COURSES OF INSTRUCTION

Last update: 10 - 10 - 2007

ACADEMIC YEAR 2007-2008

ACADEMIC YEAR 2006-2007

ACADEMIC YEAR 2005-2006

SUMMER 2005

 ACADEMIC YEAR 2004-2005

ACADEMIC YEAR 2007-2008

Ongoing dissertation consultation and direction.

REGR 6020

Prophetic Literature

Lair

This course will examine the history of prophecy in ancient Israel, from its origins in the Mosaic period to its transformation in post-exilic times.  In addiction to this historical task, the course will also consider the theological issues raised by the present shape of the prophetic books.

REGR 6067

The Four Gospels

Aguilar

REGR 6133

R.C.I.A. and Liturgical Catechesis

Martinez

Exploration of the close relationship between the initiatory sacramental practice of adults, foundational from the time of the Fathers of the Church to Christian formation and liturgical catechesis. Biblical, liturgical, theological, social and existential aspects.

An exploration of present-day theological reflection, contemporary spirituality, and pastoral practice for ministry of the sacraments of initiation (RCIA) and the healing sacraments (reconciliation and anointing).  The study and discussion will be biblical and ecumenical, interdisciplinary and multicultural.

This course will explore the multicultural dimensions of counseling.  It will elaborate the social and cultural goals of therapy from this perspective.  Various theories, research and practice of counseling will be developed, including the spiritual dimensions of the theory.

Spring 2007

Ongoing dissertation consultation and direction.

Creation theology as Israel’s alternate to the salvation-history model.  An emphasis on God’s revelation in creation, on human capability and responsibility for building community, on the enjoyment and celebration of life  The quarrel of Job and Ecclesiastes with unreal spirituality.  The personification of Wisdom and the feminine aspects of God.  The sage as model for ministry.  The teaching of Jesus the sage.

An exploration of the theology of ministry as derived from biblical foundations, the history of theology, and contemporary theologians.  Self-understanding and kinds of ministry within the tradition for laity, religious and clerics appropriate to the contemporary church.

The theological enterprise and its various methods of investigation: reflective and critical thinking about God present and active in our lives after the Second Vatican Council. Examination of the Council's sources for its theological positions and foundational concepts of God, creation, Christ, the human, sin and grace, church.

An exploration of the contemporary meaning of the Christian symbols of incarnation and atonement in relation to their biblical and traditional interpretations, with special attention to the catechetical and pastoral implications of recent work in the field.

Focuses on developing a greater understanding of the social ministry of the Christian churches.  After a historical survey of Christian attitudes toward peace and justice, participants will explore ways of bringing a concern for peace and justice issues into liturgy, preaching, religious education and pastoral ministry.  The course also examines how to relate Christian understandings of peace and justice to everyday work, and civic, political and family life.

This course will be a review of research in pastoral counseling.  It will introduce basic concepts and methods of qualitative research, consider ways of studying change as a result of pastoral care and counseling interventions and programs, and familiarize students with basic skills in evaluating research literature. 

This course addresses theological and spiritual issues in the field of pastoral care and counseling and proposes a theological method for reflecting on these issues.

An inquiry into the sources of contemporary moral theology and into the principles of moral reasoning as they impact the pastoral counselor.  A focus on professional responsibilities, ethical issues and the development of skill in working through ethical conflicts in the counseling settings.

A study of principal movements and individuals in the history of religious education from the biblical and apostolic periods to the present time.  An ecumenically oriented course that explores Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox developments.

The power and possibilities of aesthetic experience to educate the wholeperson.  A wide range of artistic processes such as storytelling, drama and movement will demonstrate how the religious education of people of all age levels can be enhanced.

The who, what, where, when, and how of curriculum design in religious education.  What educative content do we make accessible to what learners under what governing structures?  Various philosophies, principles and processes of curriculum to be critically examined.

Introduces students to a variety of strategies, methods and techniques for teaching religion and theology in various environments.  Includes field observations and demonstrations.

Provides a framework for exploring foundational issues of morality and moral development, including how our understandings of the human person, community and attitude toward the natural environment shape our moral outlook.  Emphasis is placed on enabling religious educators and pastoral ministers to make moral formation an integral dimension of education in Christian faith.

A systemic approach to family treatment.  A survey of the major contributors to the field, using videotape demonstrations of family sessions.  Genograms will be used to explore family-of-origin issues.

From the ancient Greek to Freud, Jung and other major psychological perspectives, to the contemporary work of Stephen Johnson, we will examine why people are so different from one another.  Each theory will be compared and contrasted to the spiritual perspective.  It will be shown how various personality types resonate with various spiritual styles.

REGR 6675

Advanced Adult Development: Life Style and Career Development

Musgrave

"At mid-life the psych explodes, and lava from these eruptions form and reform the landscape of our psychological lives" (Murray Stein, Intro, 1991).  This course will explore adult development with a particular focus on Career Development and the place of work in daily life.  Meaning, vocation, value of work and ongoing personal development will be central to this course.  In this course we will explore the end point in the light of "where we started and knwo it for the first time" T.S. Elliot.

A practical and theoretical treatment of the tradition of Christian prayer and Eastern meditational practice. Included guided practices, reading and reflection.

An investigation of the basic structures of organization and principles of administration and supervision as they apply to parish and other religious education settings.  Emphasis is placed on the person and the role of leadership within evolving structures of parish and various learning communities.

REGR 6992

Ethics in Pastoral Ministry

Elias

Focus on professional ethics for pastoral ministers.  Identity, roles, and responsibilities will be addressed in relation to a range of ethical issues faced in parish life and ministry, including issues around confidentiality, sexual misconduct, collegiality with professional peers, and the ethics of preaching, counseling, and social witness.  A theological framework for ethical pastoral conduct will be developed with attention to issues of power and professionalism.

Pastoral counseling in parish and community settings is most effectively and ethically conducted as "brief" counseling- in contrast to "long-term" pastoral psychotherapy.  The highly effective solution focused therapy method is particularly adaptable to pastoral counseling in these settings.  The goal of the course is to introduce the concepts of the method of solution-focus, and to teach students to begin to apply it in pastoral counseling.  M.A. (48 cr.) cohort only.

Placement in a setting allowing for an integration of theory and practice. Several clients seen weekly with on-site supervision. Staff meetings and case conferences attended as possible. Oversight by field placement director. Select admissions only.

Group process, like the human life cycle, has it universal ongoing themes punctuated by periods of intense emotionality, crisis, regression, transformation and termination.  A basic premise of this course is that we cannot adequately minister in group settings until we know group theory and personally experience group process.  Various gropu theories will be explored namely, Systems theory, Psychoanalytic group theory and Existential group theory.  All classes wil be focused on integrating theory, personal experience and ministerial skill in a group context.

Study of particular problems and issues in pastoral theology and practice through probing pastoral experiences, theological reflection, and examination of methods and approaches.  Students will prepare a ministry paper, demonstrating their theological knowledge and pastoral expertise with appropriate application to a selected pastoral problem or issue.

Integrates participants\\\' spiritual and theological resources with sound counseling practice in one-to-one work with clients.  Identifies and develops individual resources and self-understanding for discerning a call to this ministry, or refining skills for those already thus engaged.  Case studies, role plays, verbatims, individual and group supervision.  By invitation.  Prerequisites: REGR 6881 and REGR 8061.

 

REGR 8090

Advanced Seminar in Spiritual Direction

Guigliano

The purpose of this seminar is threefold: facilitation of growth in the understanding of the psychological processes underlying the dynamics of dierctor/directee relationship, enhancement of skills in the practice of spiritual direction, and promotion of further development of the identity of the spiritual director.  The course will be comprised of lecture and discussion on the process and practice of spiritual direction and relevant topics that impact the practice of spiritual direction and weekly case presentations for consultation.

FALL 2006

Ongoing dissertation consultation and direction.

Mark, Matthew and Luke with consideration oftheir origin, interrelationship and particular theological view. Special attention given to the Old Testament and Jewish milieu as background of the gospel accounts. Selected passages are studied through the use of different exegetical methods, in order to introduce the student to the task of interpretation.

This course is designed to engage participants in a study of the historical, literary, and theological aspects of the Gospel of Mark. Includes discussion of the impact of this Gospel on contemporary pastoral issues.

A composition-critical analysis and interpretation of John\\\'s theology: his soteriology of salvation throughfaith in Jesus and love of neighbor, his christology, his ecclesiology, and his spirituality.

Exploration of the close relationship between the initiatory sacramental practice of adults, foundational from the time of the Fathers of the Church to Christian formation and liturgical catechesis. Biblical, liturgical, theological, social and existential aspects.

An exploration of present-day theological reflection, contemporary spirituality, and pastoral practice for ministry of the sacraments of initiation (RCIA) and the healing sacraments (reconciliation and anointing).  The study and discussion will be biblical and ecumenical, interdisciplinary and multicultural.

This course will explore the multicultural dimensions of counseling.  It will elaborate the social and cultural goals of therapy from this perspective.  Various theories, research and practice of counseling will be developed, including the spiritual dimensions of the theory.