800
This course explores the sound philosophical presuppositions and reasoning of Christian teaching. Catechesis is a cogent presentation of the truth, which finds its fullest expression in God's revelation in Jesus Christ. However, a philosophical discussion and analysis of truth helps lead thinking people today to consider the sense and veracity of the message of Christ and his Church.
With the permission and consultation of a particular faculty member, the student designs and implements a research project resulting in a research paper of the same scope and quality of a paper produced in a doctoral seminar course.
This seminar examines a particular question in the field of biblical theology. Seminar courses provide students with an opportunity to present their research for critique by their peers in a way similar to a professional conference; students are also encouraged to prepare papers of publishable quality. Thus, this course will have a research orientation and students will be expected to work with relevant foreign language texts.
This seminar examines a particular question in the field of dogmatic/systematic theology. Seminar courses provide students with an opportunity to present their research for critique by their peers in a way similar to a professional conference; students are also encouraged to prepare papers of publishable quality. Thus, this course will have a research orientation and students will be expected to work with relevant foreign language texts.
This seminar examines a particular question in the field of historical theology. Seminar courses provide students with an opportunity to present their research for critique by their peers in a way similar to a professional conference; students are also encouraged to prepare papers of publishable quality. Thus, this course will have a research orientation and students will be expected to work with relevant foreign language texts.
This seminar examines a particular question in the field of catechetics. Seminar courses provide students with an opportunity to present their research for critique by their peers in a way similar to a professional conference; students are also encouraged to prepare papers of publishable quality. Thus, this course will have a research orientation and students will be expected to work with relevant foreign language texts.
This seminar examines a particular question in the field of moral theology. Seminar courses provide students with an opportunity to present their research for critique by their peers in a way similar to a professional conference; students are also encouraged to prepare papers of publishable quality. Thus, this course will have a research orientation and students will be expected to work with relevant foreign language texts.
With the permission and consultation of a particular faculty member, the student designs and implements a research project resulting in a research paper of the same scope and quality of a paper produced in a doctoral seminar course.
Mindful of the link between the study of theology and the Church’s mission of evangelization, present throughout the Church’s entire history, this capstone course explores the relationship among the tasks of reading God’s Word, seeking its meaning, and communicating it to others, as epitomized in the medieval lectio, disputatio, and praedicatio. It examines developments in the understanding of the nature and mission of theology since that time, and highlights the integral and inevitable connection between theological speculation and pastoral practice. Critically evaluating the ways in which different academic currents have passed over into catechetical theory and practice, it proposes a renewed vision for the ecclesial vocation of the theologian, in which the contemplation of the Word of God is ordered toward the salvation of souls. Particular attention will be given to the evangelistic, catechetical, and theological application of this vision.
Notes
This course is to be taken in one of the last two semesters of coursework.
The Master's Thesis is an approximately 50-75 page research paper that makes an original contribution to scholarship in Scripture or in historical, systematic, moral or pastoral theology. In this course, the student will work with a thesis director to develop a particular question, research the state of that question, and develop a formal thesis proposal. This course is pass/fail; the student passes the course only if the student's thesis committee approves the proposal. This course is to be taken during the student's penultimate semester.
The student must have completed successfully 24 credit hours of graduate coursework in the MTS program.
The Master's Thesis is an approximately 50-75-page research paper that makes an original contribution to scholarship in Scripture or in historical systematic, moral, or pastoral theology. In this course, the student will complete a thesis under the direction of a faculty advisor and formally defend it before the advisor and two faculty readers.