Theology

Department: Theology
Department Chair: Russell Connors
Program Option: B.A.

The theology major at St. Kate’s offers opportunities to reflect on historical and theological aspects of religious experiences, practice and traditions, particularly, but not exclusively, within the Judeo-Christian framework. If you choose theology as your major, you will investigate the biblical, historical, liturgical and doctrinal traditions of Christianity and also will become acquainted with the moral issues, spiritual aspirations and intellectual journeys of contemporary believers. The theology major is very flexible, which allows you to pursue those areas of study that you find most intriguing.

Theology majors find that many job opportunities await in youth ministry, social justice ministry and religious education ministry. Many students select theology as a second major or a minor, in combination with work in another area such as communications, education, history, literature, nursing, philosophy, psychology or social work. St. Kate’s theology majors have pursued a range of careers, putting their knowledge and skills to work in many different ways, including founding a facility for AIDS patients, working as a self-employed marriage and family therapist, working as a spiritual director, founding speaker series and facilitating grief groups.

Outstanding theology students may be invited to join Theta Alpha Kappa, the national theology honor society.

In addition to the major and minor, certificates in pastoral ministry and catechetical ministry are offered by the Department of Theology in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. These certificate programs prepare students for ministry in church and society. They integrate three necessary components of effective ministry: theological depth, pastoral experience and faith-based spirituality. You may earn each of these certificates either with or without a baccalaureate degree.

If you are interested in teaching religion (especially in the Catholic high school system), you will want to complete the teaching high school religion concentration in addition to the major. The state of Minnesota does not offer licensure in teaching religion.

St. Kate’s theology faculty members are outstanding teachers, respected scholars and involved professionals and community members. They are highly published, with more than 15 books and hundreds of journal articles and book reviews to their credit in the last decade. St. Kate’s faculty also are active in the community and professional organizations, present often to external groups on their areas of expertise, and are known for their scholarly excellence and their ability to make theology meaningful by translating it into students’ everyday lives.

The Center for Women and Spirituality at the College of St. Catherine is a wonderful resource for theology majors. The Center seeks to develop and strengthen scholarship and programs for the study and understanding of spirituality in women’s lives. It serves as a resource for scholars and others in the United States and around the world who are interested in women’s spirituality. The Center invites and encourages student involvement and supports a number of projects.

LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCE CORE REQUIREMENT IN THEOLOGY

All candidates for the B.A. and B.S. degrees are required to take at least one course in theology. This must be a course that offers students an intellectual account of some of the key elements of Christian theological tradition. Given the Catholic identity of the College, courses in Catholic theology are preferred. Nevertheless, theology courses from other institutions that reflect theological content and methodology similar to Roman Catholicism may also fulfill this requirement. Consultation with the chair of the Theology Department in this matter is appropriate. THEO 1000 and all 2000-level theology courses at the College fulfill this requirement. Note also that THEO 1000 is intended for first-time (not necessarily first-year) students of theology or students not very familiar with Christian theology. Students entering the College who have some familiarity with Christian faith and theology would be better served by enrolling in a 2000-level course.

See also: Master of Arts in Theology, Master of Arts in Theology/Master of Social Work dual degree, Spiritual Direction Certificate (information about all of these programs, as well as the graduate level Catechetical Ministry and Pastoral Ministry certificates, can be found in the College’s graduate catalog).

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Eight theology courses, of which at least four must be at the 3000-level or higher. Students interested in the major should plan an integrated program with their faculty advisor.

You apply for admission to the major after taking at least three theology courses from at least two different instructors. Application forms are available in 220 Whitby Hall, the office of the department assistant.
Graduating theology majors are required to submit a portfolio to the Theology Department that displays their work in theology; further details about this requirement are provided by faculty advisors.

TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL RELIGION CONCENTRATION

The Theology Department, in concert with the Education Department, offers a concentration in teaching high school religion. This major concentration combination is designed to help students begin the ministry of teaching religion at the high school level. The concentration assumes that students fulfill all the requirements for the theology major. Theology majors seeking this concentration must take at least 10 courses in theology, including the six required theology courses listed below plus four additional 3000-level theology courses. They must also complete the education courses and the required supporting courses listed below.

Required theology courses:
THEO 2050 Old Testament Studies
THEO 2100 New Testament Studies
THEO 2200 Christian Ethics
THEO 2400 The Identity and Mission of Jesus Christ
THEO 2600 The Mystery of the Church
THEO 2800 Christian Sacramentality

Recommended courses:
THEO 2000 Stages of Christian Life
THEO 2120 Faith
THEO 2750 Christian Spirituality
THEO 2850 Social Justice: A Christian Perspective
THEO 3020 Pastoral Theology

Education courses:
EDUC 2070 Teachers as Leaders for a Changing Society
EDUC 2090 General Methods, Secondary
EDUC 2490 School Health and Chemical Health
EDUC 3520 Teaching of Religion
EDUC 4954 Independent Study: Teaching Religion, Secondary

Required supporting course:
PSYC 2025 Lifespan Developmental Psychology
Theology majors fulfill the Writing Requirement for Majors by taking any one of the 3000-level theology courses that are designated as writing intensive. You complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Writing Requirement with three other writing-intensive courses (CORE 1000 and CORE 3990, and any other writing-intensive course in this or another department).

URL: http://minerva.stkate.edu/academiccatalog0709.nsf/pages/theology
This page was created on 05/03/2007 and last updated on 05/03/2007.
Comments, questions and feedback about this site may be addressed to registrar@stkate.edu.