Graduate Registration

APO 620 Evolution and Catholic Thought Dr. Stacy Trasancos
This course blends instruction on the theory of evolution with Catholic thought on this much-debated topic. Students will study scientific topics along with relevant articles from Church teachings. The course will also provide discussion on Intelligent Design and Creationism.

DTH 512 Spiritual Life in the Classics Dr. J. Marianne Siegmund
This course provides a study of the great spiritual writers with an emphasis on how the beautiful images and concepts in such classics can help us grow in our own union with God, and in our love of those we encounter in friendship, family, work and mission.

PAS 602 Fundamentals of Practical Theology Dr. J. Marianne Siegmund
Practical, or pastoral theology is the “practical application of scientific theology to the care of souls in the sacred ministry”(John A. Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary). Unfortunately, in today’s world, the “unrestricted application of scientific methods to matters of faith appears to be sheer presumption, whereby man oversteps his limits and undermines his own foundations” (Joseph Ratzinger, The Nature and Mission of Theology, 8). Consequently, practical theology must first be grounded in theology itself. Firmly rooted in “scientific theology,” the course seeks to apply the doctrinal truths of the Faith to various pastoral situations confronting today’s minister. Since Sacred Scripture is to “inspire all pastoral work,” this course copiously invokes it (Benedict XVI Verbum Domini#73).

PAS 621 Pastoral Care of Marriage and Family Fr. Gregory Lockwood
This course will explore marriage as a spousal covenant from the biblical and traditional perspectives and consider how to minister to families, using as a basic text, John Paul II’s Magisterial Document, Familiaris consortio. Modern challenges to marriage will also be addressed.

PAS 671 Spiritual Direction: Skills and Practice Fr. Gregory Lockwood
This course equips the participants with the technical skills for spiritual direction, skills which enable the participants to go through personal discernment and help others in both personal and communitarian discernment for discovery of personal vocation and decision making.

PAS 684 Pastoral Counseling II: Spiritual Diagnosis and Accompaniment Fr. Gregory Lockwood
This course explores how to diagnose and treat spiritual disorders as well as how to recognize and treat the spiritual dimensions of psychological, relational, and medical problems.

PAS 720 Nurturing the Domestic Church: Facilitating Authentic Marriage, Family Life and Spirituality Dr. Kristina Olsen
This course explores the pastoral minister’s role in facilitating the emotional, psychological, relational and spiritual well-being of couples and families. Special emphasis will be given to the building blocks of an authentic, dynamic, marriage and family spirituality

PAS 785 Pastoral Issues Concerning Human Sexuality Dr. J. Marianne Siegmund
This course addresses the meaning of human sexuality, education and integration of emotion, sexual aberrations, relationship skills such as intra- and inter-personal skills, personal freedom skills, sexuality and spirituality, human sexuality and eschatology.

PAS 791 Morals and Psychology Dr. Marc Tumeinski
This course concerns the mutual influence of the life of reason and the emotions on moral practice with emphasis on the nature of emotions, repressive and affirmation neuroses, freedom of the will in neurotics, and the influence of moral practice on the prevention of neuroses.

PAS 805 Trinity and the Incarnation Dr. Edward Trendowski
This course provides a pastoral understanding of two central mysteries of the Catholic Faith: the Holy Trinity and the Incarnation of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Since pastoral ministry concerns putting people in “communion with the Person of Christ” and helping others to follow Him, this course focuses upon Jesus Christ as the Way to the Father (John Paul II, Catechesis Tradendae #5). A second pastoral focus highlights the practical dimensions by which we can live our communion with the Blessed Trinity in family life, pastoral settings, and in the various ministries in the Church.

ENG 891 Academic Research, Design and Writing Prof. Cynthia Gniadek
This course walks through the process for producing quality academic research papers, beginning with topic selection, research, and writing. The course culminates in the production of an academic research paper and thesis proposal

MTH 680 Marriage and Theology of the Body Dr. Lucy Knouse
This course approaches marriage from an interdisciplinary perspective, covering the biblical foundations for the Theology of the Body as expressed in the works of St. John Paul II, seeking to relate the Theology of the Body in the practical encounters of life, love and Marriage, and introduces Catholic sexual ethics using the work of John Paul II, and examines the significant philosophical thought of Karol Wojtyla on this topic in his Love and Responsibility and Theology of the Body

MTH 841 Catholic Social Teachings Dr. Kristina Olsen
This course traces major themes in Catholic social teachings by using the U.S. Bishop’s document, Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions and includes topics therein.

PHE 610 Ethics
This course studies the principles of ethics from a Thomistic and phenomenological perspective including criteria for making moral choices and a refutation of situation ethics, and addresses social justice, abortion, war and peace and sexual ethics.

PHE 663 Natural Law Dr. David Arias
This course includes topics such as enlightenment jurisprudence and the “Culture of Death,” the foundations of the natural law, how the natural law works, natural law as a basis for good laws, and natural law in Catholic moral teaching.

PHE 775 Political Philosophy Prof. Derya Rix

This course seeks to introduce students to political philosophy by undertaking a critical historical study of the most influential works (ancient, medieval, and modern) of the Western tradition. Students will study and analyze the fundamental issues that have shaped the debate throughout the centuries, including the nature of justice, law and liberty, power and authority, political equality, human rights, and the relation of Church and the state.

PHH 605 Ancient & Medieval Philosophy Dr. Timothy Smith
This course covers some of the most important figures and themes of Ancient & Medieval philosophy, including Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, the nature of man, education, the ultimate end of human activity, the meaning of life, God, Providence, and faith and reason.

PHH 620 Modern and Contemporary Philosophy Dr. Randy Colton
This course is an historical introduction to the thought and texts of principal modern philosophers from Descartes to Hegel and of principal contemporary philosophers from Kierkegaard to the present.

PHH 651 Aristotle Dr. John Finley
This course will examine Aristotle as a great thinker, focusing on what he says about human life. We will proceed through close readings of his Categories, De Anima, Nicomachean Ethics (selections) and Poetics.

PHH 781 Philosophy of St Thomas Aquinas Prof. Francisco Plaza
This course covers Aquinas on medieval education, the rise of universities, faith and reason, Aristotelian thought, Aquinas on the world and man, man as a moral agent, the meaning of life, the ultimate end of human action, difference between knowledge and faith; God.

PHS 611 Logic and Epistemology Dr. Philippe Yates
This course surveys twin foundations upon which all philosophy depends, relying on Aristotelian insights as developed by the great Christian philosophers of the Middle Ages, and develops these in the light of contributions from modern and contemporary philosophy.

PHS 621 Philosophy of Nature and Metaphysics Dr. Timothy Smith
This course explores the fundamental aspects of the natural world knowable to philosophy and science, including a discussion of the methodology and limits of the scientific and philosophical methods, along with the metaphysics of Aristotle; presuppositions of metaphysics, the subject matter of metaphysics, the scandal of generality, substance and essence, from finite to Infinite Being, the nature of existence, the names of God.

PHS 641 Reason in the Theology of St. Thomas Dr. Peter Mango
This course explores and applies as a solution to some of the most acute problems discussed in modern theology Aquinas’s third way, expressed in the Summa Theologica (I, q. 32 a. 1), of using reason in sacred theology, the first two ways being explained in the Summa Contra Gentiles involving Natural Theology and a movement from principles of Faith revealed through Jesus Christ.

PHS 657 Phenomenology Dr. John Finley
This course introduces phenomenology as a way of doing philosophy, and in particular, as a study of human experience.

PHS 660 Natural Theology Dr. Timothy Smith
This course examines arguments for the existence of God, His nature and relation to the world and man.

PHS 741 St. Thomas Aquinas on Being and Nothingness Dr. Eduardo Bernot
This course will help students to learn the most important metaphysical doctrines of St. Thomas. It presents an understanding of reality from Being itself (God) to nothingness (complete absence of being). We shall mostly focus on primary texts from Aquinas, but, when appropriate, we shall read selections from other thinkers who have influenced Aquinas, such as Aristotle.

PHS 761 The Good, the Bad, the Beautiful and the Ugly Dr. Eduardo Bernot
This course is a study of the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas about good and its opposite, evil, and the beautiful and it opposite, the ugly, in relationship to unity and multiplicity, being and non-being, and truth and error, and different kinds of good and evil, beauty and ugliness, considered in themselves and in relation to their existence within human knowing faculties, appetites, and in relationship to God.

APO 620 Evolution and Catholic Thought Dr. Stacy Trasancos
This course blends instruction on the theory of evolution with Catholic thought on this much-debated topic. Students will study scientific topics along with relevant articles from Church teachings. The course will also provide discussion on Intelligent Design and Creationism.

BIE 625 Catholic Bioethics (For non-NCBC students) Prof. Judith Babarsky
This interdisciplinary course prepares students for pastoral service through an intensive review of the teachings of the Catholic Church regarding the sanctity and dignity of human life from the moment of conception until natural death.

BIE 651 Medical Ethics Dr. Peter Mango
This course begins with the background out of which the Catholic Medical Ethics grew, and then explores the modern situation and its failure will be described and the contemporaneous need for the religious traditions to exercise their appropriate influence will be affirmed.

BIE 661 Biology & Biotechnologies for Ethicists Dr. Hermann Frieboes
This course focuses on the basic biological principles related to ethical issues such as in vitro fertilization and other reproductive technologies, embryonic and adult stem cells, artificial contraception, and genetic engineering from the standpoint of the Catholic faith.

CHH/DTH 671 Documents of Vatican II Fr. Patrick Kassab
This course introduces the history of Vatican II and the content of the documents. Topics include the background of the Council, the nature of the Church, inner spiritual renewal, the Church and the world, and the effects of the Council.

CHH 713 Modern Church History Dr. Alan Fimister

CLA 702 Canon Law I: General Norms Dr. Philippe Yates
After an overview of the philosophy, theology and history of Canon Law this class covers the general norms of the Code of Canon Law. Students will gain an understanding of the principles of the legal system that governs the Catholic Church and how to interpret the laws of the Church in ministry and life.

DTH 512 Spiritual Life in the Classics Dr. J. Marianne Siegmund
This course provides a study of the great spiritual writers with an emphasis on how the beautiful images and concepts in such classics can help us grow in our own union with God, and in our love of those we encounter in friendship, family, work and mission.

DTH 600 Faith and Revelation Dr. Joan Gilbert
This course will provide an exploration of the teachings of the Church on the mysteries of faith and revelation, through the study of related Magisterial documents and various writings of St. Thomas Aquinas. Topics include: the meaning of Revelation; the relationship between Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium; the relationship between faith and reason; the necessity, character, and effects of grace; the object, act, and virtue of faith; sins against faith; and the nature and mission of theology

DTH 731 One and Triune God Fr. Thomas Crean
This course is a doctrinal study of the nature and attributes of God as known by revelation and reason. The God we know and love is One and Three. Topics in this course address both the unity of God and the three-ness of God. The work of St. Thomas Aquinas is used to expose students to these truths to be believed and to form a foundation for further growth and study. This course is a pre- requisite to DTH 751 Christology.

DTH 751 Christology Fr. Yosyp Veresh
This course considers the person of Jesus Christ and the theology of the Incarnation, with particular attention to the development of Christological doctrine and to the theology of Thomas Aquinas. Students registering for Christology must have already completed DTH 731 One and Triune God.

DTH 766 Mary, Mother of God & Mother of the Church Fr. Peter Kucer
This course examines Marian doctrine in its scriptural, historical, and modern contexts using infallible statements, Lumen gentium, and post-conciliar documents.

ENG 890 Summative Evaluation: Comprehensive Exam & Professional Paper (Theology) Dr. James Gentile
This course prepares M.A. Theology students to pass the oral-comprehensive exam in Dogmatic and Moral Theology during Final Exam Week and to write a ten-page professional paper in the student’s concentration. The professional paper will be written under the direction of an advisor the semester after passing the ENG 890 oral exam..

ENG 891 Academic Research, Design and Writing Prof. Cynthia Gniadek
This course walks through the process for producing quality academic research papers, beginning with topic selection, research, and writing. The course culminates in the production of an academic research paper and thesis proposal

MTH 611 Fundamental Moral Theology I Dr. O’Neill
This course presents fundamental moral principles from the perspective of the classical Catholic moral tradition especially as represented by Thomas Aquinas and John Paul II. Primary questions include the end of man, human acts, moral determinants, freedom, sin, moral responsibility, and conscience.

MTH 612 Fundamental Moral Theology II Dr. Edward Trendowski
This course examines the nature of moral habit, virtue, and sin with the purpose of preparing priests and religion teachers, spiritual advisors, or other Christians to engage accurately in moral evaluation and formation.

MTH 680 Marriage and Theology of the Body Dr. Lucy Knouse
This course approaches marriage from an interdisciplinary perspective, covering the biblical foundations for the Theology of the Body as expressed in the works of St. John Paul II, seeking to relate the Theology of the Body in the practical encounters of life, love and Marriage, and introduces Catholic sexual ethics using the work of John Paul II, and examines the significant philosophical thought of Karol Wojtyla on this topic in his Love and Responsibility and Theology of the Body

MTH 841 Catholic Social Teachings Dr. Kristina Olsen
This course traces major themes in Catholic social teachings by using the U.S. Bishop’s document, Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions and includes topics therein.

PHH 781 Philosophy of St Thomas Aquinas (For Thomistic Studies Concentration Only) Prof. Francisco Plaza

PHS 607 Perennial Philosophy Dr. Matthew Minerd
This course teaches basic philosophy, which is at the basis of the theology of the Catholic Church, for graduate students. This material is necessary to understand the terminology used in Catholic theology.

PHS 641 Reason in the Theology of St. Thomas (For Thomistic Studies Concentration only) Dr. Peter Mango
This course explores and applies as a solution to some of the most acute problems discussed in modern theology Aquinas’s third way, expressed in the Summa Theologica (I, q. 32 a. 1), of using reason in sacred theology, the first two ways being explained in the Summa Contra Gentiles involving Natural Theology and a movement from principles of Faith revealed through Jesus Christ.

PHS 660 Natural Theology Dr. Timothy Smith
This course examines arguments for the existence of God, His nature and relation to the world and man.

PHS 741 St. Thomas Aquinas on Being and Nothingness Dr. Eduardo Bernot
This course will help students to learn the most important metaphysical doctrines of St. Thomas. It presents an understanding of reality from Being itself (God) to nothingness (complete absence of being). We shall mostly focus on primary texts from Aquinas, but, when appropriate, we shall read selections from other thinkers who have influenced Aquinas, such as Aristotle.

SAS 561 Gospel of John Fr. William Mills
This course studies the Gospel of John considering the historical, religious, and cultural background of this gospel and major themes such as covenant, Kingdom of God, grace, redemption, wisdom, prophecy, creation, Trinity, faith, angels, resurrection and priesthood.

SAS 571 Letters of St Paul Fr. William Mills
This course studies the life and mission of St. Paul. It will also examine the composition, structure, purpose, historical background and theological themes of the Pauline letters with special concentration on Galatians, ! Corinthians, Philippians, and Romans.

SAS 638 Torah and Old Testament Historical Books Dr. Matthew Ramage
This course is a study of the composition, structure, purpose, background, and theological themes of the Torah and historical books of the Bible. Students will be introduced to a variety of patristic, medieval, and contemporary exegetical approaches to the Old Testament as found in the rich Catholic tradition. Emphasis will be placed upon the narrative of salvation history and how the divine pedagogy of God among his people Israel finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

SAS 651 Synoptic Gospels Dr. Matthew Ramage
This course explores the stylistic and literary characteristics of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Students study the Synoptic Gospels’ theological, spiritual, and historical background.

SAS 681 Hebrews Dr. John Joy
This course teaches the Theology of the Priesthood in the Letter to the Hebrews. The first two modules illuminate the Sitz im Leben, the third is a meditation via lectio divina, and the fourth relates the Priesthood of Jesus Christ to the Priesthood in the Catholic Church.

SAS 717 Luke and Acts of the Apostles Fr. Thomas Crean
This course studies the Gospel of Luke taking into consideration the historical, religious, and cultural background of this rich and inspirational gospel along with the structure, purpose, authorship, historical background and theological themes of the Acts of the Apostles; its relation to the Gospel of Luke; and an exegesis of selected passages.

PHS 607 Perennial Philosophy Dr. Matthew Minerd
This course teaches basic philosophy, which is at the basis of the theology of the Catholic Church, for graduate students. This material is necessary to understand the terminology used in Catholic theology.

SAS 602 Soul of Theology Dr. John Joy
The course examines concepts and criteria used in Biblical and Theological Sciences: word, Revelation, transmission, Truth in Scripture, Canonicity, Authenticity, Integrity, Magisterium, Tradition, etc., and acquaints the students with the Books of the Bible per se: languages; traditions.

SAS 715 Prophets Fr. Reto Nay
In the prophets we feel the pulse of God because in the prophetic writings he speaks in the first person. These texts are some of the most difficult in the Bible. Nevertheless, in this course the prophets will become part of your personal life because we will study the complete text of each prophet with a strong focus on their text. The commentaries will be at the service of the original text, not the other way round. The aim is to get an orderly overview of each prophet without getting lost in the details. At the same time we will look to the Fathers of the Church for inspiration. The main tool for our study will be a structured King James translation in digital format, which will be distributed so that we can work directly with and on the text. You will be able to write your notes directly into this handout.

SAS 716 Gospels Dr. Andrew Blaski
This course is a study of the background, purpose, composition, structure, and historical and theological content of the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Students will be introduced to a variety of patristic, medieval, and contemporary interpretive approaches to the gospels as found in the rich Catholic spiritual and intellectual tradition. The course will examine the Gospels as individual works while simultaneously highlighting their historical and theological unity, centered in their common proclamation of the life, death, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

SAS 717 Luke and the Acts of the Apostles Fr. Thomas Crean
This course studies the Gospel of Luke taking into consideration the historical, religious, and cultural background of this rich and inspirational gospel along with the structure, purpose, authorship, historical background and theological themes of the Acts of the Apostles; its relation to the Gospel of Luke; and an exegesis of selected passages.

BIE 625 Catholic Bioethics (For non-NCBC students) Prof. Judith Babarsky
This interdisciplinary course prepares students for pastoral service through an intensive review of the teachings of the Catholic Church regarding the sanctity and dignity of human life from the moment of conception until natural death.

DTH 512 Spiritual Life in the Classics Dr. J. Marianne Siegmund
This course provides a study of the great spiritual writers with an emphasis on how the beautiful images and concepts in such classics can help us grow in our own union with God, and in our love of those we encounter in friendship, family, work and mission.

DTH 731 One and Triune God Fr. Thomas Crean
This course is a doctrinal study of the nature and attributes of God as known by revelation and reason. The God we know and love is One and Three. Topics in this course address both the unity of God and the three-ness of God. The work of St. Thomas Aquinas is used to expose students to these truths to be believed and to form a foundation for further growth and study. This course is a pre- requisite to DTH 751 Christology.

DTH 751 Christology Fr. Yosyp Veresh
This course considers the person of Jesus Christ and the theology of the Incarnation, with particular attention to the development of Christological doctrine and to the theology of Thomas Aquinas. Students registering for Christology must have already completed DTH 731 One and Triune God.

DTH 766 Mary, Mother of God & Mother of the Church Fr. Peter Kucer
This course examines Marian doctrine in its scriptural, historical, and modern contexts using infallible statements, Lumen gentium, and post-conciliar documents.

MTH 611 Fundamental Moral Theology I Dr. O’Neill
This course presents fundamental moral principles from the perspective of the classical Catholic moral tradition especially as represented by Thomas Aquinas and John Paul II. Primary questions include the end of man, human acts, moral determinants, freedom, sin, moral responsibility, and conscience.

MTH 612 Fundamental Moral Theology II Dr. Edward Trendowski
This course examines the nature of moral habit, virtue, and sin with the purpose of preparing priests and religion teachers, spiritual advisors, or other Christians to engage accurately in moral evaluation and formation.

PAS 602 Fundamentals of Practical Theology Dr. J. Marianne Siegmund
Practical, or pastoral theology is the “practical application of scientific theology to the care of souls in the sacred ministry”(John A. Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary). Unfortunately, in today’s world, the “unrestricted application of scientific methods to matters of faith appears to be sheer presumption, whereby man oversteps his limits and undermines his own foundations” (Joseph Ratzinger, The Nature and Mission of Theology, 8). Consequently, practical theology must first be grounded in theology itself. Firmly rooted in “scientific theology,” the course seeks to apply the doctrinal truths of the Faith to various pastoral situations confronting today’s minister. Since Sacred Scripture is to “inspire all pastoral work,” this course copiously invokes it (Benedict XVI Verbum Domini#73).

PAS 621 Pastoral Care of Marriage and Family Fr. Gregory Lockwood
This course will explore marriage as a spousal covenant from the biblical and traditional perspectives and consider how to minister to families, using as a basic text, John Paul II’s Magisterial Document, Familiaris consortio. Modern challenges to marriage will also be addressed.

PAS 785 Pastoral Issues Concerning Human Sexuality Dr. J. Marianne Siegmund
This course addresses the meaning of human sexuality, education and integration of emotion, sexual aberrations, relationship skills such as intra- and inter-personal skills, personal freedom skills, sexuality and spirituality, human sexuality and eschatology.

PHE 610 Ethics
This course studies the principles of ethics from a Thomistic and phenomenological perspective including criteria for making moral choices and a refutation of situation ethics, and addresses social justice, abortion, war and peace and sexual ethics.

PHS 607 Perennial Philosophy Dr. Matthew Minerd
This course teaches basic philosophy, which is at the basis of the theology of the Catholic Church, for graduate students. This material is necessary to understand the terminology used in Catholic theology.

SAS 561 Gospel of John Fr. William Mills
This course studies the Gospel of John considering the historical, religious, and cultural background of this gospel and major themes such as covenant, Kingdom of God, grace, redemption, wisdom, prophecy, creation, Trinity, faith, angels, resurrection and priesthood.

SAS 638 Torah and Old Testament Historical Books Dr. Matthew Ramage
This course is a study of the composition, structure, purpose, background, and theological themes of the Torah and historical books of the Bible. Students will be introduced to a variety of patristic, medieval, and contemporary exegetical approaches to the Old Testament as found in the rich Catholic tradition. Emphasis will be placed upon the narrative of salvation history and how the divine pedagogy of God among his people Israel finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

SAS 651 Synoptic Gospels Dr. Matthew Ramage
This course explores the stylistic and literary characteristics of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Students study the Synoptic Gospels’ theological, spiritual, and historical background.