Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 Winona Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Winona Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Theology and Interdisciplinary Studies


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Kenneth Stenstrup​, Ph.D., Chair

Theology is the academic discipline that strives to understand and interpret the faith of the Christian communion and to bring it to expression in language and symbol. Its content is divine revelation: i.e., sacred tradition, sacred texts and inspired interpretation. In the spirit and tradition of scholasticism, theology is always in dialogue with other academic disciplines and human experience because Catholic Christianity holds that faith and reason, properly understood, work in harmony toward a greater understanding of God. Grounded in the Lasallian Catholic community, the theology department seeks to engage a community of learners in the ancient quest for meaning and truth, as those in faith continue to seek understanding (Anselm).

Department Goals

Theology courses will assist all students in attaining increased understanding of the living tradition of Christianity through:

  1. A growing facility with the nuance and complexity of abstract thought through the development of doctrine.
  2. A growing competence with understanding the dynamic between revelation, inspiration, and interpretation.
  3. A growing awareness of inculturation as a historical reality and missionary dynamic through the skills of perspective-taking, empathetic listening, and applied principles of communion.
  4. A growing ability to apply principles and relevant skills to theoretical and pastoral challenges to foster effective solutions.

Integrated General Education Course Outcomes

All undergraduate students are required to complete two Theology courses. First year students are required to complete TH111 Thinking Theologically , as part of the First Year Experience cluster of courses.  Students will then complete another Theology course as part of their interdisciplinary minor or as a “stand alone” course to complete the second Theology course requirement.

Theology Major Course Outcomes

The Theology major will assist all students in attaining increased understanding of the living tradition of Christianity through:

  1. A growing facility with the nuance and complexity of abstract thought through the development of doctrine.
  2. A growing competence with understanding the dynamic between revelation, inspiration, and interpretation.
  3. A growing awareness of inculturation as a historical reality and missionary dynamic through the skills of perspective-taking, empathetic listening, and applied principles of communion.
  4. A growing ability to apply principles and relevant skills to theoretical and pastoral challenges to foster effective solutions.

Academic excellence is rewarded by membership in Theta Alpha Kappa, the national honor society for theology and religion. Saint Mary’s University theology department is the Alpha Gamma Omega chapter. The theology department recognizes and honors outstanding work of graduating seniors within the department. Departmental distinction is reserved for students with a department and major field GPA of 3.700 and a cumulative GPA of 3.300 who present a senior paper or presentation judged to be of superior quality by a committee of departmental faculty.

Programs

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