Bible itself, the early church writers, the middle ages, the Reformation, the Enlightenment, the response of the Magisterium, contemporary approaches, hermeneutical theory. Explanation, illustration and evaluation of various methods of biblical interpretation. Ecclesiastical documents on biblical interpretation. Personal exercises in interpretative methods with conscious reflection on the hermeneutical processes involved.

TH 6330 Principles of Theological Method (3)
The nature of theology; its relationship to revelation, Scripture, tradition, and the magisterium. Branches of theology, allied disciplines. Survey of historical development of theology in Catholic and non- Catholic traditions, including an overview of contemporary trends. Introduction to the principal English language research tools to aid a graduate student in the overall program.

TH 6231, 6331 The Trinity (2, 3)
New Testament roots of Trinitarian theology. Patristic development —eastern and western— including early controversies. A brief survey of the Thomistic Trinitarian theology and contemporary approaches. The Trinity as the central Christian mystery and its role in the spiritual life.

TH 6232, 6332 Christology (2, 3)
New Testament Christology. The historical Jesus and biblical research. Central importance of the Resurrection. Developments of Christology through the earliest schools, controversies, and councils. Contemporary approaches to the divinity of Christ and his human consciousness and freedom.

TH 6337 The Sacraments (3)
An examination of Catholic sacramental theology from biblical, doctrinal, and philosophical foundations for ritual and liturgical practice, the New Testament foundations for the Church's christocentric sacramental system, and the reform of the Church's sacramental theology and practice initiated by the Second Vatican Council. The course will cover all seven of the official sacraments, but will give special attention to the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist.

TH 6336 The Church (3)
A study of the Church and local church, organized according to the chapters of Vatican II's Constitution on the Church, emphasizing scriptural roots, the Church's nature and mission, ecumenical questions, and consensus on the Church, ministries in the Church, and the role of laity.

TH 6351 Foundational Moral Theology (3)
A survey of the historical foundations of Roman Catholic moral theology, the role of scripture and natural law, moral norms, conscience, responsibility, sin, grace and virtue, moral development, contemporary approaches to moral development, selected moral issues.

TH 6252, 6352 Christian Social Ethics (2, 3)
This course explores how Christians deal with the perennial questions of how Christian faith relates to the social, economic, and political dimensions of human life. The principal questions taken up are those of economic justice and peace/war. Attention is paid to how Christians have approached these questions, and how they have answered them. Christian responses to social problems are placed in their historical, biblical, and theological contexts. The tradition of Catholic Social Teaching receives special emphasis.

TH 6353 Biomedical Issues and Catholic Thought (3)
The relation of Christian faith to contemporary biomedical issues. Catholic teachings on the meaning of human sexuality, eugenics, abortion, reproductive technologies, cloning, human experimentation, behavior control, organ trans - plants, prolonging life, euthanasia, assisted- suicide. Selected cases for study.

TH 6355 Theology of Human Sexuality, Marriage and the Family (3)
A theological understanding from the stand point of Catholic tradition of the human body, human sexuality, marriage, responsible parenthood, and the role of the Christian family in the modern world.

TH 6307, 6607 Bible Lands and Civilizations (3, 6)
Study session in bible lands with accompanying lectures on Old and New Testament sites and biblical back ground. A total of 6 hours is permissible.

TH 7188, 7288, 7388 Special Topics in Religious Studies (1, 2, 3)
Topics vary from semester to semester.

TH 7290, 7390 Research Practicum (2, 3)


TH 7391 Theological Capstone Seminar (3)
This Seminar is meant to be a culminating experience in a student's theological program. Theological and pastoral issues will be researched and then discussed under various perspectives: scriptural, dogmatic, moral, pastoral, canonical, and historical. This Seminar will serve as a way of integrating the material of the theology and pastoral ministry courses taken in the program.

TH 7399 Thesis (3)
The thesis is a culminating experience which provides a record of a student's achievement in the program. The thesis requires research leading to the discovery of new knowledge or enhancement of existing knowledge in the field of interest. A project that helps solve a practical problem may also be acceptable. The thesis is a complete documentation of the research study, including the theoretical background, description of the problem, the method used to investigate or solve the problem, presentation of results, interpretation of results, and explanation of the significance of the results.