Theology \ Undergraduate Studies \
Course Descriptions: Rose Hill Campus
Freshman Core Courses
For a more in-depth description of the required freshman course, click here.
RSRU 1000 — Faith and Critical Reason (3 credits)
An introductory theology course designed to acquaint students with the analytical study of religion and religious experience, and to give them some critical categories of evaluating the history of theological discourse. The academic study of some of the forms, concepts, experience, and theological formulations found in Christianity and various other traditions will be introduced.
RSRU 1005 — Faith and Critical Reason: Service (3 credits)
As above, with a community service component.
Language
RSRU 1201 — Elementary Biblical Hebrew I (3 credits)
For students with no previous knowledge of Hebrew. Introduction to the vocabulary and structure of ancient Hebrew. Elementary readings in the Hebrew Bible.
RSRU 1202 — Elementary Biblical Hebrew II (3 credits)
Continuation of RSRU 1201 with elementary readings in the Hebrew Bible.
Sophomore Core Courses
For a more in-depth description of the required sophomore core course, click here.
Biblical Studies
RSRU 2020 — Introduction to the Old Testament (3 credits)
History, literature and religion in ancient Israel.
RSRU 2021 — The Torah (3 credits)
Study of the different types of literature found in the first five books of the Old Testament and of the methods for its interpretation. The course will focus on the process by which this material moved from oral tradition to written literature to sacred scripture in Israel.
RSRU 2201 — Introduction to the New Testament (3 credits)
RSRU 2228 — The Jesus of History (3 credits)
The history of gospel research is surveyed, from Reimarus to Conzelmann, in pursuit of the lessons learned as to the nature of the religion of Jesus and the limits of criticism.
RSRU 2242 — The First Three Gospels (3 credits)
Introduction to the gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke. The formation of the gospels, the distinguishing characteristics of each, and the life and teachings of the historical Jesus.
RSRU 2250 — The Gospels of Mark and Luke (3 credits)
The meaning and purpose of gospel; comparative study of the structure and theology of the gospels of Mark and Luke in the light of contemporary historical and literary criticism of the Bible; special emphasis on the mystery of Jesus Christ, his calling and forming disciples, his passion and resurrection.
RSRU 2356 — Luke's Gospel and Acts (3 credits)
Basic literary, historical and theological study of Luke-Acts in the light of modern biblical criticism.
RSRU 2375 — The Gospel of John (3 credits)
Literary and theological analysis of the fourth gospel; special attention to the theme of personal revelation in Jesus Christ, the motif of "misunderstanding" and the thematic unity of the gospel as a whole.
History of Christianity
RSRU 2610 — Early Christian Writings (3 credits)
A selective study of the writings of prominent Christian theologians from Justin Martyr to Augustine, concentrating on early beliefs concerning God, Christ, the Church and the sacraments.
RSRU 2715 — Medieval Theology (3 credits)
Historical and critical study of classic theological texts of Augustine, Pseudo-Dionysius, Anselm, Bonaventure and Thomas Aquinas. Doctrine of God, the human person and Christ; relation of theology to philosophy.
RSRU 2725 — Medieval Mysticism (3 credits)
Christian mysticism as seen in Augustine, Pseudo-Dionysius, Bernard of Clairvaux, Bonaventure, Eckhart and late medieval mystics, with treatment also of medieval Jewish and Islamic mysticism.
RSRU 2730 — Divine Comedy Texts (3 credits)
A study of Dante's Divine Comedy through treatment of its principle theological themes.
RSRU 2785 — Church in Controversy (3 credits)
A study of the Catholic Church's written responses to some of the major controversies and secular ideologies in the modern world. Some of these include the rationalism of the Enlightenment, 19th-century liberalism and nationalism, the varieties of socialism and various forms of 20th-century totalitarianism.
History of Religions
RSRU 2810 — Scriptures of the World (3 credits)
An introduction to the inspired writings that have molded the religious life of mankind.
RSRU 2811 — Sacred Texts of the Mideast (3 credits)
First, an introduction to selected sacred literature of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and Israel, with attention to the social and historical contexts of the writings. Then, a similar consideration of selected readings from the New Testament of Christianity and the Mishnah and Talmud of Judaism. Finally, a study of the Qur'an, the rise of Islam and some early Muslim writings.
Major and Elective Courses
Biblical Studies
RSRU 3110 — Women in the New Testament (4 credits)
Study of women in the ministry of Jesus and the early Church in light of the contemporary question of roles of women in Church and society.
RSRU 3111 — The Book of Revelation (4 credits)
A survey of the New Testament Book of Revelation and other passages relating to apocalyptic writings, as well as a consideration of "apocalyptic" as a theological language necessary to understanding much of the New Testament.
History of Christianity
RSRU 3000 — Classic Christian Texts I (4 credits)
A seminar in which students will be invited into a close readings and analysis of great theological texts from St. Augustine to the reformations of the 16th century. Required for all majors/minors, and open to majors in Religious Studies.
RSRU 3001 — Classic Christian Texts II (4 credits)
A seminar in which students will be invited into a close reading and analysis of texts from the reformations of the 16th century to the 20th century. Required for all majors/minors, and open to majors in Religious Studies.
RSRP 3281 — Religion in America (4 credits)
A survey of religion in America from colonial time through the present day.
RSRU 3460 — Modern Irish Catholicism (4 credits)
A survey of the development of modern Irish Catholicism from the end of the Penal Era to the establishment of the Republic and the expansion of Irish Catholicism in the English speaking world, especially the United States.
RSRU 3815 — The Spiritual Journey (4 credits)
A study of the spiritual journey in classical and modern texts: Augustine's Confessions, Teresa of Avila's The Interior Castle, and selected writings of Thomas Merton and Teilhard de Chardin; the stages of spiritual growth and the various spiritual paths (e.g., the path of love and the path of knowledge).
RSRP 3991 — Catholics in America (4 credits)
History and culture of Spanish and French Catholicism in the colonial and post-colonial periods of the United States. Detailed study of English-speaking Catholicism from its beginnings to its present position. Relationships between Catholicism and American culture.
RSRP 3995 — Religion and the American Self (4 credits)
A course in historical theology that examines the role of religion in the formation of American social and political culture. The course will utilize various interpretive approaches to uncover how the "American self" is both the most religious and the most secular in the industrialized West.
History of Religions
RSRG 3810 — World Religions (4 credits)
Study of the world religions, their basic insights, and their mutual concord and discord, enabling us to evaluate the unity of humankind and its lifestyle.
Contemporary Systematics
RSRU 3252 — Dante's Divine Comedy (4 credits)
Reading of Dante's Divine Comedy in English translation: study of Trinity, Christ, divine justice and mercy and spiritual journey.
RSRU 3363 Medical Ethics (4 credits)
The course examines the role of faith in the moral issues raised by advancement in medical science. The course will survey issues such as productive technologies, the patient-physician relationship, euthanasia and physician and suicide, health care reform, AIDS and the human genome project.
RSRG 3412 — Theology of Liberation (4 credits)
This course investigates the role of the Christian churches and theology in the struggle for social justice and social change in the Third World. Major emphasis will be given to the liberation theology developed in Latin America and its impact throughout the Third Word and in the United States.
RSRP 3430 — Religion and Feminism (4 credits)
Exploration of selected theological issues raised in the developing conversation between religion and feminism. Prerequisite: any course in theology.
RSRU 3448 — Questions of Conscience (4 credits)
American Catholicism in a sociological and theological perspective. This is a team-taught course and focuses on issues that confront individual consciences and stir national debate, such as war and peace, marriage and the family, abortion and the like.
RSRU 3518 — Theology of Hope (4 credits)
This course will study the role of hope in Christian life and experience and its relationship to other theological virtues of faith and charity. Contemporary views will be examined against the background of Scripture and in the context of the contemporary world.
RSRU 3541 — The Real Jesus (4 credits)
The man Jesus in relation to his divinity in the scriptures, the ancient Christian writings and contemporary theology.
RSRU 3548 — God in Modern Theology (4 credits)
Exploration of the meaning of Christian trinitarian monotheism in the face of contemporary cultural secularization. Focusing on the search for meaning and values, the course aims at deeper understanding of the meaning of human existence from the viewpoint of both Old Testament monotheism and Christian trinitarian theism.
RSRU 3564 — Christian Marriage (4 credits)
A historical survey of the understanding of marriage as a sacrament in the Christian tradition. Religious and human values represented (and defended) in marriage in the course of history. The course also examines the role of Christian marriage in contemporary society.
RSRU 3983 — Faith and Economic Systems (4 credits)
This course offers and introductory examination of different forms of economic organization in light of moral values derived from the Judeao-Christian tradition. Content includes discussion of socialism, Marxism, and variants of laissez-faire.
RSRU 3985 — Catholic Social Teaching (4 credits)
This course is an introduction to modern Catholic social teaching. Major papal and conciliar documents will be read and critically examined from various Christian and non-Christian perspectives. Their relation to contemporary social issues will be explored.
RSRU 4000 — Senior Thesis Colloquium (4 credits)
A seminar in the context of which senior majors will research and write their senior thesis in theology. Required for all majors; theology minors and majors in Religious Studies are welcome to take this seminar.
RSRV 4005 — Feminist Theology (4 credits)
A study of the basic theological methods, goals, and concepts (human existence, God, Jesus Christ, sin, grace, church, sacraments, hope) from a perspective committed to the full and equal dignity of women. Included are women's insights from diverse ethnic, cultural and religious heritages.
RSRV 4006 — Feminism and Relationality (4 credits)
A theology course that fulfills the senior values requirement in the College core. The course studies the theological and religious interpretation of gender and gender relations.
RSRV 4010 — Death & Dying (4 credits)
An attempt to confront the reality of death, its practical consequences and its religious significance through a study of current psychological, philosophical and theological attitudes toward death. Volunteer work with the terminally ill is an integral part of the course.
RSRV 4015 — Values and Sexuality (4 credits)
A theology course that fulfills the senior values requirement in the College core. The course explores the theological interpretations of human sexuality.
RSRU 4900 — Community Service Seminar (4 credits)
The seminar provides a theological context for reflection on one's self-understanding as a person who provides community service. By invitation only.
The department also offers the following courses not in line for 2000 - 2002:
RSRU 2130 — The Pslams & Job
RSRU 2220 — The Sayings of Jesus
RSRU 2300 — Gospel of Matthew
RSRU 2325 — The Gospel of Mark
RSRU 2413 — Life & Letters of Paul
RSRU 3130 — The Parables of Jesus
RSRU 3165 — Pauline Christianity
