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GENERAL GOALS

To replace the final written and oral comprehensive examination the students:

1) research a theme in Scripture, Historical/Systematic Theology, and Religion in Contemporary

Society (Ethics, Pastoral Theology), using both English and another language;

. give 3 oral presentations, 45 minutes each, based on the research;

. write a final paper, incorporating their research revised in the light of class critiques.

As a substitute for the comprehensive examination, students will show mastery of skills in critical analysis, creative synthesis, and the application of theory to practice. The course will help students explore systematically and critically human experiences of God and the various branches of theology.

2) demonstrate how the Christian traditions illuminate and interpret these experiences of God in community. This inquiry is best done through dialogue between scholarly disciplines. At USF this dialogue will be particularly rich because of the cultural diversity of students. It will involve the formation of skills of critical

analysis and synthesis, using essential tools in theology and the social sciences.

It will also foster appreciation of one's own community of faith.

3) encourage students to respond personally and as a community to God's revelation in Christ, drawing conclusions about human dignity and rights, human freedom and responsibility, the need for both prayer and action to cooperate effectively with God's plans for the good of the entire human family and the cosmos.

COGNITIVE OBJECTIVES:

. Knowledge of the basic themes and trends in Theology and Pastoral Ministry.

. Awareness of the relevance of cultural diversity to theological expression.

. Awareness of the major areas and trends of interdisciplinary theological dialogue and

critical reflection on significant issues involving other intellectualdisciplines.

. Awareness of interreligious and ecumenical dialogue.

. Awareness of major issues confronting the Church today.

. Familiarity with essential theological resources and tools.

. Familiarity with the methods and content of various theological schools and traditions.

. Familiarity with the purpose and methods of pastoral ministry, their strengths and weaknesses.

AFFECTIVE OBJECTIVES:

. sensitivity to religious values.

. appreciation of one's own and other religious traditions.

. appreciation of the beauty and limits of theological syntheses.

. enthusiasm about theology.

. appreciation for what belief in God means for human dignity.

and responsibility to others and for the environment.

. appreciation of self as a child of God, for whom Jesus gave his life.

. appreciation of others as God's children, for whom Jesus gave his life.

. appreciation of the role of pastoral ministry in the life of the Church.

BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVES:

. ability to apply historical-critical and literary principles of interpretation to

scripture, church documents, and other theological texts.

. ability to do research with critical analysis and judgment.

. ability to use creative imagination in forming personal theological syntheses,

integrating life experience with theological interpretation,

and integrating theological principles with action.

. ability to write and speak clearly and effectively on religious and theological topics.

. ability to engage fruitfully in theological interdisciplinary dialogue.

REQUIRED READING: Sharing the Light of Faith: National Catechetical Directory , USCC , 1979

[An example of integration, unlike the Catechism of the Catholic Church]

Christian Religious Education, Thomas Groome, Jossey-Bass, 1999

Deepening Christian Life, F. J. Buckley & D. Sharp, Harper & Row, 1987

OTHER COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

. Complete the readings for each session, attend all sessions, and participate in class discussions. Weekly e-mails [& ListServs]. Bring to each class a typed report on the assigned reading, indicating 2 interesting topics and why you chose them, and two questions for the class to discuss.

. Make a 45-minute [including time for discussion] formal presentation at each of 3 sessions,

integrating your theme with scripture, systematic theology, and moral/pastoral theology.

. Prepare an outline of the final integrating paper, in consultation with and with the approval of the instructor.

1) First submit an outline, and get feedback from the teacher and perhaps other students.

2) After the outline is approved, submit a sample chapter for critique by the teacher. This will enable you to see whether you are going in the right direction, whether you can see connections, whether you are exercising critical judgment or simply parroting what was said in class (or what you mistakenly thought was said in class), whether you are applying what was learned to your work, whether you can tell the forest from the trees.

3) Rewrite your presentation in the light of class discussion.

. Complete the final integrating paper.

The integrating paper is not to be a simple chronological report. It is to indicate how well you have learned to integrate both the content and methodologies of the various courses you have taken.

Follow the standard form for social sciences or Alan Heineman & Hulon Willis, WRITING TERM PAPERS, Harcourt. Include a bibliography. (Footnotes may be put at the end.) Papers must be done on computer, checked for spelling and grammar, and printed in 12 point type, boldface.

Synthesize all three parts into one 30-page paper, due one week after the last day of class. It is normal to allow students two semesters to complete the writing of their papers: the semester during which the seminar is taken, together with the following semester. At the end of the first semester, assign the grade IP. The final version of the paper must be submitted in time to be graded at the end of the second semester.

Dear Seminar member,

The first session of the graduate comprehensive seminar will be on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 6:30 PM.

Beforehand, select a topical theme which can be researched in Scriptural, Systematic, and Moral/Pastoral Theology. Pick first, second, and third priority themes, in case your theme is taken by someone else.

e.g., City, Light, Love, Forgiveness, Community, Covenant, Death, Salvation, etc.

. Select the one book on your topic which everyone in the seminar should read. You may have one or two alternates, e.g. all should read A or B or C. One book might well suffice as background for 2-3 topics. Students may already have read it for previous courses. The idea is not to multiply reading but to ensure everyone has enough background to critique one another’s work. [e.g. Sacramentum Mundi]

. Consult with an expert about bibliography, narrowing your topic, covering all essential points, clarifying presuppositions and method of research.

. Bring to the first class copies of a 1-2 page outline of how you will treat your topic in the exegetical area.

Remember, you are not doing a doctoral dissertation nor even a 6-unit master's thesis. This is a seminar replacing a comprehensive examination. Its main purpose is to check whether you have the necessary skills of analysis and synthesis, of research and critical judgment, of carrying on an intelligent theological discussion in some depth, of recognizing and clarifying relationships between various fields of theology. It is an opportunity for you to demonstrate mastery of theology, in such a way that we all learn from one another.

Please limit yourself to a total of 135 hours of research for the seminar (averaging 3 hours of study for each hour of class). The seminar should be fun and exciting, not a threatening or tedious chore.

I look forward to working with you.

Sincerely yours,

Frank J. Buckley, S.J.

Group A:

Group B:

Group C:

Group D:

Group E:

Jan. 24 A=PRAYER; B=REPORT; C=CRITIQUE; D=APPLICATION; E=FOOD

31 A=REPORT; B=CRITIQUE; C=APPLICATION; D=FOOD; E=PRAYER

Feb. 7 A=CRITIQUE; B=APPLICATION; C=FOOD; D=PRAYER; E=REPORT

14 A=APPLICATION; B: FOOD; C=PRAYER; D=REPORT; E=CRITIQUE

21 A=FOOD; B=PRAYER; C=REPORT; D=CRITIQUE; E=APPLICATION

28 A=PRAYER; B=REPORT; C=CRITIQUE; D=APPLICATION; E=FOOD

Mar. 7 A=REPORT; B=CRITIQUE; C=APPLICATION; D=FOOD; E=PRAYER

14 A=CRITIQUE; B=APPLICATION; C=FOOD; D=PRAYER; E=REPORT

21 A=APPLICATION; B: FOOD; C=PRAYER; D=REPORT; E=CRITIQUE

Apr. 4 A=FOOD; B=PRAYER; C=REPORT; D=CRITIQUE; E=APPLICATION

11 A=PRAYER; B=REPORT; C=CRITIQUE; D=APPLICATION; E=FOOD

18 A=REPORT; B=CRITIQUE; C=APPLICATION; D=FOOD; E=PRAYER

25 A=CRITIQUE; B=APPLICATION; C=FOOD; D=PRAYER; E=REPORT

May 2 A=APPLICATION; B: FOOD; C=PRAYER; D=REPORT; E=CRITIQUE

9 A=FOOD; B=PRAYER; C=REPORT; D=CRITIQUE; E=APPLICATION

Prayer --opening and closing--can be poetry or prose, music or song, dance

Be brief--no more than five minutes; can be much less.

Report covers content of previous class briefly--no more than ten minutes

It may be oral or on an overhead or poster or wall chart.

Critique covers process of previous class briefly--no more than five minutes --what happened,

what worked or not and why; mood; how well all participated and how they were treated.

Include comments on use of email and ListServ.

Applications to life and connections between subject areas are pointed out.

Food should be nothing fancy; it sets a mood for the break. Celebrate feast days, birthdays, and anniversaries.