|
Certificate in Theological Studies |
| |
| Download (pdf): |
|
| |
| Aquinas College offers a Certificate in Theological Studies, designed for lay people engaged in ministry and those persons who want to further their theological education. |
| |
| Whether you are a parish catechetical leader, pastoral associate, youth ministry leader, parish musician, Catholic school administrator or teacher, or adult Catholic seeking a deeper understanding of your faith, Aquinas' Certificate in Theological Studies will enhance your theological preparation and help you to bring a new level of understanding and knowledge to your life and your ministry. |
| |
| |
| Courses |
| The Certificate in Theological Studies consists in 18 credits of coursework in the form of six 3-credit courses. The curriculum has been designed to build on your current knowledge base and prepare you for further study if that is your desire. The five required courses are: |
| |
| TY120 Sacraments |
| An introduction to Sacramental Theology and Liturgy that explores the biblical, historical and liturgical aspects of the Church’s Sacraments |
| |
| TY 147 The Catholic Vision |
| This course introduces students to Roman Catholic tradition and its faith, doc-trines, theology, ritual, spirituality and moral life. Its goals include 1) acquainting students with the distinctive spirit of the Catholic vision and tradition as it relates to other Christian denominations and religious traditions; 2) helping students to recognize that Catholicism is a theological heritage that encompasses a rich tradition of persons, doctrines, ways of celebrating, moral living, praying and social justice; and 3) familiarizing students with the challenges that contemporary Catholicism faces in the Third Millennium |
| |
| TY 211 Jesus and the Gospels |
| Explores the New Testament portraits of Jesus, introduces the “historical Jesus” debate, and exposes students to the methods by which the first Christian theologians interpreted scripture. Students will compare and contrast stories in each of the four Gospels and become aware of images of Jesus in narrative and poetry. |
| |
| TY 212 Vatican II and the American Catholic Experience |
| This course examines the major documents of the Second Vatican Council and how the paradigm shift experienced impacts the Roman Catholic tradition in the United States since 1965. After setting the historical context of Vatican II and its place in the Catholic theological tradition, the major themes of the council are addressed with a careful reading of select documents. Attention is then given to how the shifts in Vatican II, rooted in the documents, has effected contemporary concerns in the United States such as ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue, understanding of church, the nature of theological reflection and relationship of faith to the world |
| |
| TY 250 Christian Morality |
| An introduction to Christian ethics or moral theology that, from the Catholic moral tradition, considers ethical sources, the meaning of the acting person, and selected sexual, bio-medical and social justice issues. Themes covered include: ethics in a post-modern world, faith and ethics, church authority, conscience, natural law, sin, virtue and making moral decisions. |
| |
| Please Note: All students in the Theological Certificate program will receive partial financial assistance. To receive a printed brochure or application materials or to register for the Theological Certificate, contact the Registrar/Academic Advising Office at (616) 632-2866 or advising@aquinas.edu. For information on theology courses contact Dr. Robert Marko, Chair of the Theology Department at (616) 632-2846 or markorob@aquinas.edu. |
