Courses
Please note that not every course listed is offered each year and students should consult STU Self Service for current course offerings.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
CATH-2003. Introduction to Catholic Studies
An introduction to the Catholic tradition through a consideration of what it means to be Catholic, and how this experience has been expressed historically and culturally in philosophy, theology, prayer, literature, personal and social morality, and art.
CATH-2013. The Sacraments: Spirituality & Story
This course traces the shifts in practice and the development of ideas which shape the story of the seven sacraments. This will be complemented by a focus on the features in sacramental thought that serve the spiritual life.
CATH-2203. Global Catholicism
This course surveys the history, theology, ecclesiology, and practice of Catholicism outside of the European church. It will examine the differences between Asian, African, and Latin American theology, the evolving theology of mission in the Church, and the insights non-European Catholicism can provide for inter-religious dialogue, ecumenism, and understanding secularism. Attention will be paid to the historical role of the Catholic Church in European colonization, the distinctions between colonized and un-colonized Catholicism, and how encounters with non-European indigenous cultures has influenced Roman Catholic theology and practice. Prerequisites: none.
CATH-2673. Literature and Catholicism I (ENGL)
An exploration of literature from the early Middle Ages to the later Renaissance that reflects Catholic teachings, traditions, and attitudes. Readings may include The Dream of the Rood, medieval poetry, mystery and morality plays, mystical and devotional writings, and authors such as Augustine, Chaucer, Langland, Skelton, More, Southwell, and Cranshaw.
CATH-2683. Literature and Catholicism II
An exploration of literature since 1800 which reflects Catholic beliefs, traditions, and perspectives in various ways. The course posits imagination as a means of cognition, the religious imagination, in particular, as a rich and fertile vehicle for understanding and experiencing the relationship between the human and the divine. Readings include works from a variety of genres and authors, such as Newman, Hopkins, Eliot, O'Connor, Merton, and de Chardin.(Categories: Cultural Studies).
CATH-3013. Catholic Studies Seminar I
A group examination and discussion compulsory for, and normally restricted to, third- and fourth-year students majoring or minoring in Catholic Studies of select topics, texts, or authors important in the Catholic tradition. Prerequisite: CATH 2003 or permission of the instructor.
CATH-3023. Catholic Studies Seminar II
A group examination and discussion compulsory for, and normally restricted to, third- and fourth-year students majoring or minoring in Catholic Studies of selected topics, texts, or authors important in the Catholic tradition. Prerequisite: CATH 2003 or permission of the instructor.
CATH-3213. Catholic Social Teaching and Contemporary Issues
Rooted in scripture, philosophy, and theology, Catholic social teaching proposes principles of justice that emphasize the dignity of the human person, the value of economic and political institutions, and the importance of a common good. This course analyses these principles and their application to contemporary social, political, and economic issues, through particular reference to official documents of the Catholic Church. Prerequisite: CATH 2003 or permission of the instructor.
CATH-3813. Special Topics in Catholic Studies: J.R.R. Tolkien as a Catholic Writer
This course explores one of the most prominent and influential Roman Catholic writers of the 20th Century: John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. Through an analysis of some of Tolkien's minor works, including the essay On Fairy-Stories, the short-story Leaf by Niggle, the poem Mythopoeia, and the tales of the The Silmarillion, before turning to his major work The Lord of the Rings, this course explores Tolkien's literary engagement with such Catholic themes as creation, free will, providence, evil, salvation, sacrament, and community. In addition to contextualizing Tolkien in his historical, literary, theological, and philosophical milieux, we will ask in what ways his works embody a distinctively Catholic theological aesthetics, and how his work reflects on the relationship between Christianity and art more broadly.
CATH-3823. Special Topics in Catholic Studies Ii: Pop Catholicism
The content of this course changes from year to year to reflect the special strengths of faculty and the particular needs of students. The course will focus on a topic or area in Catholic Studies.
CATH-3833. Catholic Religious Leadership
This course will examine the Catholic perspectives on war and violence, comparing them to other traditions. Topics to be discussed may include: attitudes towards war and violence in scripture and in the early Christian church, liberation theologies and violence, just war theory, the justifications of terrorism and military intervention, nonviolence and pacifism, and the obligation to seek peace and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
CATH-3923. Independent Study
A course of independent study under the supervision of a faculty member which affords the student the opportunity to pursue an in-depth study of an area of interest through special reading or a research project. Arrangements may be made by agreement with a member of the faculty and the approval of the Coordinator.