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Dr. Stephen Miletic, chairman Franciscan University has the largest number of undergraduate theology majors of any Catholic university in the country. When you study theology here, you'll enter into a lively and life-giving enterprise: As an academic discipline, theology will provide you with a deeper, intellectual understanding of Christian revelation, Catholic Church teaching, and Church history. On the personal level, you'll experience an exciting spiritual renewal as your classwork impacts your everyday life. At Franciscan University, you'll learn from enthusiastic professors dedicated to teaching authentic Catholic truth. All our theology faculty have taken an Oath of Fidelity to the Holy Father and the Magisterium of the Church. They are committed to preserve and ensure the unity of the faith and to uphold the official teaching of the Catholic Church. Additionally, our highly-acclaimed religious education concentration provides extensive training in the practical and theological dimensions of catechesis, and our Franciscan Studies minor emphasizes serious scholarship in the rich fields of Franciscan theology, spirituality, history, philosophy, art, and literature. Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology FRESHMAN YEAR
SOPHOMORE YEAR
JUNIOR YEAR
SENIOR YEAR
*Electives are to be chosen with the guidance of the student's departmental advisor. **Or second semester. ***The 400 Internship may be applied for here. Theology Major Requirements The 101, 115, 211, 212, 213, 214, 314, 434, and 12 credits of theology courses; 6 credits of intermediate-level foreign language. Theology Minor The 101, 115, 211, 212, 213 or 214, and 3 credit hours in upper-level (200 or above) theology courses. Religious Education Concentration For Theology majors who wish to increase their preparation for actual teaching ministries in the Church (including teaching in Catholic schools, RCIA, Adult Education, CCD, youth ministry, and others), the Theology Department offers a concentration in Religious Education for Theology majors only. Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology FRESHMAN YEAR
SOPHOMORE YEAR
JUNIOR YEAR
SENIOR YEAR
*Electives are to be chosen with the guidance of the student's departmental advisor. **Or second semester. ***The 400 Internship may be applied for here. ****These courses are offered on a two-year cycle. When offered on alternate years, REd 301 and REd 302 may be taken in the junior year and REd 201 and REd 202 taken in the senior year. Religious Education Concentration Requirements The 101, 115, 211, 212, 213, 214, 314, 434 or 435, 445, 450, and 6 credits of additional upper-level theology courses; REd 201, 202, 301, and 302; 6 credits of intermediate-level foreign language. Goto Religious Education Courses... Associate of Arts Degree A two-year program in Theology leads to an associate of arts degree as described below: FIRST YEAR
SECOND YEAR
Theologically based Franciscan Studies are a logical inclusion in the curriculum of a "Franciscan" university. These studies allow for a deeper understanding of the charism that animates the University and for serious scholarship (with a directed concentration) in this rich field of Franciscan theology, spirituality, history, philosophy, art, and literature. A praxis (practical) dimension related to contemporary implications of Franciscan values and mission is an important component of this minor program. Further, individuals who belong to the Franciscan Third Order, such as members of the Secular Franciscan Order (SFO) or the Third Order Regular (TOR), can enrich their understanding of the Franciscan charism through basic undergraduate courses in Franciscan Studies. This minor requires 18 credit hours (6 courses) of Franciscan Studies course work: The 101 Foundations of Catholicism (which can be counted toward the theology core curriculum requirement and is the only prerequisite for further Franciscan Studies courses for students not majoring in Theology); The 301 St. Francis: Life and Charism; and four courses selected from the following: The 303 St. Francis and St. Clare and Their Spirituality; The 309 History and Spirituality of the Franciscan Third Order; The 315 Questions on the Theology of Blessed John Duns Scotus; The 317 Theology and Spirituality of St. Bonaventure; The 319 Dante and Franciscan Reform; The 355 Spiritual Theology in the Mission/Value of St. Francis and St. Clare; The 356 Practicum: Mission/Values of St. Francis and St. Clare (must be taken concurrently with The 355); and Phl 340 Franciscan Tradition in Philosophy. COURSES The following courses are offered in the day program for the fulfillment of other requirements for the bachelor of arts and associate of arts degrees in Theology: Asterisked (*) courses have no prerequisites. Prerequisites for all other courses are The 101 and The 115. THE 101* FOUNDATIONS OF CATHOLICISM introduces the student to the teaching of the Catholic Church as it is rooted in Scripture and tradition and faithfully proclaimed by the Church's Magisterium (teaching office). Besides a thorough introduction to Catholic doctrine, the course will also include some discussion of Church history, major figures and institutions, and Catholic life and theology. 3 credit hours THE 102 INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE is especially designed for non-majors as a general overview of both the Old and New Testaments. Students will gain an acquaintance with the major block of biblical material, the key issues in biblical study today, major biblical themes, and an appreciation for the place of the Scriptures in the life of the Church and of the individual Christian. 3 credit hours THE 115* CHRISTIAN MORAL PRINCIPLES elucidates the principles of morality that regulate Christian living. These principles are studied as they are found rooted in the New Testament documents and articulated throughout the history of the Christian community's lived existence, with a thorough look at the contemporary understanding of Christian moral theology as it is articulated by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church and by theologians in union with the Magisterium. Students will examine these principles as they apply to some perennial moral issues. 3 credit hours THE 211 PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL STUDY I is an introduction to the literature of the Old Testament: the Tetrateuch, the Deuteronomic corpus, the prophetic literature, the priestly writings, the wisdom literature, and the Deuterocanonical books. Students will be directed to read selections from the above categories. The theological-historical meaning of the Old Testament will be stressed. 3 credit hours THE 212 PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL STUDY II is an introduction to the literature of the New Testament: the Synoptic Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Johannine literature, the Pauline literature, the Letter to the Hebrews, and the "catholic epistles." The theological-historical meaning of the New Testament will be stressed. 3 credit hours THE 213 THEOLOGY OF CHRIST investigates the person and mission of Jesus Christ as articulated in the New Testament documents, in the early creedal formulae, and in the declarations of the Christian Church Councils of the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries AD. Finally, students will be exposed to positions of contemporary scholars on various Christological questions. 3 credit hours THE 214 THEOLOGY OF THE CHURCH examines the nature, history, and problems of the Christian community. Students undertake the task of investigating the biblical foundation of the Church, some crucial personalities and events of Church history, various branches of Christian authority, principles underlying church worship practices, church-state relationship, ecumenism, and particular questions of interest that students feel need to be discussed. 3 credit hours THE 301 ST. FRANCIS: LIFE AND CHARISM introduces the life of St. Francis and examines his life within the social, political, and religious context of his time. The course explores his unique vision of life and the development of the Franciscan movement and the spirituality of the first, second, and third order traditions. 3 credit hours THE 302 EARLY CHRISTIAN LIFE AND THOUGHT studies the emergence of Christianity as a movement within Palestinian Judaism, its gradual growth amidst persecution in the Roman Empire, its conquest of the Roman world under Constantine and the Christian emperors, and its extension into Europe and beyond up to AD 700. Important themes to be discussed include the concepts of Christianity as a movement and its evolving relationship to the State; the development of Christian doctrine through conflicts, creeds, and councils; the formation of the canon of Scripture; and Christian worship and the beginnings of sacramental practice. Students will also encounter through written texts the great figures who formed (or opposed) the early Christian Church. 3 credit hours THE 303 ST. FRANCIS AND ST. CLARE AND THEIR SPIRITUALITY studies the life of Francis through the spiritual theology expressed in Bonaventure's major biography. Selected writings of Francis, significant for understanding the Gospel way of life as he understood it, are examined within their theological-historical context with some applications to the present day. Also to be explored are the content and nature of the spiritual theology in the writings of Clare within their historical context and some discussion of Clare's charism today. 3 credit hours THE 305 MARIOLOGY examines Church teaching on the Blessed Virgin Mary in regard to her role as Mother of the God-man, Jesus Christ; Mother of His Body, the Church; and Spiritual Mother to every person seeking the path to Jesus Christ. The course will include a theological investigation into: (a) defined Marian doctrine, (b) contemporary Marian documents by the Magisterium, (c) examples of contemporary Mariological contributions, (d) principal forms of Marian piety, and (e) the Marian message to the modern world through the domain of private revelation. 3 credit hours THE 306 THEOLOGY OF HEALING begins with a short history of healing in the Church and develops a Christian psychology of person in community and that person's relationship to the phenomenology of inner healing emerging within the Church today. Topics include the dynamics of personality; the meaning of relationships; cultural obstacles to Christian growth; the scars, wounds, and hurts people have absorbed today; healing of memories, the mind, and the heart; new directions in primal psychology and its relationship to healing preconscious wounds; and a complete and careful investigation of the deliverance ministry. A study is made of projections for the future and the implications of the healing ministry in the social political sciences. 3 credit hours THE 309 HISTORY AND SPIRITUALITY OF THE FRANCISCAN THIRD ORDER (lay and religious) relates a treatment of the Franciscan Third Order's central charism—the penitential life—to the broader penitential movement in the Church. The course includes contemporary developments and applications, such as the Third Order Rules. 3 credit hours THE 310 COMPARATIVE RELIGION introduces students to the basic elements of man's religious experience as found in the major non-Christian communities of the world. Students will investigate the founders, scriptures, history, principles, and particular religious experiences of Eastern and Western religions. Finally, non-Christian religions will be examined in relationship to the Christian religion. 3 credit hours THE 314 THE SACRAMENTS presents a general theological consideration of the structure of the sacramental life of the Church and an historic-dogmatic analysis of the major theologies of the individual sacraments. Particular emphasis will be given to baptism and Eucharist. The course will include the Christian response to the sacramental life in filial, salvific, social, communal, and ecclesial dimensions. 3 credit hours THE 315 QUESTIONS IN THE THEOLOGY OF BLESSED JOHN DUNS SCOTUS examines the distinct traits of Duns Scotus' theology, which includes his teachings on language about God, the Trinity, Incarnation, Redemption, Immaculate Conception, natural law, and Ten Commandments. 3 credit hours THE 317 THE THEOLOGY AND SPIRITUALITY OF ST. BONAVENTURE provides a treatment of Bonaventure's distinct approach to questions on knowledge about God, creation, Trinity, Incarnation and Redemption, and Christian perfection. 3 credit hours THE 319 DANTE AND FRANCISCAN REFORM examines the difficult prophetic vocations entrusted to Dante and St. Francis for the reform and evangelization of the medieval Church. Dante's Comedia (Divine Comedy) is studied as a diagnostic and therapeutic exercise to recall the Scriptural origins of the Church's authority and to reinvigorate it for all time. The course also focuses on the parallels between Dante and St. Francis' prophetic reforms and how such measures are relevant in the Church's life today. (Cross-listed with the English Department.) 3 credit hours THE 320 CHRISTIAN SOCIAL TEACHING is a broad study of general Church teaching on social questions with strong emphasis on the papal encyclicals and other Church documents. Major issues explored are poverty and the distribution of wealth, prejudice and racism, war and peace, criminal justice, the Gospel and the State, and international community and business ethics. 3 credit hours THE 324 HUMAN AND SPIRITUAL INTEGRATION is a seminar in contemporary psychology and Christian humanism. This interdisciplinary approach is designed to critically examine stage theories, normative behavior, human perspectivity, faith experiences, Christian conversion, and Pauline anthropology. Practical applications of pastoral psychology to issues of human development, character deficiencies, and growth potential will address differing strategies used in pastoral counseling, therapeutic intervention, and spiritual direction. Prerequisites: Completion of two courses in both psychology and theology 3 credit hours THE 333 THE TRINITY is an historical-theological study of God's unfolding revelation of his inner life and nature through the Old Testament, New Testament, the early Church councils, and in the thought of key theologians and Church teaching up to the present day. The implications of this revelation for life and prayer of the Christian community will also be explored. 3 credit hours THE 341* CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE examines the dimensions of a Christian marriage from a biblical, historical, doctrinal-liturgical, and psychological viewpoint. Students will be directed to investigate the best available books on the areas listed above, with special emphases upon an understanding of human sexuality, the developmental stages of human love, the major problems involved in premarital and marital love-relationships, and the doctrinal-liturgical expressions of this same relationship. The content and the direction of this course will be dictated by the Christian understanding of marriage. 3 credit hours THE 345 QUESTIONS IN CONTEMPORARY THEOLOGY addresses selected contemporary questions that demand a mature response from the informed Christian. This course emphasizes guided thought into specific dogmatic, moral, and spiritual issues. 3 credit hours THE 350 CHRISTIAN ANTHROPOLOGY is a study of the Christian vision of the human person, the key issues in developing an understanding of the human person, and the development of an integral vision of the human person in the full richness of a person's ecclesial, sacramental, physical, and transcendental dimensions. 3 credit hours THE 355 SPIRITUAL THEOLOGY IN THE MISSION/VALUES OF ST. FRANCIS AND ST. CLARE examines key theological concepts of the Gospel way of life according to the writings of both St. Francis and St. Clare. Contemporary implications of Franciscan values are studied in light of the Church's mission. Corequisite: The 356 3 credit hours THE 356 PRACTICUM: MISSION/VALUES OF ST. FRANCIS AND ST. CLARE will integrate reflective theological study of St. Francis and St. Clare and mission experience of service with the poor in the local area. The directed field experience of 30 hours is complemented by 10 classroom hours of reflection and interpretation of this experience. (This course may be offered in certain semesters for one or two credit hours with adjustments in hours of field experience and reflection, e.g., 20 hours of field experience and 8 hours of classroom contact for 2 credits; 10 hours of field experience and 5 hours of classroom contact for 1 credit.) Corequisite: The 355 1-3 credit hours THE 402 CHRISTIAN LIFE AND THOUGHT IN MODERN TIMES presents an overview of the history of Christianity in modern times beginning with the Protestant Reformers and proceeding to the present day. It will primarily focus upon the doctrines and belief systems of the Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Christian churches as they emerged and developed during this period. The contributions of modern Christianity's great saints, thinkers, and leaders will be highlighted. Attention will also be given to the relationship of these churches to each other (from polemics to ecumenism), to the broader society, and to movements of spiritual renewal and spirituality within modern Christianity. 3 credit hours THE 409 CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY is designed to open the student to the themes of holiness in Scripture and to point out the different Fathers of the Church and other spiritual masters and the uniqueness in their spirituality. The course will also investigate some modern authors in the spiritual life and provide the principles of growth in holiness, their applications to historical and cultural situations, and their implications concerning life in the modern world. 3 credit hours THE 410 GREAT CATHOLIC THINKERS focuses on a particular person or group of persons who have significantly contributed to our Catholic heritage. The topic chosen for a semester's study may be a particular person such as St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, or Cardinal Newman or it may be a group of thinkers such as Third Century Apologists. 3 credit hours THE 413 OLD TESTAMENT TOPICS is a highly flexible course. Its purpose is to give in-depth coverage to a specific Old Testament topic. The topic chosen for a particular semester's study may be a specialized theme such as Old Testament Eschatology, a particular corpus of Old Testament writings such as the Pentateuch, or a specific book such as Jeremiah. 3 credit hours THE 414 NEW TESTAMENT TOPICS is a highly flexible course. Its purpose is to give in-depth coverage to a specific New Testament topic. The topic chosen for a particular semester's study may be a specialized theme such as the Resurrection, a particular corpus of New Testament writings such as the Letters of Paul, or a specific book such as the Gospel According to John. 3 credit hours THE 418 LITURGY is an in-depth treatment of the historical and theological aspects of Christian worship: the concept of worship; the nature of Liturgy; Theocentric, Christocentric, and Ecclesial dimensions of the Liturgy; and consideration of various liturgical reforms in light of the theological and historical evaluation of the Liturgy. 3 credit hours THE 429 SEXUAL AND MEDICAL MORALITY investigates two major moral areas: (1) Sexual Morality—biblical and historical survey, general theological and psychological principles, basic moral foundations, masculinity and femininity, masturbation, homosexuality, pre-marital sexuality, sexuality in marriage, and elements of celibacy; and (2) Medical Morality—right to life, surgery and transplants, pre-marital laboratory experiments, healing, and death. Major issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and genetic medicine are treated in-depth. 3 credit hours THE 434 THESIS The student's major advisor will direct the student to either The 434 or The 435 in view of each person's area of emphasis within the Theology Program. Those students assigned a thesis will write a scholarly treatise on an assigned topic in theology. 1 credit hour THE 435 COORDINATING SEMINAR The student's major advisor will direct the student to either The 434 or The 435 in view of each person's area of emphasis within the Theology Program. It will be the task of the members of the seminar to explore topics chosen by them in consultation with the faculty member directing the seminar. The topic will be explored in a way that is mutually acceptable. It would be possible for the student to satisfy in part or in whole the requirement of the seminar by means of a practical experience under the supervision of the Seminar Director. 1 credit hour All Theology majors are required to take either Theology 434
(Thesis) or Theology 435 (Seminar) in their senior year. THE 445 CATECHETICS is an introduction to the history, methods, and contemporary problems of Christian religious education. The course will emphasize principles and issues rather than specific pedagogical techniques. Students will investigate (1) the relationship between theology and catechesis; (2) the current theories concerning the nature and scope of catechesis; (3) the role of catechesis in the overall life of the church, with special attention to the sacraments; (4) theories of faith development and their importance for religious education; and (5) recent ecclesiastical documents issued by Rome and the United States bishops that address the basic problems of religious education. 3 credit hours THE 450 APPLIED CHRISTIAN MINISTRY provides a broad overview of ministry positions within the Church. Students are taught spirituality skills and methods for ministry using the content of their theology courses. Observations and field experiences as well as peer and practice teaching are included. Preparation and projects are focused on actual placement. For those in the Religious Education concentration, only one REd course may be taken before this course. The other three REd courses must be taken concurrently or after this course. 3 credit hours RED 201 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION METHODS I introduces principles of faith development combined with evangelization in order to encourage continuing conversion as the goal of all religious education. This course includes learning styles and methods, communication skills, lesson planning, and related techniques needed by the teacher of the faith. (Theology majors only.) 3 credit hours RED 202 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION METHODS II follows Religious Education I and includes evaluation and use of religious education materials: textbooks, audio-visual aids, and other resources. There will be in-class applications and practice for use in all teaching ministries in the Church. In addition, a survey of the planning and administration of religious education programs is provided. (Theology majors only.) Prerequisite: REd 201 3 credit hours RED 301 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CONTENT AND CURRICULUM introduces Scripture, especially the Gospel message, as the basis for all teaching ministries. This course includes presentation of the elements of the Christian way of life as found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The essential content of any education ministry is examined. (Theology majors only.) Prerequisite: The 450 3 credit hours RED 302 TEACHING MINISTRIES IN THE CHURCH TODAY presents a survey of the elements and the content for each area of religious education in the Church. Teaching in the Catholic school, RCIA, Adult Education, CCD, and related teaching ministries are included. (Theology majors only.) Prerequisite: The 450 3 credit hours |
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