Subject: Catholic Studies (UG) (CATH)

CRN: 20840

In Person | Lecture

St Paul: Sitzmann Hall 207

Requirements Met:
     Writing in the Discipline

  Annie Thompson

This course provides a critical investigation into the quest for meaning and happiness as found in the Catholic tradition. Beginning with fundamental Catholic claims about what it means to be a human being, this course explores the call to beatitude in materials from several disciplines, including theology, philosophy, literature, and art, as well as ancient, medieval, and contemporary sources. Topics explored include a consideration of human persons in relation to divine persons, the supernatural end to human life, the human person as experiencing desire and suffering, the Christian paradox that joy may be found in the giving of one's self, and the search for happiness through friendship and love. Through all these topics, the course particularly examines the question, "What is the specifically unique character of Christian happiness?"

4 Credits

Subject: Catholic Studies (UG) (CATH)

CRN: 20841

In Person | Lecture

St Paul: Sitzmann Hall 207

Requirements Met:
     Writing in the Discipline

Instructor: TBD

This course provides a critical investigation into the quest for meaning and happiness as found in the Catholic tradition. Beginning with fundamental Catholic claims about what it means to be a human being, this course explores the call to beatitude in materials from several disciplines, including theology, philosophy, literature, and art, as well as ancient, medieval, and contemporary sources. Topics explored include a consideration of human persons in relation to divine persons, the supernatural end to human life, the human person as experiencing desire and suffering, the Christian paradox that joy may be found in the giving of one's self, and the search for happiness through friendship and love. Through all these topics, the course particularly examines the question, "What is the specifically unique character of Christian happiness?"

4 Credits

Subject: Catholic Studies (UG) (CATH)

CRN: 20843

In Person | Lecture

St Paul: In Person

Core Requirements Met:
     [Core] Integ/Humanities

  Robert Kennedy

This course explores from an interdisciplinary perspective the history of the Catholic Church as it interacts with the secular world and is shaped by its dominant personalities and events. No other institution in history has survived, and flourished, for so long and in the face of so many challenges. This course will critically reflect upon the history of the Church, from its origins in the Apostolic Age to the modern period, as a series of cycles with a common pattern of creativity, achievement, and retreat. Students may expect to complete the course with an awareness and understanding of the major personalities and events, secular and ecclesial, that have shaped the life of the Church. Prerequisite: CATH 101

4 Credits

Subject: Catholic Studies (UG) (CATH)

CRN: 20844

In Person | Lecture

St Paul: Sitzmann Hall 207

Core Requirements Met:
     [Core] Diversity/Soc Just

  Robert Kennedy

This course explores a variety of Catholic identities that have emerged over the course of American history. We will not only grapple with the distinct historical experiences, spiritual and social practices, and cultural expressions of these identities, but will also try to grasp their fundamental unity as manifestations of the universal Church. We will particularly focus upon historically marginalized or underrepresented Catholic identities in the context of the United States, and the significance of their contributions to the nation and the Church. Our method will be interdisciplinary: students may expect to encounter literature, history, theology, political philosophy, film, visual art, and music.

4 Credits

Subject: Catholic Studies (UG) (CATH)

CRN: 20845

In Person | Lecture

St Paul: Sitzmann Hall 207

Core Requirements Met:
     [Core] Diversity/Soc Just

  Robert Kennedy

This course explores a variety of Catholic identities that have emerged over the course of American history. We will not only grapple with the distinct historical experiences, spiritual and social practices, and cultural expressions of these identities, but will also try to grasp their fundamental unity as manifestations of the universal Church. We will particularly focus upon historically marginalized or underrepresented Catholic identities in the context of the United States, and the significance of their contributions to the nation and the Church. Our method will be interdisciplinary: students may expect to encounter literature, history, theology, political philosophy, film, visual art, and music.

4 Credits

Subject: Catholic Studies (UG) (CATH)

CRN: 20846

In Person | Lecture

St Paul: Sitzmann Hall 207

Requirements Met:
     Catholic Studies Traditions

  Erika Kidd

This course takes an interdisciplinary look at one of the most important figures of Catholicism—Mary, the Mother of God. Drawing on philosophy, theology, poetry, music, and the visual arts, we will focus on three key moments in Mary’s life as mother: the Annunciation, the Nativity, and the Stabat Mater (Mary at the foot of the cross). These culturally and historically diverse depictions of Mary set the stage for an investigation into the meaning of her role, within Catholicism as a whole and within the lives of individual Christians.

4 Credits

Subject: Catholic Studies (UG) (CATH)

CRN: 20847

In Person | Lecture

St Paul: In Person

  Annie Thompson

This course provides an in-depth exploration of how literature engages Christian thought, experience, and practice and how a reader engages works of imaginative literature from an intellectually serious Christian perspective. The course will also provide an introduction to theories in the interdisciplinary field of religion and literature. Religious themes studied will come from a variety of literary forms, including those of myth, history, parable, short story, essay, children's literature, poem, and novel. The literature chosen may reflect a variety of cultural backgrounds so that, among other things, we may consider how meaning may be affected by changes in worldview. Specific topics vary; accordingly, credit may be earned more than once for this course number. This course fulfills the Contexts and Convergences requirement in the English major. NOTE: This is a cross-listed course; there are 15 seats on the CATH 334 side and 10 seats on the ENGL 334 side. Prerequisites: ENGL 120, 121, or 190. 

4 Credits

Subject: Catholic Studies (UG) (CATH)

CRN: 20848

In Person | Lecture

St Paul: Sitzmann Hall 207

Core Requirements Met:
     [Core] Integ/Humanities

Other Requirements Met:
     [Core] Signature Work

  Michael Naughton

This course provides an investigation into the ways in which Catholicism is inherently social and ecclesial. Its specific focus is on the Christian engagement with the world. The course's framework will be taken from the analysis of society into three spheres of action (culture, politics, and economics) as described in Centesimus annus. We will examine the ways that Revelation, the sacramental life, and the teachings of the Church call Catholics to seek holiness and to witness to their faith in the world. Specific topics may include social and economic justice, politics and public policy, lay and religious apostolates, education, and marriage and family. Course materials may include resources from philosophy, theology, history, economics, and political science.

4 Credits

Subject: Catholic Studies (UG) (CATH)

CRN: 20849

In Person | Lecture

St Paul: In Person

  Billy Junker

The subject matter of these courses will vary from year to year, but will not duplicate existing courses. Descriptions of these courses are available in Classfinder, View Searchable Class Schedule

2 Credits

Subject: Catholic Studies (UG) (CATH)

CRN: 20850

In Person | Lecture

St Paul: In Person

Requirements Met:
     [Core] Signature Work

  Billy Junker

This interdisciplinary Catholic Studies/literature course explores Dante Alighierl's Divine Comedy in its literary, historical, theological, religious, political, and linguistic contexts. The course studies in critical detail the complete text of the Commedia in English as well as portions of related works such as Dante's La Vita Nuova. Throughout the course, particular attention will be paid to the Divine Comedy's Catholic Christian themes.

4 Credits

Subject: English (UG) (ENGL)

CRN: 21098

In Person | Lecture

St Paul: In Person

Requirements Met:
     Writing to learn

  Annie Thompson

This course provides an in-depth exploration of how literature engages Christian thought, experience, and practice and how a reader engages works of imaginative literature from an intellectually serious Christian perspective. The course will also provide an introduction to theories in the interdisciplinary field of religion and literature. Religious themes studied will come from a variety of literary forms, including those of myth, history, parable, short story, essay, children's literature, poem, and novel. The literature chosen may reflect a variety of cultural backgrounds so that, among other things, we may consider how meaning may be affected by changes in worldview. Specific topics vary; accordingly, credit may be earned more than once for this course number. This course fulfills the Contexts and Convergences requirement in the English major. NOTE: This is a cross-listed course; there are 10 seats on the ENGL 334 side and 15 seats on the CATH 334 side. Prerequisites: ENGL 120, 121, or 190. 

4 Credits