Theological Studies (THST) | Academic Catalog (2024)

The Hebrew Bible/Old Testament introduces the foundational stories and traditions for Judaism, Christianity, and arguably, also Islam. This course is a predominantly history based survey and introduction to the literature of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible (in English) where students will encounter not only memorable stories, but provocative prophets, beautiful poetry, stirring stories, and ancient wisdom. University Core fulfilled: Foundations: Theological Inquiry.

This course introduces students to the New Testament writings in their historical, literary, social/ political, and religious contexts. Students will learn various methodological approaches to the study of the New Testament, as well as consider the history of interpretation and the role of modern social-location in the interpretive process. University Core fulfilled: Foundations: Theological Inquiry.

Drawing on prominent biblical themes (creation, covenant, human sin, redemption, exile and return, prophetic witness, the Spirit/Wisdom of God, the mystery of a crucified messiah, etc.), this course traces the twists and turns of the biblical narratives as the basis for theological reflection on human existence in relation to the divine. University Core fulfilled: Foundations: Theological Inquiry.

Reading Jesus through Moses plants the seeds of Jesus as Revolutionary Teacher in human history. Once we establish a Biblical social Radicalism in a reading of Moses and Jesus as Messiah, this course goes on to examine examples in Christian history of revolutionary Christian movements for change that were deeply rooted in Biblical ethics. Some of these movements came into dialogue with Marxism in the 20th Century, creating significant examples of dialogue such as Liberation Theology and European Christian-Marxist dialogue. What will revolutionary Christian movements look like in the 21st Century?University Core fulfilled: Foundations: Theological Inquiry.

This course is an examination of Catholics' search for transcendent meaning throughout the history of the United States. It examines the way Catholicism has formed in a historically Protestant land from its diverse colonial origins (Spanish, French, and English) through successive waves of immigration to today's multicultural context. University Core fulfilled: Foundations: Theological Inquiry.

This course will introduce the structure, teachings, and practices of the Catholic tradition, including key historical, theological, and practical contours in dialogue with contemporary questions. University Core fulfilled: Foundations: Theological Inquiry.

This course introduces students to the primary theological teachings of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The course explores theology through written sources and the lived tradition of Orthodox communities and treats topics such as life and death, sin, religious identity, the meaning of community, saints, Mary, iconography and music, postmodernity, and growing close to God. University Core fulfilled: Foundations: Theological Inquiry.

This course is a close, semester-long reading of Augustine's Confessions. We consider the meaning of Augustine's spirituality as well as the relationship between his broader experience and the development of his theological thought. We will situate our study within the context of the cultural and religious attitudes, thought, and practice of the late antique Mediterranean world in which Augustine lived.University Core fulfilled: Foundations: Theological Inquiry.

This course explores how Christian liturgy, prayer, and sacraments reveal what Christians believe and how they understand and relate to God by closely examining select ritual practices. The course will provide an overview of liturgy, personal and communal prayer, and sacramental celebrations. University Core fulfilled: Foundations: Theological Inquiry.

This course will introduce students to the meaning and significance of spiritual practice in its distinctively Christian expressions and expressions associated with other traditions. The focus of the course is on "lived religion" - the embodied, eclectic and often improvisational character of spiritual experience, both collective and individual. It also seeks to understand the critical role of practice in shaping spiritual meaning and identity. University Core fulfilled: Theological Inquiry.

This course provides a broad survey of foundational texts and ideas that have contributed - and continue to contribute - to the vast, diverse, and living body of moral thinking that constitutes "Christian Ethics." University Core fulfilled: Foundations: Theological Inquiry.

This course takes a comparative approach to theological inquiry, examining fundamental religious questions in relation to two or three religious traditions (one of them being Christianity). The course emphasizes comparative analysis of primary religious sources and focuses on how diverse religious approaches to questions of ultimate concern might be mutually illuminative. The course also includes interactive encounters with practitioners of the religious under consideration.University Core fulfilled: Foundations: Theological Inquiry.

Full course description: This course introduces students to the vital role of religion in human experience by exploring literary, historical, and cultural dimensions of religious texts, patterns of belief, and related ritual and ethical practices. It does this through the life of Muhammad and the scripture he proclaimed, the Qur’an. Through a combination of interactive lectures and hands-on assignments, students will examine the worldview of the Qur’an, its textual history, and debates over the Qur’an’s interpretation. Throughout, attention will be given to questions of universal human concern and areas of similarity and difference with the other Abrahamic religions, Judaism and Christianity. Students will also think reflexively about the process of studying the religion of others, past and present. We start with an historical background to the Qur’an, its canonical layout, the typical structure of its chapters (surahs), and an introduction to the Islamic exegetical tradition. We then look at the Qur’an’s intertextual engagement with various biblical traditions. We will consider the textual transmission of the Qur’an, and its significance in Muslim practice.University Core fulfilled: Foundations: Theological Inquiry

This course is an introduction to the academic study of religion and of world religions, and to the religious traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and other current religious trends. Special emphasis is placed upon how these religious traditions have emerged within the context of Los Angeles, how they have changed, grown, and adapted to their new surroundings.University Core fulfilled: Foundations: Studies in American Diversity.

This course will explore the intersections of race, religion, and ethnicity from perspectives evolving from the field of Queer Theory and grounded in the experiences of LGBT persons/communities. The course examines historical, political, social, and religious dimensions associated with the emergence of LGBT realities.University Core fulfilled: Foundations: Studies in American Diversity.

Christianity has been at the root of incredible suffering of indigenous peoples in the Americas, but it is also the source of great inspiration and resistance to oppression for many Native Christians as well. In this course, which involves an actual train journey from Los Angeles to Albuquerque and back (making important stops along the way), we will explore the centuries of Christian contact with Native peoples - the bad and the good. Two weeks of class on campus, and then a one-week train journey (no extra charges - costs of train trip included in tuition). Summer only.University Core fulfilled: Foundations: Studies in American Diversity.

This is a course about the Bible and bodies. More specifically, it's about examining the portrayal of gender and gendered bodies in selected texts from the Bible and extra-biblical literature. Some questions we will ask include: What is the relationship between gender, sex, and sexuality? How are these categories (re)presented in the biblical canons? How might biblical texts be reflecting and/or deconstructing contemporaneous understandings of gender, sex, and sexuality? How have gendered interpretations of the Bible changed over time? In entertaining these questions, we will engage the interdisciplinary fields of biblical studies and gender studies. We will also consider how our readings might impact various communities (i.e., bodies) of storytellers and story-listeners, both in antiquity and today. Junior/Senior Standing.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Interdisciplinary Connections.

This course provides an introduction to aspects of Christian thought and practice from the first centuries through the late Middle Ages. We study the emergence of Christianity in the Roman empire, the rise of Christianity in late antiquity as well as early- and late-medieval expressions of Western Christianity. University Core fulfilled: Explorations: Historical Analysis and Perspectives.Junior or Senior standing only.

This course traces central themes and developments within Christian thought and practice from the Middle Ages to the present. With a special emphasis on Western Christianity, the course examines major themes, which may include: church and empire; power and authority; monasticism; asceticism, and the concept of sanctity; the development of Christian theologies and tensions between heresy and orthodoxy; religious order; mysticism; reform and reformation; councils; feminist and liberation theologies.University Core fulfilled: Explorations: Historical Analysis and Perspectives.Junior or Senior standing only.

This course examines the changing roles and perceptions of women in Christian history from its incipience to the 21st century. It highlights the impact of women's voices on the development of Christian thought and practice. This course puts into dialogue historical sources about and by women with contemporary readings and critiques.University Core fulfilled: Explorations: Historical Analysis and Perspectives.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course is an introduction to Christian thought and practice in the late Middle Ages through a detailed consideration of select topics: God; Saints; Mary; Demons, Body and Soul; Rituals (especially the eucharist); Death and the Afterlife.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course will explore central aspects of Judaism from ancient to modern times (up to the beginning of the 20th century). It will focus on select texts and works of art, which mark significant moments in Jewish thought and practice. By examining Jewish text and art, students will learn how Judaism developed through negotiations with the traditions of the past as well as with the changing conditions of the present.University Core fulfilled: Explorations: Historical Analysis and Perspectives.Junior or Senior Standing only.

New Zealand is not only one of the most beautiful countries in the world - but one of the most fascinating. In this course, students will be introduced to the Prophets of the Old Testament but then explore how the Maori (the indigenous people of New Zealand) uniquely engaged the Prophetic tradition of the Bible as they embraced Christianity. Maori Prophets arose in the 19th Century, modeled heavily on the Biblical Prophets, and these Prophets led fascinating and inspiring movements that continue to inspire the Maori (and those of us who learn about them) to this day. Summer Only - New Zealand Study Abroad course.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

An examination of the life and letters of Paul, with attention to the social, historical, literary, and theological contexts in which he lived and worked. The course also addresses contemporary issues in the interpretation of Paul's letters.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior standing only

An exploration of various portraits of Jesus in the Gospels, the identity of the historical Jesus, and contemporary interpretations of Jesus in various films.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior standing only.

This course engages significant questions surrounding crisis and tragedy in the modern world. This course surveys how trauma at the international, communal, and personal levels of experiences are explained through the lens of faith in biblical traditions.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course surveys Eastern Christian theological traditions by studying the history, theology, and practices of Oriental Orthodoxy, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Eastern Catholic churches. Topics of more intense study will include the emergence of monasticism and its contribution to spirituality, Eastern liturgical and iconographic practices, surveys of ancient and contemporary hagiography, the Eastern views on Christology, the Church (ecclesiology), and the laity (marriage and moral theology), the ecumenical relationships among the Eastern churches, and between Eastern churches and the Roman Catholic Church.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason; Flags: Engaged LearningJunior or Senior Standing only.

This course approaches the study of the Greek Orthodox Church, also known as the Orthodox Church or Byzantine Christianity, from the theological, historical, cultural, and artistic perspectives. Students will study the Greek Orthodox Tradition in the context of the history of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires and the political and cultural changes in those years.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior standing only.

This course focuses on the theological, historical, cultural, and political factors that have shaped the European Christian communities. The course addresses theological questions in light of divergent perspectives about the authority and interpretation of Scripture, the authority of tradition and the Church, the meaning of individual and communal religious experience, and the prospects for ecumenical dialogue.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course explores the construction of otherness as it is related to divergent visions of authentic imitation of Christ and experiences of the presence of God. Spanning from late antiquity to the present, the course studies, among others, Augustine, Francis and Clare of Assisi, the Waldensians, the Humiliati, Meister Eckhart, Julian of Norwich, Thomas Merton, Leonardo Boff, Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker movement, and the IHM sisters.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason; Flags: Engaged LearningJunior or Senior Standing only.

This course examines the constructions of otherness and estrangement in theological and literary texts spanning from antiquity to the present. The course aims to shed light on the persistent redefinitions of and tensions regarding orthodoxy, heresy, and otherness in the Christian traditions.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and ReasonJunior or Senior Standing only.

This course explores North American thinkers, ideas, and phenomena on the cultural margins from the 1950s until our historical moment. In doing so, this course hopes to demonstrate that although the phenomena of study may be located on the margins of the meta-narrative (frequently viewed as epiphenomena), they still wrestle with similar essential religious and existential questions as the “center” does, such as “Who am I?,” “Who am I in relationship to God, fellow human beings, and the rest of creation?,” “What is authentic love?,” “How do I live life to the fullest?,” “How do I experience a Reality greater than myself?,” “Is there more to life than what I perceive?,” “Is there anything beyond death,” “How am I saved?” etc. The course, adopting an interdisciplinary and intersectional methodology, will cover a broad variety of issues, such as anthropology, gender and sex, exile, death, feminism, eco-theology, mysticism, witchcraft and Wicca, universalism, the psychedelic “movement” (e.g., Aldous Huxley and Timothy Leary), apocalyptic ideas and movements (e.g., the Left Behind Series), and so-called Christian fringe movement (e.g., Heaven’s Gate, Branch Davidians, Quiverfull). By highlighting these essential religious and existential questions, the course traces the continuities and discontinuities between the putative margins and center of Christianity in terms of questions and concerns.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.

In this course, students study migration and the border, coming to terms with the empirical reality of contemporary immigration while constructing their own theological response. The course begins with an examination of the social science of migration, with special emphasis on sociological study of migration and immigrant adaptation. Students then critically examine biblical and other historical texts that treat migration and movement, followed by a deep engagement with Christian theologies of migration, with a comparison to Jewish and Muslim approaches to migration. The course includes a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, observing and discussing the institutions of border control and the stories of immigrants and deportees on both sides of the border. For those unable to go, equivalent engaged learning experiences will be available.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason; Flag: Engaged Learning.

The course will focus on Christology from two perspectives, the Jesus of history, recovered through critical, historical investigation, and the Christ of faith as the person and work of Jesus is understood in light of Christian faith. The contemporary optic considers salvation, mission, and Church.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and ReasonJunior or Senior Standing only.

The course will study Catholicism in terms of the Council documents, at the same time looking at contemporary Catholicism, including young adult Catholics, the Catholic sacramental imagination, and the current questions over liturgy, sexuality, evangelization, and contemporary divisions in the Church.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

Rooted in the experiences of contemporary Latinx communities living in the United States, this course explores the unique contributions and challenges presented by the embodiment of Christian theology with a Latinx flavor.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason; Flag: Engaged Learning.Junior or Senior Standing only.

A seminar on two outstanding twentieth century Catholics, both converts: Trappist monk Merton popularized an engaged contemplation, Dorothy Day co-founded the Catholic Worker Movement and is responsible for the development of modern Catholic social radicalism.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course engages a variety of perspectives on "The Last Things" or, Eschatology. Readings engage biblical, global, feminist, philosophical, and cultural issues in eschatology. In particular, we will examine why the 20th century has been called "the century of eschatology."University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

Theology, as it relates to modern atheism, asks the following central questions: Is atheism a negative and nihilistic belief? Is it characterized by a rejection of values? Is it a thorough rejection of religion? Is atheism solely a modern phenomenon of a scientific mindset? What is its case against theism? Can a moral case be made for atheism? What kind of philosophical arguments does atheism employ? Is it only present in Christian contexts? What are some Christian responses to atheism?University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course examines the modes of discourse, levels of reflection, and diverse experiences of individuals and communities in the search for God.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course examines discourse on body and sexuality in different religious traditions with a special emphasis on Christianity. Employing a variety of theological methods, the course probes gender theories, theologies of the body, and perspectives on sexuality in pertinent primary and secondary sources.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and ReasonJunior or Senior Standing only.

This course engages the meaning, methods, and implications of sustained dialogue between theology and science. Exploring the development of the scientific method and its challenges for traditional theological discourse and religious symbols, the course compares and contrasts four views of science and religious: Conflict; Independence; Dialogue; Integration.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This class will study Christian notions of sanctity in the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions. The concept of "the communion of saints" will be explored both in formal academic theological reflection but also by means of reference to the genres of hagiography and to the writings of canonized saints and other exemplary figures.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course will explore how Christian sacraments reveal what Christians believe and how they understand and relate to God by closely examining select ritual practices. We will explore rituals such as Baptism and Eucharist, and attempt to articulate their meaning by defining symbols such as water, food, oil, and the role of the body in worship. We will consider how ritual participation reveals a Christian's relationship with God and the human community, and how worship shapes daily Christian life and identity.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason; Flags: Engaged Learning.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course is an introduction to humanity's quest to understand Jesus Christ's identity and purpose through the discipline of theological aesthetics, which engages the arts and theology together.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course immerses students into a critical theological reflection on the business profession as a vocation serving the global and local communities. The tripartite structure consists of studying the theology of the priesthood of the people, examining Catholic magisterial teaching on faith and business, and reflecting on how the Christian vocation of management applies to daily work dynamics.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

Historically and contemporaneously, the cross, a foundational image of Christian faith, has also been associated with political terror. In this course, beginning with the landmark theological work of Black liberation theologian Dr. James Cone, we will explore the meaning of the cross during the Roman Empire and in the post Reconstruction American South. We will ask who are crucified, and the effect of Black and Brown people being framed as crucifiable. We will reflect on what the cross and the lynching tree mean to Christians and to followers of other traditions and examine what role we play as the narrative of crucifixion and empire is played and replayed. This course examines questions of faith, God, religious practice, humanity, spirituality, and liberation in light of diverse African American experiences, ideas, and practices. By an analysis of diverse sources in both Black and Womanist theology, the class explores the complex dynamics between race and religion and highlights how Black voices contribute to the human search for God.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior/Senior standing.

This course is a wide ranging exploration of interreligious dialogue, both in theory and practice. Students will investigate, analyze, and compare various theories of interreligious dialogue and engagement, considering questions such as “Why do we do this? What purpose does it serve faith and society?” Students will familiarize themselves with and analyze specific case studies where interreligious engagement has been successful as well as those which have been less successful, standing as opportunities for growth and reflection. University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing.

This course will explore two related questions: 1) What constitutes optimal human growth and development from the perspectives of both psychology and Christian spirituality? and 2) What constitutes a holistic Christian spirituality that integrates wholeness and holiness?University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

A critical examination of ordinary practices of everyday life as a source for spiritual knowledge and social-political transformation.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason; Flag: Engaged Learning.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course will introduce students to the rich spiritual tradition of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Students will examine principles of spiritual development and various dimensions of spirituality from the time of the desert fathers and ancient monastic traditions to the present.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course will examine how different theories of knowledge influence and determine what constitutes and motivates "right action." The course will seek to go beyond current competing ideas of justice (e.g., the primacy of equality vs. the primacy of freedom) to identify and analyze the epistemological presuppositions underlying those conceptions.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course will explore the phenomenon of "being poor" in different religious and non-religious contexts with the goal of understanding how poverty can both undermine and advance the human good. The course will examine what human good(s) poverty violates and what justifies those goods as "goods," especially in light of the claim - present in many religious traditions, and, especially, the Catholic monastic tradition - that poverty, properly understood, can constitute a good itself.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior standing only.

This course is designed to introduce students to that moment in history known as the Troubles of Northern Ireland (ca. 1968-1998) through the lens of art, film, propaganda pamphlets, and scholarly production. Students will be challenged to consider the relationship between faith traditions versus cultural and national identity in Northern Ireland (and as by-product, the world in which they exist).University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies have precipitated debates that have reached a paradoxical tipping point: such technologies are often viewed—by computer scientists, religious institutions, and ordinary citizens—either as the savior of humanity or the cause of human extinction. This course explores this paradox through deep engagement with three dimensions/ questions of ultimate concern: anthropology (what does it mean to be human?); mimesis (how do we imitate that which transcends us as a means for interpreting our world?); and justice (how do we promote fairness, access/equity, and individual and social flourishing?).University Core Fulfilled: INT Faith and ReasonJunior or Senior standing only.

This course, critically examines the role of local faith communities in the United States through a combination of social scientific study and theological reflection. The course will emphasize Roman Catholic parishes but will also look at mainline Protestant, Evangelical, and Pentecostal communities with some comparison to Jewish and Muslim congregations as well.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and ReasonJunior or Senior Standing only.

This course - which includes an engaged learning flag - invites students into the examination and the practice of Christian (especially Roman Catholic) pastoral ministry and leadership, including exploration of the relationship between ministry and personal transformation, human suffering, the secularization of society, social justice, and intercultural and interreligious relationships. All students will be required to engage in 24 hours of service in a faith community of their choice throughout the semester.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason; Flag: Engaged LearningJunior or Senior Standing only.

This course brings together critical theory and Hindu theology in order to examine the representation of Hinduism in American popular culture and assess how American popular culture has portrayed Hinduism in creative and sometimes problematic ways. Students analyze the relationship between theology and culture, employ the academic disciplines of theology and popular culture studies, examine the diverse theological traditions of Hinduism, evaluate popular representations of Hinduism, and appreciate the extent to which Hinduism has become a part of American popular culture.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and ReasonJunior or Senior Standing only.

This course provides an introduction to Islam and a detailed understanding of Islam in the American context. It examines the history of American Islam that goes back to the transatlantic slave trade and discusses how American Muslims have helped in the construction of what it means to be "American."University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and ReasonJunior or Senior Standing only.

This course will investigate the historical origins and theological developments of Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhism, and also explore Buddhism in America.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason; Flags: Engaged LearningJunior or Senior Standing only.

This course will examine key ideas from the Vedas and Upanisads, the ethics of Jainism, and the spiritual practices of Yoga.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason; Flags: Engaged LearningJunior or Senior Standing only.

This course will investigate the emergence of Sikhism, the fifth largest religion of the world, through a study of its ten gurus and its key theological tenets.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason; Flags: Engaged Learning.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course utilizes feminist theory and theology to analyze the religions of the world as they affect and are affected by women. Students connect major religious beliefs and practices to the oppression and liberation of women, employ feminist theory to analyze those beliefs and practices, and appreciate the roles that women play in shaping and re-shaping their religious traditions.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course draws on theology and peace and conflict studies in order to understand the relationship between religion and violence. Students examine theories of religious violence, analyze how religions have understood and enacted either violence or nonviolence, and assess the role of religion in peacebuilding.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and Reason.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course examines the ways in which religious traditions and speculative sources reflect on the mysteries of self, other, evil, and the divine through stories of terrifying creatures, otherworldly visitors, tricksters, and bloodthirsty deities. The class interrelated theology, philosophy, and critical theory in order to assess the significance of the monstrous and alien.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and ReasonJunior or Senior Standing only.

This course presents an overview of the traditions of Yoga, examining the ways in which its philosophy and practice have changed over the centuries. We will begin by looking at early definitions of yoga as “control of the senses” in the Upaniṣads and as the “stilling of the fluctuations of the mind” in the Yoga Sūtra, rather than as the more embodied practice we have become familiar with today. We will explore the reframing of yoga as a world-affirming discipline in the Bhagavad Gītā, where it is explained as “equanimity” and “skillfulness in action” and the development of haṭha yoga in the medieval period, which placed more emphasis on posture (āsana), breath-control (prāṇāyāma), and other physical methods. We will conclude by looking at modern yoga and its origins, addressing social and cultural issues. Students will be introduced to various bodily, breathing, and meditative practices throughout the semester, to have a direct, lived experience of the tradition and a more mindful engagement with themselves and the world. University Core Fulfilled: INT: Faith and ReasonFlag: Engaged Learning.Junior or Senior standing only.

This course will introduce students to the Islamic religious tradition. Beginning with the historical developments of Islam, including the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad, the course will examine Islamic religious practices and traditions up to the modern period. University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Faith and ReasonJunior or Senior standing only.

Engaging theological, philosophical, and legal thinkers, this course will explore the many theoretical and practical difficulties which arise in attempting to reconcile an effective and just system of social punishment with the virtue of mercy.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Ethics and Justice.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course explores theological perspectives on love, marriage, sexuality, and family. It constructively engages issues such as artificial birth control, divorce, cohabitation, same-sex marriage, and IVF and places diverse theological positions in conversation with other disciplines and contemporary contexts.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Ethics and JusticeJunior or Senior Standing only.

This course examines the relationship between beliefs about the nature of God and the human good and the justifications for, and character of, different kinds of political orders.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Ethics and Justice.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course explores central themes, thinkers, methodologies, and topics in Christian ethics principally around the themes of justice and love. The course engages in a critical analysis of love and justice with respect to theories about justice and basic goods and with respect to case studies such as bioethics, sexual ethics, ethics and politics, war and peace, and ethics, race, and culture.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Ethics and Justice.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This is a semester-long, close reading of the Inferno, the first part of Dante's three-part Divine Comedy. We examine Dante's understanding of divine justice as manifested in hell's punishments and its structure. We focus especially on Dante's understanding of justice as moral virtue and cull form the inferno his theoretical framework of ethical analysis.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Ethics and Justice.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course critically and constructively explores theological foundations, ethical principles, legal dimensions, and practical implications of classical, modern, and current approaches to environmental topics such as climate change, animals/biodiversity, environmental racism, resource use and allocation, and individual and collective responsibility and activism.University Core fulfilled: INT: Ethics and JusticeJunior or Senior standing only.

This course will critically engage the historical, theological, and ethical dimensions of the Eucharist. The historical overview and ensuring theological exploration will focus on particular Eucharistic issues that have implications for virtue and justice, power and privilege, and cultural conditions. University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Interdisciplinary Connections.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course is as much about the use of film to study religion as it is about the use of religion to study film. In other words, we will use different films to facilitate discussion about various dimensions of and issues in religion, and we will use images, metaphors, and teachings found in religion to discuss the layers and elements portrayed on screen.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Interdisciplinary ConnectionsJunior or Senior Standing only.

What does the Bible have to do with comedy? Is it inappropriate to laugh at—or with—biblical texts? This course examines the role of humor in biblical stories, especially as it relates to the development of culture and communal identity. It also considers the Bible's role in comedy arts today, as well as within students' own comic creations.Junior/Senior standing.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Interdisciplinary Connections.

An exploration of the desert as a root metaphor for deep spiritual experience and place of social, political struggle.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Interdisciplinary ConnectionsJunior or Senior Standing only.

An examination of the significance of place and place-making in the development of personal, cultural, and spiritual identity.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Interdisciplinary Connections.Junior or Senior standing only.

An exploration of how contemplative practice can deepen and give meaning to ordinary human existence.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Interdisciplinary Connections.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This interdisciplinary service learning course will explore how religious ideas and practices can respond to the contemporary environmental crisis.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Interdisciplinary Connections; Flag: Engaged Learning.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course is a cross-cultural look at death and dying in several different religious traditions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Primal [Native] traditions). We will also examine common themes in these different traditions, and how they help us to understand the lives and deaths of women, children, and men.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Interdisciplinary Connections.Junior or Senior Standing only.

This course examines architecture as an important factor in the formation of social and political order. It explores the rich interface between the built environment and its civic and religious orders from an interdisciplinary perspective, engaging with theories of politics, religion, and architecture.University Core fulfilled: Integrations: Interdisciplinary Connections.Junior or Senior Standing only.

A comprehensive verse by verse exegesis of the Gospel of Mark. Students will situate the Gospel of Mark within the Early Christian genre of gospel and place it in conversation with the other Synoptic Gospels.THST majors/minors only.

An examination of various historical, literary, theological, and ethical issues in the interpretation of the New Testament, especially the Gospels and the Pauline epistles.THST majors/minors only.

A study of the development of Christian theology from the Apostolic Fathers through the period of the Cappadocians to the era of Jerome and Augustine.THST majors/minors only.

An introduction to Christian thought and practice in the late Middle Ages through a detailed consideration of select topics: God; Saints; Mary; Demons, Body and Soul; Rituals (especially the eucharist); Death and the Afterlife.THST majors/minors only.

An examination of medieval heretics' and mystics' contribution to the richness of their traditions. This class emphasizes issues of gender, authority, class, and culture, tracing developments of heresy and mysticism from late antiquity through the Middle Ages.THST majors/minors only.

Selected topics on medieval theology such as the development of a specifically Christian culture, the tensions between religion and empire and between popular and institutional forms of religious expression, and monastic and scholastic theological methods.THST majors/minors only.

This course explores Roman Catholic theology by reading the major Conciliar documents and analyzing the social and historical context, with emphasis on ecumenism, historical understanding, and the recovery of the biblical tradition.THST majors/minors only.

An investigation of the Christology of the New Testament, the early councils, and contemporary issues in Christology.THST majors/minors only.

A study of the life, context, and theology of Karl Rahner.THST majors/minors only.

This course examines the theology of the Mother of God, from its biblical foundations, through the patristic and medieval periods, into the modern appropriations of Mariology by Protestant and feminist scholars.THST majors/minors only.

A study of recent Latin American theology as a Christian response to current political, social, and economic injustice in Latin American countries.THST majors/minors only.

An exploration of Dante's vision of hell, purgatory, heaven and humanity in Dante's Divine Comedy through a close reading of the text in translation. We highlight the theological significance of Dante's work and its literary and political aspects.THST majors/minors only.

An in-depth study of the theology of the Eucharist from an ecumenical perspective, highlighting the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.THST majors/minors only.

The course traces the origins of Christian iconography, examining the theological controversies which shaped the icon tradition, leading students to read the subtle and rich theological messages encoded in these mysterious images.THST majors/minors only.

A survey of key persons and movements in the history of Western Christian spirituality.THST majors/minors only.

A study of the spirituality of Ignatius of Loyola based on a close reading of his Spiritual Exercises and contemporary writings on Ignatian themes.THST majors/minors only.

This course critically examines biblical, theological, and ethical texts related to social responsibility in light of contemporary issues.THST majors/minors only.

This course analyzes how distinct approaches and sources in Christian ethics, including elements of scripture, tradition, sexual ethics, virtue ethics, and social ethics interact as they relate to confronting the AIDS crisis.THST majors/minors only.

An exploration of the history and methods of theological ethics with analysis of contemporary moral issues.THST majors/minors only.

The course examines the theory and practice of ministry with and for youth and young adults, with emphasis on faith development, community building, justice and service education, advocacy, and guidance of youth and young adults.THST majors/minors only.

Multiple religious perspectives will be utilized in this course to explore one or more topics of theological concern, such as violence and nonviolence, myth and symbol, modes of spirituality, images of God, and/or multicultural religious presence in Los Angeles.

An introduction to the contemporary Islamic religious tradition, including Muslim approaches to modernity, major reformers of Islam in the modern world, Muslim feminism, and the role of Islam in North America.THST majors/minors only.

In this course we study in depth primary sources of these two traditions, including the Rig Veda, the Upanisads, the Yoga Sutra, and the Tattvarthasutra.THST majors/minors only.

An examination of the theological work of one major thinker, studying the work both as an integrated theological statement and as a part of continuing theological dialogue.This course may be repeated for credit.THST majors/minors only.

The course stresses the integration of the various dimensions and methods of Theological Studies. Senior standing required.THST majors and minors only.

This course examines central issues in the interpretation of the Hebrew Bible, with attention to sociological, historical, literary, and theological dimensions of the Hebrew Bible, as well as the methodology of interpretation.

This excursion course experiences and studies interpretations of Scripture arising from the historical oppression and concrete contemporary realities of the indigenous Maori people in New Zealand.

This course presents critical issues in current biblical interpretation of the New Testament. In particular, attention is given to the significance of historical, literary, social, and theological aspects of the New Testament writings, as well as to contemporary interpretive methodologies and the pastoral dimensions of interpretation.

This course examines the historical, literary, and theological contexts of the Gospel of Matthew, in conversation with modern theological issues and method.

This course examines the historical, literary, and theological contexts of the Gospel of Mark, in conversation with modern theological issues and method.

This course examines the historical, literary, and theological contexts of Luke-Acts, in conversation with modern theological issues and method.

This course examines the historical, literary, and theological contexts of the Gospel of John, in conversation with modern theological issues and method.

This course explores aspects of contemporary studies of the Gospels, focusing on one of the canonical Gospels and its relations to other canonical and non-canonical Gospels, with attention to the search for the historical Jesus, the investigation of the Evangelist's communities and traditions, and later theological appropriations of the Gospels.This course may be repeated for credit.

This course explores the life and letters of Paul in their historical, literary, social, and theological contexts, as well as issues in contemporary interpretation of Pauline theology.

A study of the specific role which historical investigation plays in constructive and critical theology; this study uses, as its major case study, the development of the Christian doctrine of God and Christ as articulated in the classical period and developed up to the scholastic period.

The emergence of theology in pastoral and liturgical reflection on the biblical tradition in the first six centuries if the church's life: theology from the time of Ignatius of Antioch to Gregory the Great.

This course will explore the rich and complex tradition of Christian spirituality, with a particular focus on the unfolding quest for wisdom within that tradition. Particular attention will be given to a) developing a critical approach to the study of Christian spirituality, b) understanding the relationship of spirituality and history, c) cultivating the art of reading classic spiritual texts, and d) retrieving classic themes of spirituality for contemporary use.

An introductory survey beginning with Bede's retrieval and transformation of the patristic legacy and ending with the dissolution of the scholastic tradition.

This course investigates how theology attempts to translate the Christian message into new situations. Theological issues include revelation, faith, God and trinity, christology, the church, sin and grace, and sacramental and liturgical theology. Attention is given to their historical development as well as their contemporary significance, particularly in light of philosophical, cultural, and religious pluralism.

An historical and systematic investigation of the Christian understanding of Jesus Christ and his significance for salvation. Topics include the historical Jesus, the Christ of faith, New Testament christology, the early christological councils, the historical development of philosophical christology, and contemporary christologies.

This course explores various ecclesiological and theological issues in the contemporary church, such as theologies of the church, authority and its exercise, ordained and unordained ministry, women in the church, ecumenism and the church of tomorrow.

A study of feminist theology from its historical antecedents to its roots in the changing experience of women. It considers the essential methodologies of feminism, important feminist theologians, and the contributions of feminism to contemporary theology as a whole.

Latino theology develops in the tension between displacement and deep roots of communities in the territories that today constitute the U.S. This course surveys central theological questions as these are explored by these communities through a variety of primary texts, demographics, and engagement with current issues of concern to Hispanic Christians.

In the summer of 2015, Pope Francis addressed an encyclical document to the world titled Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home. This extraordinary document, the fruit of lengthy consultations with climatologists, economists, scientists and theologians from the world’s major religions begins by expressing praise, which is the result of human gratitude when encountering wonder. A substantial document, Laudato Si uses the language of beauty and wonderment almost 60 times, pointing to its best interpretive tool, a theological cosmology based on beauty and kinship. In this course we explore the encyclical through the methodology of theological aesthetics to enable us to bring close the scope and power of the theological cosmology inherent in the encyclical’s proclamation.

This course examines the foundational period of the early church as the setting for the establishment of liturgy and its synthesis with culture. The methodology involves an exploration of liturgy in particular cultural contexts, including the important Christian centers of Jerusalem, Antioch, North Africa, Rome, and Constantinople, and the contemporary theological implications of these developments.

This course will survey several of the seven official sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church in both their historical development and their liturgical practice, focusing on five in any given semester.

An in-depth study of the theology of Christian sacraments and the symbolization of divine grace.

An exploration of the nature of faith and culture and their interrelationship. An analysis of interculturation and its relevance to ministry and pastoral care in church and society.

This course examines some of the issues of contemporary Christian spirituality in the light of how certain exemplary Christians in earlier ages envisioned them. Questions such as the nature of spirituality, the integration of a contemplative attitude in life activity, Christian freedom, images of God, and the role of culture in the formation of spirituality are addressed.

This course seeks to further the student's understanding of spiritual direction as a form of pastoral care and as a helping relationship. Among the topics to be considered are: various forms of spiritual guidance within the Christian tradition, the distinctive nature of spiritual direction, the qualities and skills required to be an effective spiritual director, and the role of spiritual direction in facilitating spiritual growth and development.

This course seeks to further the student's understanding of the spirituality of Ignatius of Loyola by a close reading of his spiritual classic, The Spiritual Exercises, and by a study of contemporary writing on Ignatian spirituality. Praxis, the reflection upon experience, is a central aspect of this course and reflects the hypothesis that some of the dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises can be experienced by individuals in a group learning situation when they are approached in a critical and prayerful way.

This course focuses on the psychological dynamics of spiritual direction as a helping relationship, as well as the cultivation of communication skills needed to be an effective spiritual director. Principal topics to be covered include the following: how spiritual direction differs from psychotherapy; the importance of self-knowledge and personal awareness on the part of helpers; the nature of empathic understanding and its relationship to psychological and spiritual growth; basic counseling skills.

The art of spiritual direction is best fostered through practice and reflection on that practice in a supervisory setting. This course will give students an opportunity to grow in spiritual direction skills, self-awareness, and interior freedom under the guidance of experienced spiritual directors.

This course familiarizes students with the language of Christian moral discourse. By focusing on methodological issues and the sources informing Christians about their moral life, students identify the complex personal dynamics of being and becoming Christian.

A study of the last one hundred years of Catholic social teachings, including papal encyclicals from Leo XIII to John Paul II, conciliar documents from Vatican II, and statements and letters issued by episcopal conferences and episcopal synods.

This course examines the writings of rival moral theologians today and their competing perspectives. Particular practical problems to be discussed vary and may include business ethics, sexual ethics, war and peace, and social ethics.

This course will introduce the student to the basic theological concepts, frameworks, and analyses that have been used by both Catholic and Protestant theologians in their discussions of bioethics. Topics such as assisted reproductive technologies, abortion, genetic control, care of severely handicapped neonates, death and dying, and the meaning and application of "quality of life" to contemporary issues will be discussed in both lecture and seminar formats.

Bioethics represents a complex intellectual phenomenon in the canon of newly emerging disciplines. Although an established academic field, it still struggles to find a formal and coherent methodology for the analysis of ethical problems triggered by advances in medicine and the life sciences. The course introduces students to the historical, theoretical, and thematic dimensions of bioethics. More specifically, the course looks at historical contribution of theologians and philosophers to bioethics; it addresses the theoretical challenges of bioethics as an interdisciplinary field, with an emphasis on dominant theories in bioethics; and, finally, it touches upon the main topics of bioethics, including medical experimentation, assisted reproductive technologies, genetics, transplantation, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.

This course introduces students to the theories and problems of moral philosophy, comprising both a historical and a systematic component. Main versions of ethics will be studies, including natural law and virtue ethics, deontological and consequentialist theories. Students will understand the function and importance of ethical frameworks for the articulation of bioethical problems.

The course looks at bioethical questions that concern the beginnings of life. Topics include the ethics of abortion, maternal fetal conflicts, ethical problems in perinatology and neonatology, as well as the ethical judgment on the entire field of assisted reproductive medicine-from in vitro fertilization, to surrogate motherhood, gamete storage techniques, and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. There is also a clinical component to this class that offers students with an opportunity for engaged learning. Students will be exposed to decision-making in the clinical setting of obstetrics and neonatology departments at various hospitals.

The increasing medicalization of the dying process poses new ethical problems to health care professionals and patients alike. This course looks at the bioethical problems that concern the end of life. Topics include ethical criteria for withholding and withdrawing treatments, palliative care, proxy decision making for incompetent patients, as well as the controversial questions, newly emerging in both the clinical realm and the law, of assisted suicide and euthanasia. This class will entail a clinical component as well. Students will be exposed to decision-making in the clinical setting of the Intensive Care Unit at various hospitals or in nursing homes.

A review of the biblical, historical and theological sources for constructing a theology of pastoral ministry which is appropriate to various contemporary pastoral settings and functions. The relationship between pastoral theology and other branches of theology is considered.

An exploration of, and reflection on, the history and theory of Christian religious education, treating the relationship between religious education and allied fields of pastoral care, liturgy, justice and service activities which serve to foster the development of faith.

This course, involving both theoretical and experiential learning, focuses on personal and interpersonal dynamics and skills that foster effective pastoral ministry. Topics include the spiritual formation of ministers, collaborative ministry, facilitating prayer, and a generic helping process for spiritual direction, pastoral counseling, and formation in various pastoral settings.

This course offers the student an exploration of theories that can inform pastoral leaders about the exercise of effective leadership in pastoral settings and communities of faith. The course is an elective open to all students, but is required for the Concentration in Pastoral Leadership in the M.A. in Pastoral Theology.

This seminar seeks to foster a stronger link between academic learning and the personal and professional concerns of students especially as related to pastoral ministry.

This course examines the role of liturgy in the lives of Christians and their communities, exploring the tensions between liturgical norms and liturgy as practiced and experienced.

This course focuses on the history, theology, and practice of Roman Catholic parishes in the United States. As an exercise in practical theology, students reflect on the lived practices in parishes and the theology of the church that emerges therefrom.

This course offers foundational concepts and skills required for effectiveness in ministry that is contextual, collaborative, intercultural, and faithful to Christian tradition. In a dialogical classroom context that models collaborative ministry, THST6078 seeks to engage students in theological reflection and ministry skill development. It helps students reflect on required supervised field education experiences either at their full-time ministry or in some other approved ministry environment. It aims to enable students to weave together theological, ministerial, and educational insights and understandings.

Students in theology and pastoral theology study and construct a theological response to immigration and the struggles of contemporary immigrants. Students will begin by studying the context of immigration today and then examine Christian ethics and theologies of migration. The course will culminate with a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border and discuss public theology and pastoral responses.

This course provides a review of the historical roots of the current situation of religious pluralism. It examines and evaluates relevant methodological proposals for comparative theology and clarifies the relationship of comparative theology to interreligious dialogue, the history of religions and the Christian theology of religions. It also offers an opportunity to engage in the practice of comparative theology through the interpretation of texts.

This course begins with a comparative survey of ethics as found in the world's religious traditions. Specific issues such as war and peace, euthanasia, and environmentalism are then examined.

In this course, Christian mysticism as found in the writings of Teresa of Avila and Meister Eckhart is compared and contrasted with the interior traditions of India and East Asia, including Samkhya, Yoga, Taoism, and Yogacara Buddhism.

This course investigates primary sources, including the Rig Veda, the Upanisads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Yoga Sutra.

This course studies primary texts and history of Buddhism, with emphasis on theological praxis.

This course entails the reading of primary texts in the original language.May be repeated twice for degree credit.

This course studies primary texts and history of Jainism, with emphasis on theological praxis.

This course explores Judaism from ancient through modern times. It examines central ideas, practices, thinkers, texts, places, and events in Jewish history, with special attention to the relationships between Judaism and other religions.

The pro-seminar provides an orientation to various theological methods, tools, and modes of discourse in theological and pastoral studies (biblical, historical, systematic, moral, comparative, and pastoral theology).

Through this seminar, students complete their capstone project for the M.A. in Pastoral Theology. The pastoral synthesis project is a 30-40 page paper where the student reflects systematically and comprehensively upon a pastoral challenge or dilemma, analyzing the historical, social, and cultural context that provokes said dilemma, and demonstrating their comprehensive knowledge of the theoretical foundations that undergird a Christian response.

This seminar prepares and assists students in the writing of a M.A. thesis as a capstone project for the M.A. (Theology).

This course will provide students the opportunity to explore multiple liberation theologies. It will pay special attention to how thinkers within specific contexts center experience through theological discourse, to imagine a different world. Students in this class will be asked to immerse themselves within the multiple worlds/environments (i.e., historical embeddedness and socioeconomics), forms of embodiment (race, gender, sexuality, and ability), schools of thought (marxist, ecological, theistic, non-theistic, etc.), and geopolitical landscapes associated with the varying degrees of constructive liberative discourse. The recurring questions of this course will be: What does it mean to be free? What does it mean to be liberated?