APO 512 Apologetics Prof. Trenton Horn
This course introduces the student to the art of fulfilling this biblical mandate to cogently and convincingly explain and defend Christian truth, and focuses on the “what” and “how” of apologetics to present a compelling defense of the Faith.

APO 520 Faith and Culture (Formerly: Accommodating Students’ Faith Needs through Cultural Understanding) Theology Elective Prof. Mary Posner
This course focuses on diverse Hispanic cultural contexts as they relate to communicating the faith message. Understanding particular pastoral needs of multiple Hispanic populations requires an appreciation of socio-cultural norms. Broadening the communicator’s scope and understanding of Hispanic perspectives, contributes to the positive personalization of the faith message.

APO 535 Moral Apologetics Prof. Trenton Horn
Apologetics is a branch of theology dedicated to providing a rational defense of the Faith. The Church’s moral teachings, especially those related to life and sexuality, are constantly under attack so Catholics must be ready to provide a gracious and compelling defense of these doctrines. In the first part of this course we will learn how to defend the Church’s teachings on marriage and sexuality and how to refute objections to those teachings. In the second part of this course we will tackle life issues like abortion, euthanasia, and embryo research and learn how to provide a rational defense of the Church’s teachings on these issues.

APO 565 Reading Science in the Light of Faith Dr. Stacy Trasancos
This course teaches the non-scientist layperson how to articulate developments in current research in biological or biochemical fields (with particular emphasis on evolutionary biology, genetics, or neuroscience) by reading scientific papers and how to classify the conclusions in the scientific papers as neutral, contradictory, or consistent with the tenets of Catholic faith.

APO/PAS 631 Social Media and the New Evangelization Dr. Kristina Olsen
This course explores the history, trends, and issues related to the Catholic Church and its use of media for social communications. Students discuss how the media is “social” and how this can be used to “introduce people to the life of the Church and help our contemporaries to discover the face of Christ” (Pope Benedict XVI, Message for 44th World Communications Day, 2010).

BIE 639 Bioethics and the Law Dr. Peter DePergola
This course introduces basic constitutional, statutory, and regulatory law related to bioethics. United States Supreme Court case law is a central component of the course. The course will examine the development of constitutional substantive due process, privacy, individual autonomy, and equal protection. The structure of American constitutional government, the separation of powers, the protection of individual liberties, and related political and philosophical foundations are examined.

BIE 750 Magisterial Teaching Related to Major Catholic Bioethics Issues Dr. Lucy Knouse
This course is a study of Magisterial and Church documents that provide the basis of many Catholic Church bioethics teachings. By taking this course, students will understand the continuity of Church teaching over time on matters of chastity, marriage, and respect for life as well as have an opportunity to synthesize their understanding for their own appreciation, for future study and for their work in evangelizing the culture.

BIE 796 Bioethics in the Post-Christian Culture Dr. Hermann Frieboes
This course covers the development of bioethics in the post-Christian culture. Fundamental philosophical and theological notions underlying the concept of bioethics from a Catholic perspective include human life, freedom, love, truth, reason, and human fulfillment. These notions have long-standing meaning rooted in the teaching of Christ as proclaimed by His apostles and have formed the basis for the development of the Christian culture in the western world for almost two millennia. Fruits of this culture have included concepts such as respect for human life, human rights, and the human family, all of which form the basis for Catholic bioethics.

CHH 501 Historical Knowledge & Human Good Dr. John Bequette
This course explores the relationship between historical knowledge and human flourishing, both temporally and eternally. What key historical events, figures, controversies and concepts should an adult retain after having left college? How ought a mature, Christian adult view history? What role does historical knowledge play in establishing a flourishing social life? Is there a connection between a proper historical consciousness and eternal salvation?

CHH 661 The Church’s Response to Catholic Modernism Fr. Gregoire Fluet
This course reviews Catholic modernism and addresses the intellectual causes of modernism and its major components. The study includes magisterial statements of Pius X concerning modernism and exposure to the works of several important Catholic modernists.

CHH 709 Ecumenical Councils Dr. John Rao
This course discusses the Twenty One Ecumenical Councils recognized as such by the Roman Catholic Church. Its purpose is two-fold. Most importantly, it is designed to present the Magisterial Teachings of these councils, integral as they are to the Deposit of the Faith. Secondly, by placing each of these councils in their historical context, it also introduces students to the many factors—intellectual, socio-political, and often all too personal—seeking to influence conciliar decisions, and the consequent need to be aware of secular pressures upon what are ultimately issues of supernatural, eternal significance.

CHH 881 Patristics TBA
This course surveys selected writings from the principal Fathers of the Church. The focus is on the development of Catholic Doctrine from the Apostolic Fathers to St. Gregory the Great, with emphasis on the Trinitarian and Christological questions.

DTH 512 Spiritual Life in the Classics Dr. J. Marianne Siegmund
This course provides a study of the great spiritual writers with an emphasis on how the beautiful images and concepts in such classics can help us grow in our own union with God, and in our love of those we encounter in friendship, family, work and mission.

DTH 600 Faith and Revelation Dr. Joan Gilbert
This course will provide an exploration of the teachings of the Church on the mysteries of faith and revelation, through the study of related Magisterial documents and various writings of St. Thomas Aquinas. Topics include: the meaning of Revelation; the relationship between Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium; the relationship between faith and reason; the necessity, character, and effects of grace; the object, act, and virtue of faith; sins against faith; and the nature and mission of theology

DTH 641 First Things and End Times (Formerly: Protology and Eschatology) Dr. Alan Fimister
This course studies God as the Creator of all things and the relation of created things to Him. The four last things (death, judgment, heaven and hell) are related to Him as the fulfillment of man and nature, the end of His saving plan.

DTH 731 One and Triune God Dr. Cynthia Toolin-Wilson
This course is a doctrinal study of the nature and attributes of God as known by revelation and reason. The God we know and love is One and Three. Topics in this course address both the unity of God and the three-ness of God. The work of St. Thomas Aquinas is used to expose students to these truths to be believed and to form a foundation for further growth and study. This course is a pre- requisite to DTH 751 Christology.

DTH 751 Christology Dr. Cynthia Toolin-Wilson
This course considers the person of Jesus Christ and the theology of the Incarnation, with particular attention to the development of Christological doctrine and to the theology of Thomas Aquinas. Students registering for Christology must have already completed DTH 731 One and Triune God.

DTH 760 Theology of the Church (Previously Ecclesiology & Ecumenism) Dr. Matthew Vander Vennet
This course investigates the nature and characteristics of the Church, its attributes, its structures, its mission and its relation to the world, and the development of Catholic thought concerning ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue.

DTH 765 Mariology Fr. Gregory Lockwood
This course studies how Marian theology has developed in time. This historical approach to Marian Theology will be supplemented with careful study of Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange’s classical text on Mary, Mother of the Savior: And Our Interior Life.

DTH 800 The Seven Sacraments Fr. Thomas Crean
This course explores the concept and nature of “sacrament” in general and then each of the seven sacraments of the Church in particular (the fundamentals of each sacrament’s doctrine and theology, the rites for celebrating the sacraments, the historical development of each sacrament and current issues and debates surrounding the sacraments).

ENG 890 Summative Evaluation: Comprehensive Exam & Professional Paper Dr. James Gentile
This course prepares M.A. Theology students to pass the oral-comprehensive exam in Dogmatic and Moral Theology during Final Exam Week and to write a ten-page professional paper in the student’s concentration. The professional paper will be written under the direction of an advisor the semester after passing the ENG 890 oral exam..

ENG 891 Academic Research, Design, and Writing Prof. Cynthia Gniadek
This course walks through the process for producing quality academic research papers, beginning with topic selection, research, and writing. The course culminates in the production of an academic research paper and thesis proposal.

GRK 501 Greek I Dr. Hannah Murphy (Only for MSS Students)
This course emphasizes basic grammar and vocabulary drawn from philosophic and biblical Greek texts, and provides a working vocabulary of terms used in both Attic and Koine dialects.

LLT 506 Introduction to Liturgy Fr. Gregoire Fluet
This course demonstrates how the Liturgy is the source and summit of the Christian Life as found in Sacrosanctum Concilium, 10. It will examine liturgical theology especially in terms of its theological and spiritual aspects, while integrating pastoral and canonical applications.

MTH 611 Fundamental Moral Theology I Dr. Matthew Minerd
This course presents fundamental moral principles from the perspective of the classical Catholic moral tradition especially as represented by Thomas Aquinas and John Paul II. Primary questions include the end of man, human acts, moral determinants, freedom, sin, moral responsibility, and conscience.

MTH 659 Moral Magisterium of John Paul II Dr. Kristina Olsen
This course is devoted to the teachings of John Paul II in the area of moral theology. This course covers the foundations of his moral teaching before his pontificate as well as the legacy of his thought in the work of Popes Benedict XVI and Francis, attending especially to the encyclicals Laborem Exorcens, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, Centessimus Annus, Veritatis Splendor, and Evangelium Vitae.

MTH 680 Marriage & the Theology of the Body Dr. Lucy Knouse
This course approaches marriage from an interdisciplinary perspective, covering the biblical foundations for the Theology of the Body as expressed in the works of St. John Paul II, seeking to relate the Theology of the Body in the practical encounters of life, love and Marriage, and introduces Catholic sexual ethics using the work of John Paul II, and examines the significant philosophical thought of Karol Wojtyla on this topic in his Love and Responsibility and Theology of the Body.

MTH 841 Catholic Social Teaching Dr. Kristina Olsen
This course traces major themes in Catholic social teachings by using the U.S. Bishop’s document, Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions and includes topics therein.

PHH 781 Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas (For Thomistic Studies Students Only) Dr. Matthew Minerd
This course covers Aquinas on medieval education, the rise of universities, faith and reason, Aristotelian thought, Aquinas on the world and man, man as a moral agent, the meaning of life, the ultimate end of human action, difference between knowledge and faith; God.

PHS 607 Perennial Philosophy Dr. Matthew Minerd
This course teaches basic philosophy, which is at the basis of the theology of the Catholic Church, for graduate students. This material is necessary to understand the terminology used in Catholic theology.

PHS 660 Natural Theology Dr. Timothy Smith
This course examines arguments for the existence of God, His nature and relation to the world and man.

SAI 510 Introduction to Sacred Music Dr. Marguerite Mullee
Throughout Church history, liturgical music has been a source of prayerful beauty and mysticism. By listening to sacred music, reading essays, and discussing and studying musical trends during different time periods, students will explore the historical and religious forces that have shaped Christian liturgical music in Western Europe and the United States.

SAS 561 Gospel of John Fr. William Mills
This course studies the Gospel of John considering the historical, religious, and cultural background of this gospel and major themes such as covenant, Kingdom of God, grace, redemption, wisdom, prophecy, creation, Trinity, faith, angels, resurrection and priesthood.

SAS 571 Letters of St. Paul Fr. William Mills
This course studies the life and mission of St. Paul. It will also examine the composition, structure, purpose, historical background and theological themes of the Pauline letters with special concentration on Galatians, ! Corinthians, Philippians, and Romans.

SAS 602 The Soul of Theology (Formerly: Methods of Theology & Scripture Analysis) Dr. John Joy
The course examines concepts and criteria used in Biblical and Theological Sciences: word, Revelation, transmission, Truth in Scripture, Canonicity, Authenticity, Integrity, Magisterium, Tradition, etc., and acquaints the students with the Books of the Bible per se: languages; traditions.

SAS 621 Prophetic Literature Dr. Matthew Ramage
This course examines the phenomenon of prophecy in Israel, and surveys early “non-writing” prophets, and classical prophets in their historical contexts to uncover their theological message and understand the development of prophecy into eschatology and apocalypse.

SAS 651 Synoptic Gospels Dr. Matthew Ramage
This course explores the stylistic and literary characteristics of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Students study the Synoptic Gospels’ theological, spiritual, and historical background.

SOC 500 Sociology of Religion Dr. Cynthia Toolin-Wilson
This course is an introduction to the Sociology of Religion, focusing on three important components of the discipline: the sociological approach to religion, religion and social differentiation, and religion and change. As Catholic Christians we all believe in the dogmatic and moral teachings of the Church. Note that this course is a social science course, not a religion course. We use a social scientific approach to the study of how religion (in general, not just Catholicism) impacts society and how society impacts religion.

ENG 891 Academic Research, Design and Writing Prof. Cynthia Gniadek & Dr. James Gentile
This course walks through the process for producing quality academic research papers, beginning with topic selection, research, and writing. The course culminates in the production of an academic research paper and thesis proposal.

MTH 680 Marriage & The Theology of the Body Dr. Lucy Knouse
This course approaches marriage from an interdisciplinary perspective, covering the biblical foundations for the Theology of the Body as expressed in the works of St. John Paul II, seeking to relate the Theology of the Body in the practical encounters of life, love and Marriage, and introduces Catholic sexual ethics using the work of John Paul II, and examines the significant philosophical thought of Karol Wojtyla on this topic in his Love and Responsibility and Theology of the Body.

MTH 841 Catholic Social Teachings Dr. Kristina Olsen
This course traces major themes in Catholic social teachings by using the U.S. Bishop’s document, Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions and includes topics therein.

PHE 505 Narrative and the Moral Life Dr. David Arias
This course examines the ethical influence of stories by focusing on philosophical analyses of narrative and moral life. Topics may include: the sources and limits of narratives’ moral power; their nature and structure; principles for the ethical evaluation of stories and their readers; and stories in Catholic spirituality.

PHE 610 Ethics Dr. Francisco Romero Carrasquillo
This course studies the principles of ethics from a Thomistic and phenomenological perspective including criteria for making moral choices and a refutation of situation ethics, and addresses social justice, abortion, war and peace and sexual ethics.

PHE 775 Political Philosophy Dr. Derya Rix
This course seeks to introduce students to political philosophy by undertaking a critical historical study of the most influential works (ancient, medieval, and modern) of the Western tradition. Students will study and analyze the fundamental issues that have shaped the debate throughout the centuries, including the nature of justice, law and liberty, power and authority, political equality, human rights, and the relation of Church and the state.

PHH 605 Ancient and Medieval Philosophy Dr. Timothy Smith
This course covers some of the most important figures and themes of Ancient & Medieval philosophy, including Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, the nature of man, education, the ultimate end of human activity, the meaning of life, God, Providence, and faith and reason.

PHH 620 Modern & Contemporary Philosophy Dr. Randy Colton
This course is an historical introduction to the thought and texts of principal modern philosophers from Descartes to Hegel and of principal contemporary philosophers from Kierkegaard to the present.

PHH 650 Recent Catholic Philosophy Dr. Alan Vincelette
This course introduces important Catholic philosophers of the nineteenth and twentieth- centuries who responded to the cultural, scientific, philosophical, and theological ideas of the times, and defended the philosophical underpinnings of the Catholic faith.

PHH 651 Aristotle Dr. John Finley
This course will examine Aristotle as a great thinker, focusing on what he says about human life. We will proceed through close readings of his Categories, De Anima, Nicomachean Ethics (selections) and Poetics.

PHH 781 Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas Dr. Matthew Minerd
This course covers Aquinas on medieval education, the rise of universities, faith and reason, Aristotelian thought, Aquinas on the world and man, man as a moral agent, the meaning of life, the ultimate end of human action, difference between knowledge and faith; God.

PHS 621 Nature and Metaphysics Dr. Timothy Smith
This course explores the fundamental aspects of the natural world knowable to philosophy and science, including a discussion of the methodology and limits of the scientific and philosophical methods, along with the metaphysics of Aristotle; presuppositions of metaphysics, the subject matter of metaphysics, the scandal of generality, substance and essence, from finite to Infinite Being, the nature of existence, the names of God.

PHS 660 Natural Theology Dr. Timothy Smith
This course examines arguments for the existence of God, His nature and relation to the world and man.

PHS 731 The One and the Many Dr. Eduardo Bernot
This course is a study of the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas concerning the nature of the metaphysical principles of unity and multiplicity and the essential role that these principles play in the existence of things and all other principles of being, becoming, and knowing, including those of experience, art, philosophy, science.

PHS 761 The Good, the Bad, the Beautiful, and the Ugly Dr. Eduardo Bernot
This course is a study of the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas about good and its opposite, evil, and the beautiful and it opposite, the ugly, in relationship to unity and multiplicity, being and non-being, and truth and error, and different kinds of good and evil, beauty and ugliness, considered in themselves and in relation to their existence within human knowing faculties, appetites, and in relationship to God.

PHS 781 Thomistic Personalism: Knowledge and Love Dr. Francisco Plaza
The course seeks to demonstrate that personalism can be effectively grounded in the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas. It presents Thomistic personalism as that which successfully addresses all the essential issues concerning the human person.

APO 512 Apologetics Prof. Trenton Horn
This course introduces the student to the art of fulfilling this biblical mandate to cogently and convincingly explain and defend Christian truth, and focuses on the “what” and “how” of apologetics to present a compelling defense of the Faith.

APO 520 Faith and Culture (Formerly: Accommodating Students’ Faith Needs through Cultural Understanding) Prof. Mary Posner
This course focuses on diverse Hispanic cultural contexts as they relate to communicating the faith message. Understanding particular pastoral needs of multiple Hispanic populations requires an appreciation of socio-cultural norms. Broadening the communicator’s scope and understanding of Hispanic perspectives, contributes to the positive personalization of the faith message.

APO 535 Moral Apologetics Prof. Trenton Horn
Apologetics is a branch of theology dedicated to providing a rational defense of the Faith. The Church’s moral teachings, especially those related to life and sexuality, are constantly under attack so Catholics must be ready to provide a gracious and compelling defense of these doctrines. In the first part of this course we will learn how to defend the Church’s teachings on marriage and sexuality and how to refute objections to those teachings. In the second part of this course we will tackle life issues like abortion, euthanasia, and embryo research and learn how to provide a rational defense of the Church’s teachings on these issues.

APO 565 Reading Science in the Light of Faith Theology Elective Dr. Stacy Trasancos
This course teaches the non-scientist layperson how to articulate developments in current research in biological or biochemical fields (with particular emphasis on evolutionary biology, genetics, or neuroscience) by reading scientific papers and how to classify the conclusions in the scientific papers as neutral, contradictory, or consistent with the tenets of Catholic faith.

APO/PAS 631 Social Media and the New Evangelization Dr. Kristina Olsen
This course explores the history, trends, and issues related to the Catholic Church and its use of media for social communications. Students discuss how the media is “social” and how this can be used to “introduce people to the life of the Church and help our contemporaries to discover the face of Christ” (Pope Benedict XVI, Message for 44th World Communications Day, 2010).

DTH 512 Spiritual Life in the Classics Dr. J. Marianne Siegmund
This course provides a study of the great spiritual writers with an emphasis on how the beautiful images and concepts in such classics can help us grow in our own union with God, and in our love of those we encounter in friendship, family, work and mission.

PAS 505 Intercultural Competencies Theology Elective Dr. Matthew T. Vander Vennet
This course explores the nature of intercultural competencies and engages the learner in methods concerning their development and cultivation within a community of faith.

PAS 507 Contemporary Youth Culture Dr. Marc Tumeinski
This course explores the culture of contemporary youth and its ramifications for catechesis. Students prepare to encounter the learner who is immersed in the secular, post-modern milieu. Families in contemporary culture, peer expectations, and the influence of media are addressed.

PAS 581 History and Foundations of Catechesis Elective Fr. Gregoire Fluet
This course will examine the roots and history of catechesis, starting from early foundations of faith formation in the Jewish tradition, exploring the teaching of the faith in the New Testament and early Church, and continuing through the modern era. Students will become acquainted with the foundational documents of catechesis and their application to religious education in parishes and schools. Offered online every other fall during the even years.

PAS 602 Fundamentals of Practical Theology Dr. J. Marianne Siegmund
Practical, or pastoral theology is the “practical application of scientific theology to the care of souls in the sacred ministry”(John A. Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary). Unfortunately, in today’s world, the “unrestricted application of scientific methods to matters of faith appears to be sheer presumption, whereby man oversteps his limits and undermines his own foundations” (Joseph Ratzinger, The Nature and Mission of Theology, 8). Consequently, practical theology must first be grounded in theology itself. Firmly rooted in “scientific theology,” the course seeks to apply the doctrinal truths of the Faith to various pastoral situations confronting today’s minister. Since Sacred Scripture is to “inspire all pastoral work,” this course copiously invokes it (Benedict XVI Verbum Domini#73).

PAS 621 Pastoral Care of Marriage and Family Fr. Gregory Lockwood
This course will explore marriage as a spousal covenant from the biblical and traditional perspectives and consider how to minister to families, using as a basic text, John Paul II’s Magisterial Document, Familiaris consortio. Modern challenges to marriage will also be addressed.

PAS 641 Methods in Counseling Fr. Gregory Lockwood
In this course, learners will learn how to conduct standard counseling assessments for individual adults, children, couples, and families. Learners will also evaluate different theories of counseling in light of Catholic anthropology and analyze how each counseling methodology applies to different populations.

PAS 700 Intellectual Impairments (Formally: Christian Life Together in the Presence of Human, Physical, and Intellectual Impairments) Dr. Marc Tumeinski
This course will draw us into a deeper understanding of Christian faith, vocation, catechesis, ministry & ecclesiology – in light of the presence and reality of physical & intellectual impairment among disciples. As part of the core of Christian life or ministry, our focus is pastoral & ecclesial; rather than clinical, medical, legal or psychological.

PAS 785 Pastoral Issues Concerning Human Sexuality Dr. J. Marianne Siegmund
This course addresses the meaning of human sexuality, education and integration of emotion, sexual aberrations, relationship skills such as intra- and inter-personal skills, personal freedom skills, sexuality and spirituality, human sexuality and eschatology.

APO 512 Apologetics Prof. Trenton Horn
This course introduces the student to the art of fulfilling this biblical mandate to cogently and convincingly explain and defend Christian truth, and focuses on the “what” and “how” of apologetics to present a compelling defense of the Faith.

APO 520 Faith and Culture (Formerly: Accommodating Students’ Faith Needs through Cultural Understanding) Prof. Mary Posner
This course focuses on diverse Hispanic cultural contexts as they relate to communicating the faith message. Understanding particular pastoral needs of multiple Hispanic populations requires an appreciation of socio-cultural norms. Broadening the communicator’s scope and understanding of Hispanic perspectives, contributes to the positive personalization of the faith message.

APO 535 Moral Apologetics Prof. Trenton Horn
Apologetics is a branch of theology dedicated to providing a rational defense of the Faith. The Church’s moral teachings, especially those related to life and sexuality, are constantly under attack so Catholics must be ready to provide a gracious and compelling defense of these doctrines. In the first part of this course we will learn how to defend the Church’s teachings on marriage and sexuality and how to refute objections to those teachings. In the second part of this course we will tackle life issues like abortion, euthanasia, and embryo research and learn how to provide a rational defense of the Church’s teachings on these issues.

APO 565 Reading Science in the Light of Faith Dr. Stacy Transancos
This course teaches the non-scientist layperson how to articulate developments in current research in biological or biochemical fields (with particular emphasis on evolutionary biology, genetics, or neuroscience) by reading scientific papers and how to classify the conclusions in the scientific papers as neutral, contradictory, or consistent with the tenets of Catholic faith.

DTH 512 Spiritual Life in the Classics Dr. Marianne Siegmund
This course provides a study of the great spiritual writers with an emphasis on how the beautiful images and concepts in such classics can help us grow in our own union with God, and in our love of those we encounter in friendship, family, work and mission.

DTH 731 One and Triune God Dr. Cynthia Toolin-Wilson
This course is a doctrinal study of the nature and attributes of God as known by revelation and reason. The God we know and love is One and Three. Topics in this course address both the unity of God and the three-ness of God. The work of St. Thomas Aquinas is used to expose students to these truths to be believed and to form a foundation for further growth and study. This course is a pre- requisite to DTH 751 Christology.

DTH 751 Christology Dr. Cynthia Toolin-Wilson
This course considers the person of Jesus Christ and the theology of the Incarnation, with particular attention to the development of Christological doctrine and to the theology of Thomas Aquinas. Students registering for Christology must have already completed DTH 731 One and Triune God.

DTH 760 Theology of the Church (Previously Ecclesiology & Ecumenism) Dr. Matthew Vander Vennet
This course investigates the nature and characteristics of the Church, its attributes, its structures, its mission and its relation to the world, and the development of Catholic thought concerning ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue.

DTH 800 The Seven Sacraments Fr. Thomas Crean
This course explores the concept and nature of “sacrament” in general and then each of the seven sacraments of the Church in particular (the fundamentals of each sacrament’s doctrine and theology, the rites for celebrating the sacraments, the historical development of each sacrament and current issues and debates surrounding the sacraments).

MTH 611 Fundamental Moral Theology I Dr. Matthew Minerd
This course presents fundamental moral principles from the perspective of the classical Catholic moral tradition especially as represented by Thomas Aquinas and John Paul II. Primary questions include the end of man, human acts, moral determinants, freedom, sin, moral responsibility, and conscience.

PAS 602 Fundamentals of Practical Theology Dr. J. Marianne Siegmund
Practical, or pastoral theology is the “practical application of scientific theology to the care of souls in the sacred ministry”(John A. Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary). Unfortunately, in today’s world, the “unrestricted application of scientific methods to matters of faith appears to be sheer presumption, whereby man oversteps his limits and undermines his own foundations” (Joseph Ratzinger, The Nature and Mission of Theology, 8). Consequently, practical theology must first be grounded in theology itself.

PAS 505 Intercultural Competencies Theology Elective Dr. Matthew T. Vander Vennet
This course explores the nature of intercultural competencies and engages the learner in methods concerning their development and cultivation within a community of faith.

PAS 581 History and Foundations of Catechesis Elective Fr. Gregoire Fluet
This course will examine the roots and history of catechesis, starting from early foundations of faith formation in the Jewish tradition, exploring the teaching of the faith in the New Testament and early Church, and continuing through the modern era. Students will become acquainted with the foundational documents of catechesis and their application to religious education in parishes and schools. Offered online every other fall during the even years.

PAS 621 Pastoral Care of Marriage & Family Fr. Gregory Lockwood
This course will explore marriage as a spousal covenant from the biblical and traditional perspectives and consider how to minister to families, using as a basic text, John Paul II’s Magisterial Document, Familiaris consortio. Modern challenges to marriage will also be addressed.

PAS 785 Pastoral Issues Concerning Human Sexuality Dr.J. Marianne Siegmund
This course addresses the meaning of human sexuality, education and integration of emotion, sexual aberrations, relationship skills such as intra- and inter-personal skills, personal freedom skills, sexuality and spirituality, human sexuality and eschatology.

PHE 610 Ethics Dr. Francisco Romero Carrasquillo
This course studies the principles of ethics from a Thomistic and phenomenological perspective including criteria for making moral choices and a refutation of situation ethics, and addresses social justice, abortion, war and peace and sexual ethics.

PHS 607 Perennial Philosophy Dr. Matthew Minerd
This course teaches basic philosophy, which is at the basis of the theology of the Catholic Church, for graduate students. This material is necessary to understand the terminology used in Catholic theology.

SAS 561 Gospel of John Fr. William Mills
This course studies the Gospel of John considering the historical, religious, and cultural background of this gospel and major themes such as covenant, Kingdom of God, grace, redemption, wisdom, prophecy, creation, Trinity, faith, angels, resurrection and priesthood.

SAS 651 Synoptic Gospels Dr. Matthew Ramage
This course explores the stylistic and literary characteristics of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Students study the Synoptic Gospels’ theological, spiritual, and historical background.