Catholic Studies

An introduction to Catholic studies, the course focuses on a survey of major developments in the history of the Catholic Church: Early Christianity, the Papacy, Ecumenical Councils, Mission, Internal Reforms, Reformation and Counter-Reformation, the Enlightenment, World Wars, and the Catholic Church today. Intertwined in this chronology are several themes: Freedom, Faith and Reason, Concepts of History, Sacraments, Spirituality, and Faith. Credit will be granted for only one of CATH 101 or CATH 100. Three credits.

This course will trace the evolution of the Catholic doctrine of angels, or ‘angelology.’ As a parallel to angelology, we will also study the nature and role of demons in Catholicism. By the end of the course, we will examine what the contemporary Church teaches about the role of angels in everyday life, about demons, and exorcism. Consideration of the testimony of other faiths – particularly Judaism and Islam – will also help us to cultivate a complete understanding of angels in Catholicism. Three credits.

The topic for 2025-2026 is The Bible as Literature – The Hebrew Bible. This course introduces students to the Bible as a great work of literature. We will focus on careful readings of selections from the Hebrew Scriptures (also referred to as the Old Testament). At the same time, we will examine various methods of Biblical criticism, typology, and the history of the Bible. We will read several of the most influential stories, identifying their literary styles, their linguistic and theological concerns, and their influence on society. Cross-listed as ENGL 298. Three credits.

This course will trace Catholic themes and ideas about Catholicism in literary, musical, architectural, or artistic works from the beginnings of Christianity to the early Renaissance. Credit will be granted for only one of CATH 331, CATH 330 or ART 331. Cross-listed as ART 331. Three credits.