Foundational Theology
FND 110G Introduction to Catholic Studies I*
3 Credits
An historical introduction to Catholicism from its roots in Jewish and Greco-Roman antiquity to modern times. Catholicism’s key literary, religious, and institutional contributions to Western culture will be studied through the close reading and discussion of representative Great Books of the Catholic Tradition.
FND 111G Introduction to Catholic Studies II*
3 Credits
An historical introduction to Catholicism from its roots in Jewish and Greco-Roman antiquity to modern times. Catholicism’s key literary, religious, and institutional contributions to Western culture will be studied through the close reading and discussion of representative Great Books of the Catholic Tradition. Successful completion of FND 110G* is a prerequisite for FND 111G*.
FND 120 Exploring the Catechism of the Catholic Church
3 Credits
This course presents an introduction to Catholic belief and practice by means of a study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Students will thoroughly consider each of the Catechism’s four parts: on Faith, on Liturgy, on Life in Christ, and on Prayer. Select texts from Church fathers and doctors as well as other magisterial and conciliar documents may be drawn upon to illuminate the Catechism’s own systematic presentation.
FND 130G Way of Beauty: Sacred Fine Arts I*
3 Credits
An introduction to the theory and practice of sacred fine arts. Classroom seminars on aesthetics and art history will introduce students to the West’s rich tradition of architecture, painting and music alongside seminal reflections on beauty by such as Plato, Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, John Ruskin, Jacques Maritain, Josef Pieper, and Joseph Ratzinger. The practical element of this course will normally include participation in a sacred music choir as well as short workshops on Eastern Iconography and other sacred arts.
FND 131G Way of Beauty: Sacred Fine Arts II*
3 Credits
An introduction to the theory and practice of sacred fine arts. Classroom seminars on aesthetics and art history will introduce students to the West’s rich tradition of architecture, painting and music alongside seminal reflections on beauty by such as Plato, Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, John Ruskin, Jacques Maritain, Josef Pieper, and Joseph Ratzinger. The practical element of this course will normally include participation in a sacred music choir as well as short workshops on Eastern Iconography and other sacred arts. Successful completion of FND 130G* is a prerequisite for FND 131G*.
FND 150 Writing and the Art of Rhetoric
3 Credits
A study of the fundamentals of clear and eloquent expression. Practical exercises in English grammar and syntax will be enriched by the recitation and consideration of classical and modern examples of persuasive writing in such authors as Cicero, St. Paul, St. Augustine as well as Jane Austin, Abraham Lincoln, GK Chesterton, and Flannery O’Connor.
FND 230 Christianity and World Religions
3 Credits
Founders of religions and the meaning of religion. Christianity in relation to other religions. An introduction to Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese Religions, and Amerindian Religions. New religious movements. Interfaith dialogue, especially between Christians and Jews.
FND 240 Christianity and Literature
3 Credits
A study of some of the great works of Christian literature that have profoundly shaped thinking on human life, and particularly on philosophical and theological questions. This course looks at central themes such as sin, conversion, love, fidelity and friendship through analyzing the works of major Christian writers. Authors such as Hildegard von Bingen, Dante, Chaucer, Erasmus, Milton, Donne, Herbert, Austin, Hopkins, Chesterton, Sayers, Waugh, Eliot, Lewis, Tolkien, Goudge, Hill and others may be explored.
FND 310G Patristic Theology*
3 Credits
A historical and literary overview of Christian writers and theology from the first to the seventh century. Select fathers in the eastern and western Church, the development of Trinitarian and Christological doctrine, and the emergent western theological tradition will be considered.
Languages
LNG 101 Fundamentals of Latin I
3 Credits
Elements of grammar, basic vocabulary and practical exercises in classical and Christian Latin.
LNG 102 Fundamentals of Latin II
3 Credits
Elements of grammar, basic vocabulary and practical exercises in classical and Christian Latin. Successful completion of LNG 101 is a prerequisite for LNG 102.
Sacred Scriptures
SCR 253 The Pentateuch and Historical Books
(Prerequisite: SCR 100)
3 Credits
This course considers the Canonical corpus of the Old Testament traditionally referred to as the Pentateuch (the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) and their cognate literature known as the Historical Books (Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah). The literature is investigated as a distinct body and in relation to the Canon of Scripture, with particular emphasis given to historical, literary (including text critical), exegetical and theological questions. The relationship between the Israelites and God—as portrayed by the biblical authors of the Pentateuch and Historical Books —is explored through the theme of covenantal love.
The seminar component of this course will invite students to engage, at a level pertinent to their program of study, with contemporary issues raised by the literature at hand.
Philosophy
PHIL 110G Historical Introduction to Philosophy I *
3 Credits
An historical introduction to philosophy from the pre-Socratics to modern times. Topics such as the nature of God, of knowledge, of human nature, of society, of friendship, and of beauty will be studied through the close reading and discussion of representative Great Books of the Western philosophical tradition.
PHIL 111G Historical Introduction to Philosophy II *
3 Credits
An historical introduction to philosophy from the pre-Socratics to modern times. Topics such as the nature of God, of knowledge, of human nature, of society, of friendship, and of beauty will be studied through the close reading and discussion of representative Great Books of the Western philosophical tradition. Successful completion of PHIL 110G* is a prerequisite for PHIL 111G*.
PHIL 120 Logic and the Art of Reasoning
3 Credits
The study of logic enables the intellect to engage in the orderly pursuit of truth. In this class, students will hone their ability to use language with precision by mastering the rules of definition, by identifying the relationship between kinds of propositions, and by becoming familiar with valid and invalid syllogistic forms. Besides studying substantial portions of Plato’s Meno, Aristotle’s Categories and Porphyry’s Isagogy, students will learn how to name and avoid the most common logical fallacies.
PHIL 210G Ancient and Medieval Philosophy *
3 Credits
(Students who take this course may not receive credit for PHIL 245 and PHIL 246)
A study of the major early Greek and Medieval philosophers that have been influential in theology. Special attention will be given to Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Anselm and Aquinas.
PHIL 220 Social & Political Thought
3 Credits
A study of the fundamental principles of political philosophy as a basis for Catholic social teaching. The course will address such questions as: Are social and political modes of organization – family, household, city, and nation – natural or merely conventional? What are the appropriate limits of human freedom? Do human beings have rights that everyone should respect? Is there a difference between moral and legal obligations? Can it ever be morally acceptable to disobey the state? These questions will be explored through a study of texts by historical and recent authors such as Aristotle, Aquinas, Locke, Hobbes, de Tocqueville, Rawls, MacIntyre and Finnis, but will focus upon topics of perennial concern.
PHIL 240 Philosophy of Human Nature
3 Credits
A philosophical inquiry into human nature and personhood in relation to nature and being in general. The historical development of the concept of person in philosophy and anthropology from past to present, especially in view of theological understandings.
PHIL 241 Philosophy of Nature
3 Credits
Philosophical inquiry into various aspects of nature and the universe, including issues arising from changing views of science and cosmology. The theological importance of various views of nature and God in historical and contemporary times.
PHIL 243 Metaphysics
3 Credits
A philosophical study of being in its various dimensions. Issues such as substance and attributes, transcendental, being and essence, analogy, and universals will be addressed in light of classical and contemporary approaches. Special attention will be given to the functions of metaphysics within theology.
PHIL 310G Modern and Contemporary Philosophy *
3 Credits
(Students who take this course may not receive credit for PHIL 247 and PHIL 348.)
A study of the major Modern and Contemporary philosophers that have been influential in theology. The course will treat some major representatives of some of the following schools of thought: rationalism, empiricism, idealism, existentialism, hermeneutics, phenomenology, personalism, process thought, and analytic philosophy.
PHIL 330 Ethics
3 Credits
Introduction to traditional and contemporary problems and methods of philosophical ethics or moral philosophy. The impact of ethics on theological and religious teachings and concerns and vice versa.
PHIL 350G Philosophy of Religion
3 Credits
Across the centuries human beings have longed for something beyond the natural order of goods. This course considers such questions as: Can God’s existence be proved? What is the relationship between experience and revelation in religion? Is there a way to harmonize the claims of faith and reason? Seminal works by authors such as Sophocles, Plato, Aristotle, Lucretius, Justin Martyr, St. Augustine, St. Thomas, Hume, Nietzsche, Weber, Newman, MacIntyre and St John Paul II may be studied.
PHIL 360G St. Thomas Aquinas *
3 Credits
A study of major themes in Aquinas’ philosophy and theology through a study of selections from the Summa Theologiae. Topics such as the nature of sacred Doctrine, the Trinity, nature and grace, Divine Law, the virtues, sacramental theology, Christology and eschatology will be addressed.
PHIL 400 Senior Research Thesis & Defence
3 Credits
During the last year of study, each student researches, writes, and presents a written thesis, the results of which they will defend orally before a panel of faculty members. Under the direction of a thesis director, students will explore critically a topic that arises from their program in Catholic Studies. The purpose of this cumulative exercise is to provide each student with an opportunity to develop and manifest what John Henry Newman called “an integrated habit of mind”.
Moral Theology
MPS 222 The Social Teaching of the Church
3 Credits
The roots of social justice in the tradition. Major themes in the social teaching documents of the Church. Social teaching in the Canadian/North American church. Social justice, ministry and evangelization. Liberation theology. Social analysis as a tool for Christian ministry.