TRS 504: A "Story-Formed" Church
Credit Hours: 3, online every fall
This course will historically trace the development of doctrine and theology, but also the will also encounter the men and women whose lives incarnated the Christian faith over a span of two thousand years.
TRS 505: Christology - Discovering Jesus the Christ-Fully Human and Fully Divine
Credit Hours: 3, Summer A
This course sets out to investigate the identity of Jesus. We will explore the writings of the New Testament, the early Church Fathers, Ecumenical Councils and the theological insights offered by theologians through the centuries. This course will include but is not limited to the following topics: the relationship of persons within the Divine Trinity, the Incarnation, the Christological titles, the hypostatic union, the consciousness of Christ, the resurrection and various theories of redemption.
TRS 506: Ecclesiology - The Mystical Communion of Believers
Credit Hours: 3, Summer B
This course provides a careful study of the nature and mission of the Church. Issues to be explored include: the Church as visible and invisible entity, the mystical union of believers, the nature and origin of authority in the Church, Eastern Orthodox and Reformation ecclesiology, the number, nature and role of the sacraments, Christian worship, and current ecumenical aspirations.
TRS 507: Encountering the Old Testament as Christian Scripture
Credit Hours: 3, Summer A
Introduces students to the content of the Old Testament with an eye toward how to teach this material as Christian Scripture in an engaging manner. Emphasis is on the theology of the primary source texts, that is, what we learn about God, the world, ourselves, and others through a direct encounter with these ancient texts. Each student will teach a portion of at least one class session to reinforce the learning experience.
TRS 508: Engaging Jesus and the New Testament
Credit Hours: 3, Summer B
This course welcomes the student into the world of the New Testament—the Gospels, Acts, the Letters, and Revelation. The course will highlight the life and teachings of Jesus and the theology of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection as subsequently developed by the Apostle Paul. Each student will teach a portion of at least one class session to reinforce the learning experience.
TRS 509: Interpreting the Bible in the Contemporary World
Credit Hours: 3, online every fall
In today's world, students of theology and religion tend to have more questions about the correct way (or ways) to interpret the Bible and the appropriate role of the Bible in the contemporary discourse than about the content of the Bible itself. How does the Bible relate to science? To church teachings and traditions? To business? To the ethical life in our complex modern societies? Should we understand this verse literally? Does the Bible contain errors? How were the various books that are contained in the Bible chosen? By examining diverse models of engagement, this course equips those involved in religious education to answer such questions.
TRS 513: Christian Marriage – Evangelizing and Evangelized Communion of Persons
Credit Hours: 3, online every fall
This course takes up primary sources from the whole of the Christian tradition to understand theologies of Christian marriage. Among the sources will be Scripture, patristics, Aquinas, Martin Luther, Vatican II, and others. Students will be required to articulate and critically assess the strongest theological and biblical arguments surrounding the various sides of these debated questions: nature and ends of marriage, divorce, annulment, marital indissolubility, covenant vs. contract, the marital sacrament, and sexual complementarity.
TRS 529: Introduction to Moral Theology: The Gospel Enacted
Credit Hours: 3, Summer A
This course studies the development of multiple (Catholic and non-Catholic) moral theological methods from the earliest apostolic and scriptural tradition, through the patristic sources, into the scholastic period, the manual tradition, probabilism, proportionalism, the modern development of person-centered approaches, Veritatis splendor, and the return of virtue ethics. Students will independently apply these methods to current moral questions.
TRS 530: Christian Social Ethics: Sharing the Church's Best Kept Secret
Credit Hours: 3, online every spring
This course studies Catholic and non-Catholic primary sources, ranging from papal encyclicals and Dorothy Day, to Niehbur and Stanley Hauerwas, to discover various methods for social ethics, the riches of the Church's tradition, the principles of social ethics, and their application to issues such as the economy, immigration, voting, religious liberty, food, marriage and sexuality, and a consistent ethic of life/culture of life.
TRS 540: Teaching Methods and Theory
Credit Hours: 3, online spring elective
Students are introduced to pedagogical theory and various practical methods of classroom instruction. The emphasis will be hands-on and practical—for example, as part of the instruction the students will plan a course on theology/religion for an academic or ecclesial setting, including a course syllabus, daily lesson plans, and classroom learning exercises.
TRS 543: The Life and Teaching of Jesus
Credit Hours: 3, online spring elective
Who is Jesus? What did he claim about himself? What were his aims? His teachings? This course, through a close reading of the canonical Gospels, some select non-canonical Gospels, and a few noteworthy modern attempts to paint a portrait of the historical Jesus, attempts to discover the authentic Jesus.
TRS 542: Theology of the Body
Credit Hours: 3, online spring elective
Catholic parishes and Protestant youth ministries are increasingly using some version of Theology of the Body in their programs, thus MRE graduates should be conversant with the topic. This course studies John Paul II's Theology of the Body. Students will also learn the philosophical and theological backdrop (John of the Cross, Scheller, Kant, et al.) for John Paul II's personalism. Students will trace both praise and critique of this theology in popular and academic contexts, as well as learn various methods for presenting the topic.
TRS 515: Theology of Death
Credit Hours: 3, online spring elective
This course is designed to help the student to explore the mystery of death in the light of faith. Our approach will involve anthropology and philosophy as well as theology. We will look at the meaning of death as it provides insight into the meaning of life. Works of literature will aid us in reflecting upon death and grief. The writings of saints, spiritual masters and theologians will also be employed. We will investigate eschatology's "last things" and conclude with a treatise on the Christian understanding of eternal life.
TRS 550: Christianity in Dialogue
Credit Hours: 3, online spring elective
In a world that is becoming increasingly diverse, Christians have the challenging task of understanding and engaging in dialogue with many voices. In the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, this course will place Christianity in dialogue with some notable interlocutors. These partners in dialogue will include Jewish believers, Muslims, the scientific community, modern atheism and the world of the arts among others. We will investigate the relationship of faith and reason with a mind to promoting fruitful discourse with believers of other faiths and philosophical perspectives.
TRS 598: Culminating Experience
Credit Hours: 3, any term after student has completed 24 credit hours
The student, with faculty guidance and approval, will chose the culminating experience most suitable for his/her life circumstances and career goals—portfolio, practicum, or comprehensive exam. The portfolio option will include an array of materials (written and/or multi-media) that will provide evidence of the student having mastered the theological content as well as understanding how to successfully convey the content to others. This portfolio would be put constructed so as to be suitable to show a potential employer. The practicum option will require a student to plan, execute and evaluate a project related to religious education within a professional academic or ecclesial setting. The comprehensive exam option will involve reading a set bibliography suitable for a three-credit course on the topics of Bible, Christian theology, and Christian ethics to be concluded with a 3-hour written examination.
Course Descriptions.
TRS 504: A “Story-Formed” Church (3 credits, every fall, online).
This course will historically trace the development of doctrine and theology, but also the will also encounter the men and women whose lives incarnated the Christian faith over a span of two thousand years.
TRS 505: Christology - Discovering Jesus the Christ-Fully Human and Fully Divine (3 credits, Summer A).
This course sets out to investigate the identity of Jesus. We will explore the writings of the New Testament, the early Church Fathers, Ecumenical Councils and the theological insights offered by theologians through the centuries. This course will include but is not limited to the following topics: the relationship of persons within the Divine Trinity, the Incarnation, the Christological titles, the hypostatic union, the consciousness of Christ, the resurrection and various theories of redemption.
TRS 506: Ecclesiology - The Mystical Communion of Believers (3 credits, Summer B).
This course provides a careful study of the nature and mission of the Church. Issues to be explored include: the Church as visible and invisible entity, the mystical union of believers, the nature and origin of authority in the Church, Eastern Orthodox and Reformation ecclesiology, the number, nature and role of the sacraments, Christian worship, and current ecumenical aspirations.
TRS 507: Encountering the Old Testament as Christian Scripture (3 credits, summer A).
Introduces students to the content of the Old Testament with an eye toward how to teach this material as Christian Scripture in an engaging manner. Emphasis is on the theology of the primary source texts, that is, what we learn about God, the world, ourselves, and others through a direct encounter with these ancient texts. Each student will teach a portion of at least one class session to reinforce the learning experience.
TRS 508: Engaging Jesus and the New Testament (3 credits, summer B).
This course welcomes the student into the world of the New Testament—the Gospels, Acts, the Letters, and Revelation. The course will highlight the life and teachings of Jesus and the theology of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection as subsequently developed by the Apostle Paul. Each student will teach a portion of at least one class session to reinforce the learning experience.
TRS 509: Interpreting the Bible in the Contemporary World (3 credits, online every fall).
In today’s world, students of theology and religion tend to have more questions about the correct way (or ways) to interpret the Bible and the appropriate role of the Bible in the contemporary discourse than about the content of the Bible itself. How does the Bible relate to science? To church teachings and traditions? To business? To the ethical life in our complex modern societies? Should we understand this verse literally? Does the Bible contain errors? How were the various books that are contained in the Bible chosen? By examining diverse models of engagement, this course equips those involved in religious education to answer such questions.
TRS 513: Christian Marriage – Evangelizing and Evangelized Communion of Persons (3 credits, Summer B).
This course takes up primary sources from the whole of the Christian tradition to understand theologies of Christian marriage. Among the sources will be Scripture, patristics, Aquinas, Martin Luther, Vatican II, and others. Students will be required to articulate and critically assess the strongest theological and biblical arguments surrounding the various sides of these debated questions: nature and ends of marriage, divorce, annulment, marital indissolubility, covenant vs. contract, the marital sacrament, and sexual complementarity.
TRS 529: Introduction to Moral Theology: The Gospel Enacted (3 credits, Summer A).
This course studies the development of multiple (Catholic and non-Catholic) moral theological methods from the earliest apostolic and scriptural tradition, through the patristic sources, into the scholastic period, the manual tradition, probabilism, proportionalism, the modern development of person-centered approaches, Veritatis splendor, and the return of virtue ethics. Students will independently apply these methods to current moral questions.
TRS 530: Christian Social Ethics: Sharing the Church’s Best Kept Secret (3 credits, online every spring).
This course studies Catholic and non-Catholic primary sources, ranging from papal encyclicals and Dorothy Day, to Niehbur and Stanley Hauerwas, to discover various methods for social ethics, the riches of the Church’s tradition, the principles of social ethics, and their application to issues such as the economy, immigration, voting, religious liberty, food, marriage and sexuality, and a consistent ethic of life/culture of life.
TRS 540: Teaching Methods and Theory (3 credits, online spring elective).
Students are introduced to pedagogical theory and various practical methods of classroom instruction. The emphasis will be hands-on and practical—for example, as part of the instruction the students will plan a course on theology/religion for an academic or ecclesial setting, including a course syllabus, daily lesson plans, and classroom learning exercises.
TRS 543: The Life and Teaching of Jesus (3 credits, online spring elective).
Who is Jesus? What did he claim about himself? What were his aims? His teachings? This course, through a close reading of the canonical Gospels, some select non-canonical Gospels, and a few noteworthy modern attempts to paint a portrait of the historical Jesus, attempts to discover the authentic Jesus.
TRS 542: Theology of the Body (3 credits, online spring elective)
Catholic parishes and Protestant youth ministries are increasingly using some version of Theology of the Body in their programs, thus MRE graduates should be conversant with the topic. This course studies John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. Students will also learn the philosophical and theological backdrop (John of the Cross, Scheller, Kant, et al.) for John Paul II’s personalism. Students will trace both praise and critique of this theology in popular and academic contexts, as well as learn various methods for presenting the topic.
TRS 515: Theology of Death (3 credits, online spring elective).
This course is designed to help the student to explore the mystery of death in the light of faith. Our approach will involve anthropology and philosophy as well as theology. We will look at the meaning of death as it provides insight into the meaning of life. Works of literature will aid us in reflecting upon death and grief. The writings of saints, spiritual masters and theologians will also be employed. We will investigate eschatology’s “last things” and conclude with a treatise on the Christian understanding of eternal life.
TRS 550: Christianity in Dialogue (3 credits, online spring elective).
In a world that is becoming increasingly diverse, Christians have the challenging task of understanding and engaging in dialogue with many voices. In the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, this course will place Christianity in dialogue with some notable interlocutors. These partners in dialogue will include Jewish believers, Muslims, the scientific community, modern atheism and the world of the arts among others. We will investigate the relationship of faith and reason with a mind to promoting fruitful discourse with believers of other faiths and philosophical perspectives.
TRS 598: Culminating Experience (3 credits, any term after student has completed 24 credits).
The student, with faculty guidance and approval, will chose the culminating experience most suitable for his/her life circumstances and career goals—portfolio, practicum, or comprehensive exam. The portfolio option will include an array of materials (written and/or multi-media) that will provide evidence of the student having mastered the theological content as well as understanding how to successfully convey the content to others. This portfolio would be put constructed so as to be suitable to show a potential employer. The practicum option will require a student to plan, execute and evaluate a project related to religious education within a professional academic or ecclesial setting. The comprehensive exam option will involve reading a set bibliography suitable for a three-credit course on the topics of Bible, Christian theology, and Christian ethics to be concluded with a 3-hour written examination.
Admission Requirements
Applications are accepted on a revolving basis so you can
begin your study at the start of any session. Here’s how to
apply:
• Submit a completed Quincy University Graduate
Studies application with a $25 non-refundable
application fee.
Official Transcripts - Official transcripts from every college or university attended. (An English
translation of the original transcript(s) by an accredited transcript evaluation service is
required.)
• Recommendations - Two recommendations from individuals who address the student’s
academic and/or professional potential.
• Educational Requirements - A minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average
(GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Conditional admission may be possible according to program
criteria.
• Resume - A current professional resume.
• Written Statement - A written statement that meets the criteria specified by the graduate
program.
• Submit official results of the Graduate Record Exam
with a satisfactory score.
• International Students - Applicants from non-English speaking educational institutions
must submit the results of the TOEFL. Generally, a score of 550 or above is acceptable
evidence of a student’s ability to successfully study in an English-speaking environment at
the graduate level. Also, the applicant must submit documentation showing how his/her
education will be financed. A bank official must authorize this financial documentation.
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