A New Comprehensive Theology Course

This past fall the Theology Department launched a new course, Just Theology (THEO 100). The course name is a play on words. The course is just about theology; however, it more properly refers to just, as in justice.

This double meaning perfectly describes what the course aims to do. This comprehensive course gives students a basic introduction to the Bible, Christian doctrine, and Catholic Social Teachings. It encourages students to apply their critical thinking skills. They must draw connections between the biblical texts, Christian beliefs, selected readings, and today's social justice issues: racial justice, gender justice, and eco justice.

What makes this course so unique is that each professor in the Theology Department teaches this course with the same learning outcomes; however, the readings, textbooks, and topics that they choose to focus on and discuss differ. Each course takes the students on a journey starting with Abraham to recent publications from the Vatican. By constructing the class in this way, students are able to see that there has always been a concern about justice for the oppressed, poor, and outcasts within the Christian tradition.

The idea for this innovative course came about as the Theology Department was revamping their course offerings. They collectively decided to create a 100-level course that focused on justice from a Christian perspective. See all Theology courses in the online course catalog. Although it is not the only 100-level course offered, it is designed to be the first Theology course of a student's career at St. Ambrose.

Additionally, this course aligns with the vision and mission of St. Ambrose University by being committed to social justice and enriching the lives of others. The students are encouraged to engage in conversations about social justice, research, think about the issues critically, and take action.

You can read more about the new course through articles faculty members wrote about the course for the Catholic Messenger, beginning with this article by Micah Kiel.

–Junior Kayleigh Oleson, Theology Major