The 麻豆视频下载 Department of Theological Studies is a community of scholars inspiring 麻豆视频下载 students to examine religious and ethical commitments, to practice a faith that does justice, and to face the world with discernment and empathy.
We, the faculty in the Department of Theological Studies at 麻豆视频下载, mourn the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery (1994-2020), Breonna Taylor (1993-2020), and George Floyd (1973-2020), among too many others lost to racial violence.
Joint Statement on Racial Injustice
Rooted in the Catholic, Jesuit intellectual tradition, the department is committed to interdisciplinary research, collaborative programming, and innovative pedagogies that reflect the best research on student learning. The department houses experts in religion across the globe, with a special focus on Catholic and other Christian traditions. Our faculty members are trained in a range of disciplinary methods, emphasizing philological, historical, literary, ethnographic, philosophical, and digital approaches. We examine theology and religion in all its diversity and wrestle with today鈥檚 living issues in dialogue with our complex histories.
Together, we aim to transform lives 鈥� our own, our students鈥�, and those we encounter within and beyond the university.
Theology Degrees at 麻豆视频下载
- Bachelor of Arts in Catholic Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in Greek and Latin Language and Literature
- Undergraduate minor in Catholic Studies
- Undergraduate minor in Greek
- Undergraduate minor in Latin
The Graduate Experience in Theology
麻豆视频下载鈥檚 graduate programs in theological studies train students to excel as educators, scholars, intellectuals, pastors and leaders. Our faculty serve as mentors and develop graduate students in a program that balances shared knowledge of a field and its students' individual projects and career aspirations. Our students acquire advanced research skills and disciplinary breadth through topical seminars and area-specific courses. Alongside 麻豆视频下载鈥檚 cutting-edge graduate curricula, the programs enable students to develop strong bonds with one another and with mentors, which sets a foundation for future work in a variety of institutions both within and outside the academy.
During the past 10-year period, 22% of our Ph.D. graduates have accepted tenure-track positions within a range of institutional contexts, and an additional 36% have accepted teaching or administrative positions at research universities, religiously affiliated colleges, and schools of religion and ministry. Our graduates have also gone on to direct nonprofit organizations, teach religion and language courses at prestigious high schools, and serve as priests, pastors, and ministers in a variety of denominations.
2023
- David Justice, 鈥淜ing and Kingdom Violence: Thinking with Martin Luther King, Jr. Toward the Beloved Community鈥� (Director: Leonard McKinnis); postdoctoral fellow in the Interdisciplinary Core Program at Baylor University, Waco, TX
- Chelsea Trotter, 鈥淭he Devil Beyond the Bible鈥� (Director: Peter Martens)
- Craig Sanders, 鈥淲holly Resting in a Holy God: A Theological Interpretation of Eschatological Rest from the Seventh Day to the Lord鈥檚 Day鈥� (Director: Michael McClymond); Curate at Holy Cross Anglican Cathedral in Loganville, GA
- Tracy Russell, 鈥淭he Betrothed of Christ: A Study of the Nuptial Metaphor in Late Ancient Syriac Virgin Martyr Narratives" (Director: Jeff Wickes)
2022
- Laura Estes, 鈥淟ate Antique Christian Portrayals of Muslims and Jews鈥� (Director: Jeff Wickes); Assistant Professor of Religion at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA
2021
- Isaac Arten, 鈥溾�楾o Remove Want and Tame this Ferocious Spirit鈥�: Property and Possession in Nineteenth-Century British Protestant Missionaries' Theological Anthropology鈥� (Director: Mary Dunn)
- Alec Arnold, 鈥淭he Technologization of Sexual Desire and the Future of Ecstatic Embodiment: A Catholic Response to Transhumanist Sexuality鈥� (Directors: Michael McClymond and Jeffrey Bishop)
- Stephen Lawson, 鈥淥vercoming the Abyss: Erik Peterson鈥檚 Eschatological Ecclesiology against Historicism and Anti-Historical Theology鈥� (Director: Grant Kaplan) Assistant Professor of Theology, Austin Graduate School of Theology, Austin, TX
2020
- Charles Kim, 鈥淔rom Orator to Piscator: St. Augustine's Preaching of the Humble Word in the Sermones ad Populum鈥� (Director: David Meconi, SJ)
-
Joshua Schendel, 鈥溾�楢 Learned Dispute Among Friends鈥�: William Twisse (1578鈥�1646) and John Owen (1616鈥�1683) on the Necessity of Christ鈥檚 Satisfaction鈥� (Director: Michael McClymond) Executive Editor, Modern Reformation Magazine
2019
- Yvonne Angieri, 鈥淗onor Femini est in Matre Christi: Augustine of Hippo's View of Women Through The Lens of His Mariology鈥� (Director: David Meconi, S.J.)
- Benjamin Winter, 鈥淩enewing Disciplines of the Mind: Philosophical Errors, Virtue,
and the Soul's Journey to Wisdom in Vision One of Bonaventure's Collationes in Hexa毛meron鈥�
(Director: Jay Hammond)
Assistant Professor of Theology at Divine Word College, Epworth, IA
2018
- Scott Dermer, 鈥淢agna Gratiae Commendatio: Augustine鈥檚 Teaching on Grace in the Tractates
on the Gospel of John鈥� (Director: Kenneth B. Steinhauser)
Chair, Department of Christian Ministry and Formation, MidAmerica Nazarene University, Olathe, KS - K.J. Drake, 鈥淓tiam Extra Carnem: The Origins and Development of the extra Calvinisticum from
Zwingli to Early Reformed Orthodoxy鈥� (Director: Michael J. McClymond)
Assistant Professor of History, Redeemer University College, Hamilton, ON - James A. Lee, 鈥淣eolutheranism and German Theological Wissenschaft: Adolf Harle脽, August
Vilmar, and Johannes Christian Konrad von Hofmann鈥� (Director: Michael J. McClymond)
Assistant Professor of Church History, Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, IL - Adam Messer, 鈥淕od and Gift in Origen of Alexandria鈥� (Director: Peter Martens)
- Gina Noia, 鈥淩eassessing Revisionist-Traditionalist Deadlock: A Dual Typology Toward
More Fruitful Dialogue in Catholic Bioethics鈥� (Director: Tobias Winright)
Assistant Professor of Theology and Resident Bioethicist, Belmont Abbey College, Belmont, North Carolina. - Becky Walker, 鈥溾�楺ueen of the Virtues鈥�: Pastoral and Political Motivations for John Chrysostom鈥檚 Exaltation of Almsgiving鈥� (Director: Peter Martens)
2017
- T. Alexander Giltner, 鈥淭he Lightness of Being: Illumination in the Philosophy and
Theology of Saint Bonaventure鈥� (Director: J. A. Wayne Hellmann, OFM Conv.)
Assistant Professor of Franciscan Theology, University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne, IN - Blake A. Hartung, 鈥溾�楽tories of the Cross鈥�: Ephrem and His Exegesis in Fourth-Century
Mesopotamia鈥� (Director: Jeff Wickes)
Adjunct Professor, 麻豆视频下载 & Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, St. Louis, MO; Fall 2019 update: Instructor of History of Christianity, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ - Zachary L. Kostopoulos, 鈥淐onstructing Origen: Christian Biography in Late Antiquity鈥�
(Director: Peter Martens)
Upper School Faculty, Religious Studies Department, School of the Holy Child, Rye, NY - Matthew Muller, 鈥淭he Inspired Bible in the Anglican Career of John Henry Newman鈥� (Director:
Ken Parker)
Assistant Professor, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS - Luke Townsend, 鈥淚n genere signi: The Development of Thomas Aquinas鈥檚 Doctrine of Sacramental
Signification鈥� (Director: J. A. Wayne Hellmann, OFM Conv.)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Theology, Marian University, Fond du Lac, WI - Jacob N. Van Sickle, 鈥淭he Meaning of 鈥楳ale and Female鈥� in St. Maximus the Confessor鈥�
(Director: Peter Martens)
Priest-in-Charge, Protection of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church (OCA), Crown Point, IN
2016
- Chih-Yin 鈥淎nnie鈥� Chen, 鈥溾�楤aptize the Trends鈥�: A Historical-Theological Analysis of
Vincent Lebbe鈥檚 Missiological Vision, 1900-1940鈥� (Director: Ken Parker)
Mandarin Teacher, John Paul II Catholic School, Ridgeland, SC - Andrew Creighton Chronister, 鈥淒octor traditionum: Augustine and Appeals to Tradition
in the Pelagian Controversy鈥� (Director: David Meconi, S.J.)
Assistant Professor, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, St. Louis, MO - Elissa A. Cutter, 鈥淭he Early Modern Abbess as Th茅ologienne: The Theology and Spirituality
of Mother Ang茅lique Arnauld鈥� (Director: Ken Parker)
Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Georgian Court University, Lakewood, NJ - Jonathan S. King, 鈥淭heology under Another Form: Hans Urs von Balthasar鈥檚 Formation
and Writings as a Germanist鈥� (Director: Ken Parker)
Theology Teacher, Fenwick High School, Oak Park, IL
2015
- Ryan 鈥淏ud鈥� Marr, 鈥淭o Be Perfect Is to Have Changed Often: The Development of John
Henry Newman's Ecclesiological Vision, 1845-1877鈥� (Director: Ken Parker)
Adjunct professor, Mercy College of Health Sciences, Des Moines, IA - Erick H. Hedrick-Moser, 鈥淭he Formation of Jean Dani茅lou's Vision for Catholicism in
Secular France, 1925-1950鈥� (Director: Ken Parker)
High School Teacher, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, TX - Rev. Michael Pahls, 鈥淪chool of the Prophets: John Henry Newman鈥檚 Anglican Schola and
the Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian鈥� (Director: Ken Parker)
Adjunct professor of theology, Christian Brothers University, Memphis, TN; (鈥� May 29, 2019, requiescat in pace)
2014
- Alden Bass, 鈥淔ifth Century Donatist Catechesis: An Introduction to the Vienna Homilies
of 脰NB lat. ms. 4147鈥� (Director: Kenneth B. Steinhauser)
Assistant Professor, Oklahoma Christian University, Edmond, OK - Christine Baudin Hernandez, 鈥淔rom 鈥榮upernaturalizing鈥� to Liberation: The Maryknoll
Sisters in Nicaragua, 1945-1975鈥� (Director: Angelyn Dries)
Theology Faculty, St. Agnes Academy, Houston, TX
2013
- Jared Isaac Goff, 鈥淐aritas in Primo: A Historical Theological Study of Bonaventure鈥檚
Quaestiones Disputatae de Mysterio Ss. Trinitatis鈥� (Director: J. A. Wayne Hellmann,
OFM Conv.)
Professor of Theology at Mount Angel Seminary; on-line instructor for the Distance MA Program, Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary - Gerardo Rodr铆guez, 鈥淢ovements in the Soul: The Appropriation and Transformation of
Stoic Theories on Impressions in the Theology of Philo, Clement and Origen鈥� (Director:
Kenneth B. Steinhauser)
Assistant Professor, Carroll College, Helena, MT; Fall 2017 update: Assistant Professor, St. Norbert鈥檚 College, De Pere, WI - Andrew C. Russell, 鈥淣one of Self, and All of Thee: The Keswick Movement at Home and
Abroad鈥� (Director: Michael J. McClymond)
Adjunct Professor, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN - Kyle Anthony Schenkewitz, 鈥淒orotheus of Gaza and the discourse of healing in the monastic
school of Gaza鈥� (Director: Kenneth B. Steinhauser)
Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Mount Saint Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH. - C. Michael Shea: 鈥淣ewman's Early Legacy: Giovanni Perrone and Roman Readings of 鈥楢n
Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine,鈥� 1845-1854鈥� (Director: Ken Parker)
Core Teaching Fellow, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ - Ben D. Wayman, 鈥淧ronoia and Diodore of Tarsus鈥� Theological Exegesis of Psalms 1-50鈥�
(Director: Kenneth B. Steinhauser)
James F. and Leona N. Andrews Chair in Christian Unity & Assistant Professor, Greenville College, Greenville, IL - Eric R. Wickman, 鈥淭he Development of the Soteriology of Hilary of Poitiers鈥� (Director:
Kenneth B. Steinhauser)
Adjunct Professor, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Belton, TX; contracted writer for the Bible Study series with BaptistWay Press
2012
- Hudson Russell Davis, 鈥淭he Negro a Beast: Nachash Theology and the Nineteenth Century
American Re-Making of Negro Origins鈥� (Director: Michael McClymond)
Assistant Professor, Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary, Amman, Jordan - Lisa-Marie Cipolla Duffield, 鈥淎lcuin鈥檚 鈥榁itae鈥� of Saints Willibrord, Vaast, Riquier, and Martin: Conversion in the Carolingian Expansion鈥� (Director: James Ginther)
- Daniel Dewayne Dunivan, 鈥淭oward a Re-Envisioned Baptist History: Manipulation and
Marginalization in the Union of Historiography and Identity鈥� (Director: Belden Lane)
Dean of the Chapman School of Religious Studies and Chapman Seminary, Oakland City University, Oakland City, IN - George E. Faithful, 鈥淢othering of the Fatherland: Basilea Schlink鈥檚 Ecumenical Sisterhood
of Mary and Her Anti-Nazi Theology of Intercessory Repentance鈥� (Director: Michael
McClymond)
Assistant Professor, Dominican University, San Rafael, CA - Daniel John Handschy, 鈥淓ucharistic Sacrifice and Apostolic Order: American Contributions
to the Ecclesiology of the Oxford Movement鈥� (Director: Ken Parker)
Director of Episcopal Studies, Eden Seminary - Donna R. Hawk-Reinhard, 鈥淔rom Christianoi to Christoforoi: The Role of the Eucharist
in Christian Identity Formation according to Cyril of Jerusalem鈥� (Director: Kenneth
B. Steinhauser)
Professor, Institute for Worship Studies, Orange Park, FL - Timothy R. LeCroy, 鈥淭he Role of Corpus in the Eucharistic Theology of Paschasius Radbertus鈥�
(Director: James Ginther)
Senior Pastor of Grace and Peace Fellowship, St. Louis, MO - No毛l Wayne Pretila, 鈥淩e-Appropriating 鈥楳arvelous Fables鈥�: Justin Martyr鈥檚 Strategic
Retrieval of Myth in 鈥�1 Apology鈥欌�� (Director: Kenneth B. Steinhauser)
Department of Religion, Chaminade College Prep, St. Louis, MO
2011
- Inta Ivanovska, 鈥淭he Demonology of Saint Augustine of Hippo鈥� (Director: Kenneth B. Steinhauser)
- Paul Andrew Patterson, 鈥淰isions of Christ: The Anthropomorphite Controversy of 399
CE鈥� (Director: Kenneth B. Steinhauser)
Assistant Director, Workday & Summer Teams, Restore St. Louis, St. Louis, MO - Tom谩s O鈥橲ullivan, 鈥� 鈥楶redicationes Palatinae鈥�: The Sermons in Vat. Pal. Lat. 220 as
an Insular Resource for the Christianization of Early Medieval Germany鈥� (Director:
James Ginther)
Teaching Fellow in Theology and Religious Studies, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, Ireland
2010
- John Halsey Wood, Jr., 鈥淕oing Dutch in the Modern Age: Abraham Kuyper鈥檚 Struggle for a Free Church in the Nineteenth-Century Netherlands鈥� (Director: Michael McClymond)
- Catherine Anne Scine, 鈥淓arly Dominicans on the Apocalypse: A Reading of the 1260s
Apocalypse Commentary of Peter of Tarentaise鈥� (Director: James Ginther)
Latin Teacher, Veritas Classical School, St. Augustine, FL - Jonathan Hall Barlow, 鈥� 鈥楻ead This That Others Read Not Thee鈥�: Francis Spira and Apostasy
in the English Reformed Tradition (1618-1652)鈥� (Director: Ken Parker)
Associate Director of Software Architecture and Development, National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
Facility in ancient languages is essential for sophisticated research into Christianity in antiquity. We help our students acquire these skills by offering advanced, seminar-style reading courses in Greek, Latin and Syriac. Students spend two semesters studying late-antique Greek and a third semester studying late-antique and early-medieval Latin. In their fourth semester, students can take a second semester of Latin or a semester of Syriac (introductory, intermediate, or advanced, depending on student needs).
- Alexandria and Antioch: Late Antique Exegetical Cultures (Peter Martens)
- Antiochene Scriptural Exegesis (Peter Martens)
- Atonement: Past and Present (Peter Martens and Eleonore Stump)
- Church and State (David Meconi, S.J.)
- Ephrem and the Syriac Bible (Jeff Wickes)
- The Fall of the Soul: Origen and Early Christian Anthropology (Peter Martens)
- Judaism & Christianity in Antiquity: Textual & Comparative Approaches (James Redfield)
- Literature and the Late Antique Cult of the Saints (Jeff Wickes)
- The Psalms in the Early Church (David Meconi, S.J.)
- Wilderness Traditions in Early Judaism and Christianity (Daniel Smith)
- Black Theology and Its Critics (Leonard McKinnis)
- Catholic Theological Bioethics (Tobias Winright)
- Foundations, History, and Methods of Catholic Moral Theology (Tobias Winright)
- Intimacies: Intersubjectivity and the Formation of the Religious Subject in the Modern Christian West (Mary Dunn)
- Modern Virtue: From Aquinas to Emerson and Beyond (Emily Dumler-Winckler)
- Global Pentecostalism (Michael J. McClymond)
- Political Theology (Ruben Rosario-Rodriguez)
Our department takes seriously the professionalization of our students. We recognize the contemporary academic environment demands that students negotiate in an increasingly competitive and diverse world, in which the acquisition of a Ph.D. can lead to a variety of careers. With this in mind, we require our Ph.D. students to attend biweekly professional development seminars that occur during our regular Tuesday brown bag lunch hour. These seminars cover a range of topics, such as navigating conferences, publishing a first book or article, and preparing for the academic job market, as well as how to translate and transfer skills honed in the course of Ph.D. work within professional contexts beyond the tenure track.
Presentations from the 2018-19 series, "Alt-Ac," sponsored by the Carpenter Foundation, are .
Required Undergraduate Courses in Theology
Most undergraduate students at 麻豆视频下载 are required to take theology.
The first course, THEO 1000: Theological Foundations, introduces students to the God of revelation within the Judeo-Christian tradition. They examine faith and its implications for living a human life, respecting creation and pursuing beauty and truth. This is done within an ecumenical and global context, examining other world religions and various social realities.
Subsequent courses focus more on specific aspects of Christian or other religious traditions and address the important social and moral issues of our day.
Beginning in Fall 2022, all incoming 麻豆视频下载 undergraduates will complete the University Undergraduate Core curriculum regardless of major, program, college or school.