Course Descriptions

This is an introductory course to philosophy in the Catholic tradition which provides a general philosophical perspective on the following diverse philosophical topics: the nature of reality, theory of knowledge, the existence and nature of God, the idea of beauty, personal and social ethics, freedom and personal identity. The course also gives special attention to the relationship between reason and faith and to the relevance of philosophy in theological studies. This course is a prerequisite to further studies in the philosophy concentration of the PMIN degree program

This course focuses on classical logic and considers the basic concepts in logic in light of metaphysical principles. It examines the three basic acts of the human mind and their respective mental products, namely simple apprehension – concepts, judging – judgments, and reasoning – arguments. The course is designed to develop critical thinking and an ability to present the truth of the faith. 
Prerequisite: PMIN 1310

This course introduces the discipline of theology, including its methods, sources and practice. It also presents the relationship of theology to evangelization, cathechesis, dogma and the Church's Magisterium. Special emphasis will be given to the Catholic understanding of divine revelation and to the interpretation of Scripture.

Students are introduced to the theology and practice of the liturgy in Christian life. Students become familiar with the historical and theological foundations of Catholic liturgy and the theological meaning of liturgical actions, gestures, rituals and symbols in the Mass. Students explore key liturgical documents, including Sacrosanctum Concilium, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and other important works. 

This course introduces students to theology through an in-depth study of the Creed. It examines tenets of Catholic doctrinal statements in light of Scripture and the living Tradition of the Church. The course provides an overview of the theological concepts inherent in the Creed, such as: Divine Revelation, The Trinity, Human Nature and Destiny, Original Sin, the Incarnation, Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Church.  
Prerequisite: PMIN 1310

This course offers a survey of the history, literature and theology of the Old Testament, and the Hebrew Scriptures, with an emphasis on interpretation and methodological approaches (i.e., historical, literary and social criticism). Students are introduced to literary analysis of various OT texts after acquiring a knowledge of their historical contexts. Students also learn practical tools for interpretation such as scholarly resources for exegesis. 
Prerequisite: PMIN 1320

Beginning with Thales and ending with Plotinus, students examine the major philosophers of ancient Greece and Rome with special emphasis on their metaphysics, view of the human person and human knowledge, ethics, and the nature and existence of God. This course examines the influence of these thinkers on later philosophers and on Christian theology. 
Prerequisite: PMIN 1310

Students examine major Western philosophical thinkers from the fifth through the fourteenth centuries. Students explore neo-Platonic metaphysics of St. Augustine and the synthesis of St. Thomas Aquinas as well as the Jewish and Arab thinkers who influenced him. Major themes include their views of being, the human person, human knowledge, morality and God. 
Prerequisite: PMIN 1310

This course will survey the New Testament, including the Synoptic Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Johannine literature, the Pauline literature, the Letter to the Hebrews and the "catholic epistles." Students will be familiarized with the application of key exegetical and hermeneutical methods and theories and undertake critical assessments of them. The theological-historical meaning of the New Testament will be stressed.  
Prerequisite: PMIN 2320

Students examine philosophical reflection on nature, covering fundamental principles such as substance and accident, form and matter, and causality and motion. These topics provide a solid foundation for the second part of the course, which deals with the study of being as being. The course also offers a general introduction to metaphysics, focusing on the transcendental aspects of being. 
Prerequisite: PMIN 1310

This course introduces students to the major historical events in the evolution of the Catholic Church, from Constantine to the Council of Trent. It contextualizes these events within a broad review of Western history. The course topics illustrate how this history relates to the present state of the Church and its relationship to society. It is appropriate for all students in the Philosophy, Catechetics and Catholic Leadership concentrations. The course may not be repeated for credit. 
Prerequisite: The student should have taken a course in world history before taking this course. 
Prerequisite: PMIN 1310

Students examine the central European philosophers from the 16th through the early 19th centuries with emphasis on their theories of knowledge and the justification of belief. Students explore continental rationalists and British empiricists, with attention to some influential metaphysical and ethical positions of particular relevance to Christian theology. 
Prerequisite: PMIN 1310 AND PMIN 2323

Students explore major schools of twentieth century philosophy, such as existentialism, Marxism, logical positivism, process philosophy, phenomenology and structuralism. Students will examine and critique enduring and influential themes. 
Prerequisite: PMIN 3325

This course will guide students in using social theory to explore and understand cultural and religious patterns that define contemporary U.S. society. Drawing from history and modern mass media, students will identify and analyze social values, attitudes, mindsets, norms and behaviors that define U.S. culture. The course will study the cultural characteristics of Native Americans, Euro-Americans, Anglo-Saxons, African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and other groups that shape the unique identify of the United States as a pluralistic society.

This course delves into what it means to be human according to several philosophical theories. Topics discussed include personal identity, consciousness, emotions, death, immortality, freedom, determinism and cybernetics. 
Prerequisite: PMIN 1310 AND PMIN 2342

Students explore Trinitarian theology and Christology. The course pre-supposes a broad catechetical understanding of the Catholic faith and the course presents the major themes of Trinitarian theology and Christology in the Catholic theological tradition while drawing upon the student's other knowledge, especially philosophy. Major themes are drawn from Scriptural foundations, the Patristic age including the Trinitarian and Christological controversies, and the Scholastic formulations. This course encourages the integration of knowledge and critical thinking skills. 
Prerequisite: PMIN 1320 AND PMIN 3380

This course introduces the theological foundations of the Catholic moral tradition. Students will apply the principles of moral theology to personal and social issues. Particular attention will be given to the Church's social teaching. Specific social issues will vary, but will generally focus on contemporary issues in U.S. Catholicism, e.g. abortion, stem cell research, marriage and immigration. 
Prerequisite: PMIN 1320

Natural Theology (or Theodicy) is that part of philosophy in which students explore God and the attributes of God in the light of reason. Students examine the existence of God by way of cosmological and ontological arguments. It considers some classical demonstrations of the existence of God with a special emphasis on the five ways of St. Thomas Aquinas. Students end by examining God's essence and divine operations. 
Prerequisite: PMIN 1310 AND PMIN 2342 AND PMIN 3384 AND PMIN 4386

This course provides an exposure to the rich, multicultural spiritual traditions of Catholicism. The primary goal is to introduce students to various examples of spirituality and modes of prayer throughout the Church’s history. These include the spiritualities of religious orders such as the Benedictines, the Franciscans and the Carmelites. The course will also review the works of St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. John of the Cross and St. Theresa of Avila, St. Francis de Sales and other more contemporary authors.

This course introduces the student to the nature of the moral act and of moral knowledge. It studies current major ethical theories and assesses their strengths and weaknesses. Particular attention is given to the ethics of St. Thomas Aquinas and its relevance for making decisions on contemporary issues. Among the topics studied are conscience, rights, virtue, natural law and justice.  
Prerequisites: PMIN 1310, 3384 and 4375 

This course is an introduction to a Catholic understanding of the Church. It presents the major themes of ecclesiology, including the development of the Church's doctrine on the Church from Scripture, the Patristics, Scholastics and contemporary teaching, particularly the Second Vatican Council's Lumen Gentium. The major themes will include faith and culture, ecumenics and inter-religious dialogue. This course draws from the student's other knowledge, especially philosophy and history. It serves as an opportunity for the students to integrate their knowledge and to demonstrate critical thinking skills at a mature level. This course is appropriate for upper-division students in the Catholic Philosophy, Catechetics and Leadership concentration. 
Prerequisite: PMIN 3381 AND PMIN 3385