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BTI Consortium | Last Updated April 22, 2025 - 11:00AM
Boston College Theology Department
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5006-01
Sexualities and Spiritualities
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
FA25
Can you be Queer and spiritual? Trans or non-binary and religious? Straight, hooking up, and Catholic? Can you combine pleasure and piety? Of course you can. But how? This course surveys progressive thinkers examining the close relationship of sexuality, gender, the body, and spirituality. We look at evolving views of marriage and single life. We reflect on sexual violence. We ask how traditional religion distorts or supports these issues. Catholic, Protestant, and Episcopal authors explore developments and disagreements! -- that nurture authentically spiritual sexuality. The aim is to promote understanding and care for self and others. Graduates and undergraduates welcome.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Weiss
R
4:30 p.m. - 6:50 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
GRAD/UGRAD SPLIT�
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5017-01
Japan and New England: Comparative Aesthetics and Poetics
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
FA25
This is a course on religious and philosophical aesthetics in two specific places: Japan and New England, mostly Massachusetts. The question: how do we see the world? How should we see the world? This question of seeing also becomes the question of inhabitinghow do we dwell in relation to the world? Is it really something separate from us? Figures to be studied include Ralph Waldo Emerson, Sato Haruo, Henry David Thoreau, Motoori Norinaga, Emily Dickinson, Nishida Kitaro, Robert Frost, Hayao Miyazaki, and Porsha Olayiwola. The course will cover poetry, film, and travelogue, as well as essays.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Kruger
R
2:00 p.m. - 4:25 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
GRAD/UGRAD SPLIT�
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5372-01
Patristic Greek I
BTI Category
Semester
Languages
FA25
This course is continued in the spring as THEO5373 New Testament Greek II. This two-semester course is designed for the student with no previous knowledge of ancient Greek to develop reading and translating skills in Patristic Greek language by mastering the fundamental principles of Greek grammar and syntax and acquiring a basic reading vocabulary. The student becomes familiar with the meaning of Greek words, their forms and structure, and their customary arrangement in sentences. A secondary goal of this course is to serve as a foundation for further studies in Patristic Greek.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Schatkin
T
3:00 p.m. - 5:25 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
GRAD/UGRAD SPLIT�
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5562-01
Ethics, Religion, and International Politics
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
FA25
An examination of the role of religion in international politics and of ethical approaches to international affairs. Special emphasis will be given to religion as a source of conflict, religious communities as transnational agents for justice, protection of human rights, and peace; the historical development and contemporary formulations of ethical norms for the use of force; and ethical and religious contributions to reconciliation and solidarity.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Owens
MW
1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
4
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
GRAD/UGRAD SPLIT�
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5562-03
Ethics, Religion, and International Politics
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
FA25
An examination of the role of religion in international politics and of ethical approaches to international affairs. Special emphasis will be given to religion as a source of conflict, religious communities as transnational agents for justice, protection of human rights, and peace; the historical development and contemporary formulations of ethical norms for the use of force; and ethical and religious contributions to reconciliation and solidarity.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Owens
R
1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.�
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
4
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
GRAD/UGRAD SPLIT�
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5562-05
Ethics, Religion, and International Politics
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
FA25
An examination of the role of religion in international politics and of ethical approaches to international affairs. Special emphasis will be given to religion as a source of conflict, religious communities as transnational agents for justice, protection of human rights, and peace; the historical development and contemporary formulations of ethical norms for the use of force; and ethical and religious contributions to reconciliation and solidarity.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Owens
R
3:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
4
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
GRAD/UGRAD SPLIT�
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO7005-01
Christian Ethics and Migration
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
FA25
This course examines the phenomenon of global migration from a Christian theological perspective. Texts from social scientific, legal, and policy perspectives will frame the phenomenon of contemporary migration. The seminar will then undertake ethical analyses of migration paradigms, policies and practices in light of resources from the Christian tradition, considering questions related to globalization, citizenship, economic justice, gender, family ethics, and integration.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Heyer
W
10:00 a.m. - 12:25 p.m.�
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO7043-01
The Book of Genesis
BTI Category
Semester
Scripture & Biblical Studies
FA25
The book of Genesis is undoubtedly the most read and commented-on book in the Hebrew Bible. In this course we will study the Hebrew text of Genesis, the context of its composition in ancient Judah, and its modern scholarly interpretation. We will also engage with related materials from Mesopotamia and its reception history. Knowledge of biblical Hebrew is expected.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Cooley
W
10:00 a.m. - 12:25 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
Y
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
Y
Notes
Knowledge of Biblical Hebrew Expected
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO7061-01
Ren� Girard and Theology
BTI Category
Semester
Systematic Theology & Philosophy (Western)
FA25
TBD
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Robinette
W
1:00 p.m. - 3:25 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO7063-01
History of Catholic Theological Ethics
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
FA25
The course studies the moral theological tradition of the Catholic Church, starting with the New Testament (Gospels, Pauline Letters, Acts of the Apostles), early church, the Fathers, rise of Scholasticism, the rise of casuistry and the confraternities, the School of Salamanca, the manuals, the 19th century reforms, the Vatican II Council, and the Global Church. Undergraduates admitted with permission of instructor.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Keenan
T
2:00 p.m. - 4:25 p.m.�
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO7613-01
Thirteenth-Century Franciscan Theology: Alexander and Bonaventure
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA25
This course explores the thirteenth-century Franciscan theological tradition through a substantial engagement with the theology of Alexander of Hales and of St. Bonaventure, focusing on the central theological topics of the theological method, Trinity, and Christology.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Coolman
R
10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO8010-01
Biblical Hebrew in its Northwest Semitic Environment
BTI Category
Semester
Scripture & Biblical Studies
FA25
TBD
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Vanderhooft
T
3:00 p.m. - 5:25 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO8537-01
Christian Ethics and Gender Equality
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
FA25
Will treat major voices connecting feminist theology and ethics/politics( (e.g., Mary Daly, Elizabeth Johnson, Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza, Margaret Farley, Ivone Gebara, representatives from Asia and Africa, and applied ethics (e.g., economics, racism, sex, abortion).
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Cahill
W
2:00 p.m. - 4:20 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5011-01
Revolutionaries, Diplomatic Theology, and Catholic Missionaries: Challenges in Twentieth-Century China
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA25
This is a survey course. Each of these three groups challenged the witness of Catholicism in China since 1900. Understand how American ambassadors, business and military interests responded to Chinese political and social change. Learn how they then enabled zealous and adventurous Catholic missionaries to balance their dual identity as American citizens as well representatives of the Pope in Rome to preach the Gospel and provide social relief as China quested stability amid decades of war. Discover how the Nationalists led by Chiang Kai-shek and the Communists inspired by Mao Zedong responded to and tested the resolve of these missionary foreigners. After 1949, the focusshifts to see how the U.S., the Holy See, and international Chinese Catholics have had to renegotiate their participation pertaining to religious freedom and human rights in China till the present day.No background on Chinese history is required. Theology, history, political science and international relation students are welcome.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Carbonneau
M
1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
GRAD/UGRAD SPLIT�
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5018-01
Vatican II and Us: Documents and Interpretations
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA25
This course aims at increasing familiarity with the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), which still guides ecclesial and theological thinking, but which is often not known beyond snapshots. We will read three types of materials: 1) The Councils official documents; 2) Documents and literature that shed light on the Council as an event with a so-called spirit, such as Council speeches or historical commentaries; 3) Documents that receive the Council and interpret its meaning in other contexts, including our own. We will relate these materials with current issues, e.g., the Roman-Catholic churchs synodal conversion, the American bishops Eucharistic revival, andthe place of women in the Church.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Moons
TR
2:00 p.m. - 4:25 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
GRAD/UGRAD SPLIT�
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5426-01
From Nile to Niger: African Christian Fathers and Mothers of the Church
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA25
This course counts as an elective towards the interdisciplinary Minor in Ancient Civilization. Introduction to the Fathers of the Church, with special emphasis on the period after the apostles to the Council of Nicea (A.D. 325). The lives, writings, and teachings of the Church Fathers will be studied through readings in English translation.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Schatkin
M
3:00 p.m. - 5:20 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
GRAD/UGRAD SPLIT�
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5562-02
Ethics, Religion, and International Politics
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
FA25
An examination of the role of religion in international politics and of ethical approaches to international affairs. Special emphasis will be given to religion as a source of conflict, religious communities as transnational agents for justice, protection of human rights, and peace; the historical development and contemporary formulations of ethical norms for the use of force; and ethical and religious contributions to reconciliation and solidarity.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Owens
MW
3:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
4
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
GRAD/UGRAD SPLIT�
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5562-04
Ethics, Religion, and International Politics
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
FA25
An examination of the role of religion in international politics and of ethical approaches to international affairs. Special emphasis will be given to religion as a source of conflict, religious communities as transnational agents for justice, protection of human rights, and peace; the historical development and contemporary formulations of ethical norms for the use of force; and ethical and religious contributions to reconciliation and solidarity.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Owens
R
2:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
4
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
GRAD/UGRAD SPLIT�
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5562-06
Ethics, Religion, and International Politics
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
FA25
An examination of the role of religion in international politics and of ethical approaches to international affairs. Special emphasis will be given to religion as a source of conflict, religious communities as transnational agents for justice, protection of human rights, and peace; the historical development and contemporary formulations of ethical norms for the use of force; and ethical and religious contributions to reconciliation and solidarity.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Owens
R
4:00 p.m. - 4:50 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
4
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
GRAD/UGRAD SPLIT�
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO7037-01
Practical Theological Ethics and Global Christianity
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
FA25
The doctoral seminar explores four selected topics in contemporary practical theological ethics: bioethics, sustainability, politics, and theological ethics in the local and global Church. By engaging the contributions of representative, diverse theological-ethical voices in global Christianity from the Global South particularly from Asia, Africa, and Latin America the seminar aims to strengthening the students familiarity with current global scholarship on these topics.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Vicini
M
2:00 p.m. - 4:20 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
Y
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
Y
Notes
Doctoral Seminar
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO7049-01
Council of Nicaea (325): Theology and Discipline
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA25
The Council of Nicaea (325) is crucial event that shaped both Christian theology and life. Although its main impact revolved around the development of Trinitarian theology, its canonical legislation became a reference point for subsequent Christian discipline. Therefore, the seminar addresses these two aspects. The first part of it deals with the Trinitarian debate, namely, the so-called Arian crisis and focuses on the analysis of contemporary documents rather than fifth-century Christian historians (Fernndez). The second part of the seminar addresses the twenty disciplinary canons of the council, their antecedents and reception (Hunter).
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Hunter
W
10:00 a.m. - 12:25 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO7062-01
Incarnation, Kenosis, and Christian Discipleship
BTI Category
Semester
Systematic Theology & Philosophy (Western)
FA25
This course examines the doctrine of the Incarnation, emphasizing how theological reflection on the mystery of kenosis informs our understanding of Christ, the triune God, and Christian discipleship. These dimensions are explored through modern and contemporary interpretations of kenosis, alongside engagement with biblical scholarship.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Ryliskyte
W
1:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO7065-01
The Dead Sea Scrolls and Early Christian Literature
BTI Category
Semester
Scripture & Biblical Studies
FA25
This graduate seminar introduces the library of the Dead Sea Scrolls and explores ways in which the discovery of these texts 75 years ago continues to improve historical understanding of Christianity. We will review how the DSS improved understanding of the Early Judaism within which the Christian movement arose, and how scholars recovered the ability to recognize the Jewish nature of ancient Christian ideas, practices, and concerns, particularly those in the New Testament. Each seminar will devote its final several weeks to comparing specific texts from New Testament and Early Christian literature with related texts in the DSS. Students who complete this seminar will be familiar with the corpus of the DSS, will understand how their discovery improves our understanding of Early Judaism and Christian origins, and will have first-hand familiarity with the historical evidence for this period and with tools for its interpretation. Those who complete the seminar will also have fairly extensive experience in traditional exegesis of ancient Jewish and Christian texts, both in translation and in original languages.Students will read the entire corpus of non-biblical manuscripts in translation, along with recent and classic scholarship. Students with relevant language skills will be invited to participate in an enrichment hour in which we read and translate texts in the original languages. Course grades will be based on preparation and participation in the seminar, and a 15-20 page research essay.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Gillihan
R
1:00 p.m. - 3:20 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO7664-01
Special Questions on the Trinity
BTI Category
Semester
Systematic Theology & Philosophy (Western)
FA25
This course examines fundamental problems in Trinitarian theology, including the reconciliation of a plurality of persons with the simplicity and unity of God, the manners in which Word and Spirit proceed in God, the hypothesis of intelligible emanations in God, and the problem of explanatory order in Trinitarian systematics. Special attention will be given to the projects of Thomas Aquinas and Bernard Lonergan, in their historical contexts. This is not a survey in Trinitarian theology and generally presupposes a working knowledge of Trinitarian dogma.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Wilkins
R
2:00 p.m. - 4:20 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
Y
Notes
generally presupposes a working knowledge of Trinitarian dogma.
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO8063-01
God and the Ultimate
BTI Category
Semester
Systematic Theology & Philosophy (Western)
FA25
This seminar undertakes a systematic, constructive investigation of God and other understandings of the ultimate across theological traditions. Our data set is comparative and interreligious, and our method is systematic, constructive theologizing. No background in any non-Christian traditions required. Topics include method in comparative systematic theology of God, God in contemporary constructive philosophy of religion, cosmic purpose and ultimate explanation in dialogue with the sciences, theodicy in theologies of God, Abrahamic theologies of God in conversation (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), nondualist theologies of God and creation (Hindu and Christian), Buddhist anti-theism, Mahayana Buddhist quasi-theism, and expanded Christian comparative theologies of God.
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Vale
TR
12:00 p.m. - 2:25 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
N
Notes
N/A
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO8567-01
Christian Ethics: Major Figures
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
FA25
This course will explore the theological ethics of Augustine, Aquinas, Luther Calvin, Menno Simons (Radical Reformation), and possibly Jonathan Edwards. It will highlight the interrelation of concepts of nature, sin, grace, justification, and sanctification; the use of the bible; and the ethics of marriage and of war and peace. This is a doctoral seminar; the last few weeks of the course will be dedicated to discussion of students' potentially publishable research projects
Professor
Class Day
Class Time
Cahill
T
4:30 p.m. - 6:50 p.m.
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
Y
Online?
N
Prerequisites Req'd?
Y
Notes
Doctoral Seminar
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