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Undergraduate Bulletin 2016-2017 [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]
Course Descriptions
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THEO 255 - The Mystery of Death 3 hours
Why do we die? What is death? How should we respond to death? This course considers such questions from various theological perspectives. Special attention is given to ethical issues surrounding death, as well as such topics as grief and concepts of an afterlife.
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 256 - Marriage and Family Life 3 hours
Everyone, in some way, has been formed by marriage and family life. Using texts, articles, movies and projects, we will integrate the tradition of the Catholic Church, the culture, and the students’ lived experience to think critically about marriage and family life. The theology of marriage, rooted in scripture, will provide a starting point for exploration. We will look at communication and conflict resolution, faith development, and ritual within this most critical sphere of life.
Listed also as SWG 256 .
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 257 - Women and Religion 3 hours
In this course, we will focus our attention on Christian, Jewish, and Muslim women in the United States. More specifically, we will look at how the religious experiences and imaginations of these women have been shaped by the cultures, theologies, and practices of their various religious traditions within the socio-historical context of American life. Conversely, we will look at how particular individuals and groups of women in the United States have contributed to the development and transformation of religious, social, and cultural life, beliefs, and practices both within and beyond their particular religious institutions.
Listed also as SWG 257 .
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 261 - Catholic Social Teaching and Movements 3 hours
This course seeks to reveal Catholicism’s “best kept secret” the long and still developing tradition of social teaching, as it is found in various Church documents, the works of prominent writers, and social movements.
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 263 - Health and Healing: Medicine, Religion, and Spirituality 3 hours
This course explores the historical and contemporary interface between medicine and religion with an emphasis on the origin and development of the nursing tradition, especially its impact on the revival of spirituality in the late 20th century. Tracing the path of wellness from its origins in Greek, Chinese, and Indian cultures, as well as the distinctive approach of Judaism and early Christianity, students will investigate the development of healing practices in the medical traditions of medieval monasticism, Islamic medical schools in Spain and North Africa, and the rediscovery of holistic medicine in recent times. Topics will include studies of longevity, alternative health care, fitness and exercise, diet and nutritional studies, pain management, and the role of emotion in regard to personal and social health.
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 264 - The Ways of War and Peace in Christianity and Islam 3 hours
It is sometimes said that the way we think about war tests all our thinking. With attention to the past, and mindful of momentous challenges today, this course examines the various and often-conflicting ways in which Christians and Muslims have regarded theologically not only war but also peace. Topics to be explored include sources for theologies of war and peace (the Bible, the Quran, and other key texts), “holy war” jihad, “just war,” and approaches to nonviolence within the two traditions.
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement and the multicultural core requirement.
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THEO 267 - Owning and Owing: Theological Perspectives on Property and Debt 3 hours
Beginning with Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, this course explores the theological and moral dimensions of economic relations. For millennia, questions of “owning and owing” have been prominent in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, especially in relation to the “divine economy” of sin, grace, and reconciliation. Thomas Aquinas and Martin Luther both condemned usury (the maligned Shylock’s trade), but for different theological reasons, and Muslims’ observation of proscriptions against lending with interest while participating in modern economies illustrates the challenge of applying the wisdom of the past to an age of subprime loans and global banking. Questions regarding property (e.g., land, air, water, ideas, stocks and bonds, debt-even human beings) are equally vexing. But here, too, Christianity and other traditions have theologically profound, challenging, and often diverse or contradictory things to say. This course begins to tap religious wisdom about owning and owing in economically challenging and even perilous times.
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 268 - Theology and Horror Fiction 3 hours
This course will explore how modern horror fiction engages and reflects themes and that are found in the biblical and Christian theological traditions, such as the human condition, the problem of mortality, good and evil, social justice, war, gender, and the role of nature. Using literary and theological methods, the course will look at specific traditional examples, such as the Books of Genesis and Revelation, before focusing on modern horror fiction, such as I Am Legend, Frankenstein, The Monstromologist, The Walking Dead, World War Z, and The Shining (among others).
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 270 - Christianity Among the World’s Religions 3 hours
While some attention will be paid to diversity within the Christian tradition, the major focus of this course will be on Christianity’s response to and interaction with the other religions. Christianity’s evangelical world mission will be explored, in terms of its emergence, historical development, and evolving rationale. Christianity’s more recent emphasis on interreligious dialogue and cooperative action will also be explored, again in terms of both theoretical foundations and practical implementations. Are these twin concerns—mission and dialogue—contradictory or complementary? What does the future hold for Christian identity amid religious diversity?
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 272 - Spirituality and Mysticism in World Religions 3 hours
A study of the tradition of mysticism in the major world religions. Using the Catholic mystical traditions as a paradigm, we will compare parallel mystical paths in Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Similarities and differences among these several mystical “paths” will provide the basis for our analysis of these traditions.
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 273 - Great Women Mystics 3 hours
This course explores the lives, activity, and writings of outstanding Christian women whose reforming impact on the Church continues to inspire and guide Christians and non-Christians today. Although primary concern will focus on Hildegard of Bingen, Mechthild of Magdeburg, Catherine of Siena, Julian of Norwich, Joan of Arc, and Teresa of Avila, other important figures of past ages and recent times will be considered as well, including artists, writers, and political leaders.
Listed also as SWG 273 .
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 277 - African-American Religious Experience and Theology 3 hours
Beginning with African roots and attentive to historical and cultural factors, this course examines the varieties of religious experience and theology distinctive of the African-American community.
Listed also as BWS 277 .
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement and the multicultural core requirement.
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THEO 278 - Religions of the Book: Judaism, Christianity, Islam 3 hours
This course explores the three great monotheistic religions that claim descent from Abraham. Sharing many of the same beliefs and traditions, Jews, Christians, and Muslims also differ theologically and politically. What are the common bonds that tie them together and the forces that create conflict and mistrust both within and among these faiths?
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 280 - Native American Culture and Spirituality 3 hours
This course explores the history, culture, and spirituality of the Native peoples of the Woodlands and the Plains. Native speakers will share ritual and story to enhance the study. Students taking this course are required to develop a project in collaboration with the reservations they will visit. The project and the service learning trip are required for the course. This camping trip usually begins during early May and lasts approximately two weeks.
This course will satisfy the multicultural core requirement.
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THEO 281 - Dominican Saints and Mystics 3 hours
From the beginning, Dominican spirituality has ranged characteristically and widely between the poles of contemplative prayer and prophetic action. Inspired by a visionary love of Truth, the friar and sister preachers employed the liberal and fine arts, the sciences, law, politics, and nursing as well as direct evangelization to proclaim and manifest the Word. This course will explore the major paths and personalities that continue to fund Dominican prayer and work today in the light of the social, natural, and spiritual challenges facing the order and the Church of tomorrow.
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 282 - Science, Religion, and Theology 3 hours
Controversies concerning the existence of God, the place of religion, cosmic and human evolution, and the pursuit of truth continue to pit many scientists against religious leaders, theologians, and ordinary believers. This course explores the lively tension between scientific and theological approaches to understanding the origin and destiny of the universe, the phenomenon of life, the role of human existence, culture, and society, the challenge of evil, and the task of living meaningfully and purposefully in today’s changing world.
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 283 - Godflix: Theology and Ethics in Film and TV 3 hours
Film and television can be a powerful and often subtle vehicles for exploring profound, and often perplexing, theological and ethical questions and themes. Through discussion of selections from film and television, with matching readings, this course will examine such topics as sin, grace, and redemption; the problem of evil; beauty and the transcendent; justice and mercy; and the “end times.”
This course will satisfy the theology core are requirement.
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THEO 299 - Community-Based Learning 1 hour
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor
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THEO 310 - Jesus the Christ 3 hours
This course explores what Christians mean when they call Jesus “the Christ.” Through scriptural, historical, and theological perspectives, students will gain an understanding of the current research on the historical Jesus, Christian reflection on Jesus’ person and work, and contemporary Christological models of Jesus (e.g., liberation, feminist).
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or consent of the instructor.
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 320 - Theological Ethics 3 hours
How ought one live? The Catholic tradition has a particularly rich and often controversial legacy of reflection on moral matters. This course will introduce the student to the theological sources and methods of that tradition in dialogue with other traditions and currents of thought. Topics include biblical roots of moral reflection and action, discipleship, moral norms, conscience, the virtues, natural law, and the role of church authority in the changing life of the individual and community.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 321 - Sexual Ethics 3 hours
Perspective on the questions of meaning and morality concerning human sexuality and marriage, including love, nonmarital sex, divorce, parenthood, and gender roles. These will be considered in light of human experience, Christian tradition, Catholic Church teaching, and contemporary theological discussion.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 330 - The Mystery of God 3 hours
Study of the doctrine of God in the Hebrew Scriptures, the New Testament, and the history of Christian theology, with special attention to the issues of trinitarian doctrine, creation, providence, evil, and revelation, and theological perspectives on the understanding of God in the modern world.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 343 - Freud, Jung, and Religion 3 hours
What do psychologists have to say about religion? Is it a crutch, the “obsessional neurosis of humanity”? Is God an illusion of the weak? Or is religion good for us, and location in the presence of the divine essential for human well-being? This course will focus on the psychologies of religion espoused by Sigmund Freud and C.G. Jung, and will consider some of the challenges that their theories present to Christian theology.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
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THEO 354 - Great Christian Thinkers 3 hours
This course provides an opportunity to reach up to and engage the minds of outstanding figures in the Christian tradition. The focus may be the writings of a single figure (e.g., Origen, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Catherine of Siena, Karl Barth, Karl Rahner, or Gustavo Gutierrez) or the engagement of two or more theologians in dialogue, often on a single problem or theme (e.g., sin and grace, eschatology, revelation, ethics, biblical interpretation, or religious pluralism).
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 360 - Religion and Politics 3 hours
Whether the context has been the fall of the Roman Empire, European expansion into the New World, the rise of Nazism, or recent responses to terrorism, the Christian theological tradition has included diverse and often conflicting views. This course explores theologically such topics as understandings of social order, politics, and eschatology, the uses of coercion, and the quest to identify a people’s “common good”.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 361 - Debates About God 3 hours
Using works by Plato, Kierkegaard, and others, this course will focus on questions of the religious basis of morality, the trial of Abraham, the difference between a genius and an apostle, faith and knowledge, the meaning of human suffering, indirect communication, and the possibility of human freedom.
This course does not satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 362 - Environmental Theology: Ecology in Crisis 3 hours
Global warming, habitat destruction, species extinction, and attempts to respond to these and other ecological crises raise profound theological and ethical issues. This course explores the religious understanding of nature as “creation,” the biblical tradition of “covenant” and “stewardship” as ecological partnership, theological interpretations of human interaction with nature, and the rise of environmental ethics and activism.
Listed also as ENVS 362 .
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 368 - Biomedical and Health Care Ethics 3 hours
This course takes up a number of key ethical issues that emerge from contemporary developments in both biomedicine and health care. The theological dimensions, particularly the Catholic ethical approach to these issues, will receive special attention.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 371 - Law and Legal Reasoning in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 3 hours
Law and religion often converge or conflict in profound and complex ways. This is certainly true of the Abrahamic religions. As the title suggests, this course has a two-fold but interrelated focus. On the one hand, we will explore in a comparative way the theological status and character of law in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. For example, is law understood to be eternal or divine? What is the relationship between God’s law and human law? Will following the law lead to salvation? Does law have diverse theologically-defined uses or aims? Is the law affirmed by a religious tradition meant to be universal or is it restricted to that particular community of believers? On the other hand, we will explore, again in a comparative way, the practice of legal reasoning in the three traditions as applied to such issues as religious observance, the taking of human life, gender relations, and economic justice.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
This course will fulfill the Theology core area requirement.
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THEO 373 - Christian Spirituality 3 hours
This course considers Christian spirituality holistically, with attention to its biblical foundations, major traditions, and schools. Students will explore elements of religious experience, stages of spiritual development, and the role of prayer and meditation in human life. Contemporary issues and applications will be emphasized, including the priority of the body, social action, lay spirituality, and spiritual guidance.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 375 - Spanish Mystics 3 hours
This course will study the principal figures of Spanish mysticism e.g., San Teresa of Avila, San Juan de la Cruz, San Ignacio de Loyola, San Francis de Borja, Fray Luis Ponce de Leon, and Venerable Sor María de Jesús de Agreda. The course will critically engage selected works of these authors from a variety of different perspectives and consider their work in the context of the contemporary retrieval of the mystical tradition. Class activities include guest speakers and visits to a cloistered convent and a monastery to meet present-day members of the Carmelite Order. Speaking Spanish is not a requirement to take this course.
This course will satisfy the theology core are requirement.
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THEO 376 - Asian Religions 3 hours
This course examines the central beliefs and distinctive practices of the major religious traditions of India, China, Japan, and Thailand. Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Shinto receive extended attention. Other traditions (e.g., Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, new religious movements) will receive consideration as interest and time permit. Students will explore aspects of interreligious dialogue and conflict among Asian traditions and also with Western faiths.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or consent of the instructor.
This course will satisfy the multicultural core requirement.
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THEO 383 - The Book of Revelation and Apocalyptic Literature 3 hours
This course will examine the Book of Revelation in its context and ours, with attention to the origin of apocalyptic literature in the late Jewish prophetic tradition, the advent of the third millennium, theological eschatology, and the implications of the resurgence of the apocalyptic in our time.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
This course will satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 384 - Special Topics in Theology 3 hours
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THEO 450 - Independent Study 2-4 hours
This course is intended for advanced students working in consultation with an instructor on a topic not covered in available courses.
This course may not be used to satisfy the theology core area requirement.
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THEO 455 - Internship 1-8 hours
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THEO 485 - Senior Project or Portfolio 3 hours
In order to help students synthesize and advance what they have learned in the course of their studies, all graduating seniors who major in theology are required to complete a research project or compile an integrative portfolio. Completion of this course includes a formal presentation on the project or portfolio to the Department of Theology.
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WII 350 - Inside Washington: Politics, and Policy 3 hours
A part of the Inside Washington internship program, this course is designed to maximize the student’s knowledge about American politics in general and what actually goes on inside Washington in particular. It is seminar-centered, supplemented with on-site working visits, and covers substantive institutions of American politics such as Congress, the presidency, and the courts. The constitutional framework of America’s democracy is also analyzed with particular focus on the roles and interactions of America’s democratic institutions and its political players within the Washington political theater. In addition, the seminar discusses the roles of political parties, interest groups, and issues such as civil rights and civil liberties within the context of the war on terrorism and the constitutionality of the powers of federal government agencies.
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WII 351 - International and Foreign Policy Studies 3 hours
This course is designed to help prepare the student in the International and Foreign Policy Studies internship program for professional leadership in American foreign affairs through experience and knowledge of both the American and the international policy-making system/process and its intellectual foundation. The “policy” element of this course will focus on the fact that the United States is in a uniquely strong and in many ways dominant position in world politics, economics, and defense/military prowess today. Thus, while it is important to understand other regions, this course will emphasize U.S. policy, including what it is and discussion of what it should be, i.e., how the United States should utilize this level of national power never before seen in human history. The “practice” element of the course will focus on how U.S. foreign policy is made, implemented, and influenced, and how the neophyte in the field can enter it and move toward ultimate leadership.
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WII 352 - Environmental and Sustainability Policy Studies 3 hours
In this course, students in the Environmental and Sustainability Policy Studies internship program will examine a number of the major complex environmental issues of our times. Students will be given an introduction to the policies, the players, and the institutions that shape federal environmental decision making. This class will examine how U.S. environmental policy is really made, who and what influences policy, and the scope and breadth of some of the policies. International community and global concerns will also be examined.
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WII 353 - Global Women’s Leadership Development 3 hours
This course will study key issues facing women around the world and in the United States. Whether considering issues such as women’s health, gender and family, human rights, women in war, human trafficking, or economic entrepreneurship and micro-lending, you will have the chance to critically assess case studies in this intensive seminar. Be a part of shaping opportunities for women in the world well into the 21st century.
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WII 355 - Internship Seminar: Leadership and Professional Development 3 hours
This course is designed to help WII students reflect on and examine the role of the individual in complex organizations by applying theories of experiential education, cognitive and social development, and organizational development to the experiences gained in their Washington internships. Students reflect critically on their working environment through an analysis of social relationships and the dynamics of working in a professional setting. Field-based exercises are combined with lectures, discussions, readings, and written assignments in which students analyze the internship experience.
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WII 357 - Inside Washington Internship 6-8 hours
The Inside Washington internship program welcomes all majors and allows students the greatest variety in choosing the internship that best fits their interests. Internships focus mainly on U.S. organizations and institutions in media, advocacy organizations, government agencies, and the elective branches of the federal government.
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WII 358 - International and Foreign Policy Internship 6-8 hours
The International and Foreign Policy internship program gives students the opportunity to intern and do substantive work at a host of international organizations, including foreign embassies, nongovernmental organizations, or the U.S. Department of State.
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WII 359 - Environmental and Sustainability Internship 6-8 hours
The Environmental and Sustainability internship program is geared toward students from environmental policy and studies backgrounds. Students intern with public and private environmental organizations.
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WII 360 - Global Women’s Leadership Internship 6-8 hours
The Global Women’s Leadership Internship program gives students the opportunity to intern and do substantive, hands-on work in the nation’s capital with an international non-governmental organization, women’s political or legal advocacy group, a corporation, a government agency, or a policy organization.
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