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RELIGIOUS STUDIES PROGRAM
COURSES
| RST 110. Freshman Experience: Social
Justice |
|
3 hours |
This course focuses on reading and discussion of socia
l justice issues. There is also an emphasis on college-level skills.
This course includes ten hours of community service learning. This
course must be taken in the student's first semester at the College.
| RST 130. Introduction to Religious
Studies |
|
3 hours |
This course introduces students to religion through critical and constructive
reflection. This course focuses on three themes: religious beliefs, major
world religions with an emphasis on Christianity, and Christian theology.
Prerequisite: ENG 103
| RST 210. Transfer Experience: Social
Justice |
|
3 hours |
This course focuses on reading and discussion of social
justice issues. There is also an emphasis on self-assessment and time
management skills. This course includes ten hours of community service
learning. This course must be taken by students transferring more
than 30 credit hours in their first semester at the College.
| RST 310. Introduction to Old Testament/Hebrew
Scriptures (B) |
|
3 hours |
This course will explore the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament) with
a special attention to the historical and cultural context in which the
various books developed. Introducing and using modern critical tools for
studying scripture, the course will survey the Pentateuch (the first five
books of the Bible), the historical books, the prophetic and wisdom literature
and will raise questions concerning the theological meaning of the Hebrew
Scriptures both then and today.
Prerequisite: RST 130
| RST 320. Introduction to New Testament/Christian
Scriptures (B) |
|
3 hours |
This course will explore the Christian Scriptures (the New Testament)
with a special attention to the historical and cultural context in which
the various books developed. The course will introduce modern critical
methods for examining the Gospel texts, with a focus on the historical
Jesus question, and will survey the other literature of the Christian
Scriptures, including Paul’s letters and the Book of Revelation. The theological
meaning of these books both then and now will be discussed.
Prerequisite: RST 130
| RST 330. History of Christianity I
(CH) |
|
3 hours |
This course will trace the development of Christianity from its founding
up to the Reformation. Focusing primarily on key events in the life of
church and society, this course will survey such topics as early church
life and the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire, the development
of early doctrines about Jesus, the development of monasticism, the Christianization
of Europe in the Middle Ages, the Crusades, the papacy and the Renaissance.
Prerequisite: RST 130
| RST 331. History of Christianity II
(CH) |
|
3 hours |
This course will survey the development of Christianity from the time
of the Reformation to the present. Covered in this course will be the
Reformation, both Protestant and Catholic, the development of Protestant
churches from Anglicans to Quakers, the Enlightenment and its effects
on religion, and the relationship of modern democracy and capitalism to
Christianity. Special emphasis will be given the key events in Catholic
history, especially the Second Vatican Council and its significance for
the contemporary church.
Prerequisite: RST 130
| RST 340. Christian Worship and Sacraments
(S) |
|
3 hours |
Worship and reverence are the nearly universal human responses to the
presence of the divine. This course will examine the specifically Christian
response to the divine initiative in Jesus Christ: worship and liturgy
through word and sacrament. Using the Eucharist’s or Lord’s Supper as
a focus, this course will examine both the history of Christian doctrines
and practices with regard to the sacraments, and the many ways in which
Christians worship today.
Prerequisite: RST 130
| RST 345. Religion in America (CH) |
|
3 hours |
This course surveys the history of religion in America, with an emphasis
on the development of both American Protestantism and Catholicism from
the time of the first European settlers down to the present. The course
will also survey such topics as Native American religion, Judaism in America,
African-American religion, and the relationship of religion and American
culture.
Prerequisite: RST 130
| RST 350. The Gospels (B) |
|
3 hours |
The four canonical Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) are the main
sources for the Christian narrative about the life, death and resurrection
of Jesus. This course will study these Gospels using the tools of contemporary
historical-critical and literary scholarship in order to understand how
each Gospel theologically portrays Jesus. One of the four Gospels will
be studied in depth.
Prerequisite: RST 130; RST 320 recommended.
| RST 370. Christology: The Person and
Work of Jesus (S) |
|
3 hours |
One central claim of Christianity is that God is most fully and finally
revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. This
course will explore the wide range of Christian understandings of Jesus,
examining first the scriptural sources, then the historical development
of Christian doctrines and church teachings about Jesus and finally the
writings of contemporary theologians and other thinkers.
Prerequisite: RST 130; RST 320 recommended
| RST 380. Catholic Social Teachings
(M) |
|
3 hours |
Often described as the Catholic Church’s best kept secret, Catholic social
teachings from the time of Pope Leo XIII (1891) to Pope John Paul II have
attempted to apply the message of peace and justice from the Bible and
Catholic tradition to the concrete economic, social and political problems
of the contemporary world. This course will examine the most important
papal and national documents on social justice and discuss their application
to such issues as poverty, hunger, capitalism, workers’ and human rights,
discrimination and the environment.
Prerequisite: RST 130
| RST 400. Contemporary Catholicism:
Church, World and Theology (S) |
|
3 hours |
The Catholic Church has undergone a massive amount of change in the thirty
years since the close of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). This
course will examine the council in detail in order to understand what
changes it began in Catholic worship, practice and thought. Particular
emphasis will be given to the new styles of theology which have become
prevalent in the Catholic church. Selected theologians will be read on
a series of important theological issues such as God, Christ, church,
ministry, etc.
Prerequisite: RST 130
| RST 430. Contemporary Christian Morality
(M) |
|
3 hours |
This course will examine both the process of moral reasoning and a range
of contemporary moral issues using critical tools drawn from theological
ethics. Drawing on Scripture, tradition, reason and the contemporary situation,
the course will examine Christian ethical responses to such issues as
sexuality, family life, medicine and health, the environment, business,
violence, and euthanasia.
Prerequisite: RST 130
| RST 435. The Doctrine of God: One
and Triune (S) |
|
3 hours |
The mystery of God is at the heart of religion. This course will examine
the particularly Christian doctrine of God, the claim that God is One
and Three, a Trinity of Father, Son and Spirit. Beginning with the scriptural
sources about the relationship of God and humanity, this course will survey
the development of the Christian doctrine and the understanding of this
mystery today.
Prerequisite: RST 130; RST 320 and 330 recommended
| RST 450. Religions of the World (S) |
|
3 hours |
This course will introduce students to the basic teachings, practices
and contemporary expressions of the major world religions. The course
is designed to facilitate understanding of differences and interactions
among these religions in shaping the contemporary religious experience.
Prerequisite: RST 130.
| RST 496. Topics in Religious Studies |
|
3 hours |
This course will examine topics of special interest in the religious studies
field such as Death and Afterlife in Religious Traditions, Ecclesiology,
the Nature and Life of the Church, Liberation, Third World and Environmental
Theology, Christian Spirituality and Faith Development, Women and Spirituality,
Black Churches, History, Spirituality, and Theology, Hispanic Catholicism,
Book of Revelations and Apocalyptic Literature, Prophets in the Hebrew
Scriptures, Psalms, Proverbs and Wisdom Literature, etc. Topics courses
(but not specific topics) may be repeated for a total of 6 hours.
| RST 497. Research in Religious Studies |
|
3 hours |
By participating in a semester-long research program, students earn credit
for their degree. Training in research methodology provides students with
the opportunity to pursue this discipline by designing, implementing,
and constructing a formal report on a research topic. This course requires
senior status, a cumulative 3.25 index in the major, and the approval
of the program director.
Prerequisite: RST 130 and RST major.
| RST 499. Senior Seminar in Religious
Studies |
|
3 hours |
This capstone course is designed to assist students in the integration
and critical examination of the various concepts, theories, and methods
of inquiry presented both in general education and the major. Learning
outcomes for both the general education program and the major are reviewed.
Course assignments assist students in assessing the degree for which learning
outcomes have been mastered. Senior standing is required.
Prerequisite: RST 130 and RST major.
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Program
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