Curriculum Offerings of Theology Departments
About this article
What is the sequence of courses offered in other theology departments? This summary lists the course sequence of ten four-year programs offered by Catholic high schools across the United States. If your school has a different sequence, send it to Kat so it can be added to the article.
For a couple of years, Saint Mary’s Press sponsored a listserv discussion group online. Discussions on a variety of topics were pursued via e-mail. In this section of the web site, I summarize some of the highlights from these old files. Because some people identified themselves only by an e-mail address, I cannot give specific credit to individuals for the ideas listed below. Because this site wishes to promote a spirit of professional sharing, I believe it is appropriate and fitting that these ideas be passed along.
Whenever I attend a workshop or gathering of theology teachers, one of the first questions asked is about curriculum. What courses are offered and in what sequence? It never ceases to amaze me that we are all basically teaching the same content! There may be different course titles and some schools may offer more electives, but the core remains just that. Nevertheless it is interesting to note what other schools are doing and on what level. What follows below are some of the postings from the listserv. Please remember that our discussion forum is available for any topic for which you would like to ask for feedback. Send in your school’s sequence and I’ll add it to this article for easy reference.
Freshman–Old and New Testaments
Sophomore–world religions and church history
Junior–moral issues and peacemakers
Senior–women’s spirituality and Christian womanhood
Freshman—introduction to Catholicism, Hebrew Scriptures
Sophomore—Christian Scriptures, sacraments
Junior—morality and social justice
Senior—lifestyles and Catholic faith life: past and present
Freshman—understanding Catholic Christianity, sexuality, Hebrew Scriptures
Sophomore—Christology, church history
Junior—sacraments and liturgy, Catholic morality
Senior—Christian living, social justice, service
Freshman—Old and New Testaments
Sophomore—morality and social teaching
Junior—world religions
Senior—philosophy, morality, and justice
Freshman—understanding Catholic Christianity, sexuality
Sophomore—Hebrew Scriptures, Christian Testament
Junior—morality, one elective: world religions, social justice, sacraments, faith and doctrine
Senior—Christian lifestyles, one elective: death and resurrection, women and the church, world religions, social justice, sacraments, faith and doctrine
Freshman—prayer and celebration, ethics I (morality)
Sophomore—Old Testament, ethics II (social justice)
Junior—New Testament, choice between women in the church or church history
Senior—Christian living, choice between world religions or women’s spirituality
Freshman—introduction to Catholic Christianity, Old Testament
Sophomore—New Testament, sacraments
Junior—morality, social justice
Senior—Christian lifestyles, world religions
Freshman—self-esteem/identity, church
Sophomore—Hebrew Scriptures, Christian Testament
Junior—morality, spirituality
Senior—social justice, Christian lifestyles
Freshman—Old Testament, sexuality
Sophomore—New Testament, church
Junior—morality, social justice
Senior—world religions, Christian lifestyles
Freshman—Christian identity and ministry
Sophomore—Old Testament, morality
Junior—New Testament, church
Senior—Christian lifestyles, social justice