Fall 2025

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DOCTRINE | SCRIPTURE | LANGUAGES | PASTORAL THEOLOGY | HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY | MORAL THEOLOGY | SPIRITUALITY | COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS | FIELD EDUCATION | LITURGY | LITURGICAL MUSIC | ONLINE COURSES

Most face-to-face courses are available for on-line/Synchronous participation.

Please note your preference by choosing section 01A for face-to-face classes, section 01B for remote SYNCH classes. 

DOCTRINE

Trinity/Faith/Revelation

William Orbih | DOCT 407| 3 credits
6:00-9:15 PM (Wednesday)   Synchronous Course 

This course explores the emergence and development of the doctrine of the Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity represents the Christian way of naming the mystery of God, how this mystery is shared in history, and the pastoral/practical consequences that follow as a result of this sharing. The course surveys the biblical, philosophical, sociological, and theological landscape that has contributed to this doctrine from early Christianity to contemporary times.

Ecclesiology

Kristin Colberg | DOCT 408| 3 credits
1:15-4:30 PM  (Thursday)    Synchronous Course 

This course examines the nature and structure of the Roman Catholic Church from its apostolic origins to the present. Various models used in understanding the Church will be studied (e.g. the Church as communion, the Church as sacrament, etc.) The local and universal nature of the Church, and issues related to magisterium, authority, evangelization, ministry, and missiology will be discussed.

SCRIPTURE

Johannine Tradition

Micah Kiel | SSNT 424 | 3 credits

8:00-11:15 AM  (Monday)     Synchronous Course

This course will offer an exploration of the unique voice offered by John in the New Testament canon, with robust investigation into the fourth gospel’s inherited traditions and literary character.  It will examine the specific theological arguments made by this author and analyze the place of Johannine Christianity within the diversity of Christianities in the first and second centuries, especially as traced into the Johannine Epistles. 

Reading the Old Testament

Dale Launderville, OSB | SSOT 400 | 3 credits
8:00-11:15 AM  (Tuesday)   Synchronous Course 

The Israelites forged their identity as a people and sustained their common bonds through interaction and communication with YHWH. This course will examine the testimony of the Old Testament to this relational dynamic between YHWH, the people, and their leaders through the exegesis of representative texts from the Pentateuch, the Prophets, and the Writings.

PASTORAL THEOLOGY

Theology and Practice of Ministry

Daniella Zsupan-Jerome | PTHM 405| 3 credits

8:00 AM-11:15 AM (Thursday)  Synchronous Course 

Utilizing practical theology methodology, this course introduces students to theological foundations for ministry, including historical and contemporary theologies of ordained and lay ministry. Students will explore the vocational call to ministry as well as the spiritual, human, and pastoral foundations for ministry. Finally, students will identify the theological principles that are foundational to their ministerial leadership.

Pastoral Care:  Grief, Illness, Healing

Hollie Holt-Woehl| PTHM 409 | 3 credits
6:00-9:15 PM   (Monday)     Synchronous Course

Pastoral care is the ministry of compassion for the well-being of persons and communities. Traditionally the ministry has included four dimensions of care: healing, guiding, sustaining, and reconciling. This class focuses on healing and sustaining in the midst of loss, grief, illness, dying, and elder care and is grounded in a theology of Christ the healer and good shepherd.

Homiletics

Frank Agnoli | PTHM 417 | 3 credits
Tuesday, 8/26 Opening Zoom Meeting 6:00-8:00 PM

Saturdays    9/20, 9/27, 10/18, 10/25

8:30 AM-3:30 PM   (Saturday)     Synchronous Course

Development of speaking, reading, and preaching skills at the eucharist and in other liturgical contexts such as marriage, baptism, funerals.

Ministry at the Margins

Deepan Rajaratnam|  PTHM 468G | 3 credits
1:15-4:30 PM   (Wednesday)        Synchronous Course 

This course explores margins at the ministry through the lens of a theology and practice of accompaniment that not only begins with systematic listening but also faithful seeing. Taking culture and place as a starting point, the course draws on theological and social scientific resources to discern: 1) who are the poor within a cultural context and 2) how different intersectionalities including caste/race, class, and sex make people poor within a cultural context. To equip students for ministry and accompaniment at the margins, students will develop a greater self-understanding of their own cultural identity and social location. Equipped with this self-understanding and a pastoral imagination informed by Pope Francis’ teaching on mission and his social magisterium, students will explore practices of self and communal transformation that can help the Church center the periphery.

HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY

History of Christianity I

Ben Durheim | HCHR 402   | 3 credits
1:00-2:30 PM   (Monday and Wednesday)        Synchronous Course

This course will examine the development of the Christian tradition, including the expression of seminal doctrines within the Christian church, from its origins to the eleventh century.  The course will explore the main trends of development of the institution and primary doctrines of the church within the larger philosophical, social, and political contexts of th first millenium, paying attention to the ways in which the lived experience of Christian peoples informs and shapes its thinking.

MORAL THEOLOGY

Virtue Ethics

Matthew Sherman | MORL  428 | 3 credits
1:15-4:25 PM  (Monday)         Synchronous Course 

Virtue ethics is a rich strand of the Catholic ethical tradition. The discipline begins with a simple, common human question: what is it to be happy? Christianity proposes a distinctive answer. This this course, we will begin with questions about the good life, continue by examining the role of the passions in making us happy, and finally focus on the virtues as constitutive of human happiness/flourishing. Our readings draw from a range of authors — Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, and contemporary theologians. The point of the course is to help students become conversant in this intellectual tradition and articulate in sharing it with others.

SPIRITUALITY and MONASTIC STUDIES

Christian Prayer

Michael Rubbelke | SPIR 431 | 3 credits

8:30 AM – 3:30 PM  (Saturday)                                                    Synchronous Course 

Tuesday, 8/26 Opening Zoom Meeting 6:00-8:00 PM

Saturdays    9/6, 10/4, 11/1, 11/22

8:30 AM – 3:30 PM  (Saturday)                                                    Synchronous Course 

A study of the place of prayer in Christian life, with special emphasis on the Our Father, using various classical commentaries as a case in point. Theological problems and considerations related to doctrine of prayer are included, e.g. discernment in prayer, content of prayer, polarities in prayer (such as its apophatic and mystical, individual and communitarian, sacramental and liturgical aspects), and laws of the spiritual life emanating from teachings on prayer.

History of Benedictines in America

Judith Sutera, OSB | MONS 449 / SPIR 449 | 1 credit

On-line Synchronous Course:  Instructor and Students will all be on Zoom Conference

6:00-8:30  PM   (Wednesday)                                                           Synchronous Course 

Wednesdays     10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20

Early Monastic Lives

Markina Finlay, OSB | MONS 468A | 3 credits
8:00-11:15 AM   (Wednesday and Friday)         

Special schedule

SYNCH class, all participants and instructor on-line – 8/27, 8/29, 9/3

In-person and remote students – September 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 October 1, 3, 8, 10

Two other class meetings TBD    ZOOM       8:00-11:00 AM  All on zoom 

Project Work October 20-November 14; Class ends November 21

This course considers the influences of Monastic Lives written between the 4 th and 7 th century, and places them in their literary, historical and theological contexts. It focusses especially on three Lives written by renowned church fathers: Athanasius’ Life of St. Antony, Gregory of Nyssa’s Life of St. Macrina and the Second book of Gregory the Great’s Dialogues. It considers ways in which the authors’ wider theological positions are conveyed in the Lives as well as ways these monastic Lives shed light on how these theologians foresaw their positions being lived out in a concrete way.

Discernment in Prayer 

Sam Rahberg | SPIR   437 | 0 credits or 1 credit

5 Tuesdays:  8/26, 9/2, 9/9, 9/16, 9/23

6:00-8:30 PM                  Synchronous Course 

In support of students’ preparation as ministry leaders, this course engages practices of prayerful discernment. Students will learn ways to cultivate awareness of the Divine Presence with their whole selves (cognitive, affective, and sensory motor dimensions), even as they read, write, and interact with others. Special attention will be paid to Benedictine practices.

Grading S/U.

LITURGY

Introduction to Pastoral Liturgy

L

Katharine Harmon | LTGY 407 | 3 credits
8:00-11:15 AM  (Monday)               Synchronous Course 

Through a critical reflection on the church’s tradition of lex orandi, lex credendi, students will be introduced to the theory and practice of good liturgical celebration. Contemporary liturgical practice will be evaluated in its historical, cultural, and theological context. Students will learn how the historical development of Christian liturgy, its anthropological dimensions, and important church documents influence how we worship today.

Liturgy of the Hours

Anthony Ruff, OSB | LTGY 423 | 3 credits
8:00-11:15 AM  (Monday)  Synchronous Course 

The Liturgy of the Hours historically and theologically considered. An analysis of the origins and evolution of the Office in the patristic and medieval periods. Study of the reformed Roman Liturgy of the Hours and of daily prayer in other traditions.

Liturgy In Culture

Hansol Goo | LTGY 468A | 3 credits
8:00-11:15 AM  (Wednesday)               Synchronous Course 

This course examines lived experience of the People of God as an epistemological and theological source for understanding Christian worship. Topics of discussion include inculturation, ecclesiology, interculturality, interreligiosity, and popular piety. 

FIELD EDUCATION 

Clinical Pastoral Education 

Deepan Rajaratnam | PTHM 412 | 3 credits

Students participate in a basic unit of an accredited Clinical Pastoral Education program.

Practicum/Theological Reflection

Deepan Rajaratnam | PTHM 459  A-D | 1-6 credits

Students work with an organization, project, or parish in the area of their ministerial interest. The supervised experience requires students to integrate theological competence with pastoral practice in developing vocational identity as a public minister, exploring issues of leadership, power and authority; and gaining facility in articulating the Christian faith and in fostering the development of faith with others. Students will reflect on the practice of ministry in theological reflection groups.

FOCUS AREAS:

Practicum / Theological Reflection:  Spiritual Direction Practicum 

Sam Rahberg | PTHM 459C | reserved for those in Spiritual Direction Practicum

MAM End of Degree Assessment and Ministry Learning Portfolio

Deepan Rajaratnam |   PTHM 598 | 0 credit–registration required

The final formation assessment provides students to review their formational aspirations and ministerial growth during their overall program of study.  Reflecting on one’s intellectual, human, pastoral and spiritual formation, the student articulates their readiness for ministry by presenting a clearly articulated understanding of the theology of ministry, an understanding of the gifts and skills, strengths and weaknesses, challenges and successes the student presently utilizes and experiences in ministry, and a discussion of future goals and desires for professional and ministerial growth.  The format of the assessment is an integrated paper which builds on previous coursework. Offered for S/U grading only.

MDIV Ministry Mid-Degree Assessment and Ministry Learning Portfolio

Deepan Rajaratnam | PTHM 599| 0 credit–registration required

The mid-degree assessment provides the student an opportunity for self-assessment and feedback from others in terms of their ministerial growth.  Students are asked to revisit their academic work, ministerial reflections and spiritual practices and make revised claims about learning and events from earlier in the degree program. The assessment involves revisiting the student’s intention for graduate theological education, vocational aspirations and their readiness for ministry.  The format of the assessment includes completing a questionnaire, reviewing feedback from formators and peers, and an assessment interview with the Director of Ministerial Formation. 

 Offered for S/U grading only.

MDIV Seminary Spiritual Formation

William Orbih | SPIR 468 | 3 credits

Meeting time TBA    

THM Research Seminar

Matthew Sherman | THY 465 | 3 credits

9:00-10:30 AM  (Tuesday)     

The research seminar is designed to direct and guide students in advanced theological research in preparation for writing a thesis. Students may prepare the thesis proposal in the course, or if approved, can begin writing the thesis. Students will be engaged in dialogue and critique of each others’ work in order to enhance understanding of theological research and writing. The proposal will contain: a persuasive and debatable thesis statement, a description of the project that maps the argument with a brief summary of the positions and the lines of argument to be developed; a tentative outline, a preliminary bibliography of primary and secondary sources from current scholarship as well as the history of research on the topic.

THM THESIS

Thesis

Shawn Colberg | THY  580 | 6 credits

TBA–Director will arrange meetings with student.

The Thesis is the capstone project for the ThM degree.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS

Reading for Comprehensive Exams

Shawn Colberg | THY  598 | 3 credits

Students may register for up to 6 credits of THY 598 Reading for Comprehensive Exams to insure full time enrollment and to earn credit for preparing for Comprehensive Exams:  reading 10-book reading list, preparing the annotated bibliography and summary of research or integrated paper, and preparing for the oral exam.

Comprehensive Exams

Shawn Colberg | THY   599 | 0 credit–registration only

Comprehensive Exams is the capstone project for the MTS and the MAT degrees

LITURGICAL MUSIC

Applied Piano

David Jenkins |  LMUS 406 | 1 credit

Students will develop technical skills and knowledge of performance practices at the graduate level, including the ability to play a large variety of repertoire fluently and with understanding. Secondary organ students will develop sufficient techniques and familiarity with the instrument to play knowledgeably and/or coach others in parish settings. 

Applied Organ

 David Jenkins | LMUS 407 | 1 credit

Students will develop technical skills and knowledge of performance practices at the graduate level, including the ability to play a large variety of repertoire fluently and with understanding. Major works of significant periods and schools of organ literature will be studied and performed. Secondary organ students will develop sufficient techniques and familiarity with the instrument to play knowledge ably and/or coach others in parish settings.

Applied Voice

Gyehyun Jung | LMUS 408 | 1 credit

Fundamentals of singing and vocal pedagogy (breathing, efficient use of voice, diction, etc.) addressing differing musical styles and their interpretation based on the performance practices of given periods in music history. Study and performance of significant bodies of solo repertoire. Technique and pedagogical skills appropriate to choral directors, section leaders, and coaches for cantors and song leaders.

Applied Composition

Brian Campbell | LMUS 409 | 1 credit

Individualized coaching in advanced composition of sacred music and music appropriate for liturgical use. Work in various forms and styles, depending on the needs and interests of individual students. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor and the liturgical music program director.

Service Playing

David Jenkins | LMUS 433 | 1 credit

This course seeks to develop the qualified church organist as leader and enabler of the assembly’s singing. The course will require high proficiency levels of assembly leadership and accompanimental skills (hymns, masses, psalm forms) as well as vocal and choral accompaniment. Students will also develop abilities in sight-reading, modulation, transposing, and extemporization.   

Gregorian Chant I:  Introduction

Anthony Ruff, OSB  | LMUS 410  | 1 credit

Asynchronous web course

Introduction to the basics of Gregorian Chant, with the primary aim of facility and confidence in singing easier Latin chants. Overview of historical development; Latin pronunciation;  four-line notation and chant reading skills with text-based interpretation; simple psalm tones; introduction to modality; repertoire for liturgical use; conducting basics. Knowledge of the basics of music theory is expected.

Eight modules, September 3 to November 1, with the week of October 14 off.

Conducting Techniques I

Brad Miller |  LMUS 430 | 1 credit

Meeting time TBA

Individualized small-group lessons on the basics of conducting techniques such as beat patterns, cueing, expression and dynamics, and score preparation.

LANGUAGES

Reading Ecclesial Latin  

Jason Schlude | LANG 401 | 3 credits

1:50-2:45 PM (Monday/Wednesday/Friday)
An overview of the grammatical structure of the language and practice in reading short works. The course is graded pass/fail.

New Testament Greek

John Solheid | SSNT 401 | 3 credits

3:00-3:55 PM (Monday/Wednesday/Friday)
The elements of New Testament Greek, with emphasis on reading comprehension with the aid of a dictionary. The study of grammar and its practical application in reading New Testament texts.

ONLINE COURSES      

Gregorian Chant I:  Introduction

Anthony Ruff, OSB  | LMUS 410  | 1 credit

Asynchronous web course

Introduction to the basics of Gregorian Chant, with the primary aim of facility and confidence in singing easier Latin chants. Overview of historical development; Latin pronunciation;  four-line notation and chant reading skills with text-based interpretation; simple psalm tones; introduction to modality; repertoire for liturgical use; conducting basics. Knowledge of the basics of music theory is expected.

Eight modules, August 25-October 24   (week of October 13 off)