Theological Studies Courses

THEO-202. The Theology of John Wesley and the Development of Methodist Doctrine. 3 crs. An examination of the theological guidelines, doctrinal tenets, and ethical formulations of John Wesley and the development of Methodist doctrine in British and American Wesleyan traditions.

THEO-210. Liturgical Theology: Practicum. 1 cr. An integrated study of the liturgical experience of the seminary community through participation in the ministry of music and leadership in liturgical exercises. Designed for the School of Divinity choir members.

THEO-221. Philosophy of Religion. 3 crs. Philosophical introduction to THEO-305, dealing with the meaning of philosophy, the philosophical method, and the history of ideas; the application of philosophical analysis to religious questions; and representative programs in philosophical theology.

THEO-305. Systematic Theology I. 3 crs. Examines the nature and method of theological discourse, along with various theological perspectives, including God and the Trinity. Prereq.: THEO-221 or its equivalent.

THEO-310. Systematic Theology II. 3 crs. All doctrines of the Christian creed will be treated critically and systematically. Students will write a credo. Prereq.: THEO-305 or its equivalent.

THEO-315. Black Theology. 3 crs. Provides the foundation for black theology, exploring the black/African religious experience, evaluating existent programs in black theology, and combining the black religious experience with the affirmations of the Christian Creed. Prereqs.: THEO-221, THEO-305, or one course in black church history or black religious thinkers.

THEO-320. Womanist Theology. 3 crs. This course is designed to introduce students to the emergence of Womanist Theology and religious scholarship in the United States. The course explores what Black women’s experiences in church and society suggest about the meaning of God and Jesus Christ. THEO-325. Modern Theology. 3 crs. Study of the development of theology during the modern period.

THEO-327. Church: Theology and Practice. 3 crs. A survey of the theological developments in the history of Christian worship and a theoretical and practical examination of liturgical methods in the life of the contemporary church.

THEO-330. Reformation Theology. 3 crs. Analysis of the developments in theology during the Reformation.

THEO-333. Liberation Theology in Latin America. 3 crs. This course examines the historical development of hermeneutics and the main biblical and theological motifs of the Latin American liberation theology movement as a Christian commitment with the poor. Particular attention will be given to the challenge and contribution of this movement to Christians in industrialized countries like the United States.

THEO-335. Theologies of Liberation. 3 crs. Critical examination of black, African, Latin American, and feminist theologies of liberation, interpreting models of action and reflection as the Christian faith confronts racism, classism, and sexism. Prereq.: One course in theology.

THEO-337. Theories of Salvation. 3 crs. Conducts an investigation into the main theories that have been suggested throughout the history of the church to explain the meaning and mystery of the work of Christ. Some attempt will be made to examine the need for, and the possibility of, a restatement of the Christian doctrine of salvation in the light of contemporary realities.

THEO-340. The Theology of Martin Luther King, Jr. 3 crs. Treats King as a theologian, evaluating his understanding of Christian doctrines and examining his contribution to systematic theology and theological ethics. Prereq.: Six hours in theology.

THEO-343. The Holy Spirit: Pentecostal Perspectives. 3 crs. Comparative study of traditional doctrines of the Holy Spirit and the contributions of classical pentecostalism and the charismatic movement to the doctrine. Emphasis given to the dynamics of pentecost as a permanent reality. Prereq.: One course in New Testament or church history.

THEO-350. Third World Theologies. 3 crs. Examines the development of Christian theology in the non-Western world; theological developments and the process of contextualization and politicization of theologies in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, comparing them with black theology. Prereq.: Six hours in a theological field.

THEO-355. Theology and Development. 3 crs. A survey of the current development debate and activity in the light of the Christian responsibility to be faithful to the Gospel.

THEO-360. Fundamental Elements of Christian Evangelism. 3 crs. Explores theological constraints and challenges of the divine command to preach the gospel to “the world." Seeks to provide a contemporary analysis and assessment of the meaning of evangelism today. THEO-365. Perspectives in Inter-Cultural Theology. 3 crs.

THEO-370. Foundations of Emancipatory Theology. 3 crs. Exploration of some of the factors which contribute to the Christian understanding of freedom, and the theological imperatives which inform the quest for human emancipation. Special focus will be placed on the biblical, historical, and contextual foundations of the theological discourse, with major emphasis on the Black experience. There will be a systematic attempt to identify an authentic Emancipatory Theology, while the main sources of such a framework - literary and oral - will be carefully examined. The spirituality of emancipation and the elements of an emancipatory hermeneutics will also be explored.

THEO-400. Mission and Evangelism: Faith on Fire. 3 crs. A theological exploration of the call to God’s mission in the world, and the task of Christian evangelism in the light of contemporary faith and witness.

 THEO-410. Images of Church and God in Black Womens' Literature. 3 crs.

THEO-425. Seminar in Modern Theologians: Karl Barth. 3 crs. Prereqs.: THEO-305 and THEO-310.

THEO-440. Directed Research in Theology. Master’s level. 3 crs.

THEO-445. The Holy Spirit in Scripture and the Church. 3 crs. Examines this long-neglected doctrine, its historical development in the Old and New Testaments, and its relevance for faith in our own time.

THEO-475. Christology: Who Is Jesus Christ For Us Today? 3 crs. Examines the debate concerning Jesus Christ’s significance from Nicaea and Chalcedon to represent. Special attention is given to contemporary understandings of Jesus Christ emerging from liberation theologians.

 THEO-520. Sexual Issues in the Black Church and Community. 3 crs.

THEO-535. Doctoral Seminar in Theology. 3 crs.

THEO-540. Directed Study in Theology (Doctoral level). 3 crs.