Philosophy and Theology
Chairman and Associate Professor: LEE COLE
The courses in philosophy are designed to present students with historical and contemporary attempts to think critically and reflectively about fundamental questions concerning being, knowledge, and value. The study of such philosophical problems in a spirit of free inquiry encourages students to examine and develop their own views about our place in the world.
The courses in theology are designed to assist students in thinking about the nature of God by grounding them in the history, philosophy, theology, and ethics of the Judeo-Christian tradition and by exposing them to other relevant religious views. Thus, courses aim to impart the habits necessary to interpret and evaluate religious beliefs and then integrate these reflections in an intellectual and personal manner.
The major in philosophy and theology secures foundational knowledge in the respective movements, arguments, theories, and figures of these disciplines while equipping students to think synthetically within and between them.
Degrees
-
Philosophy, Major -
Philosophy, Minor -
Philosophy and Theology, Major -
Theology, Major -
Theology, Minor
Courses of Instruction
PHL 105: The Western Philosophical Tradition
Credits 3PHL 207: Introduction to Logic
Credits 3PHL 211: Ancient Philosophy
Credits 3PHL 212: Medieval Philosophy
Credits 3PHL 213: Early Modern Philosophy
Credits 3PHL 214: Late Modern Philosophy
Credits 3PHL 310: Classical Metaphysics
Credits 3PHL 312: Ethical Theory
Credits 3PHL 313: Social and Political Philosophy
Credits 3PHL 314: Aesthetic Theory
Credits 3PHL 320: American Pragmatism
Credits 3PHL 341: Twentieth-Century Analytic Philosophy
Credits 3PHL 342: Epistemology
Credits 3PHL 343: Metaphysics
Credits 3PHL 345: Contemporary Continental Philosophy
Credits 3PHL 350: Philosophy of Law
Credits 3PHL 360: Philosophy of Education
Credits 3PHL 370: Philosophy of Love, Sex & Marriage
Credits 3PHL 405: Philosophy of Language
Credits 3PHL 410: Philosophy of Mind
Credits 3PHL 420: Philosophy of Religion
Credits 3PHL 451: Philosophy of Science
Credits 3PHL 493: Seminar in Philosophy
Credits 3PHL 575: Philosophy Senior Thesis
Credits 1 Max Credits 3PHL 597: Special Problems
Credits 1 Max Credits 3THL 105: The Western Theological Tradition
Credits 3This course introduces students to Western reflections on God by attending to the nature of theology and to the origin, development, and enactment of both basic and contested theological claims. As such, it aims to develop a student’s capacities for theological inquiry and judgment. Representative texts are drawn from across the various Jewish, Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant theological traditions of the last three millennia, with the claims of scripture playing a foundational role.
THL 211: Old Testament History and Literature
Credits 3THL 212: New Testament History and Literature
Credits 3THL 213: Historical Theology I: Apostolic to High Scholastic
Credits 3The development of Christian philosophical and theological thought from the close of the New Testament to 1500 A.D. Special emphasis will be placed on the development of the ecumenical creeds, the philosophy and theology of Augustine, and medieval scholasticism.
THL 214: Historical Theology II: Late Medieval to Present-Day
Credits 3A study of Christian intellectual and doctrinal history from 1500 to the present. The Reformation, Counter Reformation, the Age of Orthodoxy, the rise of biblical criticism, 19th-century Liberal theology, 20th-century Neo-orthodoxy and existential theology, the Vatican Councils and important papal encyclicals and current trends of thought will be studied.
THL 302: Patristic Theology
Credits 3THL 309: Medieval Theology
Credits 3THL 316: Sixteenth-Century Theology
Credits 3THL 318: Eighteenth-Century Theology
Credits 3THL 321: Contemporary Theology
Credits 3THL 329: Special Topics in Historical Theology
Credits 3This course provides an opportunity to address canonical theologians or important periods of theological development, beyond the topical specifications of THL 300–328. Examples include “Augustine,” “Martin Lu-ther,” “Nineteenth-Century German Theology,” etc. May be repeated for credit.
THL 331: Christology
Credits 3This course attends to the person and work of Jesus as the Messiah. Close readings of the Scriptures and historical and contemporary texts from across the Christian theological traditions will guide consideration of themes such as Jesus as the Word, the humanity of the Son of God, divine humility and self-emptying, and the Image of God.
THL 332: Pneumatology: Theology of the Holy Spirit
Credits 3This course considers the identity and work of the Spirit of God. Close readings of the Scriptures and historical and contemporary texts from across the Christian theological traditions will guide consideration of themes such as holiness, inspiration, grace, the spiritual gifts, prophecy, life, reality, and actualization.
THL 333: Theology of the Trinity
Credits 3THL 334: Soteriology: Theology of Salvation
Credits 3This course examines major models of salvation as present in the Scriptures and in classic and contemporary texts from across the Christian theological traditions.
THL 335: Ecclesiology: Theology of the Church
Credits 3This course examines the doctrine of the church, tracing how Christians have understood themselves as the church from the New Testament to today, by attending to marks and attributes of the church, ministerial and institutional structures, and turning points in ecclesiological history.
THL 336: Theological Anthropology
Credits 3This course addresses human being(s), or the doctrine of man, as a subject of theology. Themes such as the image of God, nature, embodiment, personhood, and purpose are explored at the nexus of creation, sin, Christ, and salvation.
THL 338: Roman Catholic Theology
Credits 3THL 339: Special Topics in Christian Doctrine
Credits 3This course provides an opportunity to address subjects pertaining to Christian doctrine or systematic theology, beyond the topical specifications of THL 330–338. May be repeated for credit.
THL 340: Studies in Biblical Interpretation
Credits 3THL 341: Studies in Biblical Theology
Credits 3THL 349: Special Topics in Scripture
Credits 3This course provides an opportunity to address subjects pertaining to scriptural interpretation, beyond the topical specifications of THL 340–348. Examples include “Biblical Wisdom Literature,” “The Synoptic Gospels,” etc. May be repeated for credit.
THL 354: Judaism
Credits 3This course introduces the general historical framework, beliefs, and practices that distinguish the Jewish people, from the biblical to the modern period. By engaging with Jewish texts, the course aims to address some of the following topics: the Bible in Judaism, rabbinic literature, theology, Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah) and philosophy, Jewish law, Jewish nationalism, anti-Semitism, messianism, Jewish culture and identity, the synagogue, ritual and worship, life cycle, festivals and calendar.
THL 355: Islam
Credits 3THL 356: Eastern Religion
Credits 3THL 359: Special Topics in Non-Christian Religions
Credits 3This course provides an opportunity to address subjects pertaining to non-Christian religious traditions or theologies, beyond the topical specifications of THL 350–358. May be repeated for credit.
THL 373: Religion, Society and Culture
Credits 3THL 374: American Religious Landscape
Credits 3THL 390: Introduction to Biblical Hebrew I
Credits 3THL 391: Introduction to Biblical Hebrew II
Credits 3THL 392: Readings in Hebrew Literature
Credits 3THL 393: Readings in the Septuagint
Credits 3An introduction to the special grammar and vocabulary of the Jewish Bible (Old Testament) in Greek, with an emphasis upon acquiring proficiency in reading selected texts.
THL 394: Readings in New Testament Greek
Credits 3An introduction to the grammar and vocabulary of Koine Greek with emphasis upon building proficiency in reading the Greek New Testament.
THL 493: Seminar in Theology
Credits 3A seminar on special topics or problems in the study of theology, biblical studies and Christian studies. The seminar may cover such topics as Christian ethics, individual biblical books or authors, prominent thinkers in the Judeo-Christian tradition and specific non-Christian religions or religious thinkers. May be repeated for credit.
THL 575: Senior Thesis
Credits 1 Max Credits 3Students wishing to graduate with honors in theology must write a substantial thesis under the direction of one of the members of the Department or another qualified faculty member. Upon completion, the student must defend the thesis before a committee of three faculty members.