Conception
Seminary College
Conception, Missouri

Conception Seminary College
2006-2008 Catalog

What's New at Conception Abbey?

'The Work of God' - Prior's Journal

Conception Seminary
College

Courses of Instruction

ART (ART)

ART 221: Basic Design (2): Beginning exercises in the elements of good design: composition and production skills. Sample projects are carried out in two and three dimensions. May be repeated once for credit.
ART 300: Bible Scripts (2): Analysis and practical application of calligraphic hands used in the creation of early handwritten Bibles. The focus will be upon the development of skills in writing two related historical scripts as well as the technique of illumination and decoration. Introduction to historical tools, materials and methods. May be repeated for credit provided that a different cycle is offered. Cycle A: Early Medieval — Uncial and Carolingian Minuscule; Cycle B: Medieval — English Caroline Minuscule and Gothic; Cycle C: Renaissance — Roman Capitals and Minuscules and Italic Chancery cursive.
ART 321: Individual Projects in Art (2): A self-directed, instructor-guided course designed for individual projects in an area selected by the student and pre-approved by the instructor.
ART 461: Independent Study (1-3)
ART 462: Special Topics (1-3)

ENGLISH (EN)

EN 100: Developmental English (3): A transitional course designed to raise the student’s writing proficiency to a level high enough for placement in EN 131. Practice in paragraph and essay development, with attention also to grammar, mechanics and methods of revision. May be required for students whose ACT score in English is below 18.
EN 101: Grammar Options in Context I (3): Exploration and practice of English grammatical structures as employed in written and spoken discourse. The aim is to develop a working familiarity with the choices to be made in expressing oneself clearly and effectively, with sensitivity to differential meaning and linguistic context. Recommended as a prelude or companion course to EN 131-132, as a transition from LCC instruction, or as a free elective.
EN 102: Grammar Options in Context II (3): Continuation of EN 101, with frequent practice of the less commonplace structural alternatives that a student may need to make use of in good academic writing.
EN 131: Writing I (3): Development of expository writing skills, with an emphasis on the revision process.
EN 132: Writing II (3): Development of research writing skills.
EN 231-252: Literary Traditions (3): Courses in American, British, and World Literature surveying a broad historical range of writers, or particular genres such as fiction, drama, and poetry.
EN 331-362: Writers and Themes (3): Courses focusing on particular authors or literary themes such as Shakespeare, Milton, Existential Themes in literature, or Faith and Doubt in Literature.
EN 371-392: Literary Histories (3): Courses focusing on particular historical periods in literature such as Medieval, Renaissance, or Modern Literature.
EN 461: Independent Study (1-3): An individualized course of readings and research on a significant topic in language or literature. Frequent conferences with the instructor and a critical paper are required. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
EN 462: Special Topics in Literature (1-3): An opportunity to examine in detail a specific author, theme, or genre in English, American, or World literature.

GREEK (GK)

GK 231: Biblical Greek I (3-5): Grammar, vocabulary, and syntax of Koine Greek. Emphasis on usage in New Testament Literature.
GK 232: Biblical Greek II (3-5): Continuation of GK 231. Attention given to reading and interpreting the Greek New Testament. Prerequisite: GK 231 or equivalent.
GK 321: Readings in Biblical Greek (2): Selected passages from the Greek New Testament. Emphasis on translation, key words, concepts and stylistic patterns. Prerequisite: GK 232 or consent of instructor. May count as a theology elective.
GK 461: Independent Study (1-3)
GK 462: Special Topics (1-3)

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION (HPE)

HPE 100: Lifetime Wellness (2): A course designed to teach the relationship of physical activity, nutrition, stress control and emotional and mental stability upon personal health. A study of critical issues will allow the student to evaluate his level of personal health and fitness and develop attitudes and values which will meet his individual needs for a lifetime of health and wellness.

HEBREW (HB)

HB 430: Biblical Hebrew (3): Mastery of the alphabet, the vowel points, and the elements of grammar. Emphasis is then given to a serviceable Hebrew vocabulary. The course imparts a sense of Old Testament ideas and the usage of key words in context. May count as a theology elective.
HB 431: Readings in Biblical Hebrew (1-3): Continuation of the study of Hebrew grammar with special reference to the irregular verbs. Readings from Hebrew narratives and selected passages from the poetry of the prophets and the psalter. Prerequisite: HB 430 or equivalent. May count as a theology elective.

HISTORY (HS)

HS 201, 202: Western Civilization I, II (3, 3): An examination of selected political, intellectual, cultural, religious, and economic themes in the history of Western civilization. HS 201 will cover the period from pre-history to the Renaissance; HS 202, the Renaissance to the present. Prerequisite: successful completion of EN 132.
HS 232: The Ancient World (3): This course introduces the history of the ancient Near East, Greece, and Rome. It focuses mainly on the social, political, and cultural processes which have influenced later western civilization. It considers subjects such as the religions of the ancient Near East, Athenian democracy, the interaction of cultures in the Hellenistic world, the political and administrative system of the Roman republic and empire, and ancient demography.
HS 233: Medieval Civilization (3): A study of selected topics in the social, economic, political, and religious history of medieval Europe, emphasizing the basic relevance of the medieval experience to our own.
HS 234: Reformation Europe (3): Surveys the social, economic, political and cultural developments in Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries, and the Protestant and Roman Catholic reformations in the 16th.
HS 241: Early U.S. History (3): The periods of exploration and colonization, the founding of the Republic, the Jeffersonian and Jacksonian eras, the various reform movements, tensions culminating in the Civil War and Reconstruction.
HS 242: Modern U.S. History (3): Problems, trends and events traced from the end of Reconstruction, through the growth of big business and government intervention, the Gilded Age, the Progressive Era, the Great Depression, the World Wars and their aftermath, to the present.
HS 326: Religious History of the United States (3): A survey of the great diversity of religion in the United States, looking especially at the way American life has been influenced by religious movements in the past, and the way religious pluralism presents challenges today. This course may also be counted as an elective in theology.
HS 331: Monastic History I (3): The origins, development, and spread of Christian monasticism through the Middle Ages. This course may also be counted as an elective in theology. Prerequisite: HS 131 Western Civilization I.
HS 332: Monastic History II (3): The history of Christian monasticism in the West from the Reformation to the present. Includes the history of monasticism in the United States and, in particular, the history of Conception Abbey. This course may also be counted as an elective in theology. Prerequisite: HS 132 Western Civilization II.
HS 461: Independent Study (1-3): An individualized course of topical readings and formal research paper, directed by a professor and approved by the Academic Dean.
HS 462: Special Topics (1-3)

HUMANITIES (HU)

These integrated surveys of the humanities have as their objective the appreciation of art and architecture, literature, music and ideas — not only in themselves, but also synthetically in terms of their mutual influences and their contextual relation to the age which they anticipate, follow, or express.

HU 300: Theories of Human Communication (3): An introductory course covering various aspects of the nature of human communication, communication problems, and the contexts of human communication. The focus is on the how and why behind communication skills, not with developing those skills. Human communication theories are presented from various perspectives (product, process, transaction) and the nature of these perspectives and their ideological assumptions are discussed and analyzed.
HU 325: Art, Music, and Ideas: The Greco-Roman Tradition (3): This course investigates the following styles: the Hellenic style; the Hellenistic style; and the Roman style. Prerequisite: HS 131 Western Civilization I.
HU 326: Art, Music, and Ideas: The Medieval Style (3): This course investigates the following styles: the early Christian and Byzantine styles; the monastic and feudal Romanesque styles; and the Gothic style. Prerequisite: HS 131 Western Civilization I.
HU 327: Art, Music, and Ideas: The Renaissance Style (3): The following styles are investigated by this course: the early Italian Renaissance style; the Florentine Renaissance style; and the Roman Renaissance style. Prerequisite: HS 131 Western Civilization I.
HU 328: Art, Music, and Ideas: The Baroque Style (3): The following styles are investigated in this course: Venetian Renaissance, Mannerism and early Baroque; the Counter-Reformation style; the aristocratic and bourgeois Baroque styles; the Baroque synthesis; and the 18th-century styles. Prerequisite: HS 132 Western Civilization II.
HU 329: Art, Music, and Ideas: The Nineteenth Century (3): In this course the following styles are studied: the Neoclassical style; the Romantic style; and the Realistic and Impressionistic styles. Prerequisite: HS 132 Western Civilization II.
HU 330: Art, Music, and Ideas: The Twentieth Century (3): In this course the styles of the twentieth century are studied, including Cubism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, and Pop Art. Prerequisite: HS 132 Western Civilization II.
HU 350: Greek Tragedy in Translation (3): The course looks at six tragedies by different playwrights (The Oresteia, two Medeas, and one other), after an introduction which sets the stage (Athens in the sixth and fifth centuries, the development of tragedy, stages, etc.). After each play or set of plays is introduced by the instructor, students present an analysis of each of the episodes and choruses, discussing how the plot is advanced by the episode/chorus, identification of significant verses or words, themes developed in the episode/chorus, etc. Admission to the course is restricted to Juniors and Seniors who have successfully completed HS 131.
HU 461: Independent Study (1-3)
HU 462: Special Topics (1-3)

LATIN (LT)

LT 151: Introduction to Latin (5): An intensive study of basic forms, vocabulary and syntax: exercise in translation, reading and writing simple Latin prose; the influence of Latin on the English lexicon. The course aims to enable the student to have access to Latin sources in theological study.
LT 152: Intermediate Latin (5): Continuation of LT 151, with new forms, vocabulary, and construction; longer readings from ecclesiastical Latin.
LT 251: Advanced Latin (1-3): Continuation of LT 152 (or its equivalent) with additional grammar and vocabulary. In addition, the class will begin reading some unaltered Latin literature from classical and ecclesial Latin.
LT 252: Advanced Latin (1-3): Continuation of LT 251 (or its equivalent) with additional grammar and vocabulary. The class will continue to read unaltered Latin literature from classical and ecclesial Latin.
LT 402: Readings in Latin Literature (1-3): Reading and discussion of Latin works selected from a wide range of genres and periods. The variable content enables students to design a personal program of study in consultation with the instructor, addressing authors and themes of particular interest. Prerequisite: LT 152 or permission of instructor.
LT 461: Independent Study (1-3)
LT 462: Special Topics (1-3)

MATHEMATICS (MT)

Students will be placed in the course appropriate to their ability and background as judged by entrance exams and/or ACT scores. If necessary, a student may be placed in MT 100 in order to increase his basic skills.

MT 100: Developmental Math Tutorial (0): Whole numbers, prime numbers, rational numbers (fractions), mixed numbers, decimals, arithmetic operations, ratios/proportions, percent, graphing, and basic algebra. Lecture three times per week. Enrollment by initial placement or subsequent referral. Graded S/U.
MT 131: College Algebra (3): An introduction to properties of the real number system, linear equations and inequalities, exponents and polynomials, factoring, quadratic equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, and logarithms. Prerequisite: high school algebra and MT 100 if necessary. Students with an ACT score in math of 20 or above will not be allowed to enroll in this course.
MT 231: Mathematics: A Cultural Approach (3): A one-semester terminal course for liberal arts students who are not planning to take more courses in mathematics. This course is designed to show what mathematics is and how it has played a role in scientific and intellectual history. Major concepts are presented in historical and cultural settings. The emphasis is on the interplay between mathematics and physical sciences, philosophy, religion, music, literature and painting. Mathematical literacy, rather than technical or computational proficiency, is stressed.
MT 233: Pre-Calculus (3): A review and extension of standard topics in algebra and trigonometry: algebraic, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions, theory of equations, analytic geometry. Prerequisite: MT 131 or ACT score above 19 or equivalent.
MT 331: Calculus I (3): Review of analytic methods and tools, functions, limits, and continuity, derivatives and applications, integration and applications.
MT 461: Independent Study (1-3)
MT 462: Special Topics (1-3)

MUSIC (MU)

MU 111, 112: Applied Music in Piano (1): Instruction and exercises in technique; grade selections from the keyboard literature. Proficiency rating of C+ or higher must be earned as a condition of continued enrollment for credit. Prerequisite: MU 120 (see below) or equivalent.
MU 113: Conception Choir (1): Preparation of classical polyphony, plainchant, and part-music, with performance both in the liturgy and in public concerts. The student may re-enroll for four semesters, with credit, if his participation is judged satisfactory. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
MU 120: Fundamentals of Music (2): Designed to provide students with the fundamental skills and vocabulary necessary to enter courses in applied music, music theory, choral work, and music history. Elementary acoustics, notation, modes, scales, key signatures, intervals, triads, rhythm, and meter signatures.
MU 211, 212: Applied Music in Organ (1): Instruction and exercises in technique; grade selections from the keyboard literature. Proficiency rating of C+ or higher must be earned as a condition of continued enrollment for credit. Prerequisite: two years piano, audition, consent of instructor.
MU 220: Voice (1): Instruction and exercises to improve the student’s ability to sing on pitch and in tune as well as improve sight-singing proficiency, so as to facilitate better participation in sung liturgy.
MU 221: Gregorian Chant (1): History of Gregorian Chant and its place in the Church’s worship; notation, sight reading, tonality and rhythm in theory and practice.
MU 324: Liturgical Music (2): The origins, development, and significance of song in the community of believers. Historical perspective on the role of music in worship; emergence and golden age of various forms in their distinct traditions; pertinent Church teaching and legislation.
MU 331: Music Theory (1-3): A theory course focusing on the vocabulary and harmonic practice of the common-period (18th & 19th centuries) including the elements of four-part writing, elementary composition and ear-training. Prerequisite: MU 120 or equivalent.
MU 461: Independent Study (1-3)
MU 462: Special Topics (1-3)

NATURAL SCIENCES (NS)

NS 241: Physical Science (3): An introduction to the sciences of physics, chemistry, astronomy, and earth science; classification and description of the major entities and processes of the physical universe, from the cosmos to the atom. Three lectures per week. Prerequisite: MT 131 or MT 132 or equivalent.
NS 241L: Physical Science Lab (1): Basic experiments in physical sciences aimed at illustrating concepts covered in NS 241. One two-hour laboratory per week. To be taken concurrently with NS 241.
NS 242: Biological Science (3): Basic biological concepts as they pertain to the Animal Kingdom, especially to the human species. Some examples from the Plant Kingdom will be used. Topics will include an introduction to science (particularly biology), the interaction of science and society, theories on the development of life, cell anatomy and physiology, mitosis, meiosis, the reproductive system, genetics, fetal/embryonic development, evolution, various body systems (i.e. circulatory, digestive, respiratory), and ecology and ecosystems.
NS 242L: Biological Science Lab (1): Experiments in biological concepts and basic laboratory techniques. One two-hour laboratory per week. To be taken concurrently with NS 242.
NS 332: General Chemistry (3): A survey of general chemical principles with an emphasis on inorganic chemistry and student participation in demonstrations. Prerequisite: NS 241 and MT 233 or equivalent.
NS 332L: General Chemistry Lab (1): General chemistry experiments and laboratory techniques. One two-hour laboratory per week. To be taken concurrently with NS 332.
NS 343: Astronomy (3): A basic astronomy course treating the solar system, stars, galaxies and the universe, with some emphasis on physical principles and laws. Three lectures per week. Prerequisite: NS 241 and MT 233 or equivalents.
NS 343L: Astronomy Lab (1): Experience plotting positions of celestial objects in the sky and viewing them through a telescope. A two-hour period one night per week. To be taken concurrently with NS 343.
NS 431: Physics (3): Reading course beginning with classical physics, emphasizing mechanics and light, as a background for understanding modern physics, especially relativity and quantum mechanics. Prerequisites: NS 241, MT 233, MT 331 recommended.
NS 431L: Physics Lab (1): Experiments in classical and modern physics. One two-hour laboratory per week. To be taken concurrently with NS 431.
NS 461: Independent Study (1-4): Individualized experimental or theoretical project on a topic agreed upon by instructor and student.
NS 471-479: Special Topics (1-3)

PASTORAL CARE INTERNSHIP

The Pastoral Care Internship program is part of Conception Seminary College’s Character Formation Program. Students are assigned to apostolic placements away from the seminary college for a specified period of time weekly. With the help of the Apostolic Director, senior coordinators, and the student chaplains supervision is provided whereby students learn to relate to a variety of people in a variety of situations. Apostolic placements include: general hospitals, nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, group homes for the mentally disadvantaged, senior citizen centers, community kitchens for the homeless, home visiting for shut-ins, teen center, social services office, and prison ministry. Graded P/F.

PCI 400: Cross-Cultural Practicum (2)

PHILOSOPHY (PH)

CORE SEQUENCE: REQUIRED FOR ALL SEMINARIANS

PH 101: Logic (1st year level, first semester) (3): An introduction to philosophy by way of an introduction to logic. Students learn to read philosophical texts analytically and to identify forms of argument. These argument patterns are also evaluated for their validity and soundness. The logic studied is primarily Aristotelian.
PH 102: Philosophy of Human Nature (1st year level, second semester) (3): A critical examination of the relation of the self to nature, society, and God. Representative questions include: What does it mean to claim that there is a human nature? What does the traditional claim that human beings have a social nature really mean? Must a human being be anything more than a physical entity, and if so, how and why? What is the soul and how is it related to the body? Are human beings free or are they determined in the choices they make? The course takes a realist perspective on these issues, comparing and contrasting this perspective with other approaches.
PH 201: Ethics (2nd year level, first semester) (3): A study of theoretical and applied ethics, approached from a historical perspective. Includes critical examination of duty-based, utilitarian, virtue-based, and natural law systems of moral reasoning. Attention is given to the justification of ethical first principles and to modern philosophical debates over the nature of normative judgments. Additional topics may include happiness, friendship, stability of, relativism, and selected contemporary moral problems.
PH 202: Natural Theology (2nd year level, second semester) (3): A study of arguments about the existence of God and of the relation of these arguments to positions concerning the nature of God. These arguments may be drawn from thinkers such as Aristotle, St. Augustine, St. Anselm, St. Thomas Aquinas, Descartes and Kant. The relation between faith and reason is also examined.
PH 301: Epistemology (3rd year level, first semester) (3): This course examines the foundations of human knowledge and the nature of truth. Topics covered may include: the relation of knowledge to reality; how knowledge is related to perception, facts, belief, truth, doubt, and certitude; the nature and limits of our faculties for knowledge; the justification of knowledge; whether there are moral responsibilities in the way we acquire or use knowledge.
PH 302: Metaphysics (3rd year level, second semester) (3): A study of the general principles and concepts governing reality as developed in the metaphysical systems of the ancient, medieval, and modern periods. Special attention is given to the starting points of metaphysical reasoning and the methods of inquiry and argument used in advancing metaphysical conclusions. Topics covered may include realism, idealism, personalism, nominalism, ontology, and contemporary arguments for abandoning the study of metaphysics.

CORE HISTORY SEQUENCE: REQUIRED FOR ALL SEMINARIANS

PH 351: Ancient Philosophy (3): A study of classical Greek and Roman philosophy from the pre-Socratics up to the early Christian era. Representative figures include Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, Skeptics, Cicero, Sextus Empiricus, Plotinus, and St. Augustine.
PH 353: Medieval Philosophy (3): A study of the development of philosophy in the Christian, Islamic, and Jewish traditions during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Representative figures include Boethius, Scotus Eriugena, Avicenna, Averroes, St. Anselm, Maimonides, St. Thomas Aquinas, Duns Scotus, William of Ockham, Marsilius of Padua, Nicholas of Cusa, Machiavelli, Erasmus, and St. Thomas More.
PH 354: Modern Philosophy (3): A study of the major philosophers, movements, and philosophical systems from the Scientific Revolution through the nineteenth century. Representative figures include Galileo, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Pascal, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, James, Marx, and Kierkegaard.
PH 356: Contemporary Philosophy (3): A study of the major philosophers, movements, and methods during the twentieth century. Representative movements include existentialism, phenomenology, process philosophy, analytic and ordinary language philosophy, continental thought, and post-modernism.

THEMATIC ELECTIVE COURSES

PH 420: Philosophy of Religion (3): A study of the nature of religion, the possibility and limits of a rational understanding of religious beliefs and practices, and related methodological issues. Major figures in the history of this subject may be examined in greater detail.
PH 421: Philosophy of Science (3): A study of the nature of scientific inquiry: its origins, methods, and distinguishing features. Topics covered may include the philosophical foundations of the practice of modern science, the logic of scientific explanation, the relation of science to society, and selected issues in medical ethics and problems in applied science.
PH 423: Social and Political Philosophy (3): A study of theories of government and social order, with attention to such concepts as power, authority, rights, justice, revolution, and the human social nature. Readings may include works by Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Rawls, and Nozick.
PH 424: Aesthetics (3): A study of the main theories of aesthetic experience and appreciation. Attention may focus on the nature of particular art forms such as painting, music, or literature, or on specific problems in aesthetics such as the nature of beauty, the foundations of aesthetic criticism, or the relation of art to society.
PH 461-469: Independent Study (1-3): An individualized course on a particular topic, thinker, or work. Regular meetings (at least once bi-weekly) are required. Other course requirements (e.g. paper, journal, etc.) to be agreed upon by the instructor and student with the approval of the Academic Dean.
PH 471-479: Special Topics in Philosophy (1-3): At the discretion of a member of the philosophy department faculty and with the approval of the Academic Dean, a course may be offered on a topic not regularly offered by the department. Recent special topics courses have included Existentialism, Medical Ethics, the Problem of Evil, and Plato’s Laws.

PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT PROJECT (PA)

PA 400: Portfolio Assessment Project (1): A one-credit, pass/fail course taken during a senior’s last semester before graduation. With his academic advisor, the student reviews his learning in terms of the general learning objective proposed by the faculty. The student sorts his personal learning portfolio, writes a reflection on his progress, and meets with a portfolio review committee to discuss his learning experience.

SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (SBS)

SBS 115, 116: Introduction to the Social and Behavioral Sciences (3,3): A two-semester survey of the behavioral and social sciences. The course will begin with a brief historical introduction to the fields that comprise the social and behavioral sciences (i.e., psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science, economics, and education) and their various methodologies. The course will then turn to an examination of the person as situated within multiple contextual levels; each level described by a distinct field within the sciences and reflecting its own level of analysis. The perspective from each of these fields or levels of analysis complement one another and together provide a more complete picture of personhood.; The first semester will look at the person within a personal and social context. Topics to be covered will include: thought processes, emotions, maladjusted behavior, learning, attitudes, aggression, attraction, social processes and social institutions.; The second semester will expand the understanding of the person to larger contextual levels incorporating cultural, political, and economic dimensions. Topics such as: ritual, kinship, political organization, legal systems, and economic models will be covered.
SBS 203: Statistics and Research Design (3): This course will introduce students to research methodology and design, empirical logic, procedures in collecting, analyzing and interpreting data. The course will include an introduction to statistical analysis of data, both descriptive and inferential, as they are applied to research in the social and behavioral sciences. Students will also be given an overview of computer assisted statistical analysis.
SBS 221: Theories of Human Nature (3): A critical examination of theories within the behavioral and social sciences that attempt to describe and explain, in whole or in part, human nature. General systems as well as individual contributors will be covered, such as: Structuralism (Levi-Strauss, Durkheim); Psychoanalysis (Freud, Jung, Kohut); Post-modernism (Foucault, Gergen); Humanism (Berger, Maslow, Mill); Functionalism (James, Dewey, Parsons).
SBS 222: Abnormal Behavior (3): A study of the major forms of deviant behavior and psychological disability, emphasizing changing conceptions of their nature and treatment. Contemporary psychological and bio-psychological perspectives will be examined; as well as views from labeling theory, the sociology of deviance, and contemporary critiques of the medical model.
SBS 240: Cognition and Consciousness (3): Experimental and phenomenological research on the nature of consciousness from cognitive, transpersonal, and artificial intelligence perspectives. An examination of the processes involved in knowing, learning, thinking, and remembering. Such issues as: cultural specificity of these processes, ecological alternatives to cognitive perspectives, and the nature of meta-cognition will be explored.
SBS 242: Interpersonal Behavior (3): A survey of the phenomena of social interaction. The course considers: identity and the nature of the self, the perception and evaluation of other people, self-presentation, aggression, altruism, attraction, stereotyping and cultural variations in interpersonal behavior. The course will cover symbolic interactionist, micro-sociological, and social cognitive perspectives.
SBS 310: Psychology of Religion (3): Classic statements on religion by Freud, Jung, William James, and others are reviewed from both theoretical and empirical approaches. The course explores psychological views on such issues as religious experience, mysticism, religion and mental health, religious development, conversion, and religious orientation, attitudes, and behavior.
SBS 320: Criminology (3): The course will consist of a consideration of the nature and scope of criminology as well as an historical treatment of the theories of crime causation and the relation of theory to research.
SBS 330: Spirituality and Personhood (3): An examination of the person as a spiritual being and the existential implications of accepting this position for the person. The course will delineate various types of spirituality in the world’s religions, secular psychologies and philosophies. The process of Self Realization in Hinduism, Enlightenment in Buddhism, Essential Realization in Islam, and Deification within Christianity will be examined in detail. A critical examination of the ideas of Hierotheos, Maritain, Arraj, Keating, Almaas, Tugwell, Washburn, Wilbur, and Moore.
SBS 350: Pastoral Counseling (3): An introduction to the theory and technique of pastoral counseling. Development of skills for counseling, consultation, and referral.
SBS 360: Death and Dying (3): This course examines two perspectives on death and dying, societal and individual, as well as the connection between the two. It considers the relationship between a society’s view of death and its view of suicide, treatment of the elderly and the helpless. It will also look at various cultures’ views of death in different eras through books, television, popular music and movies.
SBS 410: History of the Social and Behavioral Sciences (3): An examination of the history of ideas related to social and behavioral phenomena. The course will survey attempts to describe and explain the psychology and social relations of persons, from ancient Greek thought to modern scientific, and post-modern perspectives.
SBS 411: Philosophy of the Social and Behavioral Sciences (3): An examination of the relationship between philosophy and the behavioral and social sciences, with emphasis placed on the role of philosophical values in directing social inquiry and the impact of the social sciences in shaping cultural values. Methods employed by the two disciplines in addressing questions about human nature and values will be examined and compared.
SBS 420: Systems and Theories in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (3): An examination of the major theoretical perspectives and research methodologies that have had a lasting impact on the fields of psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science, and economics. Perspectives covered will include: evolution, structuralism, psychoanalysis, Marxism, post-modernism, and Keynesian economics.
SBS 461-469: Independent Study (1-3): An individualized course of topical readings. Periodic conferences and a paper are required.
SBS 471-479: Special Topics (3): Intensive treatment of a special topic selected from one of the fields in the division or an intra/inter divisional topic. Possible topics include: Health Psychology, Physical Anthropology, Sociology of Religion, Political Psychology, Urban Sociology, and Feminism.

SPANISH (SPN)

SPN 151: Introductory Spanish (5): This course offers a balanced four-skill (speaking, listening, reading, writing) introduction to the language, practiced in a variety of interactive activities. In addition, it will develop an awareness of the Hispanic cultures. As the course progresses, more and more Spanish will be used.
SPN 152: Intermediate Spanish (5): The intermediate level of Spanish continues the balanced four-skill introduction to the language. The course introduces the students to a variety of new structures as well as some of the literature, poetry, music and art of the Hispanic world. The majority of the course work is done in Spanish.
SPN 221: Spanish Conversation (2): This course aims primarily at conversational fluency for typical life situations and future pastoral needs.
SPN 461: Independent Study (1-5)
SPN 462: Special Topics (1-5)

SPEECH (SP)

SP 220: Foundations of Oral Communication (3): An introductory public speaking course designed for non-native English speakers. Featured activities target hands-on learning, communication strategies, development of fluency in English pronunciation, enunciation, articulation skills, organization of speech texts, fine-tuning communication skills (verbal and non-verbal), as well as evaluation and assessment of those skills.
SP 221: Presentational Speaking (3): A foundational public speaking/presentation course. The course seeks to aid students in gaining a self-image of their communicative personality by enhancing and expanding their existing communicative competence. The course helps students develop communicative skills that invite transformation of speaker and audience through the creation of safety, value, freedom and openness in the speaking environment. Students deliver presentations based on various interactional goals: asserting individuality, building community, articulating a perspective, securing adherence, and discovering knowledge and belief.
SP 222: Oral Presentation of Literature (3): A course designed to enhance and expand basic voice and body performance/presentation/interpretative skills through the analysis and oral presentation/performance of prose, dramatic, and Biblical literary texts. Prerequisite: SP 221 or equivalent.
SP 223: Presentational Theater (3): A course designed to enhance and expand communication/performance skills through the analysis, interpretation, and performance of theater literature. The study of acting, both in theory and performance, is an integral component of the course. Prerequisite: SP 221 or equivalent.
SP 461: Independent Study (1-3)
SP 462: Special Topics (1-3)

THEOLOGY (TH)

CORE COURSES

TH 131, 132: Christian Living and Theology I, II (3, 3): This full-year, team-taught course is the Conception student’s initial academic step toward integration of lived Christian experience and academic theological reflection. Four content areas are addressed: Sacred Scripture, Sacraments and Liturgy, Systematic Theology, and Morality. A different member of the department teaches each area; the content is introductory in nature, based on The Catechism of the Catholic Church, and covers basics of the Catholic faith, methodology, and spirituality.
TH 231: Old Testament Literature (3): Consideration of the contemporary approaches to Biblical interpretation and examination of the tools of Biblical criticism. Investigation of the traditions of the Pentateuch. An overview of the history of Biblical Israel. The phenomenon of prophecy in ancient Israel, the theological themes of its literature, and its evolution toward apocalyptic form. The wisdom tradition of Israel, its background against other Near Eastern cultures, and an overview of selected books. Prerequisite: TH 131.
TH 232: New Testament Literature (3): The culture and religious context of the New Testament era. The formation of the Christian Scriptures. The various methods of interpreting Biblical texts. Introduction to the Pauline corpus and overview of several letters. Study of the four gospel traditions. Reflections on the development of the early Christian Churches from the other Biblical writings (especially Hebrews and Revelation). Prerequisite: TH 231.
TH 335: Chastity and Celibacy in Human Sexuality (3): A survey of the scriptural, historical, psychological, and theological backgrounds of celibacy in the context of discernment of a vocation to the priesthood. Consideration is given of the psychological and spiritual dimensions of chaste sexuality whether this relates to the celibate or marital vocation.

ELECTIVES AND SEMINARS

TH 311: Hinduism (3): The religion of India: its historical origins and development are reviewed primarily through a survey of its sacred literature (with special emphasis given to the Bhagavadgita). A general understanding of contemporary Vaishnavite and Shaivite traditions of theistic Hinduism is a principal goal of the course.
TH 312: Buddhism (3): A presentation of the contemporary forms and influence of Buddhism in the light of its historical origins (especially in the life and teachings of Siddartha Gautama) and its subsequent development. Excerpts from principal Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana texts will be studied within their historical contexts as a basis for a deeper understanding of the living traditions.
TH 313: Chinese Religions (3): A study of the two principal indigenous forms of Chinese religion, Taoism and Confucianism, with reference to Buddhism in its specifically Chinese mold (particularly Ch’an/Zen). Principal literary texts from each tradition are read within their historical context. Contemporary manifestations of these ancient religions and cultural background are a major concern of the course.
TH 314: Islam (3): Studies the current renaissance of the Muslim religion as it appears in its two principal forms (Sunni and Shiite). While special emphasis is given to the life and teaching of the prophet Muhammad, the formation of the Qur’an, and the history of the early split between Sunni and Shiite, major modern and contemporary influences are also considered.
TH 327: Catholic Social Teaching (3): An introduction to social justice as an essential element of the Church’s mission. By examining recent world history and ecclesiastical documents on social justice, the course fosters a Catholic approach to understanding the critical social issues of our times. Conducted as a seminar. Prerequisite: TH 132.
TH 331: Comparative Study of Religion (3): A preliminary examination of the so-called “Sciences of Religion” with emphasis on the methodology used to describe the religious phenomenon and its basic components. This discussion is followed by a survey of several major religious traditions other than Christianity.
TH 332: Christian Ethics (3): A study of the impact of Christian faith and theology on the ways people live their lives. The sources of the Church’s teaching on the moral life are examined, and special attention is given to theological reflection on contemporary issues in the light of Christian ethics. Prerequisite: TH 132.
TH 341: The Psalms (2-3): Background and introductory material for reading the Psalter. A study of the literary genres. The reading of selected Psalms with emphasis on the meaning of religious vocabulary and imagery, the historical setting, and Hebrew poetic style. Consideration of the Psalms in Christian prayer and tradition. Prerequisite or concurrent: TH 231.
TH 350: Christology (3): A systematic study of the person and mission of Jesus Christ as found in Scripture and Christian tradition; an examination of the development of Christology and soteriology over the centuries within the teaching of the Church; and an analysis of contemporary problems such as the “quest” for the historical Jesus. Prerequisite: TH 132.
TH 351: Theology and Literature (3): After a brief survey of recent movements to assess the theological dimensions of modern and contemporary literature, the course concentrates on a reading and interpretation of the writings, especially the short stories, of Flannery O’Connor from a theological perspective.
TH 361: Monastic Spirituality I (1-2): This part of the course will focus almost entirely on the practice of lectio divina. There will be a consideration of how the Bible and prayer relate both in the life of the Church and in the monastic tradition. The use of the Bible in private prayer and the liturgy are integral parts of this study. (The size of this class will be limited to 15 students to further participation by all.)
TH 362: Monastic Spirituality II (1-2): Basic themes of monastic teaching from The Rule of St. Benedict are studied by means of autobiographies of modern and contemporary Benedictines. (This course will be limited to Benedictine monks and sisters, novices, and oblates.)
TH 422: Prophetic Literature (2-3): An introduction to the phenomenon of prophecy in ancient Israel. Attention is given to the historical development of the prophetic movement during, through, and following the monarchy. A chronological study of prophetic figures and writings in their cultural and religious context. Exegesis of selected passages from the classical prophets. Prerequisite: TH 231.
TH 424: St. Augustine’s Sermons on the Liturgical Year (3): After an introductory study touching on the patristic period, St. Augustine’s life as Bishop of Hippo and a preliminary examination of principal themes in De doctrina Christiana (res and sacramentum), selected sermons on the liturgical year, especially those of the paschal season (lent through Pentecost) will be read and analyzed to discover Augustine’s vision of God’s “economy of salvation.” Prerequisite: TH 132.
TH 425: St. John Chrysostom’s Sermons on God’s Nature (3): St. John Chrysostom (c. 345-407) is arguably the most influential of the four great Greek fathers of the Church. Most of that influence stems from his stunning power of preaching on account of which he earned the name ‘The Golden Mouthed,’ Chrysostomos. Outstanding among his numerous homilies is the series given the title “On the Incomprehensible Nature of God.” In these sermons he restates in popular form the profound theological negative for which the Greek fathers are especially noted. The course is a detailed study of selected sermons from this series. Prerequisite: TH 132.
TH 431: Theology of the Church (3): An introduction to the field of ecclesiology – the study of the origin, nature, and mission of the Church. This course explores the development of the theology of the Church in the New Testament and throughout ecclesial history culminating in recent magisterial documents such as Lumen Gentium of the 2nd Vatican Council and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Included are such current issues as the theology of communion and the role of the Church in ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue. Prerequisite: TH 132.
TH 441: Christian Spirituality (3): A survey of the development of Christian spirituality from its origins to the Twenty-first Century. The focus will be on the Catholic tradition, predominately the Latin West but also including the Christian East. General themes and topics, as well as an examination of the texts of noteworthy spiritual writers will be discussed. Included is an excursus on some popular devotional practices of the Church.
TH 453: The Liturgical Year (3): An introduction to the liturgical year of the Church which focuses on the New Testament testimony, the early Christian witness and the development of the tradition. Particular emphasis is given to historical development with special attention to the theology of Sunday and the Easter Triduum and their meaning and pastoral significance. Prerequisite: TH 131.
TH 455: The Sacraments (3): A study of the history of the Church’s seven sacraments from apostolic times to the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Against this historical background, the theology and spirituality of each of the sacraments will be examined, with special emphasis given to pastoral and practical considerations of our own times. Prerequisite: TH 131.
TH 461-469: Independent Study (1-3)
TH 471-479: Special Topics (1-3)