THEO111 Foundations of Faith & Beauty

Recent popes have emphasized the necessity of personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This exhortation raises questions, however, for individual Christian disciples. For JPCatholic students, specifically, this course considers how such an encounter can be fostered within a university community, and how it might be lived in an ongoing way. It therefore doubles as an introduction to university community and to Catholic theological study, and connects faith principles with lived experience so as to bolster faith and spur evangelization.

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THEO112 The Creed

This course introduces students to the diverse world of radio, television, news, cinema, internet, print and advertising. Students will learn how to critically experience such media and analyze its desired results. Students will also explore how media has developed and evolved through history and examine the current influences of media on society from a cultural, artistic and economic perspective. In addition, we will explore what the role of Christians in this new media environment can and should be, and how we can best utilize the opportunities available to us to become who we want to be.

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THEO112 Sacramental Life

Our redemption was accomplished by a God who entered history. As a consequence, Catholics understand communion as something that occurs in a context of tradition. Faith is handed down over centuries by the successors of the apostles; we read and interpret Sacred Scripture according to long-established understandings and principles; our prayer to the Father through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit bears a striking resemblance to that of the first Christian communities. This course examines sacramental ritual and considers the perennial necessity of personal prayer, enabling students to better understand the power of this ancient faith. In its essential elements it never changes—which is precisely what allows it to change us.

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THEO314 Marriage & Family

It is all too easy to see one’s own desires as what really matters, and to live accordingly. With his Theology of the Body, however, Pope St. John Paul the Great offers a fresh perspective, one that dares to lift us above the confusion and malaise wrought by this era’s remarkable selfishness. This course affords students an opportunity to explore this theological treasure given to the Church by our university’s patron, and to better see how an individual human life can be lived not selfishly, but as a gift received from God and intended for others.

Prerequisites: THEO112, THEO113

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THEO205 New Testament

In this course the student explores the Scriptures, particularly the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) to understand the person of Jesus Christ. This Scripture course serves as the starting point for JPCatholic University’s religion curriculum. While examining some of the basic literary and historical issues relating to Scripture study, the course also introduces students to the theological principles of Catholic biblical exegesis. The course also explores ways the study of Scripture enhances the life of prayer.

THEO313 Moral Theology & Ethics

This course builds on prior courses covering the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Study of the Catechism will be completed through an in-depth analysis of the third pillar, namely, the section on Catholic morality.

PHIL101 Logic

In this course students learn about the basic structures of sound reasoning, focusing largely on classic Aristotelian logic. The course serves to help students think and argue with clarity as well as to effectively analyze arguments of others. The course includes a careful analysis of the operations of the intellect, i.e., understanding, judgment, and reasoning, focusing on their products, i.e., term, proposition, and syllogism.

PHIL203 Philosophy of Nature

This course is a detailed study in the various understandings of nature, beginning from the mythology of the Enuma Elish as a primitive attempt at grasping the world, to the classical understanding found in Aristotle’s Physics and 141 Parts of Animals and their Medieval development in Thomas Aquinas’s The Principles of Nature, to foundational texts in modern natural sciences such as those of Descartes, Galileo and Newton, to discussions of evolution found in Darwin, and finally to near contemporary physicists such as Heisenberg. The contrast between the classical stress on substantial form and formal causality and the modern method of material causality and mathematical law will be brought to the forefront, as will the emphasis on technology as a mastery of nature in modern science and the question of teleology, whether nature acts for a purpose.

PHIL204 Philosophy of Man

After providing an overview of the basic principles of the Philosophy of Nature, this course examines the nature of the human being, beginning from the Epic of Gilgamesh, continuing through the Classical period by means of Aristotle, the Middle Ages in St. Thomas Aquinas, the Renaissance via Blaise Pascal, and concluding in the modern period in Nietzsche, Freud and T. S. Eliot.

PHIL408 Philosophy of Man

This is a course in the various understandings of metaphysics, or the nature of being as being, beginning from Plato’s Timaeus, continuing through the Classical period by means of Aristotle, and the Middle Ages in St. Thomas Aquinas. The course continues by covering several related questions, beginning with Natural Theology (discussing the traditional proofs for the existence of God, the Divine Attributes that can be understood using reason alone, the analogy of being, and the act of creation), continuing with the “problem of evil” and the question of free will.

HUMA111 Cultural Foundations I (The Classical Period)

As this course engages apparently timeless literary works from the classical tradition, it situates them within specific historical contexts. This approach enables students to better appreciate the enduring power of story even as they recognize the complex relationship art to its surrounding culture. Masterworks of pagan antiquity (Homer and/or Virgil) give way to key texts of early Christendom (Augustine, Beowulf, and others) in order to further illuminate the impact of Christian theology and anthropology on artists and thinkers in myriad disciplines.

HUMA112 Cultural Foundations II (The Middle Ages & the Renaissance)

This course tracks the development in European art and thought during the transition from the High Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Special attention is paid at the outset to the tensions arising from, surrounding, and even bringing about this epochal shift, especially as evidenced in Dante’s Divine Comedy. When the course later shifts its focus to texts produced by Shakespeare and other authors in Renaissance England, students find these tensions now located in increasingly realistic and complex human figures and dramas. Through these explorations students come to see the distinctive groundwork being laid for what will later be recognized as the modern period.

HUMA113 Cultural Foundations III (The Early Modernity)

This third course in our Cultural Foundations series tracks the rise of modernity against the backdrop of various 18th and 19th century upheavals. In order to best appreciate the dynamism and complexity of this period, students will immerse themselves in the literary form most characteristic of the 19th century: the novel. By applying order to an increasingly dissonant world, the great novels of the European tradition illuminate daily life amidst revolutionary change in a uniquely personal way, and they capture in their progress both the subtlest movements of human consciousness and the most profound transformations of human hearts.

HUMA301 Global Cultures, History & Politics

This course studies a wide variety of global cultures by listening to indigenous voices expressing themselves in cultural products that include novels, films, music, poetry, essays, speeches, and journalism.

HUMA120 Culture Making *

This course examines how media and business shape the attitudes, practices and beliefs of individuals and groups, and develops in students a rich understanding of the subtle and powerful cultural currents swirling around them, so that they can make valuable contributions to the development of future cultures. Students will consider critically how media and business shape them, learning to recognize the attitudes, assumptions, arguments and ideas promoted by media and business enterprises and products. They will develop a full, thoughtful and practical understanding of what cultures are and how they grow, and of the university’s mission to Impact Culture for Christ. They will gain an understanding of how Christians are perceived by the cultures around them, and appreciate how one gains the privilege of participation in the shaping of cultures. Finally, students will learn to articulate what of value they have to offer the cultures around them, and how they hope to make that contribution over the course of their lives and careers.

HUMA122 College Writing I *

This course will emphasize the use of correct grammar, usage, spelling, punctuation, and mechanics. Students will be required to apply these skills to writing assignments.

HUMA124 Advanced College Writing

Students conduct research on a primary text and write a lengthy paper, practicing revision and editing skills as they develop their original theses. This class encourages a “close reading” of a primary text, requires students to build an annotated bibliography to evaluate secondary and tertiary source material, and introduces rhetorical concepts in the effort to help students become stronger readers and writers.

MATH202 Personal Finance & Success

This course provides students with concepts and strategies related to practical financial and personal decision-making. Taking a holistic approach, students will be given the tools to manage not just their personal finances, but their investments in time, service, etc. Topics will include budgeting, spending, hsaving, borrowing, investing, time management, tithing, and giving.

SCIN300 Science, Technology & Culture

This course will familiarize students with fundamental scientific concepts and explore how the application of those concepts affects society and global economics. Topics include: the structure of the atom and its applications in biology and physics; circuits, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet of Things; DNA, diseases, and vaccines. Each topic builds towards the question, "what does Catholic teaching tell us about how we as Christians live and participate in this rapidly changing world?"

BUSI101 Introduction to Business

In this class students get a “big picture” look at the ingredients of a start-up firm and the process of creating one. The class details those ingredients, discusses the stories (good & bad) of people who have done it, and learn the process by going through it with a self-select team. Students learn: the business planning process, which maps how to move from an idea to an actual enterprise offering an actual product/service/apostolate; How to craft a compelling and clear business story that captures the true essence of your business; and finally acquire inquisitiveness as to how the world of business really works. The class deliverable is a complete Business Plan created by student teams along with a presentation of the plan.

BUSI106 Entrepreneurial Thinking

In today’s world there is a need for strategic thinking and business vision based on a different paradigm. Competition is not only between products and services, but also between business models. Students will learn about innovation-driven business strategies and methodologies to develop business designs to successfully compete in the new economy.

BUSI120 Project Management

This course teaches the principles of project management that are commonly used to plan and measure projects in industry. It presents the project management mind-set, tools, and skills for successfully defining, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and reporting a project. Topics covered include: the project life cycle, fundamental PM processes, development of the project plan, interpersonal management skills, and managing changes during project execution. Case studies are from technology and media applications.

BUSI193 Introduction to Marketing

This course focuses on introducing the idea of “entrepreneurial marketing” and is aimed at students who plan to start a new venture or take a job as a marketing professional pursuing an innovative marketing approach. Students will study a full spectrum of marketing strategy and tactics that are especially suitable for entrepreneurial firms aiming for high growth and innovation yet faced by limited resources and uncertain industry dynamics. Students will work in teams on marketing plans for their own venture or for other high profile entrepreneurs or executives. The focus of this course is on hands-on experiences and practical relevance of innovative marketing concepts.

BUSI300 Negotiation Skills

This course teaches students to meet and resolve objections and conflicts that result from written and oral proposals and pitches. Emphasis is on resolving customer obstacles before addressing your own. Topics covered include: Wants vs. Needs; Win-Win Strategies; Best Alternatives to Agreement; Schedule vs. Quality vs. Cost; Progress vs. Perfection. The class progresses through carefully structured, progressively more complex negotiation exercises. Students learn how external and internal negotiation has become a way of life for effective managers in a constantly changing business environment.

BUSI393 Leadership and Management

This course is an introductory-level course for students. Its intent is to give an in-depth understanding of the differences between – and similarities of — leadership and management. The course focuses on the major traits of leaders and managers, and augments these with examples of great historic leaders, including George Custer and Jesus Christ. The course also studies the many leadership traits of Abraham Lincoln, and looks at how these can be applied in modern business to improve management techniques. As part of the learning process, students give summaries of Lincoln’s leadership lessons, using short, Power Point presentations.

COMM200 Business Communications

This course will teach students how to write and speak effectively in business and other communication.

ARTS102 Art History

Whether with Christian intent or not, artists of the Western European tradition have for centuries contended fiercely over questions of form, composition, representation, and relationship to tradition. This survey of the heritage and high-water marks of Western visual art brings students to view and analyze individual works, and larger artistic movements, with the wide-angle lens that allows for the best possible appreciation of beauty. Thus, students will build for themselves the foundation they need for artistic engagement with a culture not exactly known for its historical self-awareness.

MUSC101 Music Appreciation

This course is a survey and analysis of the elements of music and primary musical periods of Western European music history. Students will acquaint themselves with musical terms, major composers and repertoire.

HUMAXXX History & Tradition I: Early Church Fathers

Course descriptions TBA

HUMAXXX History & Tradition II: Medieval to Modern

Course descriptions TBA

THEO321 Studies in John Paul the Great

As our namesake and patron, Pope Saint John Paul the Great has had significant influence on this institution. In this course, students will gain a better understanding on his impact on the Church, the world, and their own individual formation by studying his thoughts and writings.

THEO414 Studies in Ratzinger

Students will gain a better understanding of contemporary theology through studying the works of Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI).

THEOXXX OT: Pentateuch & Historical Books

Course descriptions TBA

THEOXXX OT: Prophets, Poetry, & Wisdom Lit

Course descriptions TBA

THEOXXX Catholic Spirituality 1: Bonaventure

Course descriptions TBA

THEO326 The Second Vatican Council

As the defining ecumenical council of the 20th century, Vatican II presents a watershed moment for understanding the Church in the modern world. This course examines the major work of the Council, including decrees on the liturgy, the Church, ecumenism, and the Bible.

Prerequisites: THEO112 OR THEO311, THEO113 OR THEO312

PHIL301 Epistemology

Building upon previous philosophy courses, this class examines the causes of human knowledge. Specifically, students will be introduced to philosophical solutions to questions relating to the nature of knowledge, the object of knowledge, the role of the internal and external senses, and the concepts of truth and certainty. After thoroughly examining the sophisticated understandings of the nature of truth and certainty found in Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas, we will closely examine the skepticism of the modern period through the writings of Hume, and the systematization of the structure of the mind in Kantian idealism, concluding in the 20th Century attempt to fuse idealism and realism in Martin Heidegger.

Prerequisites: PHIL101, PHIL203, PHIL204

PHIL312 Bioethics

This course will explore numerous topics within bioethics and will focus primarily on life issues, healthcare ethics, and biomedical technologies. It will provide students with an understanding of the ethical principles, theories, concepts, and values underlying bioethics. It will also explore Catholic teachings on bioethical issues and the rationale behind these teachings. Topics will include the dignity of the human person, cloning, abortion, euthanasia, palliative care, NFP, contraception, IVF, physicianassisted suicide, sex reassignment surgery, medical research, and the right to health care.

PHIL402 Political Philosophy

This course examines major theories concerning the organization of society and the role of government. The relationship of philosophical concepts to the governing of society are carefully explored. Key ideas discussed include justice, natural rights, the role of education, the role of religion in society, the meaning and purpose of freedom, and the responsibility of members of society to themselves and one another, beginning with ancient sources such as the Code of Hammurabi and Aristotle’s Politics, continuing in Thomas Aquinas’s On Kingship, moving into the pre-modern period with works such as Machiavelli’s The Prince and the modern period with selections from Hobbes’s Leviathan and other authors.

Prerequisite: PHIL204

PHIL407 Metaphysics

This course offers a comprehensive study of the nature of being and its characteristics. After examining the subject and scope of this branch of philosophy, the course will cover topics such as the problem of the one and the many, the analogous nature of being, the attributes and divisions of being as well as the causes of being. The course also provides a basic introduction to natural theology, that is, what can be known about God through reason apart from divine revelation. Texts used begin with Plato’s Timaeus, continuing through the Classical period by means of Aristotle, the Middle Ages in St. Thomas Aquinas, the end of Scholasticism in Ockham, the Renaissance via Hume and Kant, and concluding in the 20^th Century in Martin Heidegger.

Prerequisites: PHIL101, PHIL203, PHIL204

THEOXXX Synoptic Gospels & Acts

Course descriptions TBA

THEOXXX Pauline Epistles

Course descriptions TBA

THEOXXX Johannine & Apoc. Lit

Course descriptions TBA

THEO416 Eschatology

Eschatology will survey the development of Christian theology on the ultimate things. From the "maranatha" of the early church, the last four things of the Middle Ages, to the existentialism and political thought in modernity, this course will look at how Christians have interpreted eschatological themes throughout history. Topics will include: death, judgment, heaven, hell and purgatory, immortality of the soul, the kingdom of God, political theology and more. It will include reading assignments with accompanying homework and in-class discussions.

THEOXXX Senior Thesis I

TBA

THEOXXX Senior Thesis II

TBA

THEO121 Fundamentals of the New Evangelization

What exactly is the “New Evangelization”? To answer that question, this course will examine the progression of evangelization throughout Church history, from the ministry of Christ and his Apostles through the Second Vatican Council. Particular emphasis will be given to Pope Paul VI's apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Nuntiandi (1975). Finally, the course will conclude with the concept, methodology, and challenges of the New Evangelization as discussed in the writings of Karol Wojtyła, Joseph Ratzinger, and other Catholic writers.

THEOXXX Fundamentals of Applied Theology

Course descriptions TBA

THEOXXX Intro to Catholic Education

Course descriptions TBA

THEO214 Theology & Film

This course will introduce students to theological dimensions of contemporary film, on the one hand evaluating films using the criteria for truth and beauty provided by the Catholic faith, and on the other discerning theological elements that are often veiled or left buried in cinematic narrative. This course uses cinematic art as a means to contemplate the existential desires of humanity and to discern the presence of God in the world.

THEO329 Writings of Women Saints

In this course, students will explore the writings and spiritualities of Catholic saints and doctors who represent what St. John Paul the Great famously termed “the feminine genius. Figures studied may include one or more of the following: Sts. Catherine of Siena, Clare of Assisi, Teresa of Avila, Elizabeth of the Trinity, Thérèse of Lisieux, Gertrude of Helfta, Edith Stein, Hildegard of Bingen, John Paul II, Mother Teresa, Faustina, Simone Weil, Alice von Hildebrand, and others.

THEO331 Street Evangelization I

Many of the major models of evangelization that have been used throughout the history of Christianity will be studied and applied in this course. It will provide a perspective on the origins (biblical, historical, theological) of such models with the goal of advancing these models in creative ways that can be applied in our world today.

THEO400 Catholic Social Teaching

Building upon what had been discussed in THEO313, this course is a broad study of general Church teaching on social questions, with strong emphasis on the papal encyclicals and other Church documents. Special attention is paid to the principles of the dignity of the human person, the common good, solidarity, and subsidiarity. Major issues explored include the role of the State, poverty, war, structures of sin, the duties of employers and employees, and challenges to building a culture of life.

Prerequisites: THEO101, THEO110, THEO201, THEO311, THEO312, THEO313

THEO422 Theology of Leadership

This course will provide students with the opportunity to explore the theology of leadership. Topics will include: Leading like Christ, ways in which saints have led, and growth in virtue. Focus will be given to exploring ways in which one can personally emulate Christ and the Saints, identification of personal gifts, and discerning specific ways in which these gifts can be used in service of God and others.

PHIL211 Philosophy of Beauty

This course is an introduction to aesthetics and explores the philosophy of art and beauty. Questions we will explore include: What makes art art? Is beauty solely in the eye of the beholder? Are there specific, objective qualities that make something beautiful and, if so, what are they? Can beauty draw us closer to God? How do art and beauty relate to metaphysics? Are judgments of taste inextricably bound to subjective feeling or are they objective and intellectual? What can we learn from art and beauty? We will look at and critique various ways great thinkers have responded to these questions. Special focus will be given to the role beauty and art can play in coming to knowledge of God.

HUMA225 Fundamental of Creative Writing

A theoretical and practical introduction to the human phenomenon of storytelling, what stories are, their central role in culture from ancient times to the present day, and how storytellers seek and communicate meaning. Particular attention will be paid to the significance of story in the Judeo-Christian tradition and story’s role within the Christian faith. Students will generate numerous story ideas, and with the help of their classmates and the instructor will evaluate those ideas in terms of audience appeal, theme and meaning.

HUMA220 Writing Short Fiction I

This course serves as an introduction to the art of short story writing, providing students with the opportunity to engage in their own original work with foundational aspects of prose fiction. Class discussions focus on the work of established masters of the short story form, and regular workshop sessions provide opportunities to explore and critique the stories of classmates, and to build a supportive community of writers in the process.

HUMA323 Writing Poetry I

This course affords students the opportunity to engage with the art of poetry as practitioners. By increasing each students’ awareness of musicality, artistic process, aesthetic sensibility, and the impressionistic power of language, this course aims to enable the crafting of lasting pieces of literary art.

HUMA224 Editing & Revision

While younger writers naturally place great emphasis on inspiration, this course provides students with a focused engagement on another critically important but often neglected aspect of masterful writing: revision. In the process of putting key principles of revision into effect so as to improve their own creative pieces, students will also learn the fine (and also often neglected) art of editing, which benefits even students not interested in editorial work by making them more astute and discriminating readers.

Prerequisites: ENTM101, HUMA220 OR HUMA221

HUMA326 Marketing & Publishing

This course allows students to learn about the publishing industry, branding, self-marketing, and the process by which literary works are brought to the public. Special focus is given to providing students with practical tips and tools for sharing their own original work with a wider audience.

Prerequisite: HUMA224

HUMA346 Literature Seminar

This course enables focused study of a specific author, era, or literary movement. Focus will be on significant literary texts with additional attention to critical literature, historical context, and cultural influence as needed. Repeatable for credit with different topics.

ENTM101 Story, Genre & Structure

A theoretical and practical introduction to the human phenomenon of storytelling, what stories are, their central role in culture from ancient times to the present day, and how storytellers seek and communicate meaning. Particular attention will be paid to the significance of story in the Judeo-Christian tradition and story’s role within the Christian faith. Students will generate numerous story ideas, and with the help of their classmates and the instructor will evaluate those ideas in terms of audience appeal, theme and meaning.

ENTM105 Writing & Pitching a Script

This course builds on the storytelling fundamentals learned in Story, Genre and Structure, with specific application to writing for the screen. The student will learn the basics of scriptwriting and will combine this with previously acquired writing and storytelling skills to write a spec script for an existing half-hour or hour-long television series. Students will hone their presentation skills to pitch their television story. Class time will be dedicated to covering beginning and intermediate topics including breaking stories, scene writing, dialogue, subtext, direction, giving and receiving notes in a writers’ group, and script format. Students will critique one another’s work in small groups, with instructor guidance. Considerable time will be required for students to write outside of class. Students will read and respond to the required texts as well as assigned episodic television scripts.

ENTM200 Fundamentals of Story Development

This course builds on student understanding of screen storytelling established in Story, Genre and Structure and Writing and Pitching a Script. Students will develop an original feature-length screen story from multiple ideas through idea evaluation and selection, character creation and development, story structure, treatment, pitch and beat sheet. At the end of the course, students will register their work with the WGA (a $20 fee). Students will consider more advanced screenwriting concepts presented in the text and will apply those principles to their developing stories.

Prerequisites: ENTM101, ENTM105

ENTM208 Writing Short Form Cinema

Students will continue their study of screenwriting with a focus on writing narrative films under 40 minutes in length. They will screen and analyze multiple examples of short cinema to gain an understanding of the qualities possessed by the best examples of the form. They will write numerous short scripts with the goal of generating one or more short scripts of high quality that can be produced either inside or outside the university setting. Students will critique one another's work with instructor supervision and guidance. Considerable time will be required for students to write. Students will read and respond to the required texts.

Prerequisites: ENTM101, ENTM105

ENTM214 Writing Dialogue

This course makes a rich study of screen dialogue. Students will read and screen a wide range of examples of extraordinary dialogue from film, television and the stage. They will analyze the variety of jobs dialogue performs in narrative and consider the principles they can apply to write effective dialogue for the screen. They will employ what they learn writing, rewriting and polishing dialogue for the screen.

Prerequisites: ENTM101, ENTM105