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BTI Consortium | Last Updated November 17, 2025 - 3:00PM
Hartford International University
for Religion and Peace
School
Hartford International
TH-513-2
The Faiths as Formal Realities: God and the Nation
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
SP26
One of three core courses in the MA in Interreligious Studies curriculum, The Faiths as Formal Realities explores how faith communities move from the text to practices with the use of structured beliefs and traditions, approaches and doctrines. This course is taught in a multi-faith classroom, with faculty of different faith traditions, and it builds knowledge and skills for study within a multifaith setting.
Course fulfills the following curricular requirements:
MAIRS - Core Requirement
MAC - Islamic Studies Elective
MAC - Chaplaincy elective
Professor
Class Day & Time
Grafton
M
5:00 - 6:50 PM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
Y
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Hartford International
SC-539
Hadith Methodology: History and Transmission of the Prophetic Sunna
BTI Category
Semester
Islamic Studies
SP26
Compilations of hadith, or words attributed to the Prophet Muhammad, are the second most important form of scripture, or religious text, in the Islamic scholastic tradition. Hadith are an essential source of deriving Islamic law and determining what is deemed as Sunna or a model of proper Islamic practice based on prophetic precedent. In addition, hadith are critical to understanding the Qur’an and many of its general injunctions which would be otherwise ambiguous without their correlating explanations found in hadith sources. This course will analyze the basic foundations of hadith studies (ulum al-adith) which are essential to a well-grounded understanding of this important field of Islamic Studies. A progression of the various elements related to hadith studies such as hadith terminology, the legislative authority of the Sunna, methods of collecting and preserving hadiths, important transmitters, canonical hadith sources, hadith classification, weak hadiths, and forged hadiths, will be presented over the course of the semester to build a solid understanding of the role of hadith in shaping the Islamic scholarly tradition. Furthermore, this study of the scholastic aspects of hadith studies will culminate with an exploration of relevant contemporary issues such as debates regarding the authenticity of hadiths in Western scholarship.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Laher
W
5:00 - 6:50 PM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
Y
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Hartford International
RS-658
The Future of Religion
BTI Category
Semester
Sociology/Ethnography/Research Methods
SP26
Undeniable changes are taking place in the religious landscape of the United States as well as globally. Yet the human desire for religious and spiritual grounding continues, but what forms and practices will address this need into the future? This course explores recent past trends and the present dynamics that are reshaping religion in America, including individuals, organizations, and the religious enterprise itself. Using this research-informed perspective, we will speculate on what the near and distant future(s) could look like. This course, however, will not just be an academic thought experiment, but rather asks students to re-envision ministry and craft possible alternative religious communities of practice that might address these possible future realities with spiritual integrity.
Course fulfills the following curricular requirements:
MAIRS - Interreligious Studies: Elective
MAIRS - Islamic Studies: Elective
MAIRS - Ministerial Studies: Arts of Ministry
MAC - Chaplaincy elective
Professor
Class Day & Time
Thumma
R
7:00 - 8:50 PM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
Y
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Hartford International
ET-631-2
Environmental Ethics: Leadership and Justice for Life on Earth
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
SP26
The Native American “Tale of Two Wolves” tells of two evenly matched wolves in a battle. One is evil – greedy, arrogant, lying, and full of fear. The other is good – filled with love, hope, compassion, and integrity. The question is: which one will win? The sage’s answer: the one we feed.
The study of environmental ethics can easily devolve into a spiral of pessimism, given the unprecedented challenges we face regarding the climate crisis and other ecological threats to the well-being of our planet. We are tempted to “feed the wrong wolf” and give into despair and a fatalistic resignation. Therefore, we will explore religious, philosophical, and environmental perspectives to help us understand the roots of the crises, as well as search for resources to help us “feed the good wolf.” This course will equip students to work toward faith-based approaches to environmental ethics focused on justice and building community.
Course fulfills the following curricular requirements:
MAIRS - Ministerial Studies: Beliefs and Practices
MAIRS - Islamic Studies: Religious Pluralism
MAIRS - Islamic Studies Elective
MAIRS - Interreligious Studies Elective
MAC - Chaplaincy Elective
MAC - Islamic Chaplaincy Elective
MAP - Elective
Professor
Class Day & Time
Dahill
W
7:00 - 8:50 PM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
Y
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Hartford International
DI-636
Images of Jesus in Christian and Muslim Sacred Writings
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
SP26
Drawing on the canonical scriptures of the two traditions (the Bible and the Qur’an) in conversation with other sources such as apocryphal gospels, Patristic writings, Hadith, and hagiographic literature, we will study the birth, mission, death, resurrection and eschatological role of Jesus in Christianity and Islam—and the closely related matter of the life and status of his mother Mary. While this is a course in comparative theology, attention will be given to the role of Jesus and Mary in personal and communal piety.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Mosher
R
5:00 - 6:50 PM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
Y
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Hartford International
AM-521-2
Contemplative Prayer Practices
BTI Category
Semester
Practical/Pastoral Theology
SP26
This course introduces students to a range of practices of contemplative prayer, centering in a broadly ecological context: both Earth itself as our shared creaturely home and the particular places where students live. Students will engage in experiential elements that are adaptable to the students’ own tradition and/or context, including traditional forms like centering/mindfulness, Ignatian Examen, and lectio divina as well as social justice/feminist, land-based, shadow- and dream-based practices. Students will have the opportunity to research and lead the class in a prayer practice of their own tradition, context, or creative innovation as well.
Course fulfills the following curricular requirements:
MAIRS - Interreligious Studies: Elective
MAIRS - Islamic Studies: Religious Pluralism
MAIRS - Ministerial Studies: Beliefs and Practices of the Christian Faith
MAC - Chaplaincy Elective
MAC - Islamic Chaplaincy Elective
Professor
Class Day & Time
Dahill
R
5:00 - 6:50 PM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
Y
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Hartford International
SC-531
New Testament Survey
BTI Category
Semester
Scripture & Biblical Studies
SP26
This course invites students to intimately engage the text of the New Testament, while becoming familiar with critical issues surrounding its composition, authorship, and reception. Students will be expected to demonstrate the following: acute engagement with the New Testament as both an ancient text and a contemporary religious text; familiarity and facility with appropriate secondary literature; ability to articulate various viewpoints other than one’s own. Issues that will be covered in this course include the study of the historical Jesus, the canonicity of the New Testament, past and present interpretive strategies, and various issues involving the New Testament and race, sexuality, slavery, and gender.
Course fulfills the following curricular requirements:
MAIRS - Ministerial Studies: Scripture
MAIRS - Interreligious Studies Elective
MAIRS - Islamic Studies: Pluralism
MAIRS - Islamic Studies: Elective
Professor
Class Day & Time
Robertson
W
5:00 - 6:50 PM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Hartford International
RS-539
Human Rights in the Face of Hegemony
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
SP26
This course probes the issue of hegemony in a democratic society and its role in leveraging authority. From the framework of both an International Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) and an Intersectional Rights-based lens, this class explores the interconnected issues that shape the complexity of human rights in the 21st century. We will examine the HRBA’s five key principles—participation, accountability, non-discrimination and equality, empowerment, and legality—in light of historical case studies and current issues. Ultimately, the course will analyze the role of religious assumptions in maintaining and/or dismantling fundamental human rights.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Watts
M
5:00 - 6:50 PM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
Y
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Hartford International
IP-611
Peace, Justice, and Violence in Sacred Texts
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
SP26
Students in this course will examine sources from the Hebrew Bible, New Testament, and Quran that relate to peace, justice and violence. Students will analyze sacred texts in their original socio-historical contexts, and will explore diverse ways Jewish, Christian and Muslim sources confront and interpret these texts. Students will take a case study approach to investigate how texts from all three Abrahamic traditions can and have been used to legitimate violent conflict and injustice toward others in real-life settings (e.g., empires, religious persecution, colonialism, misogyny, racism, and Anti-Semitism), as well as how they can and have been used to promote peaceful practices and just relations (peace movements, provision of care for the poor and sick by religious orders and communities, peaceable co-existence and cooperation with religious and ethnic others, liberation and justice movements).
Course fulfills the following curricular requirements:
MAIRS - Core, and Sacred Texts as Living Documents requirement
MAC - Chaplaincy Elective
MAC - Islamic Chaplaincy Elective
MAP - Elective
[Course is closed to auditors]
Professor
Class Day & Time
Robertson
T
5:00 - 6:50 PM
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
Y
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Hartford International
ET-631-1
Environmental Ethics: Leadership and Justice for Life on Earth
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
SP26
The Native American “Tale of Two Wolves” tells of two evenly matched wolves in a battle. One is evil – greedy, arrogant, lying, and full of fear. The other is good – filled with love, hope, compassion, and integrity. The question is: which one will win? The sage’s answer: the one we feed.
The study of environmental ethics can easily devolve into a spiral of pessimism, given the unprecedented challenges we face regarding the climate crisis and other ecological threats to the well-being of our planet. We are tempted to “feed the wrong wolf” and give into despair and a fatalistic resignation. Therefore, we will explore religious, philosophical, and environmental perspectives to help us understand the roots of the crises, as well as search for resources to help us “feed the good wolf.” This course will equip students to work toward faith-based approaches to environmental ethics focused on justice and building community.
Course fulfills the following curricular requirements:
MAIRS - Ministerial Studies: Beliefs and Practices
MAIRS - Islamic Studies: Religious Pluralism
MAIRS - Islamic Studies Elective
MAIRS - Interreligious Studies Elective
MAC - Chaplaincy Elective
MAC - Islamic Chaplaincy Elective
MAP - Elective
Professor
Class Day & Time
Dahill
W
7:00 - 8:50 PM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Hartford International
AM-521-1
Contemplative Prayer Practices
BTI Category
Semester
Practical/Pastoral Theology
SP26
This course introduces students to a range of practices of contemplative prayer, centering in a broadly ecological context: both Earth itself as our shared creaturely home and the particular places where students live. Students will engage in experiential elements that are adaptable to the students’ own tradition and/or context, including traditional forms like centering/mindfulness, Ignatian Examen, and lectio divina as well as social justice/feminist, land-based, shadow- and dream-based practices. Students will have the opportunity to research and lead the class in a prayer practice of their own tradition, context, or creative innovation as well.
Course fulfills the following curricular requirements:
MAIRS - Interreligious Studies: Elective
MAIRS - Islamic Studies: Religious Pluralism
MAIRS - Ministerial Studies: Beliefs and Practices of the Christian Faith
MAC - Chaplaincy Elective
MAC - Islamic Chaplaincy Elective
Professor
Class Day & Time
Dahill
R
5:00 - 6:50 PM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Hartford International
TH-513-1
The Faiths as Formal Realities: God and the Nation
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
SP26
One of three core courses in the MA in Interreligious Studies curriculum, The Faiths as Formal Realities explores how faith communities move from the text to practices with the use of structured beliefs and traditions, approaches and doctrines. This course is taught in a multi-faith classroom, with faculty of different faith traditions, and it builds knowledge and skills for study within a multifaith setting.
Course fulfills the following curricular requirements:
MAIRS - Core Requirement
MAC - Islamic Studies Elective
MAC - Chaplaincy elective
Professor
Class Day & Time
Grafton
M
5:00 - 6:50 PM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
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