Religion Degrees Online

Religion Courses

RE 110 – The Torah / Introduction to the Old Testament (BS) 3 hrs.
The purpose of this course is to introduce the first five books of the Bible, including Israel’s foundation stories and God’s expectations of human beings. Other parts of the Bible (Old Testament) may be considered.

RE 120 – Introduction to the New Testament (BS) 3 hrs.
This course focuses on the Gospels and the letters of Paul. It includes an introduction to the culture and geography of the Eastern Roman Empire in the first century A.D., study of how the Gospels depict Jesus, and Paul as the first Christian theologian. Current controversial ethical issues receive attention.

RE 239 – Philosophy of Religion (RT) 3 hrs.
This course consists of the study of the major problems in the philosophy of religion, including the problem of evil, proofs for the existence of God, proofs for the immortality of the soul, the relation between faith and reason, the meaning of religious language, the relation of religion and ethics, and the nature of religious experience. (Cross-listed as PH 239.)

RE 270 – Religions of the World (HR) 3 hrs.
This course includes study of Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and other religions of China and Japan. Issues include the nature of God, ethical beliefs, and how each religion offers wisdom for living one’s life.

RE 280 – Foundations of Pastoral Identity 3 hrs.
This course explores various models and forms of ministry. Students examine their own lives in the church as persons of faith and their call to ministry. Attention is given to the formation of personal qualities necessary for a life of church leadership, including self-reflection skills, theological reflection, moral/ethical self-awareness, and spirituality. The course also helps students articulate their call and helps identify appropriate boundaries for professional conduct for clergy and lay leadership. A variety of contexts for ministry, which may include local churches, social service agencies, advocacy programs, and chaplaincy are examined.

RE 299 – Independent Study 1-3 hrs.
This opportunity is offered to superior students in religion who desire to study an area of religion not covered in catalog courses. Prerequisite: Department chair approval.

RE 310 – Christian Thought (RT) 3 hrs.
This course considers various topics in Christian theology: God, creation, sin, Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God, the Holy Spirit, the Church, scripture, and eternal life. Prerequisite: One course in religion.

RE 320 – Christian Ethics (RT, RC) 3 hrs.
This course approaches ethics from the perspective of Christian belief. It considers the moral principles that apply specifically to Christians and suggests ways in which these principles apply to situations. Themes or issues include the methods of ethics, scripture as a guide for ethics, Christian moral presumptions, and current controversial ethical issues. Prerequisite: One course in religion.

RE 328 – Christian History (RT, RC) 3 hrs.
This course focuses on the story of Christianity over its 2000-year history, with special attention to Christianity in Asia, African, and Latin America. (Cross-listed as HI 328.)

RE 340 – The Holocaust 3 hrs.
This course examines the Holocaust, or mass murder of European Jews and other ethnic groups, beginning with its context in modern European history and ending with testimony of survivors and the question of “Holocaust denial.” The approach is primarily historical, but theological questions are raised.

RE 363 – Religion, Ritual and Belief (RC) 3 hrs.
This course examines major contributions of the social scientist to the study of religious institutions, the various forms and social functions of religion, the structure of religious behavior and organization, and the relation between religious institutions and other social institutions. Prerequisite: SO 241, 242, or permission of instructor. (Cross-listed as SO 363.)

RE 450 – Senior Project 1-3 hrs.
Under the guidance of a religion faculty member, the student majoring in religion will write a paper demonstrating achievement of the goals of the major, namely, a scholarly and personal approach to the Bible, knowledge of Christian thought and history, and comparison of Christianity with other religions.

RE 295, 495 – Topics in Religion 3 hrs.
Periodically, special courses are offered which address specific topics in religion.

RE 499 – Independent Study 1-3 hrs.
This opportunity is offered to superior students in religion who desire to study an area of religion not covered in catalog courses. Prerequisite: Department chair approval.

The Master of Divinity at Marylhurst University is a transformative and life-engaging experience.

In this program, students grow in wholeness through a greater understanding of self, connection with others, the universe and the Divine.

The Master of Divinity degree program at Marylhurst develops a strong and balanced theological foundation within an educational, professional and spiritual context.

Courses are offered weekdays, weekends and online, to accommodate work, spiritual practice and worship schedules.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Master of Divinity program, students will be able to:
Work as a beginning spiritual counselor/director;
Integrate psychology and theology using theological reflection models;
Provide pastoral and spiritual care in one or more settings;
Develop strategies for maintaining personal physical, intellectual, social and spiritual wellness while providing pastoral and spiritual care to others;
Comprehend the cultural foundations, major literary expression and teachings of religious or philosophical systems; and
Identify and clarify one’s own position on theology, spirituality, morality and philosophy of life.

Career Paths
The Master of Divinity professional degree is designed for students who wish to prepare for a career as a chaplain, spiritual life facilitator, educator or other career that involves the practice of ministry and theology.

Students may choose to prepare for ordination in a specific tradition, meeting the requirements of the congregation while taking classes in the Master of Divinity program.

Students may fulfill chaplain certification requirements through Master of Divinity coursework. The Master of Divinity prepares students for licensing with the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education and the Association of Professional Chaplains. Beginning in 2005, NACC will require a master’s degree in a theological area.

Students interested in teaching at a college, university or seminar may choose to pursue a doctoral degree. The Master of Divinity is a prerequisite for most Doctor of Ministry programs and some Doctor of Philosophy programs.

Bible
Introductory Courses

Religious Studies 118 – Introduction to the New Testament
Fall, spring
Introduction to early Christian literature and thought in light of the historical, literary, and religious milieu of the Greco-Roman world, including Judaism. Topics discussed include the diverse of representations of Jesus, the emergence of the category “Christian,” and the genres of New Testament and other early Christian books. Contemporary approaches are addressed, but the primary focus is the ancient texts themselves. One unit

Religious Studies 122 – Jesus and His Contemporaries
Annually
A historical and theological study of Second Temple Judaism (520 B.C.E. to 70 C.E.) paying attention to the variety, richness and complexity of the Judaism of this period. Major Jewish groups are treated: Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes, Priests, Scribes and Christians. Focus also is on apocalypse as a literary genre and apocalypticism as a worldview and social phenomenon. Attention is paid to the interrelatedness of belief, community structure, ethics, economics and politics. Special emphasis is placed on the ways in which Jesus has been seen to fit into this context. One unit.

Religious Studies 126 – Introduction to the Old Testament
Fall, spring
Introduction to the texts of the Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament, the course explores the social and cultural worlds that produced the texts, examines the biblical texts themselves, and investigates the assumptions and methods employed by pre-modern, modern (post-Enlightenment), and postmodern interpreters of the Bible. One unit.

Intermediate Courses
Religious Studies 212 – The Gospels
Alternate years
In-depth study of the theological concerns of Matthew, Mark, and Luke as reflected in their varying presentations of the Christian kerygma. Attention paid to the literary and historical character of each Gospel as a unique expression of the traditions about Jesus and an exploration of selected contemporary modes of theological reflection as models for understanding the Evangelists as theologians. One unit.

Religious Studies 221 – Women in Early Christianity
Every third year
Exploration of the activity of women in the early church as witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus, missionaries, teachers, ascetics, martyrs, and deacons. Considers the historical and social context of women’s lives in the Greco-Roman world in an environment of religious pluralism, women’s self-understanding, and the controversy over women’s leadership in the developing church. Texts studied include the canonical gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John, the non-canonical Gospel of Mary, as well as Christian texts from the 2nd – 4th centuries. One unit.

Religious Studies 229 – Paul the Apostle
Spring
Study of the writings, thought, and historical context(s) of the apostle Paul and the Christians who claimed his authority. Particular attention is paid to Paul’s self-representation, to the positions he took on issues of vital concern to the first Christians, and to the diverse representations of both Paul and his teachings by second- and third-generation Christians. One unit.

Advanced Courses
Religious Studies 301 – Quest for the Historical Jesus
Annually
Since the Enlightenment, scholars have recognized the difficulties involved in trying to recover the historical Jesus. This course acquaints the student with the exegetical and historical problems encountered in the quest for the historical Jesus; reviews the history of scholarship to the present to determine presuppositions, methods and results; examines the range of options currently available and the exegetical strategies used to support those options; encourages the student to take up an option and defend it. One unit.

Theology
Introductory Courses

Religious Studies 114 – Introduction to Theology
Fall, spring
Introduction to major claims in Christian theology through a close examination of historical and contemporary Catholic and Protestant theologies. Topics include: methods in doing theology and in biblical interpretation; images of God and of Jesus; the human condition; different marks and models of the church; and religious diversity. Readings address the interplay in theological reflection between religious tradition and social location, and analyze the implications and challenges of Christian claims in light of gender, race and poverty. One unit.

Religious Studies 115 – The Church in the World
Fall
A basic presentation of how the Catholic Church sees itself, its mission, and its ministry in today’s world in light of the major decrees of the Second Vatican Council. Topics include: different models of the Church and the Church’s approach to contemporary issues of justice and peace as reflected in Catholic social teaching of the popes and national conferences of bishops. One unit.

Religious Studies 116 – Introduction to Catholicism
Alternate years
Introduction to the basic doctrine of Roman Catholic Christianity and to the situation of the church in the contemporary United States. Topics include: differing approaches to Catholicism; doctrinal foundations of the Church; structure, authority, and diversity; spirituality, worship, and the sacramental tradition; Vatican Council II; Catholic moral teaching; the role of women; Catholicism and other religions; and current issues in Catholicism. One unit.

Religious Studies 117 – History of Christianity 1
Fall
A survey of the origins and development of Christianity, both its theology and its structures, from the apostolic period to the eve of the Reformation. Special attention is paid to the evolution of Christian doctrine and worship during the early and medieval periods of the Christian history. The interplay between orthodoxy and heterodoxy will be stressed in a close examination of heretical movements and their impact on the formation of the tradition. The interaction between Church and society will also be addressed. One unit.

Religious Studies 119 – History of Christianity 2
Spring
A survey of the development of Christianity, both its theology and its structures, from the Reformation period to today. Special attention is paid to the development of the various Protestant traditions, and their doctrine and worship. The interplay between Roman Catholicism and the Protestant churches is discussed. The impact of these Christian traditions on American society is also addressed. One unit.

Religious Studies 133 – Contemporary Christian Spirituality
Fall
An introduction to Christian spirituality understood as discipleship. Examines the lived experience and writings of influential 20th-century Christians such as Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Gustavo Gutierrez. Focuses on the quest for justice as an imperative of faith. One unit.

Religious Studies 139 – Understanding Jesus
Fall, spring
An examination of the figure of Jesus as presented in the gospels with attention devoted to historical questions about Jesus’ life and teaching, the theological claims about Jesus being made by the evangelists, and the direct challenge which the gospel story presents to the church and the world today. One unit.

Intermediate Courses
Religious Studies 200 – Reformation & Counter Reformation
Alternate years in spring
The most significant political, intellectual, and religious developments of the Protestant and Catholic Reformation movements in 16th- and 17th-century Europe. Cross-listed in the Department of History as History 248. One unit.

Religious Studies 217 – Eucharist: History and Theology
Alternate years
Provides a detailed study of the historical development and theological significance of the Eucharist in Christian tradition. Treats underlying concepts in sacramental theology in terms of Eucharistic ritual. Special attention is paid to the Roman Catholic experience, but other Christian traditions will be discussed. One unit.

Religious Studies 218 – Sacramental Theology
Alternate years
Provides a general study of the historical development and theological significance of Christian sacraments. Begins with discussion of key underlying concepts in sacramental theology: the experience of the sacred; sign, symbol, ritual; and Christ/Church as sacrament. Special attention is paid to the Roman Catholic experience, but other Christian traditions are discussed. One unit.

Religious Studies 219 – Christian Prayer in Theory and Practice
Alternate years
Considers Christian prayer as both a topic for theological study and a body of disciplines and practices. Topics include various ways of understanding Christian discipleship, different approaches to the meaning and purpose of prayer, various techniques for prayer, (including the contexts in which they have been developed and the practical advantages and problems that they carry), and relationships between prayer and theology. Readings draw from both classic sources and contemporary interpretations of Christian prayer. Weekly practicum sessions focus on observing and/or participating in various forms of Christian prayer. One unit.

Religious Studied 224 – The Church and Homosexuality
Annually
Self-affirming homosexual persons today challenge the Church’s traditional teaching about homosexuality and its understanding of the relationship between God and homosexual persons, producing a sharp debate in churches and societies around the world. This course aims to provide students with a clear understanding of the Catholic Church’s official teaching on homosexuality and the major criticisms made of the teaching. One unit.

Religious Studies 227 – God and Human Experience
Alternate years
Studies the important religious concept of revelation, but does so with an eye to the ordinary ways in which the divine mystery presents itself to human beings. Examines biblical writings and other narratives of faith in which men and women describe the religious dimension of their lives. One unit.

Religious Studies 231 – Early Christian Writers
Alternate years
This seminar examines a number of writers from the second to the fifth centuries who shaped the Christian theological tradition in various ways: Irenaeus, Athanasius, Origen, Augustine, John Chrysostom, Gregory of Nyssa, as well as the Fathers and Mothers of the Desert. In particular, the course looks at how these writers interpreted the Bible, how they related faith and culture, the contributions they made to the Church’s understanding of Jesus, their analysis of human nature, their doctrine of sin and grace, their approach to the interior life, and how they were affected by the intellectual currents of their time.

Religious Studies 234 – Conflicts in the Church
Fall
Examines selected issues which have generated considerable controversy in the contemporary Catholic church (i.e., liberation theology; women’s leadership; birth control; abortion; divorce and remarriage; homosexuality). Topics are considered in relation to differing views on the origin, structure, and purpose of the church itself. Readings draw from official Catholic church teaching as well as writings of so-called “progressive” and “neoconservative” theologians. Concepts covered include: infallibility; teaching authority of theologians and the magisterium; the sensus fidelium; legitimate dissent and the development of doctrine. One unit.

Religious Studies 236 – Makers of Modern Theology
Alternate years
This seminar examines authors or schools of thought which have helped to shape modern theological thinking. Authors examined in years past include: Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoefer, Rudolf Bulltmann, Paul Tillich, Karl Rahner, Edward Schillebeeckx, Rosemary Ruether, Hans Küng, James Cone, Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz. Schools of thought represented include: liberal Protestant theology, process thought, transcendental Thomism, liberation theologies. One unit.

Religious Studies 243 – Theology of the New Testament
Alternate years
Drawing on contemporary biblical exegesis, this course explores both the major theological questions which the New Testament writers were addressing in their own time and place and the theological questions those writings force the Church of today to raise in light of our present historical and cultural circumstances. What is faith? What is salvation? What does the New Testament tell us about the mystery of God? Why does Christian religious experience lead us to think about the Church? How does the New Testament as a whole help us to face the concerns of today, such as Christianity’s relationship to the other world religions, environmental justice, as well as the perennial thirst for the transcendent? One unit.

Religious Studies 261 – Feminist Perspectives in Theology
Alternate years
Introduces students to the critiques and alternative reconstructions that feminist/womanist/mujerista theologians present with respect to traditional Christian understandings of scripture, God, Jesus, creation, human personhood, sin, grace, the church, spirituality, and theological method. One unit.

Religious Studies 262 – The Living Church
Fall
This seminar is an exploration of ecclesiology—the church’s theological understanding of itself—and also an exercise in observational learning. Examines the nature of church through readings of a variety of recent theological and sociological works and official documents. Students are guided through semester-long fieldwork projects to explore aspects of church as lived and practiced in local communities. Seminar sessions discuss these observations in light of the course readings. One unit.

Religious Studies 275 – Latin American Liberation Theology
Spring
Based on the principle of God’s special identification with history’s outcasts, liberation theology explores the problems of biblical interpretation, Church teaching and Christian commitment in the contemporary world. With special reference to Latin America, this course examines the relationship between the sociopolitical consciousness of marginalized peoples and their Christian faith. One unit.

Religious Studies 285 – Jesuit Spirituality
Alternate years
Examines the distinctive characteristics of Jesuit Spirituality as reflected in the four weeks of the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, his autobiography, and other early Jesuit writings. Examines the religious experience that gave birth to the Society of Jesus, the Society’s keen interest in education, and contemporary expressions of the Ignatian vision. One unit.

Religious Studies 292 – Medieval Christianity
Alternate years
This seminar provides an in-depth study of the origins and development of medieval Christianity in Western Europe. It covers theology and structural evolution from the fall of the Roman Empire to the eve of the Reformation. Special attention is paid to the evolution of Christian doctrine, spirituality, architecture and worship during the “high” and “late” Middle Ages, the interplay between orthodoxy and heterodoxy, their impact on the formation of the tradition, and the interaction between church and society. One unit.

Advanced Courses
Religious Studies 333 – Comparative Theology
Spring
An exploration of the meaning and significance of Christianity’s encounter with the Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, and other religious traditions, both new and old. Investigates major theological questions emerging from the dialogue between Christianity and other world religions. One unit.

Religious Studies 353 – Theology and Ecology
Fall
This seminar provides an opportunity to participate in the conversation currently underway regarding religious faith and contemporary ecological concerns; it seeks to develop a greater consciousness of the interdependence between human beings and other living beings, and between all life forms and non-living created matter. What does it mean to do biblical interpretation and Christian theology at the beginning of the third millennium in a global context that is developing an ever greater awareness of the limited nature of natural resources and an ever increasing appreciation of created matter in the cosmos? One unit.

Religious Studies 355 – Contemporary Feminist Theology
Alternate years
This seminar examines U.S. feminist theology, African-American womanist theology, and mujerista/Latina feminist theology with regard to Christian theological anthropology, or religious reflection on the human person. Considers implications of major Christian claims (about God, Christ, creation, sin/grace, church, etc.) for both historical and contemporary Christian understandings of the human person. Examines theological reconstructions of those claims, as developed through feminist/womanist/Latina analyses of gender, race, class, sexuality, and ecology. Analyzes the expanding scholarship in feminist theology and feminist theory regarding the significance of post-modernity for reinterpreting human identity, especially notions of agency, autonomy, and relationality. One unit.

Religious Studies 357 – Modern Catholic Theology
Alternate years
Examines selected theological questions addressed by modern Catholic theologians such as Rahner, Schillebeeckx, Dulles, Tracy, Gutierrez, and Ruether. Several major works are read and discussed in detail. One unit.

Religious Studies 371 – Contemporary Christology
Fall
A comparative analysis of the christological writings of major contemporary Catholic and Protestant theologians, with emphasis given to an examination of each theologian’s understanding of the centrality of Jesus in modern society, the nature of the Scripture and what it reveals about Jesus, and the nature of faith in Christ and in His resurrection. Prerequisite: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. One unit.

Religious Studies 376 – North American Theologies of Liberation
Spring
Explores recent theological reflection on the dynamics of oppression and liberation in the context of the U.S. This course attempts to sketch the outline of a theology responsive to both the liberating message of the gospel and the socio-political and cultural life of the United States with special attention given to Black, U.S. Hispanic and Gay/Lesbian theological works. One unit.

Religious Studies 395 – Saints and Sinners
Every third year
This seminar offers an examination of the historical and theological development of the ideals and practices of Christian life, from the Middle Ages to the Early Modern era. The focus is on “saints” and “sinners” as windows into the attitudes and values, the fears and hopes, the virtues and vices, the piety and the heresy, of western European culture. Special attention is paid to the following themes: gendered perceptions of sanctity and sin; community and solitude; poverty and riches; feasting and fasting as religious and cultural activity. One unit.

Ethics
Introductory Courses

Religious Studies 141 – Contemporary Christian Morality
Fall
A suggested methodology for evaluating contemporary Christian thought and practice in major areas of ethical concern. An in-depth discussion of responsible decision-making in an age of situationism and ethical relativism, with detailed application to crucial moral dilemmas facing modern persons. One unit.

Religious Studies 143 – Social Ethics
Fall
An introduction to Christian ethical evaluation of such issues as impoverishment and economic justice, racism, and First World/Two-Thirds World relations in the struggle against war and the search for peace. One unit.

Religious Studies 151 – Faith/World Poverty
Spring
Investigates the historical and structural foundations of escalating world poverty. It explores the dynamics of 21st-century capitalism and its international institutions as they are understood by the tradition of Catholic social teaching and by Christian communities in the United States and the Two-Thirds World. The challenge facing people of faith has two sides: one is the reality of oppression and domination, and the other is that of liberation and self-determination. One unit.

Intermediate Courses
Religious Studies 209 – War and Peace in the Christian Tradition
Fall
An introduction to some of the important ethical issues involved in war/peace studies. Beginning with an examination of the two major religious traditions, just war theory and pacifism/nonviolence, the course then turns to an examination of the experience of war by a focus on World War II and Vietnam. In light of an examination of both approaches to issues of war and peace and the experiences of war, the course concludes with a critical analysis of the American bishops’ pastoral letter, The Challenge of Peace. One unit.

Religious Studies 230 – Theological Perspectives on Medical Ethics
Spring
Deals with the basic issues in contemporary health care ethics from the standpoint of the Christian theological tradition. A central concern is the relation between religious beliefs and individual or social choices regarding health and health care. One unit.

Advanced Courses
Religious Studies 313 – HIV/AIDS and Ethics
Alternate Years
Explores the many ethical questions brought into relief by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, arguably one of the most pressing global public health issues of our time. Focusing primarily on issues of social justice, the course mines the traditions of Christian ethics and Catholic social teaching for resources with which to address topics including HIV prevention, treatment, research, access, and global public health. We will become familiar with key ethical methods and concepts, including casuistry, the common good, solidarity, and the option for the poor. One unit.

Religious Studies 335 – Economics and Ethical Values
Alternate years
Investigates the ethical dimensions of contemporary economic issues such as the restructured labor market, income and wealth distribution, the extent of globalization, the international debt crisis, and alternative economic models. Focus also includes the economic dimensions of race and gender relations and their relevance to economic justice. One unit.

Religious Studies 337 – Character and Ethical Responsibility
Fall
Seminar addresses the problems of moral weakness and the agent’s ethical responsibility for acts of weakness from the perspectives of philosophy, theology, psychology, film and modern fiction. The term moral weakness is a translation of the Greek word akrasia, and refers to a moral agent’s perceived ability to perform an action that he or she knows to be evil, or failing to perform an action known to be good. Thus an inquiry into the problem of moral weakness is ultimately an inquiry into character and virtue. One unit.

Religious Studies 342 – Sexual Ethics
Fall
Seminar provides an opportunity to explore ethical issues of both personal and societal importance. Among the topics covered are historical development of Christian sexual ethics; embodiment; gender; and significance of the relation between sexuality, love and reproduction. One unit.

Special Topics
Religious Studies 199 – Special Topics
Fall, spring
Introductory level courses on special topics in religion, theology, Bible, and ethics. One unit.

Religious Studies 299 – Special Topics
Fall, spring
Intermediate level courses on special topics in religion, theology, Bible, and ethics. One unit.

Religious Studies 399 – Special Topics
Fall, spring
Advanced level courses on special topics in religion, theology, Bible, and ethics. One unit.

Religious Studies 411 – Tutorial
Fall, spring
One unit.

The M.Div. degree is designed for pastors and other ministry professionals who desire a substantial theological and ministry education. The program offers four interrelated areas of learning: biblical and theological foundations, cultural analysis and understanding, leadership formation, and ministry skills.

The M.Div. program is designed to be an “in-ministry” degree. This means, first, that the program is designed to engage students in theological reflection on the practice of ministry. The program is not “preparation for ministry,” rather it is designed to equip students to think critically and discerningly about their ministries using biblical and theological resources, cultural analysis, sociological and psychological principles, and ministry research.

Second, it means that the degree is designed to engage students in the context of ministry. Students will be expected to demonstrate ongoing leadership in ministry as a requirement of admission to the program. The M.Div. is not a residential program.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Christian Thought & Theology
The Doctorate of Philosophy is the highest academic degree awarded by SFBC&TS A Ph.D. degree is normally a pre-requisite for a teaching career. With this in mind the Ph.D. in Christian Thought and Theology is designed to prepare students for a vocation in theological instruction at Christian scholarly service to the church.

Graduates should be able to:
Have an in-depth knowledge of biblical and theological problems and their solutions.
Contribute to the knowledge of the specific area concentration in theology
Demonstrate competence in theological teaching and scholarship
Have knowledge of essential tools and research methods of theological scholarship
Develop skills in teaching
Possess demonstrated academic gifts

Committed to a Christian calling in a life of scholarly research and theological reflection, leading to teaching and publication

This program of study consists of sixty credit hours of specific and independent studies. The seminary Ph.D., is an academic degree to advance the students’ knowledge in religion. The student must have a background in hermeneutics, apologetics, theology, philosophy, and church history. The student must hold a Master degree in this field, A Master of Divinity degree is preferred.

Under the leadership of Sister Madeleva Wolff, CSC, its third president (1934–1961), Saint Mary’s College became the first women’s college to offer an undergraduate degree in theology, and the first Catholic college to award advanced degrees in theology to women. Today, the tradition of the open study of religion and serious theological inquiry still thrives.

The religious studies program invites you to explore big questions about life, death, love, sin, freedom, grace, peace, justice, God, and the human community. Christianity, and specifically the Catholic tradition, are the focuses of the program.

“It’s a real privilege to teach students who are interested in what they’re doing and to hear them make connections. The students are just thirsty with great questions, and the Religious Studies faculty members are incredible. Saint Mary’s is a good fit for me.” —John Fotopoulos, professor

In conjunction with Campus Ministry, the Department of Religious Studies offers a certificate in Lay Ministry. The lay ministry certification program offers courses, workshops, and supervised experiences in various aspects of ministry. At the time of graduation, students who have successfully completed the program will graduate with a minor in Religious Studies and receive a certificate indicating that they have satisfied the College’s requirements.

Writing in the Major
You can complete the Advanced W in Religious Studies by assembling a portfolio of three papers demonstrating your ability to read theological literature with sensitivity, rigor, and understanding, and to engage in theological writing with insight, clarity, and persuasion.

Senior Comprehensive Examination
As a major in Religious Studies you take a two-part comprehensive examination in your final year. The exam tests the your breadth of knowledge in Religious Studies and your facility in theological reflection. One part covers historical materials; the second examines contemporary sources. Each test consists of three essays. You prepare your bibliography and test areas in consultation with your academic advisor and other members of the Religious Studies faculty.

Careers
Most students choose the major because it is fascinating and rewarding and, as an inherently interdisciplinary field, it is an ideal liberal arts major. Religious Studies at Saint Mary’s will prepare you well for a career in teaching or ministry, or for graduate work in theology and post-graduate service, among other opportunities.

Curriculum
Foundation Requirements

A total of 12 units of undergraduate study are required in these three areas of theology as prerequisites to the graduate courses:

Biblical/Early Christian Studies
Systematic/Historical Theology
Moral Theology/Christian Ethics

Those who lack undergraduate credit in these areas may receive conditional admission to the graduate program. The Foundation Requirements may then be fulfilled with completion of reading lists and passage of qualifying examinations in these three areas prior to the start of the first semester of graduate studies.

Required Graduate Courses
Biblical Interpretation
A critical mastering of exegesis and its application to Hebrew and Christian scriptures.

Theology and Ministry
Methods and practice of theological reflection, culminating in the student’s formulation of her or his own theological method.

Moral Theology
Catholic Christian approaches to contemporary moral concerns such as life-respect, medical ethics, religious dissent, social justice and liberation theology.

Historical Theology
Examination of the historical and contemporary understandings of Christological doctrine and the doctrine of the Trinity.

Church, Sacraments and Liturgy
Fundamentals of post-Vatican II Catholic life and worship: Christian worship, the nature of communal prayer and the Sacraments as historical and contemporary rituals of worship and celebration.

Spirituality
The study of various schools of spirituality, as well as prominent figures in spirituality and their major writings.

Religions in Dialogue
An in-depth comparative study of the dynamics and characteristics of different faith and philosophical traditions, in particular non-Judeo-Christian and non-European traditions.

Elective Courses
Elective course offerings are determined by the specific interests and needs of each cohort and/or the individual student. Recent elective courses have covered a range of topics, including Perspectives on Pastoral Ministry, Church History, Christian Community, Hebrew Prophets and The Letters of Paul. Students may also arrange with a faculty member for a directed study in a particular area of interest.

Comprehensive Seminar
The program culminates in a Comprehensive Seminar, where students interrelate the academic disciplines and theological subjects examined in the course of the program. The prerequisite for this final seminar is prior completion of 28 graduate units. The objective of the seminar is to synthesize the graduate coursework completed by the student and to apply this synthesis to the student’s area of emphasis.

Seminar Paper
The student demonstrates her or his skill in theological analysis and synthesis through critical analysis of a selected theological theme or issue. The results of this investigation are presented in a final seminar paper – a written project that discusses the student’s theology and its practical application to the student’s area of ministry or academic interest. The student consults with the instructor in the choice of a topic. The final manuscript may serve as a basis for further research and/or for publication.

Religion
Core Courses for the Religion Major

Theological engagement involves complexity, challenge, and a sense of wonder. At the center of the core religion curriculum is theological reflection that invites the academic community – students and faculty – to think faithfully about the issues of life in a context of Christian commitment. Core areas of study include the following: biblical competence; philosophy, theology and Christian ethics; the nature and mission of the church; leadership; and spirituality.

Definition of Terms
By theological engagement we mean the systematic exploration of issues in human experience in light of the truth revealed in Scripture; we affirm as a matter of course that systematic inquiry calls the interpreter to prayer, discernment, and responsible action in the life of the church.

By research we mean the capacity to formulate clear and appropriate questions, to examine critically both the primary evidence and the secondary literature by which the evidence is evaluated, and to report findings and conclusions in terms which are acceptable in the academy and the church.

By biblical competence we mean the intimate knowledge of the Christian Scriptures, including both their content and the issues and skills related to their proper interpretation.

By Christian ethics we mean the systematic reflection on issues pertaining to the moral life, including the grounds of moral reasoning, virtues, consequences, and motives.

By the nature and mission of the church we mean the vocation by which the people of God are corporately called to be visible evidence of God’s intention to draw the world into relationship with himself.

By Christian leadership we mean the awareness of the ways in which one’s calling, giftedness, and skills are integrated into a developing capacity to serve, communicate, and care for others.

By spirituality we mean the range and depth of one’s experiences of the human condition, and the processes by which persons and communities are redeemed and transformed in the service of God and humanity.

Religion Major Core Requirements twenty-five units
BINT 270
Research Methods for the Study of Scripture
3 units

ICST 272
A Theology of Church Mission
2 units

ICST 285
Theology and Worldview in a Multicultural Society
2 units

NT 462
Selected Themes in New Testament Theology
3 units

OT 472
Selected Themes in Old Testament Theology
3 units

PLST 310
Introduction to Christian Leadership
2 units

PLST 312
Introduction to Pastoral Care
2 units

PLST 314
Introduction to Preaching and Teaching
2 units

PLST 372
Research Methods for the Study of Ethics and Christian Leadership
3 units

PLST 420
Disciplines of the Spiritual Life
3 units

The Religion program is the study of traditions, commitments, and some of the most important human questions. It encompasses scriptural foundations, historical development, theological reflection, and social-cultural expression. The study of Christianity is emphasized; however due attention is also given to other religions in the global community.

The major is appropriate for persons who are preparing for further theological study and church-related vocations.